Chapter 1003: Who on Earth… Are You?

Chapter 1003: Chapter 1003: Who on Earth... Are You?

"Now then, where do you two think you’re going?"

Aeridar released his grip, standing up at his full height. He didn’t bother to spare a glance at the unconscious Law at his feet, turning his gaze instead toward Nami and Usopp, who were frozen mid-retreat.

Every single one of his punches and kicks carried cataclysmic power, further augmented by the devastating force of his Impact-Impact Fruit. Ordinary fighters stood absolutely no chance. Even Luffy, at the absolute apex of his Gear 4, had been critically wounded by a single strike. Law and Zoro were by no means stronger than Luffy; having sustained direct hits from him, their defeat was an absolute certainty.

Consequently, Aeridar completely disregarded them.

"We..."

Nami and Usopp froze in their tracks. Massive beads of cold sweat rolled down their faces, instantly soaking through their clothes.

Their bodies rigid with terror, they slowly turned around to face Aeridar with awkward, horrified expressions. A choked "We..." lingered on their lips, but neither could force out the rest of the sentence.

"I will never understand you people. Every single one of you loves to stir up trouble, yet you expect to stroll out completely unscathed. Do you honestly take me for one of those incompetent fools in the Marines or the World Government?" Aeridar’s eyes were flat and indifferent as his gaze swept across their faces.

"And don’t even think about making a move."

Aeridar pointed a finger at the pair, his voice soft yet carrying an icy weight. "My Observation Haki has already reached the level of seeing the future. Every single action you intend to take is completely within my grasp. Do not give me a reason to throw a punch, because I am genuinely afraid it will kill you."

Hearing his words, Nami and Usopp were broken out into a cold sweat. Paralyzed by sheer terror, they dared not execute even the slightest covert movement.

Their minds reeled in shock. They could hardly believe that someone had pushed their Haki to the legendary realm of future-sight. Then again, remembering Madam Shyarly of the Mermaid Cafe on Fish-Man Island and her infallible prophecies, they had no choice but to take Aeridar’s warning with absolute seriousness.

"W-We surrender! We surrender!"

Nami and Usopp exchanged a frantic, terrified glance before trembling violently as they dropped the Sorcery Clima-Tact and Kuro Kabuto onto the shattered floor.

Regardless of whether the man could truly glimpse the future, what they feared above all else was receiving one of his blows. Two absolute monsters like Law and Zoro hadn’t even withstood a single proper exchange; if either of them took a hit, next year’s anniversary would undoubtedly be a memorial service.

"Excellent. I always prefer not to use unnecessary violence against beautiful ladies," Aeridar said, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

In truth, compared to monsters like Big Mom or Kaido, Aeridar had always considered himself a relatively reasonable individual. When it came to striking women, especially beautiful ones, he harbored a deep-seated aversion.

With Nami and Usopp’s total compliance, the localized rebellion initiated by the alliance of the Straw Hat and Heart Pirates was effectively brought to a definitive close. Every single intruder had either been thoroughly incapacitated or forced to yield.

At that moment, Mina’s Den Den Mushi rang. After a brief, quiet exchange, a dark, heavy shadow fell across her beautiful face.

Hanging up the receiver, Mina looked toward Nami and Usopp, her gaze freezing into ice as she addressed Aeridar. "Captain, we have a few strays. Several Minks were spotted outside the perimeter of the valley. They slaughtered a significant number of our garrison before managing to break through and escape."

Upon hearing Mina’s words, Nami and Usopp locked eyes, instantly realizing who it was. A wave of relief washed over them.

Pedro and the others made it out... Run as far as you can. Get out of this country completely.

"So they had Mink reinforcements waiting in the wings," Aeridar chuckled, dismissing the issue with a wave of his hand. "No matter. Inuarashi is already dead by my hand, and Nekomamushi is currently rotting in the dungeons of Alvis Island. The rest of the Mink Tribe’s elite forces were decimated first at Zou, and then suffered catastrophic casualties during the war at Dressrosa. The broken remnants left behind pose absolutely no threat."

Pausing momentarily, Aeridar turned to Mina and commanded, "Mina, you and Gin stay behind. Continue hunting down those Mink pests. I am leaving the rear completely in your hands."

The Minks’ primary fighting strength had been thoroughly exterminated; the few survivors like Pedro were utterly inconsequential. He was well aware that the Mink Tribe possessed the ’Sulong’ form, a transformation that allowed their combat parameters to skyrocket under the light of a full moon, much like the legendary werewolves of myth.

However, with their elite vanguard dead and buried, a temporary spike in power meant nothing. Mina and Gin, backed by a vanguard of Dragonians and dozens of Super Soldiers, would be more than enough to handle whatever was left of them.

"Consider it done, Captain. Go and deal with Big Mom without any distractions," Mina promised with a confident smile.

...

The Royal Capital, Nakor.

"My, my~ what a truly magnificent sight that Golden Bell is. I heard it was plundered from a certain Sky Island... Its scale is utterly breath-taking."

Deep within a secluded alleyway not far from the Palace Entertainment City, a statuesque, elegant woman stood gazing with rapt infatuation at the soaring silhouette of the Central Tower. At its absolute apex, a titanic golden bell gleamed with a mesmerizing luster beneath the afternoon sun.

Ever since Aeridar had claimed the Golden Bell as his personal prize, it was tolled strictly once a week, precisely at seven o’clock on Monday mornings. Its ethereal, resonant chimes reverberated across the entirety of the Royal Capital, revered by countless citizens as the ’Bell that Cleanses the Soul.’

In fact, vast throngs of tourists traveled thousands of miles across the seas for the sole purpose of hearing its chime to purge their worldly burdens. Even Celestial Dragons and the wealthiest tycoons in the world had offered sums upwards of tens of billions of Berries in a futile attempt to purchase it.

Suddenly, a dark silhouette rippled along the adjacent brick wall. As the shadow coalesced into a solid form, it revealed a middle-aged man draped in a heavy black cloak.

"Keep your eyes on the prize. A treasure of that scale is far beyond our capacity to move in the time we have."

"My, my~ it appears you are quite fond of that Golden Bell yourself, Daren-san!"

The beautiful woman covered her mouth, letting out a bizarre, grating chuckle completely discordant with her elegant visage and posture.

With a sudden, violent distortion akin to a dissolving illusion, her physical form warped, shifting back into the grotesque, authentic appearance of Catarina Devon.

"Hmph. Seeing you in your true skin is far easier on the eyes," the cloaked man, Daren, remarked dryly.

"How incredibly rude of you, Daren-san."

"I am merely stating a fact. My apologies."

"Save your breath. Tell me, what exactly is your plan?" Catarina Devon cut him off impatiently, getting straight to the point.

"An impatient one, aren’t you?" Daren glanced at the clearly irritated Devon, abandoning any further pleasantries. "The plan is simple. Our ultimate objective lies beneath the royal palace, the vault."

"Are you referring to... Aeridar’s Personal Vault?!"

Devon’s eyes widened slightly, her expression turning dead serious.

"Exactly. Before the conflict between the Chris Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates reaches its definitive conclusion, attempting to sabotage Alvis Island or launch an assault on the Arms Manufacturing District and the Medicine Garden would be absolute suicide. Those sectors are heavily fortified by their main divisions."

Daren stared directly at Catarina Devon, a glint of sadistic satisfaction and raw malice flashing in his eyes. His voice dropped to a sinister growl. "But Aeridar’s Personal Vault is a completely different story. It was constructed deep underground, entirely garrisoned by animated entities from his Animate-Animate Fruit. Those mindless constructs do not possess Den Den Mushis, nor do they have the intelligence to call for reinforcements. Furthermore, I happen to know a critical security flaw. By the time that man realizes what has transpired, his vault will have been picked completely clean."

Hearing this, Catarina Devon didn’t show the slightest hint of joy. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, staring at Daren with deep suspicion.

"Which begs the question, Daren-san... Who on earth... are you actually working for?"

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