Chapter 24 - CHAPTER 24 - Fury and the Little Girl Selling Wine

"Hey~" The assassin grinned wickedly. No matter how strong someone was, under the poison of his dagger, one strike was enough. Even the Seven Warlords of the Sea would not survive such a potent toxin. Just ten seconds, and the target would meet their demise. He was a well-known assassin from the South Sea, with a reputation for retreating safely even after failing to assassinate a king. He didn't believe that the martial forces surrounding a Warlord would be stronger than an entire kingdom. In the end, no matter how powerful a Warlord was, they were still just one person, and even the strongest would eventually make a mistake. After killing a Warlord, he would become famous. *Shh!* The assassin's dagger struck into Rosen's body, but just before the blade could pierce him, Rosen reacted in the nick of time. He instantly transformed into sand, scattering to the side. "Seeking death," Rosen's face darkened, the scar running across his face becoming more pronounced in his grim expression. If someone challenged him openly, he would not mind, but a sneak attack was another matter entirely. It was guaranteed to invoke murderous intent. "It's impossible! I clearly hit him!" The assassin was shocked. He had never encountered this before. While people from the North and West Seas might know about the powers of the natural-type Devil Fruits, this assassin had no idea. "Bind!" Rosen quickly manipulated the sand around him, wrapping it around the assassin's body, breaking his arm in an instant. He then tossed the poisoned dagger far away. If his reaction had been a moment too late, he could have been in real danger. This close call served as a stark reminder to Rosen: even seemingly weak individuals shouldn't be underestimated. They could pose a significant threat if they managed to land a strike. "Dammit," Daz Bones also scowled, his arm turning into a blade, ready to decapitate the assassin to quench his fury. However, Rosen's sand-formed arm blocked him. This one, Rosen would deal with personally. "Desert Prison," Rosen murmured. His sand-form body gathered the grains back together, slowly regaining its shape, but his palm remained firmly clutching the assassin's neck. He activated his ability. Before their eyes, the assassin's body rapidly shriveled up, the water in him being drained. The Desert Prison was one of the more dangerous abilities of the Sand-Sand Fruit—it could dehydrate someone, causing them immense suffering. While it wasn't instant death, the process would certainly be torturous. Seeing this, others who were contemplating action felt a chill run down their spine. Watching someone be drained of life force was unnerving, especially without any bloodshed. This ability alone made many uneasy. The assassin's terror-stricken face only further reminded everyone of the man before them: a Warlord of the Sea, a true pirate with strength and cruelty that were unmistakable. "Throw him out," Rosen said coldly, his anger barely contained. With a final squeeze, he dried the assassin completely and tossed him onto the floor. "Bones, get rid of him." Bones nodded, wordlessly dragging the lifeless assassin's body out, throwing him outside like a ragdoll. Before he even reached the door, the assassin had already perished from the severe dehydration. The tavern was now eerily silent. Some patrons, fearing that Crocodile might lash out next, quietly slipped away to avoid getting caught up in his wrath. However, others—while intimidated—remained, continuing to drink. It was clear they were uneasy, but who wouldn't be after witnessing such an assassination attempt? The majority of the Seven Warlords of the Sea kept their abilities well-hidden, and those who had studied the Three Main Devil Fruit Types understood that Rosen was a Logia-type user. But to the uninitiated, his abilities could easily be mistaken for something far darker. For the time being, it seemed like they could eat in peace. Rosen felt little emotion over the event. In this world, one might be forced to kill in order to avoid being killed. It was inevitable. However, this would not be the last time he took a life. He had already prepared himself for that fact. Not long after, Mr. 5 returned, bruised and battered, with a deep red scar across his arm. Seeing his condition, Rosen was slightly surprised and asked, "Lost?" "I won, boss," Mr. 5 replied, his voice strained. "But I realized I'm still not strong enough." It had been a narrow victory for Mr. 5, relying largely on the power of his Devil Fruit. Had it not been for that, he might not have been able to defeat his opponent, a criminal with a bounty of over 20 million. "Sit down," Rosen gestured for them to take a seat. Then, he picked up the bounty posters marked with information, scanning them one by one. "You have self-awareness, which is the foundation for growth," Rosen began. "In the past, you had a good Devil Fruit, but your arrogance and unwillingness to work hard were your weaknesses. Most importantly, you lacked belief." "But I want to stay by your side, boss. I want to grow stronger," Mr. 5 said, remembering the guidance Rosen had given him, a sense of care he had never felt before. "For what?" Rosen asked, his tone casual but thoughtful. "Everyone has their own reason for pushing forward. Whether it's belief, ideals, or some other motivation, it's what fuels people's efforts. Once you find what you truly want to do in this world, you can turn your dreams into reality with hard work." Mr. 5 fell into deep thought. Was becoming a firefighter his goal? It seemed like a possibility, but not quite right. Perhaps once he figured it out, that would be the moment of true transformation. "I'm following you, boss, because I want to witness the birth of something truly great," Bones spoke up, his voice resolute. He was clear on his purpose, even if deep inside, he still harbored dreams of becoming a "hero." Of course, everyone's definition of a hero was different, but his commitment to Rosen was unwavering. "You don't need to rush to find an answer. We have plenty of time to figure it out," Rosen said with a slight smile. "Let's eat first and go through these bounty posters. Who would've thought that a small tavern like this would have so many pirates with bounties over 100 million?" Rosen looked at the bounty posters in his hand, surprised. The highest bounty belonged to Bam, with 275 million Berries, from the New World. Then came Blido, with 130 million Berries, from the same region. Next was Anlin, with 120 million Berries. From the bounties, it was clear that Bam was no slouch, especially in the first half of the Grand Line, where few could rival him. His strength would make him a formidable opponent, even in the New World. "Anlin... Let's start by finding information on this one," Rosen decided, opting for the target with the lowest bounty. Given the weaker bounty, it seemed like an easier task to begin with. Anlin had been a pirate for many years in the first half of the Grand Line, notorious for his massacres of villages. His pattern was well-known—he always contacted the press before slaughtering an entire town, making sure his name was spread far and wide. He was a madman, willing to do anything for fame. As Rosen continued discussing the bounties, a little girl, around seven or eight years old, entered the tavern carrying a basket. In the basket was a single bottle of unopened red wine. She looked dirty, her hair matted and unkempt, and she limped as she walked. However, her eyes were unusually bright. She timidly glanced around the tavern, starting with the friendliest-looking people and trying to sell her product. Yet, most of the time, before she even reached their table, she was dismissed with a wave. She went from table to table, but couldn't sell her lone bottle of wine. Finally, she hesitated for a moment before walking toward Rosen and the others. They were the only table she hadn't approached yet. They looked fierce, and if someone like her ran into trouble, it was common for her to be beaten up, with no one stepping in to help. The tavern owner emerged from the kitchen. Seeing the little girl walking toward the Warlords' table, his face paled. (End of Chapter)