One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 169: Volume 2 – - 71: Kaidou’s Recruitment

"Wororororo..."

Kaidou's wild, echoing laughter rang through the gloomy prison.

It echoed...

And echoed...

And echoed...

For quite a while.

Then, gradually, the laughter faded—until it vanished completely.

The grin frozen on Kaidou's face started to stiffen.

Because the two battered brats in front of him—mangled beyond recognition—were staring at him with the kind of look you'd give a complete idiot.

Totally unmoved.

Kaidou: "..."

"You... didn't hear or sothing?"

He grit his teeth, eyes narrowing as his vertical pupils locked onto the barely-breathing Bullet. His tone turned feral.

"Douglas Bullet. I know you. I know exactly what kind of man you are."

"You were born in the Grand Line, in a place known as the 'Nation of Endless War'—Galzburg. But after being betrayed by your holand and your military commanders, you wiped that nation off the map in a fit of rage. Ever since, the World Governnt's been after you."

"The Marines already have their eyes on you. They even sent two 'monsters' to take you down..."

Kaidou glanced at Daren, then turned back to Bullet and continued, voice low and persuasive.

"There's no place for you on this sea anymore."

"Even if you survive this ti, next ti the Marines will send soone even stronger."

"Only I can offer you the protection you need..."

"Beco my subordinate. Neither the CP divisions of the World Governnt nor the Marines will be able to touch you."

"Well? What do you say?"

"Join my Beasts Pirates. I'll give you the title of All-Star. I know what you crave—battle, bloodshed, the pursuit of strength!"

"And I'm going to start the biggest war this world has ever seen. That battlefield will be the perfect stage for your power—let your blood paint the ground and make the whole world rember the na Douglas Bullet!"

Kaidou's voice rose with excitent, and his laughter rumbled again like distant thunder.

This guy's done his howork...

That was the first thing that ca to Daren's mind after hearing Kaidou's impassioned attempt to recruit them.

Kaidou might look like a reckless brute on the outside, but in truth, he was sharp and cunning.

In the original storyline, he manipulated Wano Country's shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, to destroy the Kozuki clan and seize control of Wano—a land rich in resources and nearly impenetrable, which he then turned into his military stronghold.

To lure in and recruit mbers of the Worst Generation, he even faked "accidental" encounters—like jumping off Sky Island in a suicide stunt—just to showcase his strength.

Daren's heart stirred slightly.

If Kaidou knew this much about Bullet's past, then his appearance on that island... might not have been a coincidence at all.

"Beco my subordinate, Bullet!!"

Kaidou extended his massive hand toward him.

But what he t... was a pair of scornful eyes.

Bullet, slumped like a broken heap against the wall, body mangled and breathing shallow, was grinning.

Blood-streaked teeth bared, his smile still held an undeniable pride.

"I refuse."

He sneered.

Kaidou paused, stunned.

"Why?"

His voice already carried a simring rage.

"Why?"

Bullet gasped for breath, each inhale like it was dragging him closer to death. His pale face twisted into a grimace, crimson eyes burning with demonic ferocity and defiance.

"Your presence and strength may surpass anyone I've ever faced... but this power isn't enough to make , Douglas Bullet, kneel!"

He let out a mocking laugh.

"My goal is Gol D. Roger!"

"Kaidou of the Beasts, strong as you are—are you stronger than him?"

Kaidou's expression froze.

His face shifted slightly before he simply turned his head away, acting as if he hadn't heard the question. He looked instead to Daren.

"Rogers Daren!!"

"I know you. I know exactly the kind of person you are!!"

Hey, hey... you're not even switching up the script?

Daren's mouth twitched in annoyance.

Kaidou, oblivious in the darkness, launched straight into another round of "persuasion," growing more fired up with every word, clearly regaining confidence.

"In the North Blue, you were known as nothing but scum—garbage!"

"Craving power, hoarding wealth, building your own army, lecherous and depraved... Soone like you is far better suited to be a pirate than a Marine!"

"Wororororo... Join , Daren brat!!"

"Whatever the Marines can offer, I can give you more!"

"Money, influence, an army, territory... and of course, more won than you can count! Whatever you desire—I'll make it yours!"

"I see it in your eyes... that fierce ambition!"

"And most importantly, as a pirate, you'll no longer need to hide behind so phony uniform. You'll be free to take what you want—boldly and openly!"

"No one will chain you down! You can destroy, conquer, seize, possess—"

"That is the ultimate freedom of a pirate! That is the true right of piracy!"

Kaidou's piercing, slitted eyes glead with a scorching intensity in the dark.

"Join ! The title of All-Star in the Beasts Pirates—it's yours!!"

"The open sea is waiting for you!!"

He stretched out a massive hand toward Daren, pride beaming across his face.

Daren stared at him, expression growing increasingly strange.

Gotta admit, Kaidou really doesn't discriminate—even Marines are on the recruiting list.

Then again, it kind of made sense... his own reputation wasn't exactly clean.

"I won't lie, everything you said... it's tempting."

Daren let out a long breath and spoke slowly.

Bullet gave him a surprised look.

"So... you're accepting?"

Kaidou's eyes lit up with anticipation.

A smile broke across his face.

"No. I refuse."

Daren shook his head.

Kaidou's smile froze.

"Why!? What's wrong with being a pirate!? Are those bad habits just an act!?"

His furious roar shook the prison walls.

"No, they're real."

Daren raised his head, voice calm and firm.

"Money, power, troops, land, won... I want all of it."

A few black lines popped up on Bullet's forehead.

"Then why!?" Kaidou growled through clenched teeth.

"...But I'd rather take them as a Marine."

Daren's eyes burned with unwavering conviction.

"That just makes it more thrilling."

Bullet: ...

Kaidou: ...

"You damn brat!! You're ssing with !!"

Kaidou froze for a mont—then the realization hit.

He'd been played.

An explosion of rage roared from his chest, shaking the very air. The pressure of his presence cracked the walls and iron bars.

"You're all ssing with !!"

He grabbed his massive kanabō, the "Hassaikai," in one hand. His vertical pupils blazed with crazed red light.

The mont he gripped it, the air around him crackled with black and crimson lightning.

Under the crushing force of Kaidou's Conqueror's Haki, Daren and Bullet both turned pale, their bodies swaying. Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

"Kaidou-sama! Calm down, calm down!!"

A huge, rotund figure stumbled into the room, panic written across his face as he clung to Kaidou's arm.

"With the state they're in, one hit from that thing and they'll drop dead on the spot!"

The plump man chomped on a cigar, flailing dramatically. He wore dark sunglasses and had golden hair tied into a bouncing whip-like braid.

...

(70 Chapters Ahead)

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