Rem narrowly escaped death.
He hesitated between grabbing his sword and turning to run, but his survival instinct ultimately prevailed.
He stared closely at Vivi’s subtle expressions, preparing to flee.
“Hey, don’t run, brother.
We’re here to find you.”
As soon as Vivi finished speaking, Mr.
9, who was busy acting cool, remembered their mission.
He swung his iron rod around like a street performer, the air whistling as he waved it twice.
He thought he looked quite imposing holding the rod, but in Rem’s eyes, this guy was just a thug.
Rem’s gaze remained fixed on Vivi.
“Brother, don’t worry, we’re not bad guys.
You know Baroque Works, right?
We’re here to recruit you…” Vivi first paid the tavern owner 30,000 Berries for the damaged table and wall, then looked at Rem and lowered her voice.
First you steal my sword, then you almost stab me to death.
Is this how you recruit people?
Rem was somewhat dissatisfied, but he wasn’t surprised.
The pirate world was extremely chaotic and violent.
Beating someone up first and then discussing terms was actually quite common.
Vivi wasn’t the first to do it, and she wouldn’t be the last.
“You…
you want to recruit me?
What about the terms?” Rem asked.
“Oh, hehehe—” Vivi laughed radiantly.
You’re in this state, and you still want to negotiate terms?
Mr.
9 didn’t know what she was laughing at, but to maintain his own coolness, he tilted his head back to the sky and laughed along with full Aura.
Rem was bewildered by their laughter, feeling flustered and not knowing what to say.
Vivi couldn’t be bothered to tease this fool any longer; it was time to send him on his way…
“Just based on you?
You want to negotiate terms with Baroque Works?
The organization values you, and you actually want to turn around and demand terms from the organization?!
I didn’t hear what you said clearly just now.
Organize your words; I’ll allow you to say it again.”
Vivi’s tone grew increasingly stern.
Rem realized the difference between a top-tier organization like Baroque Works and a typical bush-league outfit.
Judging by this, not only was he getting no benefits, but did he have to pay something instead?
This was even worse than getting ripped off!
He looked at his famous sword, “kazuhou,” his eyes full of reluctance.
But Vivi’s next sentence restored his hope.
“Don’t worry, the sword is still yours.
I’m just keeping it for you temporarily, and by the way, testing your capacity!”
Vivi imitated Nico Robin’s business-like tone and said: “However!
Baroque Works also needs to see your ability.
We don’t take trash!”
She said, looking like a loyal supporter of Baroque Works: “We are giving you a mission.
Only by completing this mission can you prove your ability to the organization.”
Demanding a pledge of loyalty is common in many organizations; Vivi’s request wasn’t excessive.
Rem listened carefully to what she had to say next.
Vivi pointed to herself, then pointed to Rem: “The task I’m giving you is very simple, and it’s also a tradition for how Baroque Works grows stronger…
You leave Loguetown, and according to my list, go recruit three Bounty Hunters and develop them into your subordinates.
In the future, they can each develop three more subordinates.
Your subordinates, your subordinates’ subordinates, and even your subordinates’ subordinates’ subordinates—the merits they earn can all count as your own achievements.
This is an important driving force for your future promotion within Baroque Works.”
Rem thought about it: one develops three, three develop nine, nine develop more—how many would that be?
He seemed to have grasped the secret to the strength of Baroque Works, and his initial dissatisfaction quickly dissipated.
Vivi pointed to the list Nico Robin had given her: “Don’t say I didn’t take care of you.
Those long-established Bounty Hunters would probably be hard for you to recruit successfully.
Let me find you three guys who just gained a little fame here in the East Blue…
Hmm, found them.
These three guys aren’t too far from each other, so you won’t have to run all over the place.
Let’s go with them: Joseph, Johnny, and this guy called Roronoa Zoro.
You recruit them into Baroque Works, and I’ll acknowledge your ability and return your sword.”
She waved her hand: “Go!
Make the three of them your subordinates, and your entry mission will be considered complete!
By then, your codename will be Mr.
11!”
Rem didn’t notice any issues with this.
Seniors with higher rankings than him were doing recruitment tasks, so it wasn’t shameful for him to do it too.
It was just recruiting three obscure Bounty Hunters; the task really didn’t seem difficult.
He could only leave his famous sword, “kazuhou,” with Vivi as a sign of his capacity.
After saying a few polite words, he sailed away from Loguetown alone to recruit those three “obscure” Bounty Hunters as his subordinates.
Vivi shielded her eyes with her hand, watching Rem’s boat slowly disappear from sight, and nodded with satisfaction.
Her “borrowed knife to kill” method was a bit crude, but the results should be fine.
With Roronoa Zoro’s pride, would he become a subordinate to such a rookie?
Don’t make me laugh!
The chance of Mr.
Rem never returning was as high as 90%, and she would gladly accept the famous sword “kazuhou.”
After sending off the unlucky guy, Mr.
9 enthusiastically continued to recruit Bounty Hunters according to the list.
Vivi had no interest in this; whenever she had time, she would take out the famous sword “kazuhou” to play with it.
She was “polishing the sword.” Without Armament Haki, there was no chance of making a Black Blade, but she had plenty of time now, and since she was idle anyway, she imitated the swordsmen on TV, taking a white cloth and wiping the blade over and over again.
Occasionally, she would just go through the motions and follow Mr.
9 out to recruit newcomers to show her presence.
…
“Sorry, I live very well in Loguetown.
I don’t want to join any organization, and I definitely don’t want to go to the Grand Line.
That place is just too dangerous for me.
My abilities are limited; making a living here in the East Blue is already my limit.”
A middle-aged man with a thick beard, dressed like a cowboy, with thirty pistols hanging from his belt, suspenders, cloak, underarms, and everywhere else within reach, listened quietly to their terms, then shook his head and refused Mr.
9’s recruitment.
Mr.
9’s face flushed red, and he shouted: “Dangerous?
Uncle!
You’re too timid!
A man should be brave enough to take on challenges!
Do you know what they call you in the Bounty Hunter circle?
It’s simply a disgrace!
They say you’re just Daddy, who only knows how to take care of kids!”
Daddy remained calm, his gaze neither happy nor sad.
He glanced at Mr.
9 with a flat reaction: “That’s right, they’re all correct.
I am Daddy, who takes care of kids.
I am very timid, the East Blue is very safe, and I have no intention of going to the Grand Line to take risks.
You two can leave.”