Sincerity

Over a dozen days later, Werther arrived at Tutu Island. Looking at the familiar island before him, he was filled with complicated emotions.

This was the first island he had set foot on in the Grand Line, and he had nearly lost his life here.

After returning this time, he did not know whether he would ever have another chance to come back. With Werther's current strength, even if he charged straight into Fish-Man Island, he would still have a place in the New World.

Unfortunately, Werther had no ambition to conquer the seas. He preferred the scenery along the way.

Before he had even disembarked, he spotted Ferdinand and Catarina waiting for him at the dock, with a large group of subordinates standing behind them.

Werther had not expected Ferdinand to actually hold a small welcome ceremony for him.

After stepping ashore, Werther was speechless. He immediately grabbed Ferdinand and dragged him away from the dock.

"Hey, Werther, this was a welcome ceremony I carefully planned. At least enjoy it a little." Ferdinand wore a broad smile, though it was impossible to tell how sincere it was.

"I won't forget what I promised you. Stop with all this useless nonsense and take me to see the rare metal. I've been looking forward to it." Werther paid no attention to Ferdinand's words. This guy was far too unreliable, so he simply chose to ignore some things.

As Werther and Ferdinand walked toward the island, Catarina unexpectedly spoke up for the first time.

"I heard you wanted to sell me? What a vile man." Catarina's voice was still hoarse, but it no longer sounded as unpleasant as it had the first time Werther heard it. It seemed her treatment had helped her recover somewhat.

"Hey, hey, where did you hear that? From your brother? We just had some business disagreements. I never said I wanted to sell you. Forget that—let's go see the rare metal first." Werther remained calm, spouting nonsense with a straight face as he tried to change the subject.

Werther had only said it in passing because he had been too angry at the time. He had not expected Catarina herself to know about it. He stared directly at Ferdinand, as if saying, You sold me out again, you bastard.

"Stop staring. I was right beside the Den Den Mushi at the time. Werther, what exactly is wrong with your personality? Sometimes you're unbelievably crazy." Catarina looked straight at Werther, showing no fear despite his strength.

When Werther heard that she had been beside the Den Den Mushi at the time, he felt rather awkward. But after hearing what she said next, he stopped walking, as though his heart had missed a beat.

For some reason, Werther sensed sincerity in Catarina's words. He turned and stared directly at the woman, as if trying to find some flaw in her expression.

But after staring for a long while, all he saw was sincerity.

Ferdinand was already breaking out in a cold sweat from his sister's words. Catarina was good in every way, except that she could be a little dense at times. Though she appeared cold and gave people the impression of an icy beauty, it was actually because of her childhood experiences that she was not good at expressing emotions.

If his childhood experiences had turned him into a filthy person, then Catarina was like an angel.

Werther thought for a moment before speaking.

"As for me, maybe I was bound by certain things for too long. Then one day, when those restraints came undone, I released the demon in my heart.

"And when I first released that demon, I became an assassin. Later, I realized that killing no longer made me feel anything. I didn't feel guilty, nor did I feel the pleasure people talked about.

"I just like fighting. As for being crazy? I think I'm perfectly normal. What do you think, Ferdinand?" Werther answered Catarina's question very seriously, solely because of her sincerity.

Ferdinand did not respond. He was completely speechless. What was going on here? Werther was actually discussing life with his sister. He could not understand it at all.

Catarina was equally confused. It was as if she had not heard Werther's words at all. She looked at him in astonishment, opened her mouth, but said nothing further.

The three of them arrived at Ferdinand's castle in silence and went straight to a secret chamber.

For the first time, Werther truly felt how wealthy Ferdinand was. The Beli here were not counted by bundles or boxes, but by heaps.

All sorts of rare treasures filled the room, including two Zoan Fruits. They appeared to be part of Ferdinand's private collection.

Werther merely looked on in surprise and felt no greed for those things. What he wanted most now was that rare metal.

At the very back, Werther did not see any rare metal. Ferdinand pointed at a red stone in front of them, indicating that it was the rare metal.

Werther froze. His first thought was that this guy was fooling him, but that seemed impossible after he thought it over. So he asked what was special about it.

"This stone was salvaged from the deep sea—not just any deep sea, but beneath Fish-Man Island. You can imagine the water pressure down there even if I don't explain it. And this metal may have been compressed under that immense pressure for countless years.

"That alone would not make it especially valuable. What is truly strange is that I once tried to smelt it, but failed. I used the finest smelting equipment, yet it still wouldn't work.

"I also tried to cut it, and failed again. Later, I had someone appraise it. This unusual metal is highly suitable for making weapons, and the weapons made from it may very well possess certain special properties." Ferdinand seemed extremely confident in this rare metal as he described how he had acquired it.

After hearing Ferdinand's explanation, Werther became interested in the rare metal as well.

He picked up the red stone. The moment it entered his hand, Werther felt a tremor in his palm, and he became certain that it was not a stone at all. The metal inside simply had not yet been refined. As for its toughness, he would have to test it himself.

Werther casually picked up a sword beside him and slowly drew it from its sheath.

The moment Werther picked up the sword and drew it, Ferdinand and Catarina felt only one thing—their body hair stood on end, as if that sword could cut them down at any moment.

For the first time, Ferdinand fully realized that the current Werther was no longer someone he could contend with. The other man had merely picked up a sword at random, and it was not even aimed at him. If Werther were truly holding two swords, would he even be able to stand steady?

Catarina's feelings were even more complicated. If their strength had not differed much two years ago, then now they were no longer on the same level. She silently clenched her fists and swore that she would grow stronger, so that this man would never again be able to threaten her brother.

And she would never again let this hateful man say that he wanted to sell her. She had to become stronger—much stronger.

Werther knew nothing of the siblings' thoughts. All of his attention was focused on the rare metal before him.

He brought the sword down in a single slash. With Haki and lightning wrapped around the blade, even the air let out a mournful whine as it was cut apart.

With a deafening clang, the secret chamber shook violently, and the shockwave forced the siblings back two steps.

Werther was completely unaffected. He was now certain that Ferdinand had not deceived him. This rare metal was truly good. Its hardness alone was already extremely rare.

If he forged swords from this rare metal, what kind of weapons would those two swords become?