Chapter 31 – The Devil Merchant Enters the Headquarters' Sight
Drinking, rock-paper-scissors, brawls—this was a classic underworld den.
Aike's entrance didn't even turn a head.
"Nice. The main dish is actually here."
"Just a little too noisy."
The racket was giving him a headache.
He casually released a pulse of Conqueror's Haki.
Instant silence.
Every thug in the room dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.
Aike locked onto his target and walked up to the green-haired punk slumped in the boss chair.
"Bartolomeo…"
He extended his right hand.
A strange ripple covered the unconscious man.
Moments later, a Devil Fruit was pulled straight out of his body.
"Barrier-Barrier Fruit. Perfect for Nojiko."
Aike tossed the fruit up and caught it, then vanished from the room.
Nami, Carina, Kaya, and Nojiko didn't have bloodline limits like Izumi and Hikari.
So he had already planned their fruits.
Carina → Goro Goro no Mi (done)
Nojiko → Bari Bari no Mi (now secured)
Nami and Kaya → targets already chosen.
As the Libra pulled away from the harbor, the Conqueror's Haki pinning the Marines finally lifted.
Smoker gasped, collapsing in exhaustion.
But his eyes were still bloodshot.
"Damn it… DAMN IT!!!"
He slammed his fist into the ground over and over, face twisted in helpless rage.
This was humiliation.
Worse than when he offended the higher-ups and got exiled to the East Blue.
'I swear… I'll arrest every last one of you!
Even if it takes the rest of my life!'
Sadly, Marine Headquarters did not share his passion.
That night.
Loguetown Marine Base.
"I told you, Kuzan—I'm going to the Grand Line. I'm bringing my subordinate back!"
"As for base commander? Tell HQ to find someone else!"
Smoker's roar made every Marine in the room flinch.
"Calm down, Smoker."
Aokiji's voice was heavy on the other end of the transponder snail.
"According to the intel you sent—even if you chase them, what then?"
"Get beaten half to death again and watch them walk away?"
The words hit like cannon fire.
Smoker's fists clenched so hard blood dripped between his fingers.
He couldn't deny it.
The gap was too vast.
In that pathetic fight, the leader hadn't even lifted a finger.
One random crew member had toyed with him.
One punch had taken him out of the fight.
And that final burst of Conqueror's Haki…
He couldn't even kill himself. He had to watch, helpless, as Tashigi was taken.
The difference in power crushed him.
Through the snail's expression feature, Aokiji saw the broken look on his friend's face.
The usual laziness faded.
Friends look out for each other.
He made his decision.
"Come back to Headquarters."
"Leave that Devil Merchant to me. I'll bring your subordinate back."
Smoker was silent for a long time.
Finally, after a few more words, he hung up.
"Power…"
Feeling his own helplessness, Smoker made his choice.
Meanwhile.
Marine Headquarters, Marinford.
Emergency meeting in session.
A dozen high-ranking officers sat around the table.
In front of each was a single photograph.
"Let's begin."
Vice Admiral Brannew stood at the podium.
"According to Intelligence, several months ago this man named Aike caused chaos among several East Blue kingdoms and nobles."
"Rumors say he can steal lifespan and grant power to others. That's where the title 'Devil Merchant' comes from."
???
Steal lifespan?
Grant power?
Every officer stared in disbelief.
A merchant with that kind of ability?
Not even Devil Fruits can do that!
"Recently, Loguetown reported that the commander of East Blue's 16th Branch, Colonel Nezumi, along with his entire unit, was wiped out by this man."
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