Chapter 53 / Chapter 54

The White Ghost Pirates stood frozen.

They hurriedly looked toward the voice.

At the front stood a young man dressed in black.

A large group followed him, men and women alike.

"Quite a crowd. Looks like we'll get to kill a few."

Doc Q lay atop Strong, a cruel smile spreading across his weathered face.

Hawkins said in a low voice, "No wonder they're the overlords of the North Blue. They've stolen quite a haul."

Law rested the Demonic Sword Kikoku on his shoulder. "People who murder, burn, and plunder all deserve to die."

"An actual Devil Fruit. Our luck really is good this time."

Lafitte twirled his cane and spoke with gentlemanly composure.

Carina's eyes sparkled. She loved treasure, and the sight of so much gold and jewelry immediately brought a smile to her face.

"This is amazing! I'm so excited, hee hee hee!"

Belo Betty took a drag on her cigarette and swept a cold gaze over the White Ghost Pirates. "They stole all this? Every last one of them deserves to die."

Perona frowned at Oliford ahead of them. "He's so ugly. This princess doesn't like him one bit."

Honey Queen nodded and smiled. "He lives up to his reputation. A truly notorious pirate."

(Everyone, can you guess what this Devil Fruit does? Leave your guesses in the reviews and see if you get it right. It's a Logia! ︿(￣︶￣)︿)

Another Encounter

"So you've brought friends, hahaha!"

Oliford spread his arms and threw back his head in arrogant laughter. "Someone actually dares to steal my treasure in the North Blue?"

His gaze turned icy as he glared at the people before him. "You brats must have a death wish!"

Kate nodded, a vicious smile on his face. "Don't kill them too quickly. Those women are pretty. Let the boys have some fun first."

"Lord Kate, save one for me! Any one will do, heh heh heh..."

"Fools. You should've asked around. We're the overlords of the North Blue, and you dare challenge us? You're dead!"

"Enough talk, boys. Grab your weapons and kill them!"

"That curly-browed beauty has a great figure. I'm going to have my fun with her, gahaha!"

Honey Queen looked at Reiju with a teasing smile. "Someone's taken a fancy to you. He says you have a great figure!"

Perona fluttered through the air, laughing like a little bell. "Big Sister Reiju is beautiful! And her figure is amazing! Horo horo horo!"

"You two are the pretty ones. How could I compare?"

Reiju rolled her eyes at them. A gentle smile softened her stunning face, making her look like the girl next door.

Then Chris, his hands in his pockets, said calmly, "You have one minute to deal with them."

"Yes, Captain!"

Lafitte twirled his cane and answered respectfully.

As gloomy as ever, Hawkins said, "Their fate was sealed the moment we landed on this island."

"Enough chatter. I hate standing around talking when there's a fight to be had."

Burgess kicked off the ground and shot forward like a cannonball.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Screams rang out one after another as the pirates fell.

In the end, only Oliford remained standing.

Fear gripped him.

Trembling at the horrifying sight, he said, "Spare me... I'll give you all my treasure..."

"I'm afraid that treasure already belongs to us."

Lafitte maintained his gentlemanly air as he swept his cane out in an attack.

"Aah!"

After that final scream, every member of the White Ghost Pirates had been wiped out.

"North Blue overlords, my ass. They were complete garbage."

Burgess kicked a corpse aside and cursed.

Doc Q chuckled. "It's been a while since I killed anyone. It feels good."

Lafitte twirled his cane. "We can't blame them for being too weak. We're simply too strong."

"From now on, the North Blue has no overlords," Hawkins said suddenly.

Baccarat looked at Chris's imposing figure and smiled. "Chris, the smell of blood is too strong here. Let's head back to the ship!"

Carina waved them on, her eyes sparkling. "You go ahead. I want to see what treasures they have."

With that, she hurried toward the pile of treasure like a girl who couldn't resist anything shiny.

"She really does light up at the sight of money."

Honey Queen glanced at Carina, caught between amusement and exasperation.

"Everyone, clean up and bring everything back."

Chris turned and left as soon as he finished speaking.

"Yes, Captain Chris!"

The crew rushed toward the mountain of gold, each trying to get there first.

Aboard the New Chris.

"Not bad at all. The more I see of it, the more I like it."

Honey Queen looked over the new ship and nodded, delight showing on her face.

Belo Betty exhaled a stream of smoke. "It is better than the last one."

Perona flew back and forth through the air, giggling. "This ship is huge! Now this princess can fly even farther! Horo horo horo!"

"Baccarat, did you find it? What Devil Fruit is this?"

Burgess looked at Baccarat with open curiosity.

Lafitte twirled his cane. "Given its pineapple shape, it's definitely a Logia Devil Fruit."

"But with that color, what force of nature could it be?"

Baccarat stopped turning the pages, her eyes lighting up. "Found it. It is a Logia."

Reiju touched her chin. "The Logia Miasma Fruit. It lets its user produce miasma, which is corrosive as well."

"It seems we've found a remarkable Devil Fruit."

Law nodded, his expression as cool as ever. "Miasma is poisonous, and it can corrode things too."

"If developed well, this Devil Fruit could be incredibly powerful."

Hawkins said in a low voice, "Poison is the worst part. Without an antidote, all you can do is wait to die."

For once, Doc Q looked excited. He turned to Chris and spoke quickly.

"Captain, this fruit suits me. Let me eat it."

Burgess shrugged and laughed. "You already use poison, and this fruit is poisonous too. It's made for you."

"Suit yourself."

Chris turned and headed straight for the Training Room.

Doc Q watched him go, his face full of gratitude. "Captain, you really are the best. Heh heh heh..."

Perona floated overhead and urged him on. "Enough talking. Eat it already! It's a Logia!"

"This princess has never even seen a Logia user before. Hurry up and eat it!"

(What do you think of this Devil Fruit? Isn't it powerful? And what was written in that notebook? I can't wait to find out! ︿(￣︶￣)︿)

The First Division Commander

"I'm going to watch Chris train. What about you?"

Honey Queen had a poor impression of Doc Q. She disliked him and had no interest in what happened to him.

"Let's go." Belo Betty felt the same way. She spoke briefly and walked off.

Seeing the other women leave, Perona grumbled, "This princess is leaving too. I'm not watching."

Burgess looked at Doc Q and burst out laughing. "See that? Nobody likes you much! Weehahaha!"

Law nodded. "That does seem to be the case."

Hawkins was blunt. "You're young, but you have the face of an old man. It's only natural that women don't like you."

"None of that matters. I need to eat this Devil Fruit and get stronger."

Without another word, Doc Q took a bite.

"Urgh!"

Even someone as strange as Doc Q couldn't stand the taste of a Devil Fruit.

His already aged face twisted into an even uglier expression.

The others watched in silence, eager to see what made a Logia Devil Fruit so special.

"Heh heh heh. So powerful. I don't think any of you can beat me now."

Doc Q raised his hand and looked down at it. His right hand slowly vanished, turning into pale green mist.

"Damn it, don't mess around!"

The others hurried back, afraid they might breathe in the miasma and be poisoned.

Doc Q chuckled. "Now I'll show you just how powerful it is."

"Corrosion!"

He swept his right hand toward a nearby chair. The miasma surged over it, and the moment it touched—

Hiss, hiss, hiss!

A sharp sizzling came from the chair. Its finish peeled away, and soon the entire chair had corroded to nothing.

It had vanished completely!

"That's powerful corrosion."

Holding Kikoku, Law analyzed it calmly. "Fighting Doc Q would be extremely dangerous for anyone without Armament Haki."

Hawkins said in a low voice, "That settles who'll be First Division Commander."

"Doc Q, you were always trying to goad me into starting a fight."

Burgess laughed. "Now it's your turn. Fight Lafitte. You can definitely win."

Lafitte straightened his top hat. "Anyone with the strength is welcome to challenge me."

"Of course, a few injuries are inevitable. Fights tend to draw blood."

Doc Q withdrew the miasma and smiled. "There's no rush. Once I've mastered this fruit, your position will be mine."

Inside the Training Room.

"It's much roomier here, and the air is better too."

Honey Queen looked around, pleased with the new space.