Chapter 18

"Hey, who are you?" The sailors on the merchant ship were immediately on guard when they spotted the two strangers. They couldn't afford to be complacent in the presence of unfamiliar faces.

"Get out of the way! We're in a hurry to unload the cargo!" a burly crew member barked in frustration, pushing Ron aside.

Swish!

In an instant, the glint of a blade split the crew member's body in two. Ron maintained his composure, scanning the crew of sailors who were frozen in shock. He spoke indifferently, "We're here to plunder."

When you want to establish control swiftly, a little force can be quite effective.

"Aaaa!"

The crew snapped back to their senses and scrambled to escape.

Swish, swish, swish!

Three more strokes of the blade and three crew members met the same gruesome fate. Blood sprayed, and they fell. Ron spoke coldly, "Anyone who tries to run will meet the same end!"

Suddenly, no one dared to flee, and they stood trembling in place.

"You... You're killing people again!" Tashigi stood behind Ron, not terrified by the gruesome scene, but shocked by Ron's merciless methods. This man didn't just kill, he was a ruthless killer. He was too brutal, wasn't he?

As a navy lieutenant, she has witnessed many killings, but Ron's methods went beyond the brutality of even the most wicked pirates.

Perhaps it was because Tashigi had spent too much time in this small town navy base, isolated from the ruthless piracy on the Grand Line. It could be described in one word, Savage. Some notorious pirate crews would even dare to confront entire nations.

Ron looked at Tashigi with a wry smile, "What, isn't it common for pirates to kill people?"

"You... Pirates are indeed a ruthless and savage lot!" Tashigi clenched her teeth, glaring at Ron with resentment in her eyes, but there was nothing she could do.

In the ship's cabin, the commotion outside didn't go unnoticed. A portly man emerged, scolding as he approached, "You scoundrels, what's going on here? Hurry up and unload my cargo; I've got a schedule to keep, and if it's delayed... Well..."

Ron paid no attention to the fearful look in the fat man's eyes. He approached, holding a sharp longsword to the man's forehead, and spoke calmly, "If you want to live, steer this ship and take me to another island. If you refuse, you can join these crew members." Ron gestured toward the dead sailors on the deck with a nod of his chin.

"I promise, I promise! Set sail immediately!" The fat man quivered, glancing at the mangled crew members on the deck, and urgently shouted, "Raise anchor and set sail, now!"

"Very good, compliance is admirable" Ron said with a soft smile, looking pointedly at Tashigi.

"You..." Tashigi gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, but she couldn't do anything to stop Ron.

After a while, the merchant ship departed, leaving Logue Town behind and sailing out to sea.

In Logue Town, Captain Smoker found a communication device and called the navy base. Fuming with rage, he reported Ron's actions and urged the base to assist in eliminating this wicked pirate.

On the merchant ship, the perspiring fat man cautiously inquired, "Mighty pirate lord, where should we be heading? Please let us know the destination so that the helmsman can chart the course."

Ron pondered for a moment. He wanted to find Nami, but he had no idea where to start. If he sailed directly to Nami's hometown, it could be a wild goose chase. Nami might be wandering the East Blue, stealing and trying to amass enough money to free her village.

"Head for the island where Syrup Village is located," Ron finally replied.

"Syrup Village..." The fat man thought for a moment before recalling the location of this small village. He immediately ordered the helmsman to change course, and the merchant ship steered towards Syrup Village. The ship's owner was eager to reach their destination as quickly as possible, to ensure that this formidable pirate would depart. One more day in his company meant one more day of danger.

"What business do you have in Syrup Village?" Tashigi asked, furrowing her brow. She couldn't fathom why this menacing pirate would be interested in such a remote place.

Was he planning to take her there and sell her off?

It seemed likely!

Tashigi's suspicions flared, and she glared at Ron.

Ron raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle. "What's with that look? You think I'm going to sell you?"

"Are you not really planning to sell me?" Tashigi panicked.

"Haha, you really think so!" Ron found her reaction amusing and chose not to respond further.

His purpose in visiting Syrup Village was for Kaya, a character from the early days of Luffy's pirate adventures. Kaya was a charming girl who lived in Syrup Village and was Usopp's friend. Usopp, an orphan, had no parents, and his father was a sniper on Red-Haired Shanks' ship. Usopp later became a member of the Straw Hat Pirates with a substantial bounty.

However, Ron had no intention of kidnapping Usopp. He had no need for additional strength, he had decided that the other members of his pirate crew would all be female, except for himself. Otherwise, having a group of beautiful women with just a few men would be a recipe for disaster in the future.