Chapter 341: Sengoku, It's Time to Scout New Seven Warlords
In the busiest commercial street in the town center, the shops were lined up one after another, with every store packed with customers.
The architectural style combined elements from the medieval period and modern buildings, exuding a unique charm. Inside the windows of clothing stores, boutique shops, and gift stores were exquisite items, and the storefronts were wide open, with a bustling crowd creating a lively atmosphere.
It was clear that the town's economy wasn't in decline due to the lack of pirates.
Suddenly, the once noisy street grew silent. The quiet spread quickly across the entire street as a group of people walked in, and the crowd ahead swiftly parted to avoid blocking their path.
Eric and his group couldn't avoid attracting attention, becoming the center of focus in Sassou Island.
Even in the Paradise section of the Grand Line, the name of the Four Emperors' pirate group carried immense prestige. However, thanks to Eric's paid articles with Morgans, the ordinary citizens were no longer afraid of the Dawn Pirates.
Eric smirked and said, "We're like animals in a zoo."
"Ordinary people watching beasts in a cage won't show fear," Esdeath replied indifferently, ignoring the onlookers. She turned and saw a formalwear shop, reaching out to grab Eric's hand. "Come with me to buy a dress..."
"Eric-, can you help me pick some underwear?" Kurumi grabbed Eric's other hand.
Eric whispered, "There are so many people looking, please don't tear me apart."
"Did you hear that, little kitty? Don't make Eric embarrassed," Esdeath's grip on Eric's hand tightened.
"Well, so what if we buy the evening dress a bit later?" Kurumi said dismissively, "I plan to use this set of underwear tonight."
"Wait...!" With no other choice, Eric used his Conqueror's Haki to knock out all the onlookers in the street.
"Let's go buy the evening dress."
"Let's pick out the underwear."
The two of them stared at each other like wild beasts, their eyes fiercely tearing at one another.
"Let's go together, let's go together!" Eric forcibly pulled both of them along, "We'll start with the nearest underwear store, then go buy the evening dress afterward!"
"Ah..." Esdeath gently touched her flushed cheek. "Eric, you're becoming more and more assertive. This feeling isn't bad."
"Have you had your brain fried by love?" Kurumi teased, "First you're a sadist, now a masochist."
"You don't understand. This is what love is."
"Ha..." Kurumi said no more, leading Eric and Esdeath to the underwear store, with Akame following after being urged by Ulti .
Opening the slightly ajar store door, several female employees stood there with expressions of fear.
"W-Welcome..." one of the female employees trembled as she greeted them.
Kurumi smiled politely, "Ah, miss, please don't be afraid. We're just here to shop~"
Thanks to Kurumi's politeness, many of the female employees slowly relaxed.
From the entrance of the store, there were several displays of sexy lingerie. The surrounding female employees gave Eric strange looks. Even though it wasn't his first time experiencing such looks, this was still a place that made Eric feel very uncomfortable.
"So cute~ Which one does Eric like?" Kurumi immediately found a set she liked, holding it up on either side of her body, moving back and forth for Eric to choose his preferred style.
"They all look great," Eric said, giving a thumbs up.
"That's not a perfect answer~" Kurumi puffed out her cheeks in mild dissatisfaction. Obedient Kurumi was cute, but the pouty Kurumi was equally cute!
"I actually like that one..." Eric pointed to a set on a mannequin, a piece made of semi-transparent fabric that looked very sensual, and most importantly, had a place for garter straps around the waist.
"Ah..." Kurumi covered her mouth, revealing a mischievous smile.
"Wow?" Both Esdeath and even Akame and Ulti exclaimed, "When did Eric (brother-in-law) become so bold?"
"He was trained by two angels," Eric thought to himself. At this point, what was there to hold back? They had already made it this far, so being bolder didn't matter anymore.
Kurumi returned the two pieces of lingerie to their place and said to the nearby employee, "Please bring me a set of this lingerie."
"Y-Yes, right away!" The female employee hurried to bring the lingerie to Kurumi.
"I'll try it on. Don't peek~" Kurumi went into the fitting room, pulling the curtain tight, but she pulled it open just a little, only showing her head. "Remember to give me a score~" she said before quickly retreating like a scared rabbit.
What a trouble making seductress.
Eric turned his head and noticed Esdeath, Akame, and Ulti standing in front of the faceless mannequins, carefully studying the lingerie Kurumi had just tried on.
"Sis, do you want to try it on too?" Ulti eagerly urged her sister.
"Hmm..." Akame thought for a moment before shaking her head. "The straps of this one would get in the way. It would affect my movements."
'Still the same Akame,' Eric thought, feeling relieved.
"But..." Akame whispered, "Eric, do you like this lingerie?"
"Oh?" Esdeath shifted her gaze. "Even the elite assassin team members are interested? As expected of the man I chose."
"Uh... every person is different, you look better in this one." Eric pointed to a simple, sleek white sports bra. "This one suits you more."
Akame nodded in agreement, "I think so too."
At that moment, the curtain of the fitting room suddenly opened.
"Wow..." The female employees were also mesmerized by the sight in front of them, many of them blushing.
Kurumi, somewhat shy, rubbed her legs together. The expanse of pale skin exposed in contrast to the black fabric made her look even whiter.
"Very good!"
"Ah, then I'll buy this one, please look forward to it~" Kurumi quickly pulled the curtain shut, not wanting to linger outside.
"Tch." Esdeath clicked her tongue, displeased.
Ulti secretly grabbed a nearby employee.
...
"How much longer are we staying on this island?" Deidara lay on the edge of the ship, two clay figures under his control sparring with each other.
"Two days." Chiron replied. "It'll take two more days to fully charge the recording pointer."
"You're so bored, why not go train instead?" Genos couldn't stand Deidara's laziness.
"Huh?" Deidara looked over Genos 's mechanical body. "Honestly, I don't understand why you even train."
"What do you mean?"
"Instead of wasting time, why don't you get Da Vinci to equip you with some powerful weapons? Physical training can increase strength, but mechanical training just wears out the equipment, right?"
"!" Genos widened his eyes, his cold expression now gone. "I see."
Chiron didn't fully agree with Deidara's viewpoint. "Battle experience is also very important. People with the same equipment may lose because of the difference in battle experience."
"Oh..." Genos took out his notebook and wrote it down. "Chiron-sensei, what else?"
Chiron paused for a moment before laughing lightly. "Teaching can wait until next time. We have a 'guest'."
Half an hour ago.
"Nap Duke." Vice Admiral Tsuru stared expressionlessly at the Seven Warlords in front of her. "Are you here to challenge the Dawn Pirates?"
"Challenge?" Duke scoffed. "No, I'm here to take his head."
"..." Vice Admiral Tsuru narrowed her eyes. "I don't want to discourage your enthusiasm, but your strength and influence don't compare to Donquixote Doflamingo. Plus, even his Donquixote family was wiped out."
"Heh, don't compare me to that businessman." A dull voice echoed in the armor. "The Dawn Pirates are still in Sassou, right?"
"...Yes." Vice Admiral Tsuru was already indifferent to the Seven Warlords. If it weren't for Doflamingo kidnapping the Celestial Dragon, she would've captured that bastard herself.
"Just stay here and wait!" Duke laughed loudly, bent down, and kicked.
"Boom!" The wooden deck trembled as Duke's powerful kick tore through it. His 3-meter tall body jumped high, landing on his own ship.
"Damn!" Vice Admiral Tsuru 's subordinates were furious. "Vice Admiral Tsuru , look at what he's done to our ship!"
Even Gion couldn't help but grip the hilt of her sword. "Herc, what are we doing?"
"Don't be angry." Vice Admiral Tsuru had long cultivated a temperament of calmness. "What's the point of getting upset over a dead man?"
Gion let go of her sword's hilt, and the female sailors calmed down, while Akame's blood boiled with fury.
After Vice Admiral Tsuru finished Speaking, she waited for a while before picking up the transponder snail to call. "Is it Sengoku?"
"Hmm? Is it Little Tsuru ?" The faint sound of a click and frantic rustling noises could be heard on the other end.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed, "No need to rush hiding the senbei."
"Uh..." When Sengoku's secret snacking was exposed, he wasn't flustered. "What's the report? The Dawn Pirates are still in Sassou, right?"
"Yes, they're probably waiting for the recording pointer to be fully charged... It should be within the next few days." Vice Admiral Tsuru paused. "Also, I just ran into Duke, one of the Seven Warlords."
"Hmm?" Sengoku froze on the other end of the line. "He went after the Dawn Pirates?!"
"Yes, I'm calling to inform you. It's time to start scouting for the next Seven Warlords."
Sengoku sighed in frustration. "Little Tsuru , why didn't you try to talk him out of it?"
"I did, but it didn't help." Vice Admiral Tsuru replied helplessly. "The next Seven Warlords should be someone who has been active on the seas for a while. Those are the ones who understand the difference in power."
"..."
"That's all. I'm hanging up." After Speaking, Vice Admiral Tsuru hung up the transponder snail.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru !" Akame stepped forward. "I think we should cooperate with the Seven Warlords."
Vice Admiral Tsuru glanced at Akame. "Follow the orders."
"Yes..." Akame lowered her head dejectedly.
"However, we can get closer so you can see how the Seven Warlords fall."
Akame perked up. "Yes!"
"Seven Warlords?" Chiron was the first to notice the armored figure standing at the bow of the ship. "The same style as in the newspaper photos."
"Oh?" Deidara, looking like a pile of mud, got up. "This is a great opportunity to raise the bounty!"
Chiron nodded. "Look at his imposing stance, he's here to find us."
"Leave it to me!" Genos dashed forward without hesitation.
"Hey!" Deidara tried to stop him but could only watch as Genos ran toward the enemy's ship.
"Damn it." Deidara angrily crossed his arms and sat down.
"You should go help him," Chiron suggested. "Genos might make the same careless mistake again."
Deidara formed a bird with clay and hopped after him.
"Boss," one of the pirate minions introduced, "This is 'The Devil Cyborg' Genos from the Dawn Pirates!"
"Heh, I'm here to find Darren Eric. You lowly minions, get out of my way!"
Genos scanned the opponent with his artificial eye. "Eric-sensei is out shopping. In the meantime, I'll be your opponent."
"Die!" Before Genos could finish Speaking, Duke, fully armored, charged at him. His powerful right fist gathered immense strength, creating sonic booms with each punch.
The whistling punch nearly blew Genos 's blonde hair out of place. Genos raised his arm to block, bending his legs to absorb the powerful punch. The turbines on his shoulders fired up, and he quickly spun, landing a solid punch on Duke's armored abdomen.
"Ugh—!" The massive impact traveled through the armor and into his body. Duke's 3-meter frame left the ground.
The orange lines on his mechanical left arm lit up, and flames shot out from his shoulder. "Haah!"
Duke, the Seven Warlords, was sent flying 10 meters away.
"Boss!" The pirate minions panicked.
"Clang, clang." Duke casually tapped the dent in his abdomen. "Nice strength, but... since I ate the Armor Armor Fruit, no one has been able to hurt me!"
Genos frowned. "Armor Armor Fruit?"
Duke's armor began to shift like liquid, with the dent slowly bulging out, and the damage from the previous punch disappeared!
"…With enough power, I can break the armor," Genos thought, secretly increasing his output power. The turbines' roar intensified.
Duke laughed heartily. "That's absolutely impossible!"
"Boss, steel's here!" A group of pirates brought steel plates and placed them by Duke's feet.
When Duke touched the top plate, the steel turned into a liquid-like form, wrapping around him and making his already massive body even bigger. "Just adding a steel plate will be enough to take you down!"
"Then I'll melt you!" Genos extended his right fist, transforming his mechanical arm into a cannon. "Burn!"
The intense flames that could pierce a mountain turned Duke's entire armor red-hot.
The main cabin and the main mast of Duke's pirate ship were burned, and the thick fire column rushed across the sea toward the incoming Navy surveillance ship!
"Ha!" Gion drew her Kinpira sword and rushed at the approaching fire column. With a flash of her sword, the fire was split in two, and the scattered sparks danced across the surface of the sea.
"Impressive, as expected from Vice Admiral Peach Rabbit!" The female sailors cheered loudly.
"..." Gion turned to Tsuru with a questioning look. "Herc, this attack wasn't aimed at me, was it?"
"Mm." Tsuru nodded. "The Seven Warlords should have already clashed with the Dawn Pirates. Gion , Akame, let's head to the lookout tower to watch."
"Yes."
"Ahhh—" Half of Duke's armor melted away. If he hadn't dodged quickly, he would have mixed with the molten steel at his feet.
"You brat, I'm going to kill you!"
(END CHAPTER)
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