13 Chapter 13: Don't Say I Didn't Take Care of You

Lem found himself teetering on the edge of life and death, torn between grabbing his knife or fleeing for his life. Ultimately, survival instinct won out, and he carefully observed Vivi's subtle expressions, preparing to escape.

"Hey, don't run, buddy. We've come to find you," Vivi said.

As soon as her words fell, Mr. 9, who had been trying to act cool and show off, also recalled their mission. He wielded his metal bat in a display that he thought was impressive, making a whooshing sound as he swung it a couple of times. In Lem's eyes, however, this guy just seemed like a street thug.

Lem's gaze remained fixed on Vivi.

"Buddy, don't worry, we're not bad people. You know about Baroque Works, right? We're here to recruit you," she first compensated the tavern owner with 30,000 Berries for the damaged table and walls before turning to Lem and lowering her voice.

'You snatched my sword and nearly stabbed me to death, is this how you recruit people?' Lem felt somewhat displeased, but he didn't find it surprising. The world of pirates was incredibly chaotic and violent. It was common to have a fight first and then discuss terms. Vivi wasn't the first to employ such methods, and she certainly wouldn't be the last.

"You... you want to recruit me? What are the conditions then?" Lem asked.

"Oh hehehehe-" Vivi laughed brightly. "Look at you, in such a pitiful state, and still talking about conditions?"

Mr. 9 didn't know what she found amusing, but to maintain his image, he also looked up at the sky and laughed wholeheartedly.

Lem was bewildered by their laughter, unsure of what to say.

Vivi couldn't be bothered to toy with this fool any longer; it was time to send him on his way.

"Just you? Do you think you can negotiate conditions with Baroque Works? The organization values you, and yet you dare to ask for conditions in return?!" Vivi's tone became increasingly severe. "I didn't hear your words clearly earlier. Gather your thoughts and say it again!"

Lem finally grasped the distinction between Baroque Works, a top organization, and ordinary small groups. From the looks of it, he wouldn't receive any benefits, and he might even have to give something up? This was even more outrageous than freeloaders!

He glanced at his beloved sword, "Kashu," feeling reluctant to part with it.

But Vivi's next words revived his hope.

"Don't worry, the sword is still yours. I'm just temporarily holding onto it to test your character," Vivi said, imitating Nico Robin's businesslike tone. "However, Baroque Works also needs to see your abilities. We don't want any useless people!"

She then put on the appearance of a loyal Baroque Works supporter and continued, "We'll give you a mission. Only by completing this mission can you prove your abilities to the organization."

The concept of proving oneself existed in many organizations, so Vivi's request wasn't unreasonable.

Lem listened carefully to her following words.

Vivi pointed at herself and then at Lem. "The task I'm giving you is simple, but it's a tradition in our Baroque Works to grow stronger. Leave Loguetown and recruit three bounty hunters according to the list I have here. Develop them as your subordinates, and they can each further develop three subordinates of their own. The accomplishments they achieve will be considered your achievements. This will serve as an important driving force for your promotion within Baroque Works."

Lem thought for a moment. One person recruited three, three recruited nine, and then nine went on to recruit more. How many would that be? He seemed to grasp the powerful secret of Baroque Works, and his slight dissatisfaction quickly dissipated.

Vivi pointed at the list given to her by Nico Robin and said, "Don't say I didn't take care of you. It's probably difficult for you to recruit those well-established bounty hunters. Let me find three guys who have gained a bit of a reputation on this side of East Blue... Alright, found them. These three guys are not too far from each other, so you won't have to run around. It's them: Yosaku, Johnny, oh, and that guy called Roronoa Zoro. Recruit them into Baroque Works, and I'll acknowledge your abilities and return your sword."

She waved her hand and said, "Go now, make them your subordinates. Once you complete this recruitment task, your codename will be Mr. 11!"

Lem didn't notice any issues with the arrangement. Even higher-ranked seniors were performing recruitment tasks, so it wasn't beneath him to do the same. Recruiting three relatively unknown bounty hunters as subordinates seemed like an easy task indeed.

He could only consider his Meito, "Kashu," as a symbol of his generosity and left it in Vivi's care. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he set off alone on his boat, leaving Loguetown to recruit those three "relatively unknown" bounty hunters as his subordinates.

Leaning against a cool pergola, Vivi watched Lem's boat slowly disappear from her sight, nodding in satisfaction. Her method of "borrowing a knife to kill" might have been a bit crude, but the results should have been satisfactory. Given Roronoa Zoro's pride, would he have really become an underling to such a weakling? That would be nonsense! The probability of Mr. Lem never returning was as high as 90%, and Vivi happily accepted his Meito as her own.

After sending the unlucky fellow away, Mr. 9 continued to recruit bounty hunters according to the list, full of enthusiasm. Vivi had no interest in this matter, so she would take out the Meito "Kashu" and play with it. She didn't possess Haki to imbue the sword with, so the blackened blade remained a distant dream for her. However, with an abundance of free time on her hands, she decided to learn from the swordsmen she had seen on television. Taking a piece of white cloth, she meticulously wiped the blade, going over it again and again.

Occasionally, she would also go along with Mr. 9 to recruit new members, just to make her presence known.

...

"I'm sorry, but I'm living quite well in Loguetown. I have no desire to join any organization, let alone venture into the Grand Line. That place is simply too dangerous for me. My abilities are limited, and making a living in the East Blue is already my limit."

A middle-aged man with thick sideburns, wearing belts, suspenders, a cape, and carrying thirty handguns all over reachable places, resembling a cowboy, listened quietly to their proposal and then shook his head, declining Mr. 9's recruitment offer.

Mr. 9's face turned red, and he scolded loudly, "Dangerous? Old man! You have too little courage! A man should be bold and embrace challenges! Do you know what they call you in the bounty hunter circle? It's simply shameful! They call you 'Dadi the Father' because you only know how to take care of kids!"

Dadi remained unperturbed, his expression unchanged, his gaze neither pleased nor upset, as he calmly glanced at Mr. 9 and replied, "You're right, they're all correct. I am indeed the 'Dadi the Father' they speak of. I have little courage, and East Blue is safe enough for me. I have no intention of risking myself in the Grand Line. So, both of you can leave now."