Chapter 79
"Oh? New Pirates emerging from the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Whitebeard quickly scanned the newspaper, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Publicly humiliating Celestial Dragons... fighting Sengoku for over half an hour... Gurarara! What a powerful newcomer who loves excitement!"
Marco asked, "Pops, once this White Ghost arrives in the New World, should we invite him to join our Whitebeard Pirates?"
As one of the top Pirates crews on this sea, the Whitebeard Pirates are also keen on replenishing their ranks with fresh blood. Almost every year, rookie Pirates who make a name for themselves in the first half of the sea are potential targets of their observation.
"Let's wait and see. He still has the Fish-Man Island hurdle to overcome! Every year, quite a few Pirates perish at the depths of the ocean."
The Whitebeard took a big gulp of fine wine and laughed heartily, looking up at the sky.
"Gurararara... Don't worry too much about these Rookie Pirate, Marco, go and enjoy the feast!"
The Grand Line, the New World, Totto Land Totto Land.
The main island of the Totto Land, Whole Cake Island, also known as Cake Island, is shaped like a cake stacked on top of each other. At the very center of the island is the capital of the Totto Land, 'Sweet City', while to the north of the city stands the towering Whole Cake Chateau.
At this moment, in the magnificent and opulent hall of Whole Cake Island, Queen Charlotte Linlin of the Queen of Totto Land was sitting on her wide throne, enjoying herself immensely, constantly stuffing her mouth with ridiculously sweet desserts and cakes.
"Mama mama, Perospero, is there any good news today that would make me want to have another big meal?"
Wearing a blue and white top hat and holding a candy cane that combines lollipop and candy cane, the slender 'Candy Duke' Charlotte Perospero removed her hat, bowed deeply, and gave a respectful salute.
"Yes, Mom, something earth-shattering just happened on Sabaody Archipelago. You might be interested."
Despite having a long, thick tongue, Perospero speaks clearly.
"A rookie Pirates named White Ghost tortured a Celestial Dragons and then sent him to Slave Auction House on Sabaody Archipelago. He first defeated Vice Admiral Borsalino, the Devil Fruit User the Glint-Glint Fruit, and then fought Sengoku the Sengoku the Buddha for half an hour without being at a disadvantage. Finally, he successfully extorted a large sum of money from the World Government and escaped. His whereabouts are now unknown."
Compared to the information in the newspapers, Perospero knew significantly more information, and in much greater detail.
After all, when it comes to intelligence, the Big Mom Pirates' intelligence network is hailed as the best in the world.
"Mama mama..." Big Mom laughed a few times, then her voice turned sharp, "The Celestial Dragons have also been sent to the Slave Auction House? Why didn't we get this information beforehand? You know, the Celestial Dragons are one of the few intelligent races in the Totto Land!"
Under Charlotte Linlin's oppressive presence, Perospero broke out in a cold sweat and immediately explained:
"Mother, before White Ghost revealed this, no one knew where he had placed the Celestial Dragons... Moreover, the Celestial Dragons who were thrown into the Slave Auction House were covered in charred marks, making it impossible to discern their true identities. They were simply treated as lowly, inferior human slaves..."
"Hmph! That explanation works!" Big Mom snorted, then said, "And what about that White Ghost?"
Perospero immediately presented all the information he had gathered about White Ghost beforehand, including Ghost's Devil Fruit ability.
"Hollow-Hollow Fruit?" Big Mom was slightly taken aback. "What's the difference between the Hollow-Hollow Fruit and the Soul-Soul Fruit? Is it a lower-level Soul-Soul Fruit?"
"We can't draw a conclusion on that yet, Mom," Perospero said.
"Hmph, White Ghost!" Big Mom said. "His Bounty is over 600 million, and he's good-looking too. I wonder what kind of strange reaction will occur when the Hollow-Hollow Fruit and the Soul-Soul Fruit are combined... Perospero, what do you think of him as my new husband?"
Aside from the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, several other top Pirates crews sailing the New World also took notice of this rising Rookie Pirate, including the White Pirates and the White Lion Pirates...
Adrian was completely unaware that his reputation, which he had originally hoped would intimidate other Pirates, had become the reason why a group of the New World's top Great Pirate were paying attention to him.
Let's move the timeline forward slightly.
Having just finished his trip to Sabaody, Adrian did not immediately dive down to Fish-Man Island, which is 10,000 meters below the surface. Instead, he prepared to return to Water 7.
Before returning to base, Adrian still needed to deal with an 'uninvited guest'.
[150. Chapter 141 Little Fox Girl Louf]
The Lead-Gray Pocket Watch Castle, in the lobby on the first floor.
Adrian remained in his relaxed, half-reclined position on the red sofa.
After successfully completing the S-Rank Challenge [Sengoku the Buddha], a progress bar for another mission will appear on the panel.
[SS-rank faction quest [The God's Slumber], current progress 0.98%]
"It seems the persecution of Saint Rosward has been approved by the panel!"
Adrian's eyes flickered.
Although he had previously attacked the Celestial Dragons, the main reason was to have an extra "get-out-of-jail-free card" in his hands when Sengoku rushed to the Sabaody Archipelago.
However, the subsequent series of acts of persecution, which involved knocking Saint Rosward unconscious with a scabbard, were actually intended to advance the [God's Slumber] questline.
After all, as his first SS-level mission, Adrian was very curious about what kind of amazing reward he would receive after completing it.
However, such persecution only advanced the mission by 0.98%...
This was somewhat beyond Adrian's expectations. He had originally thought that since it was the first time he had attacked Celestial Dragons, the system would give him a higher level of recognition.
"If we had just killed Saint Rosward back then, would the quest progress have immediately increased by more than 5%?"
This thought popped into Adrian's mind, but he immediately dismissed it.
"Forget it. It's not wise to provoke the World Government and the Marine Headquarters excessively before we reach a certain level of strength."
"Teaching the Celestial Dragons a lesson might damage the reputation of the Celestial Dragons and descendants of the Creator, but this has happened before and hasn't crossed the Celestial Dragons' true bottom line. However, if we were to publicly kill Saint Rosward on Sabaody Archipelago, there would be absolutely no turning back!"
"Let's take it one step at a time later..."
Setting the panel of haul aside, Adrian turned his attention to the "substantial haul."
In addition to the rewards on the panel, he also obtained several other very valuable items during his operation on the Sabaody Archipelago.
The first thing is a half-section of Yarukiman Mangrove.
However, we'll discuss how to use this half of the mangrove tree with Mr. Tom after we return to Water 7, so let's leave that aside for now.
Next up is [Sleeve Snow], one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords!
Adrian took the Great Grade Sword, which resembled a work of art, from the wooden shelf. He held the crystal-clear, snow-white scabbard in his left hand, his thumb gently pushing against the guard, while his right hand gripped the hilt and drew the sword from its sheath.
"It's so beautiful!"
Adrian exclaimed in admiration, his eyes filled with appreciation.
"But such an exquisitely crafted and ornate Great Grade Sword just doesn't seem to match my masculine spirit..."
With a few casual Sleeve Snow, the sharp blade sliced through the air without even a sound of wind cutting through it, clearly indicating that this was an extremely light and fast sword!
Sheathing his sword, Adrian turned his gaze to the three newly acquired Devil Fruit.
Logia: Swamp-Swamp Fruit.
This fruit will eventually fall into the hands of the Pirates Wet-Haired Caribou.
It's clear that the Celestial Dragons bestowed this fruit upon a slave, then tormented him/her to death, after which the fruit was reborn on the sea and thus obtained by Pirates.
The power of Logia Devil Fruit is almost universally acknowledged on this ocean.
But the Swamp-Swamp Fruit is different.
Because of the extremely poor performance of the Wet-Haired Caribou, his performance was almost at the bottom among a group of Logia-type Devil Fruit users who were like Logia Calamity, thus earning him the title of 'the shame of Logia users'.
If the Swamp-Swamp Fruit is developed to a sufficiently high level, it will also be a fruit of considerable power.
After all, the swamp's ability to devour and absorb everything is quite powerful.
But...
Adrian stated that he is a visual kei player, and the Swamp-Swamp Fruit...
It's better not to say anything!
Special Paramecia Devil Fruit - Paste-Paste Fruit.
Adrian also had some impression of this Special Paramecia Fruit.
After all, there's only one instance in my memory where Devil Fruit's power can't affect the clothes of its owner.
Even when Luffy transforms into a rubber giant, his clothes won't burst open, okay?
However, the "Honey Queen," the consumer of the Paste-Paste Fruit, is unable to assimilate her clothes. She has to take off her clothes before transforming and then hurriedly put them back on afterward.
They're practically welfare-oriented people!
Cough cough!
It's so hydrating! So moisturizing!
This is undoubtedly due to the consumer's insufficient understanding of the fruit's abilities and the extremely slow progress in developing them.
In Adrian's prediction, the Paste-Paste Fruit is at least a Special Paramecia Fruit that can rival the Mochi-Mochi Fruit!
The last one.
Zoan, Fish- Fish-Fish Fruit, Sailfish Form.
Devil Fruit fear the sea; this is almost a universally acknowledged truth in the ocean.
Even the darlings of the sea, Fish-Man or mermaids, will become unable to swim after eating Devil Fruit. They will fall into the sea, becoming weak, powerless, and unable to move, only able to wait for others to rescue them.
However, among the many Devil Fruits, there exists a very, very rare type of fruit.
That is the [Fish-Fish Fruit]!
The Fish-Fish Fruit is an anomaly among Devil Fruit. While it also possesses the characteristic of being afraid of Seawater, it is not as pronounced as in other Devil Fruit. (This is a setting from the book.)
Kaido of the Beasts, who ate the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form, is known as the Strongest Creature in the sea, land, and air!
Don't underestimate the fact that the title of the Strongest Creature also applies to [the Seawater]!
This also relies on the basic characteristics of the Fish-Fish Fruit.
Creatures that eat the Fish-Fish Fruit gain basic abilities similar to those of other animals on land, such as beast transformation and a significant increase in strength and endurance.
However, when he falls into the sea, he does not completely lose his strength and become unable to move like other ability users; he can still maintain the most basic mobility.
Although their strength will decrease, they won't drown directly in the sea!
This is the main reason why Adrian traded the Fish-Fish Fruit from the World Government in exchange for ownership of Saint Rosward!
As Devil Fruit User the Ghost- Ghost Fruit, the [Sea Curse] cannot be removed, and falling into the sea would almost certainly mean certain death.
This Fish-Fish Fruit was Adrian's backup plan!
Just as Adrian was pondering how to use the Fish-Fish Fruit, a rustling sound suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
His brows furrowed slightly, and a crimson light flashed in his pupils as he instantly activated his Observation Haki.
In Adrian's perception, a faintly familiar aura had appeared in this Impenetrable Fortress at some unknown time.
"Lumi!" Adrian called out the castle Ghost's name, "Aren't you going to introduce the guest you brought up?"
"Oh no! We've been spotted!"
Lumi's figure flew out, followed closely by a snow-white, furry figure. Because its head was lowered, its face could not be seen, only its long, silvery-white hair that shimmered with a silky smooth luster and reached its waist.
"Adrian!" Lumi flew to Adrian, her little hands nervously wringing in front of her stomach. "This is..."
Adrian recalled slightly, "Back at the Sofia Auction House, the short auctioneer mentioned a Mink Tribe Boa Sandersonia from the New World?"
Lumi nodded. "Louf! The Little Fox's name is Louf!"
Just then, the little white-haired boy finally raised his head and said timidly, "Benefactor, benefactor..."
The soft outline of the animal ears on both sides of her head was revealed, and the hair on her temples was tied into thin braids and hung in front of her chest. Her perfectly shaped oval face, her long and slender eyebrows like curved willow leaves, and the beauty mark at the corner of her right eye made her a luxurious beauty that could only be described as devastating.
The only drawback is that Little White Fur is covered from head to toe in short, glistening white fur, and a long, fluffy white tail sways behind her, further highlighting her Mink Tribe nature.
Adrian's lips twitched: I'm not a Fury fanatic!!
"Lumi, why did you bring this Little Fox into the castle?"
"Because Louf is so pitiful..." Lumi explained, waving her right hand and conjuring a sturdy steel collar out of thin air in her little hand. "Besides, Kitty and Puppy wouldn't want their kind to be enslaved..."
"Kitty and Puppy?"
After a moment's thought, Adrian figured out who the cats and dogs Lumi was talking about were.
Cat Viper and Inuarashi, the King of Night and King of Day of the Mokomo Dukedom, who once boarded the Kozuki Oden Jackson with Kozuki Oden and adventured with the Roger Pirates.
Adrian nodded slightly, accepting Lumi's explanation. After all, as the Ship Spirit of the Roger Pirates, it was understandable for him to take care of a junior acquaintance.
He turned his head to look at the Little Fox, about to speak.
"Thank you so much for saving my Benefactor..." The Little Fox Louf, Love, blushed and lowered her head. "I have no way to repay you except by offering myself to you."