No expression could be seen beneath King's mask, but he did not dare show anything either.
The man in front of him gave off a faint pressure without even trying, and that alone made King feel fear. It was as if killing him would take no effort at all.
White Ghost waved a hand. Kuro picked up the sack and carried it away. That person had to be sent to the scientists.
White Ghost did not waste time either. He took out an Ancient Zoan, Ankylosaurus Fruit, from his bracelet and tossed it to King.
King caught the fruit and checked it.
It was real.
This man's reputation on the sea was actually quite good.
King put away the Devil Fruit and prepared to leave.
He had to leave. It was not only White Ghost's eyes that looked wrong. The eyes of everyone on this ship felt wrong too.
It was not the kind of look that said they wanted to attack him. There was curiosity, battle intent, unclear meaning, and all kinds of other gazes mixed together. It made him very uncomfortable.
King was just about to say goodbye and leave when he saw another Devil Fruit appear in White Ghost's hand.
King narrowed his eyes.
White Ghost looked at him with a smile.
"Zoan, Ancient Type, Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Archaeopteryx. Interested?"
King stared at White Ghost, trying to see something in his eyes.
Unfortunately, he could not see anything.
"What do you want me to do? If you're asking me to betray Lord Kaido, don't bother saying it. You know that's impossible."
White Ghost shook his head.
"Only an idiot would say something like that. You know the value of this Devil Fruit."
King's voice was flat.
"State your condition."
White Ghost smiled.
"First, I trade this Devil Fruit for two tubes of your blood. We talk nicely, and everyone benefits.
"Second…"
At this point, White Ghost's mouth curved.
"I beat you up, then give you the Devil Fruit anyway. Even if Kaido comes to make trouble afterward, at worst, I'll fight him."
The moment White Ghost finished speaking, the people on the ship surrounded King, each of them looking at him with bad intentions.
King's face darkened beneath his mask.
White Ghost's condition reminded him of things he did not want to remember.
Then he looked at the powerful figures around him.
King did not think he could escape from White Ghost's hands.
He could fly, but that man flew even faster.
King stayed silent for a while, then looked at White Ghost.
"For Lord Kaido's great ambition, I am willing to give everything."
White Ghost tossed the Devil Fruit to him and snapped his fingers. Two scientists immediately came forward with all kinds of tools, ready to draw his blood.
But when King saw the size of those tubes, his face under the mask became even darker.
"Aren't these two tubes a little excessive?"
White Ghost spread his hands.
"They're two tubes, aren't they? It's not like I added a third."
King closed his eyes.
The sea really had not slandered this man.
He was shameless to the extreme.
Seeing King sit down so cooperatively, White Ghost was delighted.
Although he did not know exactly how the Seraphim were made, he refused to believe money could not smash a path open.
As long as they researched it thoroughly, would the cute little Seraphim from the original timeline not be within reach?
Perhaps White Ghost's thoughts were too beautiful, because a lecherous expression unconsciously appeared on his face.
King glanced at him, silently lifted part of his suit, and exposed his brown skin.
The two scientists did not stand on ceremony. They took the needle and pierced it straight into King's vein.
Time passed little by little.
Perhaps because the tubes were a little too large, King started feeling uncomfortable after only the first one was filled.
White Ghost tossed him a bottle of medicine.
"Hang in there. It'll be done soon."
When King left, White Ghost watched him sway faintly through the sky.
He had originally invited King to stay for a meal and recover some strength, but King refused.
White Ghost shook his head.
"Honestly. It's not like I was going to detain him. I just wanted to invite him to eat."
Kuro and Lafitte both sighed.
What a good opportunity wasted.
Jango turned and walked away.
Would that guy dare drink the wine you prepared?
It was all drugged!
Issho sensed White Ghost's movements and said,
"I can tell you seem very happy."
White Ghost handed the items to Acier and Reiju beside him, then turned and put an arm around Issho.
"Come on, let's drink. I'll tell you the benefits of this thing later."
Issho went off to drink with White Ghost.
What he liked most was exactly this kind of carefree nature from White Ghost.
Acier held King's blood like it was a treasure.
"I didn't expect it. I only complained to the captain some time ago that we didn't have that race's genes, and now, after only a short while, they're already in hand."
Reiju looked at White Ghost's back with complicated eyes.
Was this man really just that lucky?
Did whatever he wanted simply come to him?
Night fell.
Shinobu groggily opened her eyes and looked around.
She discovered that she was in a room.
Click.
The door opened.
Shinobu immediately stood up from the bed, her entire body tense and ready for battle.
She did not know where she was.
Back at Kaido's side, she had heard that she was going to be traded away.
For the past few days, she had also been dazed and half-conscious. During rest stops, King had only given her a little food. Pitifully little.
Judging by the current situation, she must have fallen into the hands of that mysterious person.
But that person was truly arrogant.
He had even removed her Seastone handcuffs.
Shinobu secretly prepared herself.
But when she clearly saw the person who entered, her gaze froze.
Shiroheko, wearing a cheongsam, walked to the side with a tray of food.
"If you're awake, eat something. You look half-dead. You must have been starving on the road."
"You… you… are you Lady Kozuki Hiyori?"
Shinobu was uncertain.
The hairstyle and face resembled that person very closely, but she still could not be sure whether this was a trap.
Shiroheko placed the food down and sat beside her.
"Kozuki Hiyori? I don't use that name anymore. My grandfather was the one who removed me from the family."
"How could that be? How could that be?
"Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki is still alive? Then how could he do that? Impossible."
Shinobu was first delighted, then shocked, her face full of disbelief.
Shiroheko shook her head.
"Grandfather was the one who had me leave Wano. There were many reasons. Eat something first."
Gurgle.
Shinobu's stomach protested.
Her face reddened.
"It's fine. Eat. I'll tell you what happened back then and what happened afterward."
"Yes, Lady Hiyori."
Shinobu bowed low before picking up the food beside her and starting to eat.
Shiroheko slowly explained what had happened back then.
By the time Shinobu finished eating, the story had mostly been told.
Shinobu put away the bowls and chopsticks, then quietly knelt to the side and thought.
She already knew where she was, and she also knew how terrifying the owner of this ship was.
"So… Shogun Sukiyaki was not certain the operation on the night of the Fire Festival would succeed.
"He sent you out of Wano in advance, so that if anything unexpected happened…"
Shinobu did not finish the rest.
Shiroheko nodded.
"That was Grandfather's meaning. There is no such thing as a perfect plan in this world. Something unexpected will always happen."
"Then Lady Hiyori, why don't you ask that person to help? Didn't you say that with his strength, he can defeat Kaido and let—"
Before Shinobu could finish speaking, Shiroheko interrupted her.
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