Unable to Absorb

Moke's lips curled up involuntarily as if gently lifted by an invisible hand, forming a joyful smile. The reason was none other than the astonishing discovery brought about by this bold attempt—even his own shadow could be absorbed and transformed into powerful abilities! This result was truly beyond imagination, filling Moke with immense excitement.

He fell into deep thought: if even shadows could be absorbed and utilized, what in the world couldn't be controlled by this miraculous Absorb-Absorb Fruit ability? Thinking this, Moke gained a completely new understanding and insight into his own power. At the same time, a crazy yet brilliant idea quietly sprouted deep within his mind. If this idea could truly be realized, he would undoubtedly gain another terrifying, almost heaven-defying ability! However, at this moment, Moke knew that his immediate priority was to travel to that New World full of unknowns and challenges.

His goal was clear and unwavering: to find M. Caesar Courland. After all, the intelligence system in that place was not yet fully established. Therefore, he had to rely on himself to find the necessary clues by leveraging the intricate intelligence network of the Underworld. Despite the arduous road ahead, Moke, filled with anticipation and high aspirations, embarked on this journey without hesitation.

This was the key reason why he decided to send Ata and the others to Champion Island first. Thus, despite his deep reluctance, he had no choice but to part ways with Ata and his companions for the time being. After all, doing so would save precious time, which was crucial for the upcoming operation.

However, why go to such lengths to find M. Caesar Clown? The secret lies in the coveted Dragon-Dragon Fruit. In the original story, after Momonosuke swallowed the Dragon-Dragon Fruit and gained initial control over its power, his abilities were almost comparable to Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit! Such a powerful fruit—if it could fall into his hands, what earth-shattering changes it would bring!

With this in mind, he already had a perfect plan. If he could successfully acquire this Artificial Devil Fruit and give it to Gizzas Jesus Burgess, this already formidable warrior would be even stronger, his power instantly soaring to the level of Shichibukai, making him another invaluable asset to his pirate crew. At that time, along with Weevil, these two would undoubtedly become his two right-hand men—two Yonko! With their assistance, his pirate crew would surely sail far and wide on this vast ocean, dominating the region. Therefore, no matter how rugged and difficult the road ahead, he was determined to obtain this Artificial Devil Fruit!

Moke's figure streaked across the sky like Inazuma. In an instant, he was enveloped in a dazzling light, like a burning meteor, speeding toward that mysterious and perilous Calm Belt at an unimaginable speed.

As everyone knows, the Calm Belt is like a cursed forbidden land, hiding countless unknown dangers and mysteries. However, faced with such a perilous situation, Moke did not hesitate to choose the most arduous path—to cross the Calm Belt directly and explore that New World that everyone yearns for.

Time passed second by second, and in the blink of an eye, Moke had successfully arrived at his destination. He hovered in mid-air, circled for a while, and then his sharp, hawk-like eyes began to scan the vast, boundless sea below. After careful observation, his gaze finally locked onto a solitary, isolated island.

Immediately afterward, Moke quickly adjusted his flight attitude and, like a shooting star falling from the sky, swooped straight down towards the island. With a loud bang, Moke landed steadily on the island.

Moke landed without hesitation, striding confidently towards the island. Soon, a bustling tavern came into view. The tavern was packed with people, noisy and chaotic, filled with shouting and commotion. Looking around, all sorts of pirates thronged the area; some were burly and strong, others lean and wiry; some had menacing faces, while others wore smiling, seemingly amiable to behold. These pirates came from all corners of the world, each exuding a unique Four Seas.

The moment Moke stepped into the tavern, the previously noisy commotion abruptly ceased. All the pirates' eyes turned to this uninvited guest, and the entire tavern fell into a deathly silence. But Moke paid no attention; his gaze quickly swept over the crowd before he walked straight to the bar and stood there.

At this moment, the waitress was like a busy bee, moving quickly and orderly between the tables. She carried a tray in her hand, which was filled with various drinks and snacks. Fine beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead, but her hands did not slow down at all.

Just then, a figure came into her view— Moke slowly walked in. The waitress was slightly taken aback, as if time had frozen at that moment. However, only for a moment, her face, which had been slightly tired from being busy, instantly became covered with a fawning smile, as if by magic. She quickened her pace and rushed towards Moke like a gust of wind.

"Dear guest, welcome to our little shop!" the waiter said with a beaming smile, her voice as sweet as a nightingale's song. "Would you like to try some fine wines and spirits today?"

However, despite the waiter's enthusiastic greeting, Moke remained expressionless. His deep eyes were fixed on the waiter, as if he could see through the waiter's every thought. Then, without any hesitation, he asked directly, "Do you have any information about M. Caesar Courland?"

Upon hearing the name "M. Caesar Courant," the waiter paused slightly, thinking to himself, "Oh dear, so this customer isn't just here for drinks and entertainment like the others; he's actually here specifically to find M. Caesar Courant! Looks like this is going to be a big deal! If I can seize this opportunity... hehehe..." A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of cunning flashed in the waiter's eyes, but he quickly regained his respectful demeanor.

"Please wait a moment, esteemed guest," the waitress said with a smile. "I'll go and look up some information about M. Caesar Courland for you right away. Please rest here for a while." With that, she didn't dare to delay for a moment, turned around quickly, and ran briskly towards the backstage, leaving only a hurried figure behind.

Moke nodded slightly, his movements gentle yet firm, indicating his agreement with something. Then, he casually glanced around at his surroundings before walking calmly to an empty seat not far away. Once he was settled, he became as quiet as a statue, seemingly oblivious to the outside noise, silently awaiting some important news.

Just then, a soft yet clearly audible whisper suddenly broke out in the previously peaceful tavern. "Hey, hey, hey... look at that guy! He looks exactly like Moke, who recently became Shichibukai!" "How is that possible? Could it be such a coincidence?" "I think it's absolutely true! Look at his cold, aloof face, and feel the overwhelming, suffocating aura emanating from him—who else could it be but Moke!"

Accompanied by these rising and falling murmurs, the entire tavern was instantly plunged into chaos, as if a bomb had been dropped on it. Clearly, the intrusion of this uninvited guest, Moke, had caused a huge stir, immediately attracting the attention of many pirates in the tavern. Moreover, some of these people had already accurately identified Moke's true identity. Their gazes towards Moke were initially filled with undisguised shock, but this shock quickly melted away like ice meeting warm sunshine, transforming into a deep sense of awe.

While the title of Might-Shaker (Shichibukai) Four Seas not hold the same status and influence as the Four Emperors (Emperors) in the world of One Piece, it still represents immense power and a prestigious status. However, at this moment, several people in the crowd were staring intently at Moke with slightly provocative gazes, as if they wanted to devour him alive. Some even appeared eager and ready to pounce, seemingly prepared to challenge Moke at any moment.

In this vast and boundless New World, filled with countless unknowns and dangers, there is never a shortage of those who possess both immense strength and extreme arrogance. They roam the seas with their exceptional skills, looking down on everyone and believing that no one can rival them. But at the same time, there are also some fools who, with just a little strength, become so arrogant that they are oblivious to their own limitations and completely lose sight of their own limitations.

Amidst the noisy and chaotic scene, a remarkably tall and muscular man sat in a corner. His muscles were as hard as steel, each muscle clearly defined, exuding an aura of power that was impossible to ignore. He had been wolfing down his food, but suddenly his movements involuntarily stopped... Then, he slowly turned his head, giving a cold glance out of the corner of his eye to Moke standing not far away. Through his sunglasses, one could vaguely see a chilling glint in his eyes, like a biting winter wind; even through the thick lenses, the coldness could not be completely concealed.

"Hmm?" Moke, who was talking to someone, seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head to look in that direction. Unfortunately, when his gaze shifted there, all he saw was a profile with short, jet-black hair and Inazuma- shaped sideburns on both sides of his face.

Moke raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind. For some reason, this guy in front of him gave him a sense of déjà vu. This feeling was like an Inazuma flashing through his mind, yet as elusive as smoke, as if it were faintly visible deep in his memory.

However, Moke quickly shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly. After all, he was a stranger in this world, so how could he possibly know anyone? It must just be his imagination. So he stopped dwelling on it and put this strange feeling behind him.

Just then, the waitress returned with light, graceful steps. She carried a delicate box carefully to her chest. As she approached Moke, she said softly, "Sir, this contains information about M. Caesar Cullen. But you should know, this guy is no ordinary person, so the price of this information... naturally won't be cheap."

Moke remained calm and asked indifferently, "How much exactly?" The waiter hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and quoted a number. "Two million Beli!" Upon hearing this price, Moke didn't even blink, and without saying a word, he pulled out a crystal-clear, dazzling jewel from his pocket. This jewel emitted a mesmerizing light, and its value was almost equal to the requested reward.

Upon seeing this, the waitress immediately plastered a fawning smile on her face and respectfully accepted the jewel with both hands. She carefully examined the treasure in her hands, repeatedly confirming its authenticity and value, before nodding with satisfaction. She then gently placed the box containing information about M. Caesar Couran in front of Moke.

Moke slowly opened the box, took out the intelligence documents inside, and began to read. As time passed, his expression shifted between solemnity and surprise. After reading all the information, Moke slowly raised his head, smiled slightly at the waiter, and said, "In that case, give me another one: the Eternal Pose from Sicily Island."

Indeed, at this moment, Punk Hazard is not yet known as the Icefire Island. Therefore, if we want to find the key figure M. Caesar Clown, we cannot focus on Punk Hazard, but must instead focus on Sicily Island —according to reliable intelligence, M. Caesar Clown is currently located there.

The waiter calmly took out another exquisite box from his pocket, carefully handed it to Moke who was sitting at the table, and said softly, "Sir, this is the Eternal Pose you requested. The price is 100,000 Beli. Please take a look."

After taking the box, Moke couldn't help but smile, nodding with satisfaction and exclaiming, "I must say, your service is truly meticulous and thorough!" Before he finished speaking, he readily took out 100,000 Beli and handed it to the waiter, then gave him an extra 10,000 Beli as a tip.

Upon receiving such a generous reward, the waiter's professional smile instantly turned genuine, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. He quickly asked, "Thank you so much for your generous tip, esteemed guest. Is there anything else you would like to request? Perhaps some delicious food?"

Moke lowered his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the ground, seemingly carefully considering the menu in his mind. After a moment, he raised his head and said calmly, "Hmm... then give me three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes."

Upon hearing this, the waiter's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he hurriedly nodded in response, "Alright! In that case, I'll take the liberty of recommending some of our most famous dishes! I guarantee you'll be completely satisfied and the taste will linger on your lips!" With that, he quickly turned around and strode briskly toward the kitchen, eager to arrange the dishes ordered by the guests as soon as possible.

Before long, one delicious dish after another, with its beautiful color, aroma, and taste, was served. Moke thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure brought by the food, savoring each bite and feeling the wonderful flavors that bloomed on his tongue. After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he leisurely got up and slowly walked out of the bustling tavern.

Moke walked steadily and unhurriedly towards the edge of town. Sunlight streamed down his body, casting a long shadow. Before he knew it, he had walked seven or eight miles outside the town. Suddenly, Moke stopped, as if sensing something, and whirled around, his sharp gaze fixed on someone behind him. A cold smile played on his lips as he spoke coldly, "You've been following me all this way, hiding your face. Come out!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a series of strange "tsk tsk tsk" sounds rang out, followed by unrestrained, maniacal laughter. Then, two figures slowly emerged from a relatively concealed spot on the right. Moke stared intently, and couldn't help but twitch his lips. The two men were truly bizarre—one was tall and thin, resembling a long, thin stick; the other was the complete opposite, not only short but also chubby, his round figure like a ball of flesh.

However, when they turned their gaze to Moke, a hint of heaviness still lingered in their eyes. Clearly, despite Moke's presence, the Intimidation power of the title "Shichibukai" was not to be underestimated.

The tall, thin man stepped forward and announced loudly, "We are the Brothers Pirates! My name is Loki, and this is my brother Martin! My bounty is 230 million Beli, while my brother's is 210 million Beli."

Moke narrowed his eyes slightly and replied expressionlessly, "And then? What does that prove?"

Upon hearing this, Loki and Martin exchanged a glance, then simultaneously let out a chilling and vicious laugh. Loki then smirked and said menacingly, "So, we brothers want to borrow your head today! Hehehe..."

"Hehe..." Moke couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. He really couldn't understand who gave these two guys, whose bounties didn't even exceed 300 million Beli, such audacity as to dare to plot against him.

At that moment, Martin leaned close to Loki and whispered, "Bro, why do I feel like this guy is mocking us?"

Loki snorted coldly and replied in a chilling tone, "Hmph! Since he's so ungrateful, let's show him what our brothers are capable of!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Loki's body underwent a startling transformation. A dense layer of short, gray hair rapidly grew all over his body, and at the same time, he gradually transformed into Hybrid Form, looking extremely ferocious and terrifying.

Just then, a shocking scene unfolded— Martin's mouth suddenly began to deform, and sharp fangs burst forth from it. This was truly unexpected! It turned out that they were both Zoan users with special abilities. One was Zoan —the Greyhound Devil Fruit User, possessing agility and nimble movements; the other was Zoan —the Boar Devil Fruit User, brimming with immense strength and explosive power.

Immediately afterward, Loki dashed towards Moke like Inazuma. His speed was so great it seemed he could tear the air apart. At the same time, the burly Martin followed closely behind Loki, charging towards Moke together. Each time Martin took a heavy step, the earth trembled slightly, as if unable to bear the pressure of his immense weight. However, don't underestimate Martin's strength because of his size. In fact, although his speed isn't as Inazuma -fast as Loki's, it's still considerable. Remember, he's a relatively agile fat man! Despite his bulky physique, once he moves, he's a force to be reckoned with, possessing an extraordinary aura.

Seeing the intense battle unfolding before him, Moke couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. A slight, mocking smile appeared on his lips, "Heh, this is interesting..." Before he finished speaking, he swung his right hand, instantly drawing the Shusui Sword from its sheath at his waist. In an instant, a cold light flashed, and sword energy emanated from it, as if the entire space was enveloped in a chilling aura.

Immediately afterward, Moke swung his arm forcefully, and the Shusui Sword drew a beautiful yet sharp arc in the air. Accompanied by a crisp sword cry, an incomparably fierce slash suddenly burst forth. This slash was like a thunderbolt, carrying an overwhelming force, and roared straight towards Loki was charging at the forefront. Its speed and power were astonishing.

Faced with such a swift attack, Loki showed no sign of panic. He dodged with the speed of a ghost, sidestepping the attack with incredible agility. In the blink of an eye, just as the slash was about to strike him, he easily avoided the fatal blow with superhuman flexibility.

However, just when everyone thought the confrontation was over, Martin, who had been following Loki, suddenly made a surprising move. He roared, his muscles bulged, and a powerful aura erupted from his body. The next moment, he revealed his true form—a gigantic wild boar!

This wild boar was as large as a mountain, covered in a layer of hard, iron-like black fur, its sharp tusks gleaming with a chilling light. It charged forward on all fours, creating a Gale, and charged straight at its enemy. Each step it took made a dull thud, as if the earth itself was trembling.