Half an hour later, on the sea.
"Why are these guys taking so long?" Sanji frowned.
Franky glanced at the ashtray already filled with cigarette butts and shook his head. "No use getting impatient. We'll just have to wait."
Though he also wanted to rush ashore imdiately to find Luffy and the others, locating those guys wouldn't solve anything. Only by having Duval, the local expert, investigate could they possibly track down rry and the other girl.
"Aaaah~"
"Black Leg Young Master, we're here~" Duval shouted loudly.
"Finally!"
Sanji's face lit up with excitent as he rushed to the ship's railing. "You guys took way too damn long!"
"Don't be like that~ We ca as fast as we could," Duval replied.
"Yeah, yeah," his underlings nodded in agreent.
"Whatever, just get here already," Sanji said. "Anyway, I need your Flying Fish Riders' help now."
"Tch tch, Young Master, have you forgotten we've changed our na~" Duval said with a dramatic flourish. "We are now... the Rosy Life Riders!"
As he finished speaking, Duval threw Sanji a flirtatious wink.
CRACK!
"Idiot! The na doesn't matter!" Sanji roared, his teeth sharpening into shark-like points. "And stop winking at , damn it!"
Had this fool still not realized how terrifying his winks looked?
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Sanji continued, "Anyway, I need you to help find two people."
His expression darkened as he spoke in a grave tone: "A rfolk and a child from our group have been kidnapped. I need you to track them down."
"Hmm?"
"Human traffickers have appeared?" Duval's expression changed imdiately.
"What audacious bastards..."
Loll and the others looked shocked. They couldn't believe traffickers would dare target this group. Could it be... those guys hadn't seen the Straw Hat Pirates' wanted posters? This was a terrifying pirate crew with total bounties exceeding one billion berries!
"Weren't you guys traffickers before too?!"
"We weren't that kind of evil scum," Duval retorted. "We only targeted pirates."
After a pause, Duval continued, "The rfolk... must be that woman nad Camie we t before. As for the child... that little girl in the dress?"
He recalled rry's appearance - indeed a likable little thing.
"Correct."
"You should know this business well," Franky said. "So please help us out."
"Of course!" Duval declared. "We just need to find them before they're sold, right?"
"Right."
"Then leave it to us!" Duval gave a thumbs-up. "n! For the honor of the Rosy Life Riders, we must find those two young ladies!"
"Yes, Handso!!"
"Surprisingly reliable..." Franki murmured.
One could only say that fate is truly a marvelous thing.
"Co on, hop on!" the bearded man called out.
"Alright!"
Franky imdiately jumped down and landed on the bearded man's Flying Fish Motorbike, taking a seat in the two-person compartnt.
"So, what's your plan?"
Sanji, who had arrived at Duval's place, glanced at him and asked, "Where should we start looking?"
"Listen, young master, every trade has its own way of doing things. I already have a pretty good idea who might be behind this."
After saying this, Duval looked at Sanji and said, "Your crewmates are on the island, right?"
"Yeah, they're scattered around..."
"Got it!" Duval shouted loudly. "Boys, gather the Straw Hat Pirates and search for the kidnapping group that took the two ladies!"
"Let's move!"
"Yes, handso!"
anwhile, on the other side of town, iser and Galette strolled leisurely through the comrcial district, each holding giant soap bubbles filled with their shopping haul from earlier.
"This is so much fun~" Galette sighed happily.
"Hmm?"
"You don't usually go shopping?" iser asked curiously.
"Who has ti for that...?" Galette replied helplessly. "Even though I'm Mama's daughter, I'm busy every single day."
As a mber of a Four Emperors Crew, there simply wasn't much ti to enjoy life—especially since... she was in charge of managing an entire island. The daily workload was overwhelming.
Shaking her head, Galette turned to iser and said, "Besides... this ti, I'm shopping with you. It feels completely different."
As she spoke, Galette's face flushed slightly—clearly, she was treating this as a date.
"Is that so."
"Well, as long as you're happy."
Galette rolled her eyes at iser but didn't press the matter further.
Just then, a man suddenly appeared before them, blocking their path.
"Took long enough to find you... Blood-Eyed Ninja, iser!!" Kid sneered. "As fellow Supernovas... I want to see for myself why your bounty is higher than mine!"
After hearing that the Straw Hat Pirates had landed on the island, he had been searching for both iser and Luffy. Instead of finding Luffy, however, he had stumbled upon iser.
Galette's expression darkened instantly upon hearing his words, her gaze turning murderous as she glared at Kid.
She had finally gotten a chance to spend ti with iser and deepen their bond, only for this bastard to ruin it?
At this mont, the way she looked at Kid was no different from how one would look at a dead man.
"Huh?"
"You're... that Kid guy!"
Taking in that arrogant face, iser recognized him imdiately.
Wasn't this the guy Shakky had ntioned earlier—the one who might cause trouble for him?
To think he actually showed up... What a perfect punching bag!!
The thought alone made iser's excitent surge.
"Glad you recognize ." Kid grinned. "That makes things easier—saves the trouble of introducing myself."
"Co on, let's see what you're made of!"
After crushing this guy, his bounty would surely skyrocket, right?
"Then... let's finish him off right here!"
"Fighting, huh?" iser nodded. "Fine, I'll play along."
"But not here—we'll wreck the shops. Let's take it to the outskirts."
They were in the busiest comrcial district. A fight here would cause massive damage to the locals.
Most importantly... this wasn't lawless territory. Too much noise would 100% draw the Navy!
"You actually care about that?"
Kid was surprised. As a pirate... this guy cared about ordinary people?
Was he even a real pirate?
Or was he just playing make-believe on the seas?
At that thought, a hint of disdain flashed in Kid's eyes. "Pathetic."
"But I'll agree to your request. Consider it picking your own grave."
As he spoke, Kid stepped toward iser, ready to follow him to the outskirts.
Just then, Kid noticed Galette's gaze and froze. His expression darkened. "What's with that look?"
"Want to gouge your eyes out?"
"Hah, I'd like to see you try." Galette smirked. If this bastard laid a finger on her, her brother's fork would be in his face the next second.
"Tch, another loudmouth." Kid scoffed, ignoring Galette and turning back to iser.
"Control your woman, or I won't mind killing her too."
With that, Kid strode off without looking back.
Hearing his words, Galette blinked.
"iser's... woman?"
This brat's got good taste... Fine, I'll leave his corpse intact later.
"Definitely a loudmouth."
"Galette, don't mind his crap. Just treat it as hot air."
iser handed her the bubble he was holding. "Go find your brother. I'll handle this guy."
"What, you're ditching ?"
"The fight might get ssy. Could attract the Navy." iser explained. "As part of a Four Emperors Crew, clashing with them would be trouble for you."
Worse, it might even draw the World Governnt's attention.
After all... the World Governnt had a special interest in him!
"Since when do I fear the Navy?" Galette shook her head. "And... iser, do you think I'm so fragile vase?"
"I'm a pirate from a Four Emperors Crew!"
As one of Mama's daughters, she wasn't so weakling who only knew how to cry. She was a true Haki-wielding fighter!
Even if that rookie had a Logia fruit, she could crush him.
Maybe fearing iser's refusal, she added, "If you won't let co, I'll go anyway!"
"Might as well clean up so trash for you while I'm at it."
"Especially... this Kid's crew!"
As she spoke, a grin spread across Galette's face—but this ti, it felt entirely different. Like a little devil's.
iser opened his mouth, then sighed helplessly, "Fine, let's go together then."
It seed this elegant lady from the Four Emperors Crew had quite the temper.
Then again, she was the daughter of one of the Four Emperors.
Seeing iser agree, Galette dropped her earlier deanor and flashed a gentle smile again. "Then let's go!"
"Mhm."
This ti, iser didn't say much else. Instead, he led Galette toward the street exit, intending to fight Kid outside.
Just then, Galette glanced back and imdiately spotted the towering figure standing atop a high vantage point.
This put her mind at ease.
Hmph, that bastard Kid... You dare ss with my man? You're dead!
Soon, the two caught up with Kid in the outskirts—a desolate, uninhabited area perfect for a fight.
After signaling his crew to stay back, Kid sneered, "I'm giving you a chance, ninja."
As he spoke, he shot a glance at Galette, making his intentions crystal clear.
If she hadn't followed, he wouldn't have bothered chasing her down. But since she ca along... he wouldn't mind killing her too!
"Want to kill ?" Galette scoffed. "Try getting past iser first."
With that, she walked over to a nearby boulder and sat down, silently watching the two on the battlefield.
Since this Kid guy hadn't ordered his crew to attack, she saw no need to interfere in iser's fight.
After all... n were all about pride!
"Don't worry, I'll give you both a chance to die together," Kid grinned viciously. "Right here!!"
As a pirate who had destroyed countless villages, the word "rcy" didn't exist in his dictionary.
Anyone he deed an enemy would et a brutal end.
That... was Kid's way of piracy!
"Too much talk," iser said flatly. "Are you fighting or not?"
The mont those words left his mouth, Kid's expression stiffened before darkening. "Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll oblige!"
BOOM!!
The next instant, Kid activated his Devil Fruit Ability.
Under the power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, piles of scrap tal rose from the ground, rapidly converging toward Kid.
The sight left iser montarily stunned.
"What kind of... move is this?"
"A magnet?"
What's the point of gathering a heap of scrap tal?
Just then, iser felt the Grass Sword at his waist tremble. He imdiately pressed a hand against it to steady the weapon.
Even Chakra-conductive tal is affected...?
This really is one special magnet.
"I ate the Magnet-Magnet Fruit—I'm the Magnet Human!" Kid snarled. "Now witness its unparalleled destructive power!!"
"Magnetic Arm!!"
BOOM!!
In an instant, under Kid's control, the scrap tal assembled into a crude, massive arm several ters long, attached to his own.
Once it was complete, Kid glared coldly at iser. "Here I co!"
With that, he charged straight at iser, aiming to crush the reckless ninja beneath his colossal tal arm.
"What an ugly move," iser said disdainfully.
As he spoke, Armant Haki quickly spread over his fist, and then iser charged toward Kid.
"Magnetic Explosion Fist!!"
"Armant - Super Strength Fist!"
"Bam!!"
"Boom!!"
"Wha...?!"
Kid's eyes filled with disbelief as he watched his chanical arm shatter from iser's punch.
His chanical arm had been crushed like paper in an instant?!
Was the opponent's strength really this terrifying?!
How is this possible?! Kid thought in shock.
After being active for so long, this was the first ti he'd encountered soone who could directly destroy his chanical arm.
Is this... the strength of soone with a 400 million berry bounty?!
With these thoughts, Kid was sent flying by the force, hurtling backward toward the hillside.
"Boom!!"
He crashed hard into the ground, leaving a crater.
"Kid?!"
His crewmates stared dumbfounded as Kid was sent flying.
"What, is this guy not knocked out yet?" iser remarked coolly.
"Damn it..."
The others imdiately glared at iser in anger, but Killer stopped them.
Because... Kid hadn't lost consciousness yet—they couldn't interfere with the fight!
"This is the difference between those who can use Haki and those who can't," Galette comnted with a chuckle.
Undeniably, there are many Devil Fruit abilities that are quite formidable, and relying solely on the fruit's power can still make one strong.
But... when facing a Haki master, Devil Fruit abilities alone aren't enough.
This was why Katakuri insisted they learn Haki after coming of age.
Without Haki, they'd be finished against certain tricky ability users.
"Haki?"
Killer gave Galette a puzzled look—what the hell was that?
"Boom!"
"Damn it!"
Kid flung away the rubble pinning him down and climbed out of the crater, furious. "Let's go again!"
As he spoke, he activated his Devil Fruit ability once more, gathering scrap tal.
But this ti, he forged two steel arms for himself.
"Let's see how you break through this!"
"Truly... such crude use of a Devil Fruit ability..." iser shook his head.
"What did you say?!"
Veins bulged on Kid's forehead as he snarled, "You got a problem with how I use my Devil Fruit?!"
Was this bastard looking down on his mastery of the fruit?
What the hell did this guy know?!
He'd used his Devil Fruit's power to destroy village after village!
"Turning the Magnet-Magnet Fruit into nothing more than a glorified magnet... honestly..."
For a mont, iser was at a loss for words.
The Magnet-Magnet Fruit... if he wasn't mistaken, this should involve electromagnetic force—one of the four fundantal forces!
Such a powerful Devil Fruit, and this guy was using it like a simple magnet... At least try to be like Magneto or sothing.
What a waste of a Devil Fruit on him.
Maybe it's because he's uneducated? iser pondered.
Co to think of it, most pirates seem to be muscle-brained idiots—even Luffy is no exception.
This Kid was probably the sa.
At this thought, iser looked at Kid with a trace of pity in his eyes.
"You bastard, what's with that look?!" Kid roared.
That look in the other's eyes... was it pity?
Or was he being treated like a fool?
"I just think you're uncultured, that's all," iser said.
Kid: ???
The furious Kid opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
Because... he really was uncultured.
He could barely read—anything more advanced was beyond him.
"Pfft."
Galette couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
iser's angle was truly unexpected—even she hadn't seen that coming.
"What are you laughing at?!" Kid snapped. "Have you even read a book?"
"Of course."
Kid: ...
These two bastards... were they deliberately trying to piss him off?
"Whatever, none of this even matters," Kid said. "Becoming the Pirate King doesn't depend on culture anyway."
As long as his fists were strong enough, nothing else was a problem.
"Hmm, you're right about that. Becoming the Pirate King does require real strength," iser said. "But...
Do you have it?"
"Heh, you'll find out soon enough."
Kid sneered before charging at iser at full speed. This ti, he planned to attack with both tal arms—there was no way the other man could block that!
Yet halfway through his charge, he realized iser, who had been standing in the distance, had vanished.
"Huh?"
"Where'd he go?"
Kid quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for any trace of iser, but found nothing.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the man appeared right in front of him, causing Kid's pupils to shrink in shock.
"Wha—?!"
At that mont, Kid's eyes were filled with disbelief.
He never expected this man's speed to be so terrifying!
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