"Right."
Robin nodded gracefully with a smile.
"As far as I know, that's true. It happened so long ago that details are unclear, but before Roger became the Pirate King…"
"There were at least two pirates who were on par with him, and he never actually defeated them."
"Roger became King only because he was the first to find Laugh Tale. The so-called 'conquest' of the Grand Line…"
"Well, Marine Headquarters is on the Grand Line."
The girls suddenly had a realization.
Kaya raised her hand cutely. "But I heard that Roger had wealth, fame, power… everything the world had to offer."
Bai Yu was all too familiar with that line.
Every One Piece episode started with those words, making Roger sound like the ruler of the world.
But that was an exaggeration.
Bai Yu chuckled. "The fame is real, sure… but how much treasure did he really have? And where did his power come from? From a single ship? It's all just empty talk."
"What else did he have besides strength?"
"He was so powerful, yet he couldn't even protect his own wife and child. As a man, I look down on him."
"???"
The girls' eyes widened. "Wife and child?!"
Setting aside everything else, Bai Yu clearly held deep contempt for Roger's failure to protect Rouge and their son.
"Leaving them in Garp's hands?"
"Just letting things play out however they would?"
"Why not make sure Rouge was safe instead of leaving her to die?"
That single mistake was a stain on Roger's name that could never be erased.
"Did he just use Rouge as a tool?"
Robin thought deeply, murmuring inwardly: "You… seem to know everything."
A New Crew Member—Robin
Robin quickly became acquainted with the girls.
The intelligent and beautiful older sister figure managed to win them over with just a few words.
Meanwhile, Bai Yu…
Returned to his room.
"System, initiate a lottery draw!"
"Ding! Detection complete: Robin has been recruited as a crew member/subordinate. Initiating world lottery."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have obtained an ability class reward."
"Innate Ability: Transfer!"
Bai Yu's eyes lit up.
A talent ability.
Similar to teleportation, an ability that outright defied logic.
He tapped to view the details.
Transfer: Consumes physical energy. Concept can be developed!
"One word: broken."
Bai Yu's spirit soared.
The simpler an ability's description, the more terrifying its potential.
But also…
It could end up being a dud.
"How should I develop Transfer…?"
"Spatial transfer? Injury transfer? Consciousness transfer?"
"Attack transfer? Life transfer? Energy transfer?"
Bai Yu pondered for a moment and activated his ability on a water cup.
In an instant, the cup was transferred to another location.
Just that alone…
"I could instantly teleport a Devil Fruit user 10,000 meters into the ocean."
Aside from a select few…
"Devil Fruit users would be eliminated in an instant!"
And for conceptual development?
First thought: Transfer Devil Fruit abilities!
Even transfer the side effects!
Second thought: Transfer physical and mental energy!
Third thought: Transfer Haki energy… and more!
And then…
Fusion.
Even if he could develop just one of these, it would be enough.
But he needed to test its limits, conditions, and mechanics before using it on his allies.
The description was too vague.
That annoyed Bai Yu.
But in a good way.
Meanwhile—Hundreds of Nautical Miles from Alabasta
Several Marine warships sailed slowly, as if waiting for something.
"Hahaha! Little Gion, I'm not too late, am I?"
A burst of laughter rang out in the distance, making Momousagi's expression darken.
"Not too late?!"
"If Bai Yu had been serious, he would have disappeared long ago!"
Momousagi crossed her arms. "What's so funny, little Garp?"
"Pfft—Hahaha! That nickname is still the best, Gion…"
Garp landed on the deck with such force that the entire ship nearly capsized, making Momousagi sigh in exasperation.
"Little Garp?"
It wasn't just a nickname—Garp's childish personality made it fitting.
Of course, she had a good relationship with him.
Hina even called him "Big Brother Garp."
Suddenly—
"Huh? So bright…"
Garp shielded his eyes as a flash of light descended from the sky, forming a human shape.
His eyes widened.
"You're not dead, are you, Borsalino…?"
"Cough, cough… Almost… I almost died."
Kizaru lay on the ground, letting his blood flow freely, pretending to be on the verge of death.
Playing dead.
Would he get a raise for this?
"Hiss…!"
Marines like Momousagi were stunned.
Even if Kizaru wasn't truly on the brink of death, the two wounds on his body were real.
Blade cuts. Deep stab wounds.
He had been hit twice.
Garp crouched down, poked at the wounds, then casually picked his nose. "It looks serious… but for an Admiral, actually—"
"Hey! Mr. Garp! I'm seriously injured!"
Kizaru quickly interrupted before Garp could expose the truth.
He put on an exaggerated expression of pain.
"Ahhh! It hurts! I'm dying! Quick! Someone save this old man!"
Everyone: "…"
Hehe. You win.
Ignoring Kizaru's theatrics, Momousagi frowned.
"What exactly happened? Did Bai Yu team up with Mihawk?"
At the mention of Bai Yu, Garp also turned serious.
His grandson's whereabouts were unknown, but since no bounty was placed on him, that meant he was safe.
As for Bai Yu…
He was very interested in him.
Kizaru, still acting, said in a rare serious tone:
"Ah… Bai Yu. He truly lives up to his title… He really is as terrifying as a Demon King. I didn't even see Mihawk."
Garp and Momousagi exchanged astonished glances.
With Kizaru's speed, very few people in the world could land a hit on him—let alone twice in a row.
"If I hadn't run fast…"
"I… would have died."
For once, Kizaru wasn't joking.
Not just teleportation—Bai Yu's ability allowed for unreasonable regeneration, Haki manipulation, and even control over his opponent's elementalization.
If he was truly targeted…
Even Kizaru might not be able to escape.
"Hiss…!"
The thought alone sent chills down Kizaru's spine.
"If there's ever a chance, Bai Yu must be eliminated."
And Kizaru secretly vowed:
"From now on, I will never accept another mission involving Bai Yu."
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