One Piece: Fist of the World-Chapter 37: Zombie Man Genos

Tiger Shark Island

North District

It is the leisure and entertainment area.

The moment Rhodes and Neru stepped into the North District, a vibrant energy washed over them.

The entire block pulsed with laughter and boisterous chatter, punctuated by the occasional sharp crack of gunfire and piercing screams, creating a peculiar, unsettling liveliness.

"This is what they call free will."

Rhodes murmured, his words almost lost in the surrounding as he observed the scene before him.

Untethered by the World Government's control and unburdened by the oppression of nobles, the people here undoubtedly savored a form of freedom.

Absolute freedom!

However, absolute freedom also meant that the inherent greed and tyranny within people's hearts were no longer leashed.

The consequence was a brutal hierarchy where the strong held absolute power, and the weak were subject to their whims.

But such was the nature of the sea.

Therefore, Rhodes knew he had to be the one with the biggest fist, the one who ultimately controlled everything.

Neru's expression remained impassive, his understanding of this world's harsh realities running deep.

However, he harbored no grand ambitions to reshape it.

His sole purpose was to serve as Rhodes' unwavering right hand, assisting him in whatever endeavor he pursued, be it conquering or destroying the world.

"Over there!"

Neru pointed towards a tavern at the far end of the street, their intended destination.

Within its walls, he could sense several auras that radiated a significant level of power.

"Wait!"

Just as they were about to proceed, Rhodes abruptly halted, his gaze fixed on a man approaching from a side street. Judging by his trajectory, he was also heading towards the "North Sea Style" tavern.

This man exuded an air of competence.

He stood roughly 1.9 meters tall, clad in a long, black trench coat. His short, dark hair framed unremarkable yet regular facial features.

However, it was the unwavering determination blazing in his eyes that caught Rhodes' attention. Even from a distance, that intense will was palpable.

This is a person who, once he sets his sights on a goal, will pursue it relentlessly, stopping at nothing to achieve it.

Although he had never laid eyes on this individual before, a strong intuition sparked within Rhodes' mind.

This is the "Zombie Man" Genos that Baroque Works is trying to recruit.

Bang—

Kicking open the door of the "North Sea Style" tavern, Genos disregarded the startled gazes that turned his way. His eyes scanned the interior, a frown creasing his brow when he didn't immediately spot the mustachioed figure from Baroque Works.

"Lem! Get out here!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the tavern's clamor.

Mr. 11, who had been enjoying a convivial chat with Mr. 5, suddenly scowled. He quickly masked his displeasure, offering Mr. 5 a strained smile.

"Looks like we won't need to go searching after all. Zombie Man himself has arrived!"

As he spoke, the compartment door he had hastily forced shut crashed to the floor, revealing the three occupants to Genos's view.

"He came to us of his own volition. Could it be he's finally seen reason and wants to join us?"

Gazing at Genos standing defiantly in the tavern doorway, Lem, also known as Mr. 11, spoke with a sinister undertone.

If the other man agreed to join Baroque Works at this juncture, then Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine would reap the rewards without any effort.

"Don't waste your breath on such foolishness. Since you dared to resort to such despicable tactics, prepare to face my wrath."

"Despicable tactics?"

Hearing Genos's accusation, Lem was momentarily taken aback. However, he had no time to ponder the meaning. The next instant, Genos lunged forward, a one-handed axe materializing seemingly from nowhere, aimed directly at Lem's head.

Clang!

With lightning reflexes, Lem drew his sword, parrying Genos's lethal strike, his face contorted in a grimace.

Although their previous encounter during the recruitment attempt hadn't resulted in outright hostility, neither side had attempted to kill the other, leaving room for negotiation.

However, the ferocity of this attack was undeniably aimed at ending his life.

The terrifying realization dawned on him that the opponent might succeed.

With a desperate surge of strength, Lem shoved Genos back, stumbling two steps away, inadvertently placing Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine directly in the line of fire.

"Zombie Man, do you intend to become an enemy of our Baroque Works?!"

There was no time to analyze the sudden shift in the other man's aggression, nor to consider the implications for their recruitment mission.

Survival was now the paramount concern!

Mr. 5 also rose to his feet. Although his sunglasses obscured his eyes, his tense posture indicated that his full attention was now locked on Genos.

"Become enemies? That was your choice! Now, we are enemies until death! Either you kill me, or I will eradicate your entire organization!"

Genos produced a second axe, holding both weapons across his body, his gaze fixed and unwavering on the three figures opposite him.

He recognized the mustachioed swordsman among them, the one who had previously tried to recruit him. His strength was unremarkable, posing no significant threat.

The capabilities of the other two were unknown, but like Lem, they were also a male-female pairing. Were they also members of Baroque Works?

"You two are also members of the Baroque Works Society, correct?"

"I can hardly pretend I didn't hear that."

Without directly confirming Genos's question, Mr. 5, also clad in a long coat, his expression icy, stepped forward.

"To dare speak such insolence in the presence of a Chief Executive! To declare yourself an enemy of our company and vow to wipe us out!

I've encountered many like you. You've never truly experienced the vastness of the ocean, nor do you comprehend the world beyond your limited horizons. You've merely sailed around, so how could you possibly grasp the meaning of true strength?"

As he spoke, Mr. 5 rolled up his sleeves, revealing well-defined, muscular arms.

"Allow me to teach you a lesson, boy! Learn to respect the sea!"

With a sudden burst of speed, Mr. 5 lunged forward, his arm lashing out towards Genos with brutal force.

Reacting instantly, Genos raised an arm to intercept the blow, his expression remaining impassive.

The force transmitted through his arm was not overwhelming; the opponent's raw strength was not particularly remarkable.

Just as this thought registered, Genos noticed the subtle upward curve of the lips of the man in sunglasses who had attacked him.

The next moment, an explosion ripped through the air, accompanied by an instantaneous surge of heat. A powerful impact erupted from the point of contact between their arms, sending Genos hurtling backward.

Explode?!

His body flew through the air. Genos glanced at his arm, now riddled with holes from the blast. He registered the searing pain, yet his composure remained unbroken.

I didn't see any bomb concealed on his body, and with his apparent strength, he can't detonate an explosive at such close range without also being caught in the blast.

So, he's a Devil Fruit user!

Mid-air, Genos expertly twisted his body, landing on his feet with surprising agility. He once again held the two axes defensively across his chest. The wounds on his arm had already begun to knit themselves back together.

"I have always held a profound respect for the sea, which is why I simply desire to live a peaceful life in the North Sea."

Genos tightened his grip on the axe handles, veins bulging on his arms, his face a mask of cold determination.

"You are the ones who have truly lost all respect for this sea!"

The ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked, and Genos propelled himself forward with explosive force, swinging both axes in a fierce arc towards Mr. 5.