Transmigrating into One Piece: The Peerless King

Zhao Hai glanced at the two obstructive junior sailor "guards" on either side and gave the order.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

……

……

When Roronoa Zoro heard that Zhao Hai was sent by Young Master Helmeppo, he assumed that Young Master Helmeppo was keeping his promise to release him, and his originally gloomy eyes immediately reflected a glimmer of hope.

When Zhao Hai walked up to him, he could no longer contain his joy and asked excitedly, "Were you sent by Young Master Bellume to let me out?"

"Ok?"

"What an innocent child!"

"How have you managed to survive to this age in a world overrun by pirates?!"

"If it weren't for Straw Hat Luffy's rescue tomorrow, I might not have realized until my death that I had been played by that idiot Helmeppo from beginning to end!"

When Zhao Hai heard Roronoa Zoro ask such a childish question, the answer of which could be known with a simpleton's toe, he couldn't help but sigh that this guy was just as clueless as Straw Hat Luffy!

"You don't still naively believe that arrogant young master will eventually let you go, do you?"

Although Zhao Hai didn't want to discourage Zoro's naive heart any further, his tone still contained a hint of teasing.

"what?"

"You weren't sent by young master Bellemere to release me!"

"Even if I hold out, that bastard Bellmare won't let me off the hook in the end!"

"That bastard... what does he value reputation for? Unforgivable!"

"Ah ah ah ah ah……"

Zoro's hopeful gaze narrowed instantly upon hearing Zhao Hai's words, and boundless rage surged from him, gradually spreading throughout his body...

spread……

Finally, Zoro clenched his teeth and fists in anger, his whole body trembling.

Even the joints throughout his body were making crisp "crackling" sounds as the trembling intensified.

"However... although I wasn't sent by that idiot Helmeppo to release you, I did come to rescue you—it was my own decision."

Seeing Zoro's fury, Zhao Hai decided not to provoke him any further, since they were destined to become Luffy's crewmates.

"Ok?"

Zoro was puzzled by Zhao Hai's inconsistent tone and the fact that he didn't recognize the boy who had suddenly appeared in front of him and claimed to be saving him. This was a naval base, and saving someone was extremely dangerous.

"why?"

Why did you risk your life to save me?

Zoro stared intently into Zhao Hai's eyes, asking "why" twice in a row. He wanted to glean the answer he sought from Zhao Hai's gaze.

Unfortunately, at this moment, Zhao Hai's mind was at peace, and his eyes were calm and clear, like a still lake without any ripples.

"Killing someone might require a reason, but..."

"But do you really need a reason to save someone?"

Zhao Hai tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, mimicking the words of Conan from the anime, and looked at the sky with an incredibly pretentious air, responding in a calm and profound tone.

He wasn't speaking to anyone in particular; it was just so natural, as if it were an answer to Zoro's question, or perhaps a questioning of his own heart.

"Killing someone might require a reason, but what reason do you need to save someone?"

After hearing Zhao Hai's words, Zoro did not respond immediately, but instead carefully pondered what Zhao Hai had just said.

a long time.

Zoro finally responded, saying, "Saving people doesn't really need a reason. I was overthinking it."

"it is good!"

"Tomorrow a kid in a straw hat will come to the naval base and cause a ruckus. Tonight I will untie your ropes and then find a way to bring your three swords out and give them to you."

"You just need to wait until tomorrow when things get chaotic and then leave in the confusion!"

Zhao Hai didn't waste any more words and went straight to the point about his plan.

Then he simply swaggered away with two sailor "guards".

However, when he left, he walked with an arrogant, pigeon-toed gait, looking every bit like a petty person who had gained power.

He was completely different from the man who had spoken with profound wisdom and was incomparably majestic just moments before.

Zoro, who was tied to the cross, grimaced for a long time.

……

"Hehe... First step, contact with Zoro successfully completed!"

Thinking about how Zoro had been stunned by his long lecture, especially how Zoro seemed to have grasped the "philosophy of life" with his worldly-wise eyes, Zhao Hai felt quite pleased with himself.

"I laughed triumphantly..."

"I laughed triumphantly..."

"..."

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Chapter Nine: The Highest Art of "Theft"

"Xiao Hai, what's making you so happy?"

Zhao Haigang, accompanied by two sailor "guards," arrived at the dining hall of the naval base from the execution ground, where he saw that guy Bellumber sitting at a luxurious table by the main entrance, enjoying his meal.

This lavish dining table was likely prepared specifically for the high-ranking officers at the naval base.

Zhao Hai noticed that only Bellemere was sitting there eating, while the other naval sailors were crowded together at the ordinary dining tables around the perimeter.

The naval base's main hall is spacious enough to accommodate the entire navy personnel for meals.

"Hehe... Young Master is indeed discerning; nothing can escape his eyes."

"I just gave that bounty hunter, Zoro, a good lesson for daring to offend you, young master. I remember his pitiful screams just now."

"I felt that I had done something practical for you, young master, and that I was able to do things for you. So I was so happy that I couldn't help but laugh out loud."

Zhao Hai spouted nonsense, then turned to the two sailor "guards" behind him with an air of importance and said, "You must have heard that too!"

"Yes!"

"We definitely heard Zoro scream just now!"

"..."

"Okay, Xiao Hai, let's have a meal together!"

When young Master Bellume saw that his two trusted confidants had said so, he figured it must be true, and he felt a little more favorably toward Zhao Hai.

"Thank you, young master!"

After thanking Young Master Bellume, Zhao Hai didn't stand on ceremony any longer, sat down at the table, and began to wolf down his food.

After drifting at sea for more than ten days, and eating mostly fish and shrimp from the sea, I had been longing for rice from the shore for a long time.

Seeing these plump, glistening grains of rice again, Zhao Hai could no longer resist the urge to savor them.

……

"Young Master, I'll go check the security measures around the naval base. Although it's a naval base, there's always the possibility of desperate criminals accidentally breaking in!"

Patting his round belly, Zhao Hai made up an excuse and left with his two lackeys.

Zhao Hai did indeed say he was going to check the security measures at the naval base, but of course, he wasn't there for the safety of young master Bellemere. Instead, he wanted to get a clear picture of the situation so he could take action that evening.

Otherwise, the naval base would be so big.

At night, it's pitch black, and we can't even tell which way is which. How can we talk about stealing Zoro's sword? So this preliminary reconnaissance work is very necessary.

……

As the sun sets and the moon rises, night falls, and the entire town of the naval base falls into the deep slumber of the long night.

Seeing that the long-planned opportunity had arrived, Zhao Hai summoned two "guards" to his room early in the morning to await orders.

It was past midnight.

Unlike typical thieves, Zhao Hai was not dressed in all black.

Instead, dressed smartly and swaggeringly, he led two sailor "guards" toward the room where young Master Bellemere kept Zoro's sword.

It wasn't that Zhao Hai didn't want to act alone, but rather that he realized he had wandered around the entire naval base several times.

But upon returning to his lodgings, he found that his mind was still a complete mess regarding the layout of the entire naval base—he had no clue whatsoever.

If they didn't know the way, surely the two sailors who lived here as "guards" couldn't know the way either?

So, in the end, Zhao Hai had no choice but to be straightforward and directly asked the sailor "guard" sent by young master Bellume to lead the way.

"Hmm... that idiot Helmeppo should be asleep by now!"

Zhao Hai arrived at the door of young master Bellumeber's room, leaned close to the doorway, and listened carefully to what was happening inside.

"You two stay outside and keep watch. I have important matters to discuss with Young Master Bellemere. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

Zhao Hai lowered his voice and instructed the two "guards" beside him.

Zhao Hai had planned to leave after completing the upgrade and unlocking mission, so he didn't care if anyone investigated him later.

Zhao Hai swaggered in through the door.

However, as he took his steps, he secretly used the Fish Leap Transformation Technique to control his pace, trying not to make too much noise and wake up that fool, Young Master Bellemere.

Zhao Hai looked around and scanned the room of young master Bellemere, quickly getting a general idea of ​​its layout.

but……

It was quite dark, and although a few silvery moonlight streamed in through the window, Zhao Hai could only make out the general layout of the room at his limit.