"Mr. Bear?"
"Doflamingo... Huh? The great pirate this kid mentioned must be that Warlord of the Sea Doflamingo who got split in half!"
"Who else could it be! Don't you remember, Nami? It's the story Mr. Bear told us—everything matches up!"
Everyone began chattering excitedly.
Xiano stroked his chin, eyes glinting thoughtfully.
Indeed, it all made sense now.
He should have realized sooner.
But Mr. Bear had told the story rather briefly back then due to time constraints.
Plus, the name Agatha Islands wasn't particularly memorable, and several months had passed. It wasn't until the other party involved started recounting events from this perspective that everything finally clicked.
"Um..." Chia cautiously looked around at everyone, "Do you know Mr. Bear? Is he... is he doing alright now?"
"Of course we know him! Don't worry, he's perfectly fine!"
Nami cut in with a giggle, "Mr. Bear was chased halfway across the sea by Doflamingo after saving you guys, but he happened to run into my brother and got rescued."
"He and his daughter have already joined our crew, though they're delayed with some matters and haven't boarded yet. Otherwise he'd be standing right here today, reuniting with you!"
"Really?!"
Chia leaped up in excitement, tears glistening in his eyes, "Mr. Bear is safe! That's wonderful! I... I kept worrying that flamingo bastard might have..."
"No need to fret about that! Not only did we save him, but that so-called flamingo guy was already sliced in half by my brother ages ago!"
Nami proudly placed her hands on her hips, "That happened so long ago—the grass on his grave must be thiiiiis high by now!"
She stretched her arms out in an exaggerated arc until Nojiko kicked her in annoyance—it had only been a few months, hardly enough time for such growth.
"Eh?!"
Chia froze, looking at Xiano in disbelief, "B-brother Xiano... Did you really defeat that monster?"
That flamingo had been a terrifying creature!
He still remembered when the man first came to their island, forcing them to hand over the Sacred Object. With just a casual wave of his hand, their tribe's warriors had suffered heavy casualties.
His grandfather had tearfully surrendered the Sacred Object to protect their people, only for the flamingo to suddenly turn pale upon touching it and flee without another word.
After that, the man never returned personally, only sending his subordinates to make rough demands.
Until finally, growing impatient, he sent Mr. Bear... Thankfully, Mr. Bear turned out to be kindhearted, choosing to fight that flamingo on their behalf instead.
"Why would you doubt it? My brother could crush him with one finger! Let me put it this way—"
Nami grew animated when discussing this topic, cheerfully raising a finger:
"That Doflamingo you're so afraid of? His bounty was barely 300 million berries. My brother's? Over 2.1 billion—a full seven times higher!"
"2.1 billion?!"
Chia's jaw dropped so wide you could've fit an egg in it.
After a moment of daze, he suddenly snapped back to reality and turned towards Xiano. His legs bent, and with a loud thud, he knelt on the ground, his forehead striking the rocky surface with a heavy, muffled sound.
"Big Brother Xiano!"
Chia trembled all over. "Even though I said earlier that I'd take revenge on that flamingo bastard someday, I know that was just empty bravado!"
His eyes instantly reddened, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face, his voice choked with emotion:
"I don't have the ability to do that. That guy is too strong. Not just me—our entire clan thought we'd never get revenge in this lifetime… But I never imagined—never imagined that not only would you save Mr. Bear, but you'd also personally kill that bastard…"
"I'll remember this forever! When I return, I'll make sure everyone in our clan knows of your kindness!"
As Chia moved to kowtow again, Xiano grabbed his shoulders and stopped him.
"Enough."
Xiano shook his head helplessly. "A man's pride is worth more than gold. Don't kneel so easily. Back then, I didn't even know you—killing that guy was just a matter of convenience… But you mentioned earlier that after touching your Sacred Fruit, that flamingo bastard was so terrified he lost his composure and never set foot on your island again?"
"Y-yes!"
Chia nodded eagerly. "Ever since I was little, I've heard my grandfather say the Sacred Fruit contains an incredibly terrifying strength. Without enough willpower, it's best not to even touch it. But no one expected that even my grandfather would fall unconscious for so long…"
He looked at Xiano with hopeful eyes. "Big Brother Xiano, you've seen so much of the world, and you're so strong—do you have a way to save my grandfather?"
"Without seeing it firsthand, I can't make any promises."
Xiano pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"Still, I'm quite interested in this thing. Take us to see it. We'll escort you back—your clan must be worried sick after you've been gone so long."
He was genuinely intrigued.
This thing left behind by Rocks, called the "Sacred Fruit," sounded truly bizarre.
It had protected an entire tribe for decades, shielding them from the threats of savage beasts in the mountains and passing Sea Kings.
It also contained an untapped "strength"—Chia's grandfather had fallen into a coma the moment he tried to extract it.
Even someone as fearless as Doflamingo—who only broke a sweat six years later upon hearing Kaido's name—had been so terrified after touching it that he never dared return to the island…
If he didn't figure out what this thing was, Xiano doubted he'd sleep well for months.
"That's great! Thank you, Big Brother Xiano!"
Chia scrambled to his feet and pushed open a hidden door behind the treasure chest. "Follow me! There's a passage below that leads straight to the seabed. It's a shortcut my grandfather dug when he was treasure hunting—"
Before the boy could finish, Jack wordlessly picked him up and slung him over his shoulder.
—This idiot. The rock peak had already been shattered, and with so many Devil Fruit users on board, who would take the underwater route when there was a clear path?
The group quickly returned to the ship. After docking at Thunder God Island for a full week, the Sunset finally set sail again.
Following the Eternal Pose provided by Chia, they headed toward the Agatha Archipelago.
...
Four days later.
The outline of the Agatha Archipelago appeared on the horizon.
The azure sea was dotted with over a dozen island clusters like scattered pearls. The largest central island was covered in dense primeval forests, with several volcanoes visible in the far distance, faint trails of smoke curling from their peaks.
The Sunset furled its sails as it navigated the island's central river toward the heart of the landmass.
"We're almost there, Big Brother Xiano!"
Chia stood at the bow, pointing toward a village on the hills. "That's our main settlement! There are several other villages nearby too, with thousands of people altogether!"
"Halt!"
A sharp shout suddenly rang out from the shore.
Dozens of simply dressed warriors wielding longbows emerged from the dense forest, their arrows gleaming with the black sheen of Armament Haki, all trained unerringly on the Sunset.
"Huh?"
Nami had been watching with interest, but now she started in surprise. "How come all these people know Haki?"
Xiano's gaze swept across them, equally taken aback. An entire tribe where every member had mastered Haki was an extremely rare sight even in the New World.
A male version of Amazon Lily?
"Outsiders!"
The burly young man leading them shouted sternly, "We don't wish to harm you, but this is no place for your kind. Turn your ship around and leave these waters at once, or we won't hold back!"
"Oho! Perfect! Just evolved and already getting to fight!"
Gatomon leaped lightly onto the second-floor railing, enthusiastically clashing her paws together with fighting spirit:
"Alright, decided! I'll take point in this battle! Time to show everyone who's always protected me what I can do no—GYAH!"
Her declaration ended in a scream as she was kicked straight into the water.
Behind the railing,
Agin snorted disdainfully as she retracted her hind leg.
—Showing off like that, so disrespectful. The master hasn't even spoken yet, who gave you the right to jump out and make a spectacle?
"Wait! Brother Noah!"
Chia quickly vaulted ashore, running up the slope while waving his arms. "It's me! Chia! I'm back!"
"Chia?"
The bow-wielding warriors froze in unison, expressions of shock crossing their faces.
"Different clothes from the outside world, changed hairstyle and build... but that face is unmistakable, it really is him!"
"The kid's actually still alive!"
"Hey! Chia! Haha, where've you been? Everyone missed you terribly!"
The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly, many warriors even moving forward with smiles until Noah—the young man addressed as their leader—raised a hand to stop them.
"What's wrong, young chief?" The nearby warriors looked at him in confusion. "This is Chia! Don't you recognize him?"
"How could I fail to recognize my own younger brother."
Noah kept his arrow nocked, narrowing his eyes slightly. His square, formidable face remained cold. "Precisely because of that, I must ask—Chia, who are these outsiders you've brought? And where exactly have you been these past three whole months of disappearance?!"
Three months?!
Chia gaped in astonishment. He'd been gone that long?
He'd thought it was only about ten days—just how long had he slept inside that treasure chest? But there was no time to dwell on that now. His head drooped slightly with guilt. "Big brother, I... I went to find a way to save grandfather."
"Nonsense!"
Noah's eyebrows shot up as he roared:
"At your age, what solution could you possibly find? You sneaked out thinking you knew better, but do you realize Grandpa's condition is worsening by the day? The priests say he won't last the month!"
"What if Grandpa wakes up in his final moments, only to find his most beloved grandson missing… Chia! You little brat, do you want him to die with regret?"
"I… I…"
Chia was both frantic and aggrieved. "Big brother, I didn't expect it to take this long… I just couldn't bear to watch Grandpa lie there unconscious! And… I found someone who can save him!"
He abruptly raised his head and pointed at Xiano behind him:
"This is Big Brother Xiano! He's Captain Kuma's captain, and he even defeated that flamingo Doflamingo! He's a really important figure—he must have a way to save Grandpa!"
"What?!"
"This young? He's actually Mr. Bear's captain?"
The warriors erupted in shock, all turning their gazes toward Xiano.
Noah's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure:
"Chia, you idiot, are you sure you weren't tricked? That Doflamingo was a monster even Grandpa couldn't handle. How could he possibly…"
"It's true!"
Chia stamped his foot in frustration. "I confirmed it from the newspapers circulating outside! If you don't believe me, I'll go get the bounty poster right now… Even the World Government fears him—his bounty is over two billion!"
Two billion?
That exaggerated? That's double Grandpa's bounty from back in the day…
Noah was stunned. Seeing Chia's desperate expression, he instinctively glanced at Xiano again… His Observation Haki couldn't discern this man's depths at all. He did seem incredibly strong, and there was no apparent malice.
Taking a deep breath, Noah fixed his gaze on Xiano. "Sir… can you really save my grandfather?"
Xiano shook his head slightly. "I can't guarantee that, but you can take me to see his condition first."
Noah fell silent for a moment before finally making up his mind. Lowering his bow, he gestured for the warriors to clear the path.
"Please, follow me."
...
The air was thick with the mingled scent of herbs and incense.
Inside the dimly lit wooden hut, Chia and Noah's grandfather—the former chieftain of the Agatha tribe—lay motionless on the bed, his eyes tightly shut.
Xiano studied the old man. He was much older than Xiano had expected, likely around a hundred years old.
Prolonged unconsciousness and difficulty in nourishment had left his already frail body emaciated, his skin clinging to his bones like dried bark.
"Grandpa! I'm back… I'm sorry I'm late…" Chia threw himself at the bedside, sobbing quietly.
Xiano, meanwhile, turned his attention to the center of the room, where two middle-aged warriors stood guard on either side of a wooden cabinet.
As Xiano approached, the two warriors glanced at Noah for confirmation. Only after receiving a nod did they bow slightly and step aside.
Xiano pulled open the cabinet door—and finally laid eyes on the so-called "Sacred Fruit."
This was…
—A pitcher plant??
He froze for a moment, staring at the thing in disbelief, almost convinced he was seeing things.
The plant before him had emerald-green, pitcher-shaped traps drooping low, their edges glistening with moisture. The inner walls were slick, the openings slightly ajar, and the half-covered lids resembled crooked little hats, ready to snap shut at any moment.
Yes, wasn't this a pitcher plant?
Back in Cocoyasi Village, some villagers had kept these things in their homes. As a child, he had even played with one out of curiosity.
The only difference was—
This one was far larger than any pitcher plant Xiano had ever seen. Dark red veins, like dried bloodstains, coiled faintly around its body.
"Hiss…"
As if sensing Xiano's presence, the pitcher plant's lid fully opened, its maw slowly widening as it exhaled a sweet-scented mist.
For a brief moment, Xiano's mind grew hazy—but in the blink of an eye, clarity returned.
It was the Brain Shut Technique he had trained in years ago, now shielding him.
Xiano hadn't fallen for the trick, but from this move alone, he recognized something familiar.
A Devil Fruit Ability User, huh…
He stared at the pitcher plant, his expression turning odd. "Hey, you… didn't happen to eat a Devil Fruit that fell nearby back then, did you?"
Could there really be a plant that ate a Devil Fruit without turning into one itself?
It sounded convoluted.
But then again, in a world where even swords and ships could become Devil Fruit Ability Users, maybe this wasn't so strange after all…
The pitcher plant tilted its "head" slightly, as if puzzled. It seemed like it hadn't encountered a human immune to its mist in a very, very long time.
After a moment's thought, it extended a leaf—like a human offering a hand—inviting Xiano to place his own on it.
Xiano, curious to see this thing's abilities, didn't hesitate. He reached out with his right hand and placed it on the pitcher plant's leaf.
Hum!
The next instant, the world before him blurred. When his vision cleared, everything around him had transformed.
Under a blood-red moon, atop a cliff shrouded in darkness, a massive, broad-shouldered figure draped in a crimson cloak slowly turned, sensing an unfamiliar presence.
"Huh? The hell? Another damn intruder! Who dares disturb my benefactor?!"
The man grinned, revealing a ferocious, exaggerated smile. His deep-red hair whipped wildly in the wind as his gaze locked onto Xiano.
"Pretty young, aren't ya… Got no fear of death, huh? Tell me, brat—don't you damn well recognize me anymore?!"
Hum!
As his voice boomed, an overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body, crashing down on Xiano like a tidal wave!
(End of Chapter)