One Piece: Mandala Swordsman

Chapter 239 I'm not impervious to reason, I'm only receptive to reason.

The Shikai branch was utterly powerless against the great pirates of the New World.

Roman had no intention of asking Randall for help in the first place.

She genuinely doesn't care whether the other party cooperates or not.

Because this will only add unnecessary casualties.

To put it bluntly, Snow alone could easily destroy the Kingdom of Ingrid.

If Randall's branch were to infiltrate, it would simply be another casualty.

Snow would never have been so well-behaved if he hadn't wanted to avoid disturbing Red-Haired Shanks.

Otherwise, a large number of civilians would become bloody sacrifices as a symbol of their pirate glory.

Moreover, as ability users, they are also quite troublesome.

Zoan-type Devil Fruit users are incredibly resilient and powerful, possess amazing endurance and rapid healing abilities, and become even more formidable after awakening their powers.

As a great pirate in the New World, Snow should also know that Devil Fruits can awaken.

However, awakening the abilities of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users carries risks.

The jailer beasts of their Navy's Impel Down prison are an example of failed Devil Fruit awakening.

It has cows, rhinos, koalas, and zebras. If it had one more dinosaur, it could really be a zoo, the kind that charges admission.

The consequence of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user failing to awaken their powers is the complete loss of their human form, dulling of their mind, and becoming bloodthirsty.

However, they still retain some basic emotions and intelligence.

After training, they can distinguish between friend and foe and are used to keep watch over pirates.

Moreover, they have distinct personalities.

They can be aggressive (cow), grumpy (koala), introverted (rhinoceros), or shy (zebra).

In fact, the Navy is also secretly collecting these Zoan-type Devil Fruit users who failed to awaken their powers.

Because they are easy to use and obedient.

Animals are always more loyal than humans and are also easier to tame.

In other words, for the Navy, Zoan-type Devil Fruit users who fail to awaken their powers are essentially free labor.

Furthermore, Vegapunk has proven that Zoan-type Devil Fruits are the easiest to replicate.

Okay, then we'll increase our investment.

That's why Caesar was able to create SMILE.

Because this was the very topic the Naval Science Department wanted from the beginning.

That is to allow more Zoan-type Devil Fruit users to appear.

It was only because Caesar ultimately betrayed them, stealing a large amount of data, and the situation became increasingly complicated that the plan was shelved, which became Kaido's opening victory.

So Snow was arrested because he was unlucky.

He was merely a planned experiment by the Science Department.

Perhaps they also knew that Zoan-type Devil Fruit users were difficult to capture alive.

Moreover, there are quite a few living Zoan-type Devil Fruit users in the New World, so the complete order Roman received was that life or death didn't matter, but blood needed to be collected and handed over.

Moreover, since he is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, holding back would only cause trouble for himself.

We still need to give it our all.

……

"What a terrible guy." Snow cursed under his breath as he felt the pain in his body.

Her slashes were incredibly powerful, capable of piercing through her own tough skin.

Although it is slowly healing now, the pain is very real.

Snow actually had a lot of trouble with swordsmen.

Because their attack power is truly formidable.

However, his nearly forty-year career was not too bad. Although swordsmen were indeed troublesome, and there were guys everywhere who used swords as weapons, most of them could not cause him fatal wounds.

Swordsmen require a very high level of skill.

Although it is a common weapon, it requires a high level of talent.

Moreover, many swordsmen do not live long.

Because swordsmen are often pure-hearted guys.

In order to unleash the power of their swordsmanship, they devoted almost all their energy to attack.

In contrast, its defense is weak.

Go all out, regardless of the consequences.

This is Snow's view of ordinary swordsmen.

Therefore, many swordsmen are covered in wounds.

Besides his back, he also had numerous scars on his face, hands, legs, and chest.

They never bothered to cover up these scars.

Because this is an honor.

This is proof that they once fought against the strong.

In short, they have many strange and unusual rules.

So, despite not understanding, Snow did think they were very pure, even a little naive.

The idea of ​​dying in pursuit of the highest path sounds appealing, but death is death.

What you can obtain while you're alive is everything.

However, Snow didn't think there was anything wrong with these swordsmen.

After all, he can handle naive people.

However, the attack methods of the person in front of him had absolutely nothing to do with the swordsman's unique innocence and purity.

She's really not reckless at all.

Seemingly aware that her size was also a problem for her, she wisely kept her distance.

Use slashing attacks to inflict damage on yourself.

And she is very agile.

Snow discovered that he couldn't reach her with his massive body.

Her nerve reaction speed is quite impressive.

She's really mastered the art of distance combat.

What's even more despicable is that while dealing with herself, she was also maintaining control of the situation and didn't forget to help her subordinates.

Roman's fighting prowess is definitely not something that ordinary pirates can withstand.

They're not superhumans; they don't have that much health.

One hit and he was left with almost no health.

This also made Snow anxious.

"Is this how despicable it is for someone in the Navy?"

"There's nothing despicable about a battle between the Navy and pirates, and it seems there's even less of a bottom line in a battle between pirates."

"Then can you even be considered a swordsman? I don't see a trace of bloodlust in you. Come on, if you're so capable, fight me directly."

"Then you don't have to consider me a swordsman. And who says a swordsman has to be bloodthirsty? What's the basis of your definition? Open your mind, and you'll be able to accept a swordsman like me sooner or later."

"you……"

Roman's shrewd and experienced words left Snow utterly helpless.

They're completely impervious to reason.

However, if Roman knew, she would probably answer: Wrong, she only puts in oil and salt.

We're all seasoned veterans; let's see who's more seasoned today.

With that thought in mind, Roman unleashed another fierce slash.