Chapter 103: The Killer Is None Other Than The Nameless Swordsman, Ralph!
Ralph stopped trying to make sense of this world's bizarre logic.
Just then, Lufia picked up a large bundle filled with jewels.
The bundle was bigger than her, yet she seemed to carry it effortlessly.
"I'll move these back first! Hurry up, Ralph!"
Lufia cheerfully hopped onto the ship's railing, then leaped from the flagship back to the Merry.
The deck shook slightly upon her landing.
The moment her feet touched the deck—
A gunshot rang out.
The sound was particularly jarring across the gradually calming sea.
Lufia froze, turning to look in Ralph's direction.
"Ralph?"
She blinked.
"What happened?"
Ralph stood on the flagship's deck, holding a still-smoking pistol.
Before him, Nelson lay collapsed on the ground, a bloody hole in his fat head.
His eyes were wide open, his face frozen in a final expression mixing fear and venom.
His right hand hung limply at his side, fingers still curled around the trigger of an ornate golden pistol, its barrel also smoking.
"Nothing."
Ralph spun the gun in his hand, his tone flat.
"This fatso tried to ambush me."
He glanced at Nelson's corpse.
"Too bad his movements were too slow."
Indeed.
The moment Lufia jumped back to the Going Merry, a flash of malice had appeared in Nelson's eyes.
Seizing the moment when Ralph's attention followed Lufia, Nelson suddenly drew a concealed pistol from his coat, aimed at Ralph's back, and pulled the trigger.
But Ralph's Observation Haki had already detected his killing intent.
Just before the gunshot, Ralph had already turned and fired a counter-shot—
The movement flowed seamlessly.
Ralph looked at Nelson's body and sighed softly.
"He brought this upon himself."
As a Navy commodore, he had oppressed commoners, tyrannized villages, and extorted people's wealth.
In pursuit of an elusive dream of immortality, he had illegally imprisoned innocent civilians.
Worst of all, today, to cover his secrets, he had ordered attacks on his own colleagues, attempting to eliminate witnesses.
"Wouldn't it have been better to stay alive and face the government's judgment?"
Ralph shook his head.
"Had to go looking for death."
He took two steps forward, crouched down, and checked the body.
No breath, no heartbeat, pupils dilated.
Thoroughly dead.
"As expected," He stood up.
"In this world, the weapon with the highest mortality rate is still the pistol."
He looked at the gun he had taken from Nelson.
Golden patterns, white ivory grip, with a small ruby embedded in the barrel.
Very ornate.
Much prettier than Ralph's ordinary Navy-issued flintlock.
"Following the principle of 'a thief never leaves empty-handed'..."
Ralph weighed the gun in his hand.
"I'll take it."
He tucked the gun back into his waistband, then paused in thought before walking to the center of the deck.
Raised his right hand.
Armament Haki coated his fingers.
The blackened fingers resembled real carving knives.
Then, on the hard teak deck, he carved a line of text stroke by stroke:
"The killer is the nameless swordsman, Ralph!"
The characters were deeply engraved into the wood, edges clean, carrying a sharp sword-like intent.
Ralph stepped back two paces to admire his "work."
"..."
He stroked his chin.
"My bounty will probably increase again, right?"
As for why a "nameless swordsman" killed someone with a gun...
Don't dwell on such details.
When Ralph returned to the Merry, the remaining warships of the 8th Branch had already begun scattering like frightened schools of fish.
With the commodore dead and their commander gone, they no longer had any reason or courage to continue fighting.
The Going Merry turned its course and sailed toward the ruins of the dragon's nest around Warship Island.
"Welcome back, Ralph!"
Usopp was the first to rush forward, slapping Ralph's shoulder vigorously.
"I knew you'd be fine!"
Usopp's eyes were slightly red, "When I saw you fall into the sea earlier, I... I was almost scared to death..."
"Thanks, Usopp."
Ralph smiled and patted his back in return.
Then came Sanji.
The blond chef, cigarette dangling from his mouth, looked Ralph up and down before snorting.
"Still in one piece."
Sanji said, "No missing arms or legs, otherwise we'd be short-handed for cooking."
But Ralph noticed the fleeting look of relief in his eyes.
"Sorry to make you worry."
Ralph said.
"Who, who's worried about you!"
Sanji turned his head away, "I was worried about Miss Lufia! If you died, Miss Lufia would be heartbroken!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Then came Zoro.
The green-haired swordsman stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the mast, watching Ralph approach.
The two stared at each other for several seconds.
Then Zoro spoke:
"Where's your sword?"
Ralph was taken aback, "Just a broken sword, seems like I left it in the Calm Belt."
Zoro stared at him, "Hurry up and get a new one. You didn't even use a sword during the fight just now!"
His voice carried clear dissatisfaction.
"Using hands, feet, even a gun..."
Zoro's voice deepened, "Are you looking down on the way of the sword?"
Ralph was silent for a few seconds.
Then he slowly said:
"Have you heard of becoming one with the sword?"
—That means not using a sword."
Seeing Zoro stunned, clearly taken aback, Ralph patted his shoulder, "I'll share my latest insights with you when I have time!"
Zoro frowned, gave Ralph a deep look, then turned and walked away.
But the meaning in his eyes was clear: I'll make you draw your sword eventually.
Finally, Nami.
The Navigator was still immersed in the joy of the treasure. Seeing Ralph return, she just waved her hand.
"Welcome back! I'll settle accounts with you after I finish counting this treasure. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was just now!"
But the corners of her mouth were turned upward.
Ralph smiled too.
He walked to the bow of the ship and looked toward the increasingly close ruins of the dragon's nest.
"It's time to bring this adventure of mine to a close."
The Merry stopped at the edge of the dragon's nest.
The ancient rocks were covered with Sennenryu.
Some stood, some lay down, some were preening their feathers, some rested with closed eyes, while others called softly as if communicating.
Apis stood beside Ryu, and when she saw the Merry approaching, she immediately waved excitedly.
"Ralph! You're back!"
Ralph jumped off the ship, landing on the rocks.
Apis rushed over to give him a hug, but Ralph sidestepped and dodged.
Then, he walked toward an unfamiliar Sennenryu nearby.
It was a young Sennenryu, smaller than Ryu, with turquoise feathers and clear eyes.
It watched curiously as Ralph approached, not shying away.
Ralph reached out and gently stroked the feathers on its neck.
His movements were tender.
Simultaneously, the beast taming skill activated.
Not forced control, but friendly communication.
[Thank you for protecting our home.]
A vague "message" flowed into Ralph's mind.
Gratitude, trust, closeness.
Ralph smiled and continued stroking.
The Sennenryu comfortably narrowed its eyes, making a rumbling sound in its throat.
Then—
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Sennenryu "Aoba" has established a "Friend" relationship with the host.]
[Reward Obtained: Lifespan +5 years]
A warm current surged into his body.
Ralph's eyes lit up.
Just as expected.
He walked toward the next Sennenryu.
It was an older dragon, its feathers somewhat grayish-white, its gaze weathered.
Ralph similarly extended his hand, stroked, and activated his Taming skill.
[Thank you, human.]
[Ding!]
[Lifespan +10 years]
Next one.
[You smell very pleasant.]
[Lifespan +3 years]
And the next.
[Live to be a thousand years old, just like Ryu.]
[Lifespan +7 years]
Ralph was like a diligent little bee, moving through the dragon's lair, stroking each Sennenryu that had landed on the rocks one by one.
Beast Taming skill fully activated.
Combined with the baseline goodwill he had already earned from protecting the dragon's lair, almost every dragon established a "Friend" relationship with him within minutes.
System notification sounds rang out in his mind like firecrackers.
[Lifespan +1 year]
[Lifespan +5 years]
[Lifespan +3 years]
[Lifespan +8 years]
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