Chapter 227 Marco and Squard
After adding fuel to the "you chase me and I escape" game between Kaido and Crocodile, Rod put aside the report from Genos and the others.
From the intelligence obtained before, Crocodile and his crooked subordinates mixed with Moriah.
Although it is hard to describe the subordinates of both of them, Crocodile and Moriah have improved a lot after returning to the New World.
When Kaido brought his men to Dressrosa before, Crocodile and Moriah took the opportunity to board the country of Wano and fought a big battle with the remaining members of the Beast Pirates, and seemed to have a slight upper hand.
Not only that, it is said that Kaido's daughter Yamato also left with them.
Not to mention the subordinates of Crocodile and Moriah, the combined strength of the three of them alone is already the strongest force under the Four Emperors.
However, this is exactly what Rod wants.
In the first half of the Grand Line, he drove Moriah and Crocodile into the New World just to let them muddy the water.
Putting aside the things over there for the time being, Rhodes focused on the last team that went out this time.
The team of Bonis and Weber.
The two of them went to an island called Urukum.
Urukum is a winter island, covered by wind and snow all year round. Unlike Drum Island, in addition to several towering peaks, there are still some habitable areas on Drum Island.
As for Urukum, the entire island is covered with jagged rocks, and the natural environment is extremely harsh. Except for the small town near the sea, there is almost no place suitable for living.
The only thing worth mentioning is probably the blacksmiths there.
Although the environment in Urukum is harsh, the blacksmiths there are highly skilled and have forged weapons of the "good and fast sword" level more than once, and they are also well-known in the surrounding waters.
The skills of those blacksmiths are also an important supplement to the current Rhodes Pirates.
···
On the coast of Urukum Island.
A ship flying the Rhodes flag came to the shore, and Bonis and Weber brought some members of the security company to the island.
"The environment here is so comfortable!"
The cold wind was howling, and everyone, including Bonis, was wrapped in thick clothes, only Weber, who was naked from the waist up and only wore shorts on the lower body.
Bonis glanced at Weber slightly, and said nothing.
After the destruction of the Don Quixote family, all their devil fruits were obtained by the Rhodes Pirates. At that time, Captain Rhodes took out all those fruits and let Weber choose freely.
In the end, Weber chose the natural system [Snow Snow Fruit].
Although this fruit may not be the most suitable for Weber, Weber, who has experienced the reign of Enel, is impressed by the power of the natural system.
As a user of the [Snow Snow Fruit], Weber himself is like snow, so how could he be afraid of the severe cold of the winter island wind and snow?
Weber's wings swayed slightly, and the snow and wind falling from the sky were instantly driven by him, spinning slightly around his body, and Weber's own body turned into snow and wind and dissipated.
"Go over there."
Seeing Weber turned into snow and wind and dissipated on the spot, Bonis led the remaining members to the town.
In addition to obtaining the security agreement of this town, one of the purposes of this operation was to let these newly recruited members exercise.
Huh——
Just as Bonis led his subordinates forward, the snow and wind on the island suddenly became violent.
The snowflakes falling from the sky were spinning at high speed. With the place where they were as the center, a powerful blizzard was brewing, and then expanded at a very fast speed.
"Too exaggerated."
Bonis took a look at the blizzard that seemed to swallow the entire island.
Natural system, this is the natural system!
The natural system can be transformed into the elements of nature, and can also drive the elements of nature to fight. If the natural system devil fruit ability user is in a suitable environment, the increase in combat power is very terrifying.
On this island with snow all year round, Weber's power was amplified to the extreme.
Weber turned into snowflakes, driving the blizzard to sweep across the island, and a touch of emotion rose in his heart.
The natural devil fruit allows him to turn into nature and drive nature, just like the power of God.
Enel thought like this at the beginning.
The face of Enel suddenly flashed in Weber's mind.
The man who controlled lightning, was arrogant, and claimed to be a god.
The next moment, Nelu's cold face appeared in his mind, which made Weber calm down instantly.
Even as strong as Enel turned into a devil fruit and was eaten by Nelu. His own [Snow Fruit] was obtained after killing the original owner, so he must not be proud.
Calming down his head that was heated up because of the great increase in power in a suitable environment, Weber controlled the storm on the island to gradually subside, and then appeared directly in front of a tavern in the center of the town.
When he turned into snow just now, he had already checked the situation. Most people on this island were concentrated in this small town.
And the tavern in front of him was the favorite place for most people in the town to stay in snowy weather.
Bang——
The door of the tavern was pushed open by Weber, and the blizzard rushed into the tavern while the door was open, blowing the door of the tavern against the wall.
As if sensing some kind of atmosphere, the people in the tavern suddenly turned their heads and looked at Weber.
Dark skin, fierce face, and fancy tattoos on his body.
Even on the island of Urukum, which is covered with ice and snow all year round, this man only wears a pair of shorts.
"A warrior from the outer sea. I haven't seen a warrior as strong as you for a long time!"
The owner of the tavern spoke first, smiling, and then took a cup and poured a glass of strong liquor.
"No matter what you come to the island for, have a glass of strong liquor to warm your body first."
The sturdy and bearded tavern owner pushed a large glass of strong liquor forward and motioned Webber to sit down and have a glass.
Webber walked forward, drank the strong liquor, and then turned his head to look at the people in the tavern.
"I am a subordinate of Tyrant Fist."
Scanning the people in the tavern with his eyes, Weber first revealed his identity.
"This island will be our territory from now on. Whoever has the final say, send a representative to sign the security agreement."
"Ba Quan?"
The tavern suddenly became quiet, and the originally lively atmosphere suddenly cooled down, even colder than when the blizzard came before.
"It's really not that easy."
Weber looked at the people in the tavern who were ready to fight.
As a town that can make high-quality weapons and survive in the New World for so many years, the bravery of the blacksmiths here can be imagined.
"Security agreement?"
"We don't rely on that kind of thing to ensure our safety."
A sturdy man stood up, put the wine glass in his hand hard on the table, and looked at Weber with a grim smile on his face.
"It's relying on your own fists!"
The next moment, figures stood up one after another.
···
On the other coast of Urukum.
Two ships were moored on the shore.
Many ragged laborers were moving boxes piled on the coast to the boats on the coast. These laborers were covered in dust and dirt. Even in the blizzard, they were only wearing clothes that barely covered their bodies.
A tall man stood on the coast. His upper body was extremely strong, and his two thick arms were bulging high, revealing strong muscles.
This was [Iron Arm] Mako, a pirate who once roamed the New World. When Roger dominated the Grand Line, he had already ventured into the New World.
However, as he got older, the old friends he met at the time gradually withdrew from the stage. The faces he saw on the sea became more and more unfamiliar, leaving less and less space for the remnants of the last era, and Mako also chose to retire.
And the island he chose to retire to was his hometown, Urukum!
Urukum was originally just a sparsely populated island. Because of the wind and snow that covered it all year round, even the pirates who passed by would not stay for long.
It was not until Mako returned to his hometown that he discovered by chance that Urukum, which he thought was a deserted island, actually had a large amount of minerals!
The part that has been quietly mined so far has already brought him a rich return.
Mako also knew that with his strength, if the true situation on Urukum Island was exposed, he would not be able to keep this wealth by himself.
So he carefully mined the minerals here, reconnected with the former pirate crew, destroyed several pirate groups and merchant ships, and brought all the people on the ship to Urukum to mine ore.
These people he captured were like slaves, imprisoned on the island by him for him to drive.
And his former crew members were re-convened by him, one of them was responsible for managing these people who were called miners but were actually slaves on the island, and the other was responsible for transporting and selling the mined ore.
Relying on the rich mineral reserves of Urukum, they lived a more chic life than when they were still galloping on the sea.
"Captain Marco, the cargo has been loaded."
A man with slightly gray hair and a huge sword on his back came over.
"Thank you for your hard work, Swayne."
Marco looked at his deputy captain, [Great Sword] Swayne, and patted him on the shoulder.
The other party was his most loyal subordinate, and he was when he was on the sea, and he is still now.
"Go and come back soon, our friends will come today, and I am waiting for you to come back and hold a banquet together!"
"Yes!"
Swayne nodded heavily, then turned and left, leaving with two large ships full of cargo.
Watching the two ships leave, Marco seemed to see a ship of wealth waving to him.
When he was young, he liked to venture on the sea, going through wind and rain, and although he also robbed a lot of wealth, it was much worse than now.
Pirates? Mining makes money faster!
Marco turned and left, looking at the group of laborers walking slowly into the mine, frowning slightly.
The younger brother who was observant of the situation immediately whipped up the whip and drove those people to hurry back to work.
Looking at the people trotting back to work, Marco nodded with satisfaction.
They were wasting his time and his wealth. What kind of words are they procrastinating and dawdling like this?
···
"Hahahaha, I really envy pirates like you who can sail freely on the sea!"
In a huge restaurant, [Iron Arm] Marco held a huge wine glass in his hand and linked shoulders with a bald man beside him.
"Brother Marco, you are a pirate with a bounty of 464 million berries! Your bounty is still hanging on my pirate ship!"
The bald man had a spider tattoo on his head. When he spoke, his tongue stuck out of his mouth uncontrollably, making Marco always worried that his sharp teeth would bite off his tongue.
Next to this bald man, there was an unusually large knife.
"I'm old, no one has heard of my name now, and no one will respect me as an old guy. I'm just thinking about enjoying my old age in Urukum.
Luckily, I have you, Scuyard. If it weren't for your reputation, Urukum wouldn't have such a stable environment."
Marco took the wine barrel next to him and insisted on filling it up for the bald man Scuyard himself when he refused.
"You are my brother forever! Although I am old now and can't lift a sword very well, as long as you need me, Squard, no matter what the situation is, even if I risk my life, I will fight side by side with you!"
"Brother Marco!"
Hearing Marco's words, Squard was moved to tears and drank the wine glass in his hand.
"Brother Marco, you should join the Whitebeard Pirates! Whitebeard will protect all of us and will not be bullied!"
Putting down the wine glass in his hand, Squard grabbed Marco's big hand, full of tears and sincere emotions.
Thinking back to the past, when his pirate group was defeated by Roger and he was drifting with a few pieces of driftwood, it was Brother Marco who saved him and gave him a chance to live.
And after that, when he was wandering on the sea like a lonely ghost, it was Whitebeard who accepted him, cheered him up again, gave him the same warmth as his family, and gave him the courage and hope to live.
If Brother Mako can also join the Whitebeard father, everyone can really become a family.
In this way, with the flag of Father Whitebeard, Brother Mako will no longer be threatened.
Everyone knows what it will be like to attack Whitebeard's family. Therefore, in the New World, no one dares to attack the islands under the protection of Father Whitebeard's flag at will, and no one dares to easily attack Whitebeard's family.
Even the other four emperors or the navy dare not!
"No, I'm old and have lost the courage to continue to challenge this sea. There is no need to mention joining the Whitebeard Pirates."
Mako refused again and again.
In the world of pirates, there is also morality.
If he really joins the Whitebeard Pirates, when the Whitebeard Pirates conflict with others and need to fight, he must also participate.
If he is afraid to move forward, he will be spurned by everyone.
He originally chose to retire because he was tired of the fighting and killing in the pirate world, so how could he choose to join the Whitebeard Pirates again?
Not to mention, now that there are mineral deposits deep under Urukum, he also has a steady stream of wealth, so how could he choose to continue to be a pirate?
It's good as it is now.
Everyone in the New World knows that the Great Whirlpool Spider Squad is a pirate group under the command of the Four Emperors Whitebeard, and this island of Urukum, which has little oil and water, is a place that Squad often visits. Squad often says to the outside world that Urukum is the territory he cares about.
Although Mako did not join the Whitebeard Pirates and did not borrow Whitebeard's pirate flag, who would be so blind as to provoke him.
"Of course, as I said before, Squad."
Sensing Squad's loss, Mako grabbed Squad's arm with sincerity in his eyes.
"As long as you need me, I will stand by your side and fight with you!"
"Brother Marco!"
Squard was moved to tears again, holding Marco's arm tightly, and patting his chest with his other hand.
"Don't worry, as long as I am here, no pirates will invade Urukum and disturb your peaceful life!"
Boom! !
A violent sound came from the town, and even Squard and Marco could clearly feel the shock.
Squard was slightly stunned, and then his whole face quickly turned red. He grabbed the big knife beside him, stood up suddenly, kicked open the door, and walked outside with his big knife, looking in the direction of the town.
"Which blind bastard is causing trouble in Urukum!"
