Sister Galmero

"The stench of a villain."

After eight years guarding Impel Down, Figo had trained himself to keenly distinguish malice. It wasn't within the scope of Observation Haki; it was a kind of smell. He'd sensed it as soon as the Nun decided to take what she wanted by force.

He could even sense that she had more than one innocent life on her hands.

So she really wasn't a proper nun!

Crack—

In the sky, within the dark clouds, lightning flashed again.

The air was filled with a terrifying rumble.

The rain fell even harder.

Raindrops pelted Figo, blurring his vision and interfering with his senses. Then... BOOM!

The sound of the thunder changed!

A thick bolt of lightning plunged straight down from the sky. It radiated heat that seemed capable of drying up the sea, lit the dark sky with a horrifying, deathly pallor, and struck straight at Figo!

Figo didn't look up, but Observation Haki helped him "see" the lightning's path and sense the power it contained.

It was nothing special.

It couldn't compare to natural lightning at all.

He held the treasure in one hand.

With the other, he drew his sword!

As the blade flashed, a Flying Slash shot from its tip, like a bright crescent moon rising into the sky. It collided with the lightning without yielding an inch, bursting into an even more dazzling radiance!

Huh? The Nun raised an arm slightly to shield her eyes from the glare. Only then did she feel a trace of unease.

Figo was nothing like the other people she'd deceived and robbed. When had someone this powerful—a Swordsman—appeared on the sea, on Huoyu Island?

The next moment, her Observation Haki also caught Figo's movements.

He was incredibly fast. In almost an instant, he crossed the dozens of meters between them. Figo didn't use his sword; instead, he swung the rain-soaked bundle of treasure at her head with brute force!

The treasure sack whistled through the air. With Figo's strength behind it, it was like a cannonball!

"Hmph..." The Nun flicked her fingers, letting a fleck of ash and a spark fall from the cigarette between them.

The spark seemed alive. As it drifted down, it abruptly grew into a blazing fireball and hurtled toward Figo!

Thud! Thud!!

Two muffled impacts sounded in quick succession!

One was the sound of Figo being struck by the fireball, his body from the neck down instantly turning into a human torch!

The other was the sound of the treasure sack, emerging from the flames, smacking into the Nun's head!

Shock and disbelief first appeared on the Nun's delicate face. Then it quickly twisted out of shape as spit and broken teeth spilled from her mouth! Her slender body flew high into the air, traveling dozens of meters before crashing heavily to the ground. She twitched twice, then passed out!

The dark clouds in the sky dispersed.

Figo drew a deep breath, lowered his head, and blew!

"Fwooo—"

The flames drifted away and vanished, leaving only two holes in his clothes. Figo's exposed body was completely unscorched!

Figo had learned Iron Body ages ago. Even without using it, his body was already like steel. A little fire like that couldn't even penetrate his defenses. Why had she naively thought he'd dodge?

"First-rate Devil Fruit."

"Third-rate everything else."

You're only fit to be locked up on the fifth level of Impel Down, you little cutie. You really had no idea how many eyes Lord Figo had!

Figo slung the bundle over his shoulder, then walked over and carried the Nun over his other shoulder. Treasure in one hand, beauty on the other, he headed back toward the warship. It really felt like he'd returned with a full haul.

Seven or eight Marines remained at the warship, standing guard and watching the ship. After spending several days aboard with him, even the ordinary soldiers knew the identity of Figo, who spent all day lounging on the deck in the sun: the former Warden of Impel Down, a major figure who might soon be granted the rank of Vice Admiral.

Seeing Figo return after just over an hour, disheveled and carrying a nun over his shoulder, they exchanged bewildered looks. A captain stepped forward and asked, "Lord Figo, what happened...?"

"I caught a con artist. Go find me a coat, and bring me a pair of Seastone Handcuffs."

A con artist? Seastone? The captain stole a glance at the pretty Nun and hesitated for two seconds before answering:

"Yes, sir!"

Clearly a face-con.

The Nun really was beautiful. Even with blood all over her face, she looked good, so Figo very gently helped her put on a pair of silver bracelets and gave her a new home.

[Prisoner: Sister Galmero]

[Level: SR3]

[Status: Imprisoned]

[Crime Index: 91]

[Capture Participation: 100%]

[Available Rewards: Devil Fruit Development (not yet activated), Disguise, Business]

[Character Event: Available to activate]

Whoa, a Crime Index of 91. Even among the villains on the fifth and sixth levels of Impel Down, that put her near the top. She really was a devil in an angel's skin, more than just a con artist posing as a holy woman.

But the name Galmero... Why did it sound so familiar?

Figo fell into thought. "Come to think of it... she kind of looks like a female Sanji. Could she be Sanji's great-great-grandmother or something?"

Let's activate the Character Event and take a look.

"Yamauba, you notorious human trafficker, how dare you approach the World Government of your own accord? Do you think we don't know what you're really like?!"

The moment the scene appeared, Figo was taken aback.

Based on what he'd learned over the past eight years, the Crime Index in the Prison Archives was based on his own values. So she was a human trafficker. No wonder her Crime Index was so high.

But in the scene... the one asking the question was once again Peslo from CP9?!

Why was it always him?!

Sister Galmero and Peslo sat facing each other in a secret room. Hearing Peslo's question, she calmly took a drag on her cigarette and said, "There's no need to put on that face. If you didn't want to work with me, we wouldn't be meeting today."

Peslo was silent for a moment, then said, "Tell me about it. What exactly is this plan of yours?"

"Heh. Let's put on a little show together. My Soul-Soul Fruit lets me disguise myself as a messenger of the gods. When you execute the Giant race pirates, I'll pose as a god and guide them to safety, winning the trust of the Giant race!"

"...And then?"

Sister Galmero spread her hands. "After that, I'll sneak into Elbaf and establish an orphanage. I'll call it 'Home of Lambs.' I'll adopt every orphan, regardless of race or allegiance!

"Of course, the main focus will be on the Giant race!

"I'll serve as a bridge between your World Government and the Giant race. Once I've raised the Giant race orphans for a while, I'll secretly sell them to the World Government and the Marines!

"Just think about it. You'll be able to acquire the strength of the Giant race with ease and have an invincible force of Giant race Marines!"

Peslo fell silent again.

Sister Galmero put on a greedy face and rubbed her fingers together. "And all I need is a little money. A very, very little."

The Character Event scene ended.

[Event Requirement: Have Sister Galmero—or help Sister Galmero—establish Home of Lambs, adopt orphans of all races, and sell them to the World Government.]

There was a lot to take in, and Figo struggled to process it all.

So that was CP9's plan.

The Soul-Soul Fruit—the Soul-Soul Fruit belonging to the future Four Emperors, Big Mom—could give souls and life to nonliving things. No wonder there had been lightning and fire. It had felt familiar, and no wonder the name Galmero rang a bell.

Wasn't she that old Nun from the story he'd read, the one who adopted the future Four Emperors Big Mom, got eaten by her, and had her portrait placed on the table?!