Connor??

Chapter 152: Connor??

Just as Rodney had his eyes on the two individuals he favored most among the clones, his attention was suddenly drawn to someone else. It was a slender man, or perhaps it wouldn't be accurate to call him slender, as his build was similar to Rodney's but slightly leaner. He held two small knives in his hands, had a hand axe at his waist, and carried a longbow on his back.

Wearing a white hood, he moved through the chaotic battle, and his jet-black knives practically turned each strike into a small pirate's demise. If it weren't for Rodney's continuous focus on the battlefield, he might not have noticed him at all.

Why didn't the clone notice?

"Huh? Why is this guy's presence so low?" Rodney remarked in surprise. 

"And why does his attire look so much like Connor's?"

Could it be another time traveler?

"Is that... a member of the Assassins' Guild?" 

Reiju noticed Rodney's gaze and spotted the guy resembling Conner Sauce. She said, "I remember there was a guy in the Assassins' Guild who dressed like that. His title was something like 'Mad Ghost.' Why is he here?"

"A member of the Assassins' Guild? Why would an assassin have such a strange title as 'Mad Ghost'?" Rodney asked.

"When he carries out missions, everyone who sees him ends up dead. I know about him because I once fought alongside him. Otherwise, I wouldn't know his true identity. I'm one of the few people in this world who know who he really is."

"Isn't that the perfect assassin then? Amazing, I can't believe there's a triple-red assassin like this. You're lucky, you know, to know his true identity and still be alive."

"Because I don't know what he looks like or his name," Reiju said. 

"He had a mask on his face at the time. All I can do is speculate."

"Interesting. What's he doing here? Doesn't he want to be an assassin anymore? Being a pirate hunter and an assassin aren't that different, are they? This fleet of ours is a pirate hunter fleet, but it's not much different from being assassins, just one is in the light and the other in the shadows."

"Who knows? Maybe he's set his sights on your head, Captain. Your head is quite valuable in the underground world."

"Interesting. Oh, the Mad Ghost is launching an attack. He's up, and he's taking them down! My goodness, my second backup person is gone too!"

Rodney watched as his second backup person, whom he had favored, had half of his head split open by the Mad Ghost's axe, a death he couldn't come back from.

Aren't you an assassin?

Oh, I forgot, assassins are like this, they follow the path of a mad warrior, leaving no escape for their enemies!

The Mad Ghost's deep blue eyes under his hood swept over Rodney, who was standing on a high platform. He tightened his hand axe, and the axe was imbued with a dark Haki as he smashed another unfortunate fellow's head.

He tossed one of his small knives, piercing it into the eye socket of another pirate who was trying to charge at him, deeply into his brain, stealing away the pirate's life.

The Mad Ghost's combat was clean and efficient, with no hesitation, incredibly swift, and every strike was lethal.

Soon, the Mad Ghost had taken care of all his opponents. His white cloak was stained red with blood as he stood amidst a pile of blood, using his deep, magnetic voice to say, "I've won."

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Rodney clapped his hands as he walked down. "You've won indeed. Hello, I'm Joestar J. Rodney, the current... well, ruler, I suppose, of Avalon. What do you say? Would you like to become a member of my crew? I really admire your strength."

(TL/N: Changed Availition to Avalon)

The Mad Ghost raised his head, revealing a young face, perhaps in his twenties or thirties, fairly average-looking, the kind of face you'd lose in a crowd.

His gaze at Rodney resembled that of a predator sizing up its prey. Rodney was familiar with that look; it was the look of someone seeing prey.

Oh, ho!

This guy's target is me!

Ding!

The pitch-black hand axe descended directly toward his head. Rodney couldn't sense any killing intent or threat, but he didn't dare underestimate it. He raised a kusarigama to block the hand axe.

Ding!

Thud!

The first sound was the kusarigama being cut, and the second was the hand axe splitting the wood in half.

Suddenly, the Mad Ghost lowered his head and stomped on the ground. A figure shot out from the ground, and a fireball flew down.

Without hesitation, the Mad Ghost sheathed his hand axe, grabbed the bow and arrows on his back, bent the bow, and wrapped it in Armament Haki, shooting an arrow that pierced the fireball and then shot towards the airborne target.

"Not bad," Rodney's eyes lit up. He deflected the arrow with a slash. 

"Miss One, trouble incoming!"

"I see it! Hell Journey!"

Just as he was about to release a second arrow, the Mad Ghost was suddenly suppressed by an unexpected force, and pinned to the ground. 

"What's happening? What's with this sudden gravity?!"

He struggled to get up but found it impossible. It felt like a mountain was crushing him, making him extremely uncomfortable.

However, Rodney could move freely. He landed on the ground and hopped over to the Mad Ghost. After a brief search, he stripped the Mad Ghost of all his equipment.

Using Seastone Cuffs, Rodney restrained the Mad Ghost. Since the Mad Ghost didn't have a Devil Fruit ability, Seastone Cuffs were quite effective and difficult to break.

As the gravity vanished, the Mad Ghost felt lighter, but he was already a lamb ready for slaughter.

Rodney and Reiju were examining the Mad Ghost's equipment on the side.

"You're an assassin, so why do you carry bombs?" Rodney asked.

The Mad Ghost glanced at him and said, "I'm an assassin. It's reasonable to carry bombs to eliminate targets, isn't it? Sometimes, I read magazines while waiting for my targets. It's normal to pass the time, right?"

"Alright then. So, would you like to be my... um, crew member? By the way, what's your name?"

"I'm an assassin. Where would I have a name?" 

The Mad Ghost gave him a look and said, "Just call me the Mad Ghost."

Those in their line of work had long forgotten their own names.

"Alright then, I'll call you Connor. Connor Kenway. How about that? Or if you prefer, Ratonhnhaké:ton, you can choose one." Rodney's eyes sparkled; he felt like he'd made a great catch.

The Mad Ghost's mouth twitched, and he looked up at Rodney, saying, "If you defeat me head-on, I'll be your subordinate. Otherwise, don't even talk about it!"

"Interesting! Wait a moment; let me bury these people first. Leiku, move away, please."

He threw the Mad Ghost out, and Reiju and a few others moved far from the area.

"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"

The arena where the pile of corpses lay sank, and Rodney used Earth Release to fill the pit back up, burying those people. The medics on the side, who were tending to the wounded, were dumbfounded. There were still some people inside who could have been saved.

One of the purple-haired female medics wearing glasses among them pushed her glasses up and showed an interested smile...

Unfastening the Mad Ghost's shackles, he tested his arm movements and said, "I didn't expect you to actually release me. Aren't you afraid I might suddenly run away?"

Rodney chuckled and said, "I've always been one to win people over with kindness and logic. Take a good look, this is called 'kindness'!" He raised his left fist and then his right one, saying, "This is called 'logic'!"

Mad Ghost: "..."

Reiju couldn't help but facepalm. This guy was at it again.

But she had gotten used to Rodney's antics long ago, so she smiled and asked, "Captain, is there anything else you need?"

"Have Leicester prepare a grand feast to welcome our new member!"

"Alright. I'll leave now. Just remember not to let him lie in bed for too long, or Lester's dinner will have to be delivered to the hospital."

Rodney said and looked at the Mad Ghost, asking, "Are you ready, big brother?"

"Hmph! Your head will definitely be mine, Rodney!" 

Mad Ghost was prepared, holding a hand axe in one hand and a small knife in the other.

"Alright then, let's begin!"