One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 13 I am also a good person [Seeking follow-up reading]

"I don't have the specific identity yet. I don't have any matching information on hand."

The tall, thin swordsman wearing a white fox mask shook his head. "However, a beggar at the dock saw him get off a passing cargo ship the night before yesterday."

"I bumped into the Sakuraba family brat just to trick him and get the qualification to participate. It was just a coincidence."

"A blind nobody."

The middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious attire, picked up his coffee cup and gently stroked the sides. "Then let him enjoy the same treatment as the Sakuraba brat. Put more difficult guys in his group."

"Yes, boss."

…………

The line at the registration desk was very long.

While waiting, Xia Nuo looked around idly. After a while, he suddenly noticed a curved wall on the north side of the square.

The emblems of the seven gyms were lined up on the wall, but in the middle there was a large, awkward blank space.

If you look closely, there seem to be signs of repainting.

"There should have been a Sakuraba emblem painted there before."

"Yes." Junyi nodded sadly, "There were actually two patterns that were erased. One was the emblem of our Sakuraba Dojo, and the other was that of the Kendo Guild."

"Kendo Guild? Was it also founded by your father?"

"Not exactly. To be precise, it was together with several other gym leaders. My father played a leading role and was later elected and became the guild leader."

Xia Nuo tutted his words. "It sounds like your father was very prestigious. I heard you say that after his death, the Sakuraba Gym was subjected to all kinds of pressure and attacks. I thought it had caused some public outrage."

"Maybe he feels that I am not worthy of taking over the position of director." Junyi smiled bitterly.

"Oh, here you go again! I told you to stop wasting time, kid! ...By the way, you mentioned before that your father died in an accident five years ago?"

"Well, it was a shipwreck."

Junyi nodded, a look of reminiscence on his face. "That day happened to be a few days before the Kendo Tournament. There was a storm in the sea north of the island, and the guild received a distress signal saying that two ships carrying participating swordsmen had capsized."

"My father happened to be working at the guild that day. He put down his Den Den Mushi and rushed over with his men to rescue them. He was accompanied by several brothers from the Sakuraba Gym, but in the end... none of them made it back."

Shanuo was silent for a while.

"Your father is a good man." He sighed, "Unfortunately, in this ocean, good people don't always get good rewards."

"..." Junyi didn't know what to say. After a while, he whispered, "Thank you."

Shano patted him on the back.

"Oh, there's something strange."

Junyi remembered something again and looked at the row of gym badges over there.

"Back when the guild was still around, there was a place for everyone to discuss things, and the adults would often argue with each other. When the disciples from the gym ran into each other on the street, they would often be dissatisfied with each other and would issue challenges to each other to compete for ranking."

"On the contrary, after the guild was abolished, the seven gyms gradually began to work together as one, like a family. For example, the new rule requiring a fee to participate in competitions was immediately implemented as soon as the news got out among the public. I haven't heard of any arguments or opposition."

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. He slapped his head in frustration, "Ah~, I feel like all my brain cells are burning out. Anyway, it's really weird, it doesn't make sense at all..."

As close as a family?
Xia Nuo fell into deep thought, when suddenly he felt a start at the back of his head, as if he realized something. He turned around abruptly and squinted his eyes at the coffee shop not far away.

There were crowds of people at the first-floor entrance, but no one was on the second-floor balcony.

His sharp gaze roamed up and down, finally locking onto a certain place - on the round table near the balcony railing, there were two cups of coffee that had not yet cooled down, still emitting wisps of steam.

"What's wrong?" Junyi asked curiously.

"fine."

Xia Nuo shook his head slightly and looked away. He looked at the team ahead, which had already shrunk by half, and said with a smile:
"Let's not talk about that for now. It's almost time for us to draw lots and group. I hope we don't meet each other so soon. How about we make it to the finals together and take home the first and second place?"

"Okay! Let's work together!"

Junyi clenched his fist and waved it. "Also! Don't act like you've already won the championship. When we really get to the finals, you have to be careful. I won't lose so miserably like before!"

……

The draw results came out soon.

Shanuo entered Group B, while Junyi entered Group C.

According to the audition rules, each of them needs to have five rounds of duels with the swordsmen from Group A and Group D. Only the winners will be the first to enter the quarterfinals.

"Ha, now I don't have to deal with the whole audition thing."

Junyi became more and more cheerful, and whistled while holding the lottery sheet.

"Then Mr. Xia Nuo, I'll go to Group C. See you at noon?"

"Well, go ahead. I'll finish the game as soon as possible and go find you."

After watching Junyi leave, Xia Nuo glanced at the cafe again before heading to his assigned competition area.

At this time, most of the wooden platforms distributed throughout the square have people standing on them, but the progress varies.

Some had just started the fight, while others had already finished and gone down to rest.

After all, there are too many swordsmen participating in the auditions, and this is the most efficient way.

"Audition Zones A and B, seventh match! Contestant No. 120, Xia Nuo, versus Contestant No. 28, Xi Ka!"

The wooden platform in the corner was immediately surrounded by many spectators. As the staff announced the event, the two contestants took their positions at both ends of the platform.

Xika is a bald man with a strong build, about two meters and three meters tall.

The bamboo sword in his hand was obviously one size larger, and it was eye-catching in both thickness and length.

"When buying a bamboo sword, can I choose different styles myself?"

Shanuo was a little surprised.

"You don't even know this? Ha, what an idiot!"

Bald Sika laughed wantonly, "I don't know where this fledgling came from, but you ran into your uncle Sika in the first round. You're unlucky."

"But don't worry, I won't let you be beaten for too long. Your uncle Xika is a kind-hearted man and will end your suffering as soon as possible!"

"You two, remember the rules! You may only use bamboo swords when fighting each other. You are not allowed to directly touch your opponent with your hands or feet. The one who is knocked off the wooden platform loses, and the opponent wins and advances to the next round! Do you understand?"

Both sides nodded.

"Okay, then I declare!" The referee raised his hand fiercely, "The match officially begins!"

The moment the words fell.

Bang!
There was a dull thumping sound.

Accompanied by screams, the huge body of more than two meters flew out directly and crashed to the ground several meters away with a loud bang.

"That's a coincidence. I'm a good person too."

A calm voice came from the wooden platform.

The audience around was silent, the referee's eyes were dull, and his hand was even suspended in mid-air, not yet able to be lowered.

Xia Nuo put the bamboo sword back into his waist, turned to look at the referee who had solidified into a sculpture, and smiled politely:
"Excuse me, I'm in a hurry. Can we start the next game directly?"

(End of this chapter)