One Piece Gunslinger

“There are too many suspicious points, and they’re all too obvious.” Long took a sip of tea and continued, “From the moment we disembarked, you were actually trying to keep us here, and you kept leading us to your tavern. Although we don’t know your purpose, you only mentioned it after the villagers left, so you probably didn’t want others to know.”

"Huh, is that so? Have we fallen into a trap?" Ivankov finally realized what was happening.

Since the dragon had seen through him, Li Ang was quite straightforward. He directly admitted, "I brought you here for no other reason than to have a question I want to ask."

Anyway, none of that matters. The next step is the main event in Li Ang's plan: whether he can join the Revolutionary Army, or even rise to a leadership position immediately after joining, instead of starting as a private. It all depends on whether the dragon will take the bait.

"Oh? Another question, but please ask," Long replied. While saying this, Long also admired Li Ang and thanked him for the delicious food. However, if asked about confidential matters, he could only evade the question; the secrets of the Revolutionary Army could not be revealed lightly.

As the saying goes, true feelings are fleeting, while clever tactics always win hearts. With Long's words in mind, it was now Li Ang's turn to perform.

Li Ang also held a cup of hot tea and sat down opposite the dragon.

He asked, "I saw your ship during the day, and noticed that it was decorated with a divine dragon, with the dragon's head as the figurehead. You must know something about dragons."

"Know a thing or two."

"Does the gentleman know about the transformations of a dragon?" Li Ang continued to press.

Long was puzzled as to why Li Ang had suddenly asked this question, especially since the person asking was clearly well-versed in such matters and was simply asking a question he already knew the answer to. Unsure of the implication, Long could only reply with lingering doubt, "I would like to hear the details."

"A dragon can be large or small, can rise or hide. When large, it stirs up clouds and mist; when small, it conceals its form. When rising, it soars through the universe; when hiding, it lurks within the waves." At this point, Li Ang stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

"After Roger's death, on this sea, dragons changed their forms, just as people who achieved their ambitions roamed the world freely. Dragons are comparable to heroes of the world."

Having said that, he turned to the dragon and continued, "You have all traveled far and wide, and must know the heroes of our time. Please tell Li Ang about them."

After listening, Ivankov laughed loudly, "So that's how it is! There are many heroes on this sea, such as..."

However, he was interrupted by Long's wave of his hand. After listening to what he had just said, Long knew that these words were not spoken by an ordinary person in the air, so he couldn't help but think more highly of the young man in front of him.

Moreover, Long had a premonition that this conversation would be very interesting, and that it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He didn't want Ivankov's vulgar words to interfere, so he interrupted him and said to Li Ang, "Although I have traveled far and wide, the heroes of the world are elusive and rarely appear. It is truly rare to meet one."

"Hehe." Li Ang chuckled, "Even if I haven't seen his face, I've heard of his name."

At this point, Long stopped making excuses and replied directly: "Garp the Iron Fist is incredibly strong; he is approachable and well-liked; few can rival him; even someone as strong as Roger can match him; he has repeatedly cornered people; his prestige in the military is unparalleled; as a lieutenant general, he is close to becoming a general; if he hadn't been unwilling, he would have been promoted long ago; can such a hero be considered a hero?"

Li Ang thought to himself, "Goodness, he brought up his father right off the bat. But, sorry."

Li Ang shook his head and said regretfully, "Garp, Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Rayleigh, Zephyr, Whitebeard—these people are all in their twilight years. Even the longest-lived tortoise has its end. These old men are nearing the end of their lives. Some, like Sengoku, are diligent and hardworking, but are already exhausted and overwhelmed. Others, like Garp, are just drifting through life, indifferent to current events, enjoying their retirement. They are not heroes."

"Oh?" Long was surprised that the unassuming young man had such insights.

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Anyone who could utter such words was no ignorant child. Coupled with the previous description of the dragon's transformations, it made them wonder about his identity.

Ivankov was about to explode and question Leon's identity and purpose, but was stopped by Big Bear next to him.

Composing himself, Dragon continued, "Admiral of the Marines, Magma-Magma Fruit; Sakazuki, known as Akainu; a ruthless soldier, merciless; Meteor Volcano, capable of destroying the heavens and the earth; the bane of pirates, having vanquished countless thieves; possessing immense strength, having repeatedly performed extraordinary feats; even the most powerful pirates cannot escape his fangs; upholding justice, impartial and incorruptible; eliminating countless evils; unparalleled in the Marines; a force of justice, a pillar of strength; such heroic figures, can they be called heroes?"

Unexpectedly, after Li Ang sat back down, he shook his head and said, "Iron-blooded soldiers are too ruthless; they don't ask questions or distinguish right from wrong; innocent civilians also suffer as a result; their soldiers also suffer as a result; those who rely on force only know force; they have a sense of justice, but what is justice? What is justice, and what is evil? If they don't understand this, they will ultimately be puppets; the so-called Akainu are gatekeeper dogs; they are obsequious and subservient to others; the World Government is their master; at a single command, the loyal dog obeys; they are accomplices to evil and help the wicked; they are not heroes."

Dragon's interest grew even stronger. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Hawkeye Mihawk; the greatest swordsman, a hero of the seas; wielding the black sword Yoru; a supreme grade sword; with this sword, Hawkeye has defeated everyone under heaven; alone in a small boat, he roams the world freely; seeking only one worthy opponent, he searches the four seas for a worthy adversary; the only one who can rival him is the Yonko Shanks; standing alone at the summit, he surveys all the mountains below; such a terrifying figure is truly a hero!"

Li Ang shook his head and said, "So what if my swordsmanship is the best in the world? At best, I'm just a lone swordsman seeking the sword and pursuing the martial arts. I haven't achieved any great feats in my life; I'm only admired for my superb swordsmanship. On this vast sea, I can't be considered a hero."

This series of answers was unexpected for both Dragon and the others. After a moment of contemplation, Dragon asked, "Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, is enormous; possesses the Soul-Soul Fruit, which steals lives; has numerous children, each an elite; rules over all nations, where various races coexist; deeply entrenched in the Grand Line; a headache for the government, an incompetent navy; arranges marriages everywhere, recruiting many talented individuals; is only one step away from becoming the Pirate King; second only to Roger, she is a hero?"

But Li Ang continued to shake his head and laughed, “The Four Great Queens are just fat women; the so-called 'Ten Thousand Nations' are nothing but plunder and robbery; the island's inhabitants have short lifespans; they are forced into marriages, their methods are despicable; their husbands are all victims; they have no true love, and they are angry with gods and Buddhas; it is truly laughable and not worth mentioning.”

After laughing, Li Ang picked up the tea on the table, brought it to his lips, and saw if Long had anything else to say.

Ivankov finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Leon boy, first you said Sengoku and Garp weren't heroes, then you said the Marine Admirals weren't heroes, and then you said the Seven Warlords of the Sea weren't heroes either. You even made the Four Emperors seem insignificant. You've belittled them all, so what heroes are left?"

This time, Xiong didn't stop them, because Xiong now thinks the same way. They've mentioned one representative person after another, all saying they weren't heroes. So what exactly is a hero?

Ivankov wanted to say something more, but this time Long interrupted him, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Apart from that, I really know nothing."

Li Ang stood up, laughed a few times, and then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp. "A hero is one who has lofty ambitions, the spirit to swallow mountains and rivers, the capacity to encompass the whole country, and the heart to embrace the four seas! He shoulders justice, saves the people from suffering, and relieves the people from their dire straits."

He then placed the teacup heavily on the table.

"The only heroes in the world are you revolutionary soldiers here!"

P.S.: Attentive readers may have noticed that only the section where Li Ang talks about the older woman rhymes. I spent a whole day writing this chapter; it's not that I didn't want to make everything rhyme, but the workload was simply too great. Please forgive me.

Chapter Five: The New Official Takes Office

"Bang!"

This was the sound of the teacup falling from the dragon's hand, the spilled tea wetting the dragon's clothes without the dragon even realizing it.

Li Ang remained in the same posture, placing the teacup heavily on the table. The revolutionaries stared intently at Li Ang, who had stood up. His small frame resembled that of a towering giant, deeply impressing them.

For a moment, the scene was extremely quiet.

Li Ang did not break the silence, remaining as before, quietly waiting for everyone to come to their senses.

"To save the people from suffering? To rescue them from dire straits? That is what makes a hero?" The dragon murmured these words softly.

“I see. Now I understand why we deviated from the course and ended up here today.” Long Meng looked up and stared at Li Ang with expectant eyes, asking, “Do you want to join the revolutionary army? Be our chief of staff.”

Li Ang slowly withdrew from his posture, a smile appearing on his lips; "With pleasure."

"Ding! Mission successful. Congratulations on successfully setting sail and completing the first small step. Rewards have been sent to your backpack."

Short-range shotgun: The most basic wooden shotgun, with a short effective range, a wide attack range, and extremely high damage at close range. Power: 4.0, Magazine capacity: 6.

The original pistol's power was 1.0, but this one has doubled! Unfortunately, due to its limited range, it can only be used in close combat. It's worth mentioning that, like the pistol, it comes with 6 bullets. Including the 15 bullets from the reward, it has a total of 21 bullets, giving Li Ang, this poor kid, a real sense of having hit the jackpot.

The next morning, on the coast, the final farewells were taking place.

“Fran, you’ve almost mastered my skills. You just need a lot of practice. From now on, the tavern is in your hands.” Leon reached out and patted Fran on the shoulder.

"Uncle Luke, take a proper rest every day and don't overwork yourself. Fishing is all about luck, so go home early."

"Hey, Aunt Susan, I only need two eggs. You should take this whole basket back. I'll have plenty of good food and drinks when I get there."

"No need to see us off anymore. Go back and get busy. We're about to set sail."

Li Ang smiled and said goodbye to each villager. After living there for two years, they were all familiar faces whose names he could recall, so it was natural to feel a little reluctant to part ways.

"Oh, right. If anyone asks about me in the future, just say you don't know me. After all, what I'm about to do might offend a lot of people." Li Ang added as a final reminder to them not to get involved with him.

That's an overreaction from Leon. If they can't find this place, then there's nothing to discuss. If the World Government is determined to cause trouble, it's only a matter of time before they find out.

After setting sail, Ivakov found Leon at the stern. Leon was lying on the stern, watching the island grow smaller and smaller, lost in thought.

"Li Ang, first time sailing, right? The longing for home is a common feeling for every sailor. It's a little sad at first, but it'll be fine later. You can come find me when you're feeling down~" Ivankov suddenly stretched his big face in front of Li Ang and winked at him.

Li Ang was so startled that he almost fell to the ground. Not only was his face large, but that blink almost made Li Ang think Ivankov was about to use his blinking magic on him.

"Damn it, people can scare each other to death, okay? Suddenly a huge face. And don't blink suddenly, that's really scary." Li Ang yelled at Ivankov, still shaken.

However, Ivankov didn't care at all, and patted Li Ang on the shoulder, saying, "Li Ang, boy, don't worry about these details."

As a result, one slap sent Li Ang crashing to the ground.

"Huh? I didn't use much force. You're not that weak, are you? I always thought you were very strong when Dragon invited you to be his chief of staff." Ivankov looked at Li Ang lying on the ground in surprise.

“Alright, Ivankov.” At this moment, Xiong stepped in to defuse the situation. “Dragon invited him to be chief of staff not because of his strength, but because our revolutionary army currently lacks a wise general like Sengoku Tsurugi.”

“Strength can be cultivated, but intelligence is much harder to improve.” After saying that, Xiong glanced at Ivankov.

Ivankov ignored Leon on the ground and immediately rushed to the bear, slapping it in the face: "Ah, damn it, did you mean I'm stupid? Big bear, explain yourself clearly, is that what you meant?"

Xiong ignored him, pushed aside Ivankov who was blocking his way, and then asked Leon, who was getting up, "By the way, what is your ability? I noticed that your guns and the things those people gave you are not on you."

After standing up, Li Ang stretched his body and answered with the answer he had already prepared: "I have an ability to put things into my body, but the space is very small, only about the size of a backpack, so I can't put many things in it."

Then, after thinking for a moment, he continued, "But this shouldn't be a Devil Fruit ability. I can still swim. I had amnesia before I was rescued by Maple Village. I don't know why I drifted here, nor do I know where this ability came from."

At this point, Li Ang asked Da Xiong, "The Revolutionary Army should have a team of scientists, right, to conduct various research and such?"

Xiong shook his head and said, "Don't even mention a team, we don't even have a single scientist."

"What! There isn't one? I'm truly impressed," Li Ang sighed.

They had originally hoped to take over from the Revolutionary Army; even if they couldn't replicate or modify Leon's firearms, making some bullets would have been nice. The fact that they couldn't was quite unexpected. It seems the Revolutionary Army will only realize the importance of science and technology when they try to establish a connection with Vegapunk.

"Alright then, let's have a meeting when we get back to base so I can understand the current situation and then we can decide on our next course of action."

"Huh? Leon, do we really need a meeting for something this trivial? We've always done a pretty good job, there's no need to make a big deal out of it," Ivankov said, dissatisfied.

Fortunately, Xiong spoke up for Li Ang: "Since Li Ang is now the chief of staff, then we should listen to his decisions."

“However.” Hearing this “however,” Li Ang’s heart skipped a beat, “It’s fine if we talk about this beforehand, but if after a period of time there are no results…”

Seeing the "tyrant" bear staring at him with "kind" eyes, Li Ang felt immense pressure. It's terrifying; the city is full of traps. I want to go back to the countryside.

Li Ang understood that even when Zhuge Liang first arrived, he had initially displeased Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and it took three fires to win their hearts and minds. The world of One Piece was even more brutal, a world where might makes right.

Chief of Staff like Sabo basically got his position through merit; even Koala said he often acted recklessly. But he had the ability; when in doubt, he'd act impulsively, and in the end, no matter how reckless he acted, he could always resolve the situation through his strength.

In contrast, even if our Li Ang reached the limit of human strength, in the world of One Piece where there are many powerful people, he is just a weakling who was slapped down by Ivankov.

Even though the firearms in Resident Evil are very powerful, and some characters can take down a dozen henchmen with just a small pistol, they still face problems with a lack of ammunition and funds.

Xiong's attitude also reveals that there are many people in the revolutionary army who are dissatisfied with Li Ang, but they keep their dissatisfaction to themselves because Li Ang is the chief of staff personally invited by Long.

Xiong understood that Long invited Li Ang because he needed his wisdom, but understanding was one thing, but for Li Ang to gain Xiong's and others' recognition of the position of chief of staff, there was still a long way to go.

Chapter Six: The Strongest Enemy

As mentioned before, Li Ang put on a big show in Fengfeng Village, which won Long's favor and allowed him to barely get the position of chief of staff, which was the second most important position in the revolutionary army.

Because Long forcibly promoted him, people were resentful. In this world where strength reigns supreme, it's inevitable that resentment would arise. Perhaps even Long himself had reservations, which is why he indirectly presented Li Ang with this difficult situation.

If Li Ang fails to produce any results after a period of time, it would be only natural to remove him from his position as chief of staff, given the calls from many senior cadres.

So when Leon arrived at the Revolutionary Army's headquarters in Baldigo by ship, his first problem arose.

"Huh? You're the new chief of staff? You look pretty weak." As soon as Li Ang stepped off the ship, a little kid dressed in a black tuxedo and wearing a black top hat stopped him.

"I've made up my mind, I'm going to challenge you! If I lose, the position of chief of staff will be mine." The little brat took off his hat, revealing short golden hair, and shouted at Li Ang.

That familiar attire, that familiar voice, and the steel pipe gripping his back—Li Ang was extremely troubled. This brat was the most difficult person to deal with in the entire revolutionary army.

If it were an ordinary revolutionary army, given that Li Ang was Long's appointed chief of staff, they wouldn't lash out in the short term, no matter how dissatisfied they were.

This fearless brat is really troublesome; he can even attack a dragon directly.

That's right, the person blocking Li Ang's way was none other than Sabo, the future Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army and the second of the three troublemakers.

"Sabo, you're being incredibly rude! How could you challenge the Chief of Staff to a duel?" Kera, who was standing next to Sabo, quickly pulled him back. If Kera hadn't been there to stop Sabo, he probably would have already been swinging a steel pipe at him.