Don't get your hopes up too high.
"Even if a Devil Fruit of that caliber existed, Doflamingo would keep it hidden and cultivate his own trusted subordinates."
Tesoro paused for a second, then said,
"Understood, boss."
I'll keep a close eye on him.
Roy nodded.
"Okay, then that's settled."
"I have other things to take care of here, I'll go back in a few days."
"Yes!"
The call ended.
Roy put away the Den Den Mushi and looked towards the distant horizon.
Doflamingo's connections are indeed very useful.
That guy, no wonder he's so successful in the Underworld.
If this cooperative relationship can be maintained, Hachinosu's wealth and power will grow even faster.
Of course, you can't completely trust him either.
That guy is a complete schemer.
They could stab you in the back at any time.
but--
A faint smile curved Roy's lips.
As long as we have absolute strength to suppress him, we are not afraid of his tricks.
He turned around and looked at Lafitte and Van Augur, who were still practicing on the deck.
Both were so engrossed in their cultivation that they didn't notice Roy had already finished his call.
Roy didn't disturb them; he simply walked to the bow, took control of the sailboat, and headed towards Fighting Island.
Fighting Island is located somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line.
That place is a paradise for fighters and Paradise for gamblers.
Every year, countless people flock there to participate in the annual Fighting Tournament.
And Jesus Burgess, the helmsman of the Blackbeard Pirates in the original story, should be there right now, wreaking havoc.
A flicker of anticipation flashed in Roy's eyes.
I wonder how strong Jesus Burgess is now?
Was it worth it for him to make the trip himself?
Two days later.
A huge island came into view.
The island is filled with towering buildings, the most prominent of which is a huge circular arena, even larger than the Colosseum in Dressrosa.
The port was filled with all sorts of ships.
Pirate ships, merchant ships, fishing boats, and even a few Marine warship.
The dock was teeming with people, a cacophony of languages, creating a noisy scene.
Roy maneuvered the small sailboat and moored it in a corner of the harbor.
Lafitte and Van Augur awoke from their meditation, stood up, and stretched their limbs.
Although the two days of training were short, both of them felt they had gained a great deal.
Lafitte, in particular, has already faintly touched the threshold of Observation Haki.
"Captain, is this Fighting Island?"
Lafitte gazed at the enormous arena, a flicker of interest in his eyes.
Roy nodded.
"Um."
"Let's go down and take a look."
The three jumped off the boat and joined the crowd at the port.
The streets were filled with enthusiastic fighting enthusiasts.
There were muscular giants, sharp-eyed swordsmen, menacing pirates, and well-dressed businessmen.
They gathered in small groups, discussing something animatedly.
"... I heard there's a monster among this year's contestants!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Jesus Burgess! That guy crushes everyone, no one can last three moves against him!"
"That's terrifying! Those muscles, that power—one punch could send someone flying!"
"I believe he'll win! I've already bet 100,000 Beli on him!"
Haha! Me too!
Such conversations occasionally broke out from the crowd.
Lafitte and Van Augur exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes.
Jesus Burgess...
This name seems to be quite famous on Fighting Island.
Roy listened to the discussions, a faint smile playing on his lips.
It seems we've arrived at just the right time.
The three walked along the street towards the fighting arena.
Along the way, there were advertisements for the Fighting Tournament everywhere.
The walls were covered with posters featuring this year's well-known competitors.
The largest one is of a muscular man.
He was shirtless, his muscles as sharp and defined as granite, a ferocious smile on his face, his fists clenched, exuding an air of arrogance.
At the bottom of the poster, a line of large text reads: --
[ Jesus Burgess – the favorite to win this tournament! He's dominating the competition, unbeatable!]
Van Augur looked at the poster and couldn't help but say,
"Captain, is this the person you're looking for?"
Roy nodded.
"Um."
Van Augur paused for a second, then said,
"He does look very strong."
Roy smiled slightly.
We'll find out tomorrow whether it's strong or not.
The three continued on their way.
Soon, a huge hotel came into view.
The hotel, named " Fighters' Home," is located next to the fighting arena and is one of the best hotels on the island.
Several uniformed waiters stood at the entrance, greeting guests.
Roy stepped into the hotel.
The lobby was equally bustling.
People dressed in all sorts of outfits gathered here; some were drinking and chatting, some were exchanging information, and some were debating the outcome of tomorrow's competition.
Roy walked to the front desk,
"Three rooms."
The receptionist glanced at him, then at Lafitte and Van Augur behind him, and immediately put on a professional smile.
"Yes, sir! Three luxury suites, 100,000 Beli a day, is that alright with you?"
Roy casually tossed out a stack of Beli.
"Can."
The waiter took the money, quickly completed the formalities, and handed over three keys.
"Sir, your room is on the fifth floor, 506, 507, or 508."
Have a pleasant stay!
Roy took the keys and led Lafitte and Van Augur upstairs.
All three rooms are luxury suites, exquisitely decorated and fully equipped.
Open the window and you can see the fighting arena not far away.
Lafitte and Van Augur went into their respective rooms, tidied up briefly, and then went to Roy's room.
"Captain, shall we go and gather information now?"
"Lafitte asked."
Roy nodded.
"Um."
"You two, go and find out more details about Jesus Burgess."
"When is the next match? Who is the opponent? Where will the match be held?"
I'm going to take a walk around.
Lafitte and Van Augur exchanged a glance.
"Yes!"
The two left the hotel and blended into the crowd.
Roy stood by the window, gazing at the enormous fighting arena, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
There are quite a few naval personnel on this island.
He saw at least three warships at the port just now.
Those naval soldiers, mingling in the crowd, though dressed in civilian clothes, exuded an aura of disciplined training that couldn't escape his Observation Haki.
What are they monitoring?
Or is it just a routine patrol?
Roy withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked out of the room.
In the evening, Lafitte and Van Augur returned to the hotel.
"Captain, we've found out."
Lafitte said as he entered the door,
" Jesus Burgess is indeed competing, and he's absolutely dominating the game."
"He has played a total of seven matches since the qualifiers."
"Seven wins out of seven, and in every single match, the opponent was defeated within three moves."
"The worst off was one whose body was half shattered by a single punch from him; he died on the spot."
"Right now, he is the biggest favorite to win this competition."
Roy nodded.
What about the next match?
Lafitte Road,
"The semi-finals are tomorrow morning."
"My opponent is a guy called ' Iron Arms ' Arms, a strong contender in this tournament. He's only lost one match so far."
"They're said to be quite strong, and are known for their arm defense."
A glint of light flashed in Roy's eyes as he walked to the window and looked out at the fighting arena under the night sky.
The enormous arena is brightly lit, and a night match is underway.
The cheers and shouts of the audience could be faintly heard.
"Let's go take a look tomorrow."
Roy said calmly.
Lafitte nodded.
"Yes!"