Chapter 411: Zoro's Resentment
During her time in Loguetown, Kuina had also heard of Zoro's reputation as the "Pirate Hunter" Zoro.
Although Zoro, hindered by his masculine pride, didn't often come to Loguetown to see her—well, of course, it might also be due to his directional disability preventing him from finding Loguetown... In any case, although Kuina hadn't seen him, she was still very happy about Zoro's achievements.
Kuina had always been keeping an eye on news about Zoro, and she also knew that Zoro's entry into the pirate hunter profession was largely thanks to the guidance of Johnny and Yosaku, connections left behind by Brother Ian. Kuina saw nothing wrong with Zoro following the path Ian had once taken, because in both their hearts, Ian was their role model.
However, Kuina never expected that not only had Zoro become a pirate hunter like Senior Brother Ian, but he had also now, in a similar fashion, turned into a pirate! The only difference was that Zoro had become a pirate much earlier than Senior Brother Ian.
Senior Brother Ian had only become a pirate out of necessity after entering the Grand Line, but by then, he already had enough strength to protect himself against the powerful Marines!
What did Zoro have now?
Especially since it seemed he hadn't formed his own pirate crew but had joined someone else's crew. This...
For some reason, Kuina felt quite angry. She thought Zoro was too impulsive.
So, upon receiving Smoker's orders, Kuina didn't hesitate for a second and set off with him.
She wanted to see for herself what kind of pirate captain could make her little brother abandon his identity as a pirate hunter and go to sea as a pirate!
She wouldn't interfere with Zoro's choices and path, but if Zoro had entrusted himself to the wrong person, then as his senior sister, it was her duty to correct things...
It must be said that the three of them—Ian, Kuina, and Zoro—always cared deeply for each other. Kuina's feelings for Zoro now were the same as Ian's feelings for her back then.
As they set out, Tashigi, wearing her glasses, looked up at the sky and said, "The weather is very muggy. There might be a storm soon."
"Stop with the nonsense, hurry up and follow!" Smoker said without looking back.
The three of them quickly led the Marine soldiers to the execution platform square. Due to the large crowd of onlookers, the Marines could only surround the area first, while Smoker and the other two entered a building near the square, climbed to the upper floor, and observed the scene below.
What they saw first was the pirate Buggy pinning Luffy's neck and hands to the execution platform, announcing that he would be executed.
"I see, it's a dog-eat-dog fight between pirates," Smoker muttered disdainfully, puffing on his cigar.
"S-should we attack immediately?" a Marine soldier asked Smoker.
"Idiot, what's the rush?" Smoker said, crossing his arms. "This is called 'pirates fight, Marines win.' Listen up, once that Straw Hat's head hits the ground, we'll capture Buggy and his crew in one fell swoop. That guy caused trouble at this execution platform square before, but he escaped last time. This time, we'll definitely catch him!"
"Yes, sir!" The Marine soldiers quickly stood at attention and saluted.
Kuina remained silent on the sidelines, but she was staring at Luffy. She had also figured out that this guy called Straw Hat was Zoro's captain.
Really, that idiot with the green algae head, Zoro, how could he have such poor judgment? He found a captain who was just as much of an idiot? And it looked like he was about to die...
Good. If Straw Hat died, Zoro probably wouldn't be a pirate anymore.
On the execution platform, Buggy was still unaware that the Marines had surrounded the area. Stepping on Luffy's head, he said, "Anything else to say? I'll give you a chance to leave a final message."
Luffy pouted for a moment, then suddenly shouted loudly to everyone in the square: "I am... the man who will become the Pirate King!!!"
However, his words didn't shock the people; instead, they found it somewhat amusing.
As residents of Loguetown, these people knew very well that the Pirate King, Roger, had been executed on this very execution platform 22 years ago. And this Straw Hat brat, not knowing his place, not only shouted this phrase here but was also about to be killed. What an irony!
Buggy also found it amusing, but he didn't think too much about it. He raised his knife, ready to strike Luffy.
Just then, Zoro and the others arrived. Seeing that Luffy was about to be killed, they quickly shouted, "Hold the knife!"
Zoro's appearance startled Kuina. Looking down through the window upstairs, she saw Zoro and a blond man in a black suit desperately rushing toward the execution platform to save Luffy.
"That idiot!" Kuina couldn't help but clench her fists. She knew that by making such a move in front of the Marine soldiers, Zoro was effectively branding himself as a pirate. Once Straw Hat died, Smoker would definitely order his arrest too.
It was too late. Zoro and Sanji were held up by Buggy's men and couldn't reach the execution platform. Luffy understood this too and couldn't help but grin at Zoro and Sanji, saying, "Sorry, I'm going to die!"
Not only was Smoker shocked by this scene, but even the people of Loguetown were stunned.
Just like the Pirate King Roger back then, Luffy was also smiling at the moment of death!
Boom! Just as everyone thought Straw Hat was about to be killed by Buggy, a thunderclap suddenly roared in the sky. A massive bolt of lightning streaked across everyone's vision and struck straight down at the execution platform!
That fool Buggy, with his knife raised high, had turned it into a lightning rod—or rather, a lightning attractor—and was instantly struck by the lightning!
The execution platform was also hit, collapsing in flames and black smoke.
Buggy was completely paralyzed and charred by the lightning, but Luffy, being a rubber man, was completely unharmed. Amidst the stunned gazes of countless people, a straw hat drifted down, and the unscathed Luffy picked it up.
Before everyone's eyes, Luffy had cheated death, and at that moment, the sky began to pour with heavy rain.
Seizing the opportunity, Zoro and Sanji took Luffy and fled.
"Hey, Lieutenant Commander Kuina!" Smoker said without turning around, biting his cigar, "Have you ever seen a pirate smiling on the execution platform?"
Kuina was also deeply shocked and couldn't help but shake her head.
"Just like the Pirate King Roger, who was executed 22 years ago, Straw Hat also smiled!" Smoker felt a cold sweat run down his back. For some reason, he vaguely saw Roger's shadow in Straw Hat Luffy.
Catch him! I must catch this kid! A voice in Smoker's heart kept telling him.
"Kuina, Tashigi! You two go ahead and chase the Straw Hat Pirates!" Smoker said. "I'll deal with the Buggy Pirates and catch up immediately!"
"Yes, Captain!" Kuina and Tashigi saluted, gripped their swords, and rushed out.
The Marines were on the move. Meanwhile, in the square, the Buggy Pirates and Alvida had just set off to chase Luffy when Smoker arrived. Turning his arms into smoke, he bound Buggy and the others completely.
The unfortunate Buggy Pirates were tied up in a circle by the Marines with ropes, captured in one fell swoop.
"Get my motorcycle ready! Which direction did Straw Hat go?" Smoker asked.
Upon learning that the Straw Hat Pirates were heading toward the west port, Smoker mounted his smoke motorcycle and set off.
At the same time, Tashigi, who had gone ahead, took a shortcut and blocked the path Zoro and the others were fleeing on.
Sanji had seen Kuina before at the Baratie restaurant, and since Tashigi looked very similar to Kuina, he was startled when he saw her appear.
"Damn, that woman is very strong!" Sanji said as he ran.
However, Zoro didn't think so. He had seen Tashigi earlier in town when he was buying swords. At first, he thought she was Kuina and was shocked, but then he realized she wasn't.
So when Tashigi appeared, he charged at her with a slash, telling Luffy and the others to go ahead.
But just then, Kuina also appeared. Luffy and the others tried to rush past, but she slashed the ground in front of them, creating a trench that blocked their path.
"Zoro!!!"
Kuina called out to Zoro from a distance.
Zoro was in the middle of fighting Tashigi when he saw another identical person appear and was completely dumbfounded.
"Ku... Kuina!?"
"Wow! They look so alike!" Luffy looked back at Tashigi, then forward at Kuina, and asked Zoro, "Do you know them?"
"Shut up!" Kuina pointed her Wado Ichimonji at Luffy's nose and shouted, then said seriously to Zoro, "Zoro, are you going to sea as a pirate with this idiot?"
Luffy foolishly asked Sanji beside him, "Who is she calling an idiot?"
Sanji couldn't help but cover his face. She's talking about you!
Zoro forcefully swung his sword, pushing Tashigi back, and shouted back at Kuina, "What business is it of yours who I go to sea with!?"
"Following this idiot will get you killed!" Kuina yelled.
The two of them started arguing as soon as they met, as usual, but this time it was worse. Hearing Kuina's words, Zoro also exploded. Pointing his sword at Kuina, he said, "Why are you the same, treating me like a child!? He set out to sea before me, and you did too. You're both already walking your own paths. Now it's my turn, and you want to stand in my way?"
Zoro actually harbored a bit of resentment. With two such outstanding senior siblings as Ian and Kuina, the pressure on him was immense...
From these words, Kuina could hear Zoro's discontent. She was only concerned about him, not trying to hinder him from achieving his dream. So Kuina fell silent.
And then, that idiot Luffy had to draw attention to himself. Frowning and holding his straw hat, he said discontentedly, "Hey, could you please move aside? We need to get through!"
Kuina suddenly turned her head and fixed her gaze on Luffy. Then, with a flick of her right wrist, she swung Wado Ichimonji down toward Luffy's head!
"Let me measure you and see if you have the strength worthy of Zoro entrusting himself to you!" Kuina thought to herself.