"Damn it!"
There was no time to think. Kid immediately smashed both metal arms inward, intending to crush this bastard who dared get close to him!
In response, Jin simply coated both fists with Haki and then slammed them outward with all his strength!
"Clang!"
"BOOM!!"
Kid: ???
Watching his mechanical arms get blown apart yet again, Kid was completely numb.
"You little—"
"Shut up."
Jin didn't give him a chance to keep talking. He immediately coated his leg with Haki and then drove a brutal kick into Kid's body.
"Bang!"
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed out as Kid was blasted away like a cannonball, flying right back toward where he had just come from!
"Whoosh—"
"BOOM!!"
This time, the crater was even bigger!!
"What the hell did I just kick?" Jin frowned.
"Kid!"
Seeing Kid crash into the pit, Killer and the others rushed over, their faces full of worry.
Jin didn't care. Instead, he turned to Galette and asked, "Galette, if I kill this guy, can I get his Devil Fruit?"
The moment those words came out, Killer's gaze instantly turned icy. He looked at Jin coldly, wishing he could skin him alive.
This bastard was actually after his captain's Devil Fruit?
Seeking death!
"When a Devil Fruit user dies, their power does indeed reincarnate somewhere in the sea," Galette said with a shrug. "But whether or not you can actually get it depends entirely on luck."
"Because no one knows where the Devil Fruit will reappear."
"It might be nearby, or it might be somewhere far out at sea."
Everyone wanted powerful Devil Fruits.
But the problem was that even if you killed the user, you still weren't guaranteed to get the fruit. It could just as easily end up benefiting someone else.
So generally speaking… no one hunted ability users just to steal their powers.
Of course, grudges and conflict were another matter.
"I see." Jin sighed. "That's a shame."
He actually thought this Magnet Fruit was pretty good.
Even if he didn't eat it himself, he could have had Franky eat it instead.
Anyone who could turn himself into a cyborg definitely wasn't stupid.
Given enough time, maybe Franky could even bring out the fruit's full potential.
"Heh, you could always kill him first. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky." Galette smiled. "Of course, I can help you look too."
As long as Jin wanted it, she was willing to use all her resources to search for it.
Maybe in the near future, she really could obtain that fruit for him.
"Yeah, that makes sense." Jin nodded.
No matter what, killing the guy first wasn't a mistake.
Though… maybe he was already dead.
"Hey, Kid, you alright?"
"Captain!!"
"Shut up!"
Kid's face twisted with rage as he growled, "I'm not dead yet."
As he spoke, he staggered back to his feet and glared viciously at Jin in the distance.
"Damn ninja… I was this close to getting killed by you…"
If not for the last-second idea he'd had—using magnetism to try to counter the attack—that kick would have knocked him out cold!
This bastard's strength had completely exceeded his expectations.
'But… why did my magnetism weaken so fast the moment it touched his fists…?'
What kind of ability did this guy have?
"As expected of someone with a bounty over three hundred million," Jin said. "Since that's the case, let's keep going."
"Are you mocking me?" Kid said coldly.
"I didn't say that."
"Doesn't matter." Kid said. "Actually, I should thank you. If it weren't for you, I never would've discovered a special way to use the Magnet Fruit."
If not for that punch just now, he never would've realized he could use magnetism defensively.
"So what?" Jin said flatly.
What did it matter if he'd discovered a new way to use it?
Jin simply didn't believe this guy could reach the level of actually manipulating magnetic fields on a grand scale.
"That calm expression of yours is really pissing me off…" Kid said coldly. Then he took a deep breath and forcibly calmed himself down.
"Oh?"
"So you've calmed down."
"Rage doesn't solve anything. I know that much." Kid said. Then he glanced at the sword hanging at Jin's waist. "You're supposed to be a ninja, right? So why aren't you using those ninja techniques of yours?"
"You're not supposed to fight with your fists, are you?"
He didn't know whether Jin was the type of ninja who used escape arts or something else, but ninjas weren't supposed to be fist-fighters.
At least… not the kind of ninja most people imagined.
"That's my business."
Crack.
That one sentence made Kid's veins bulge again.
'Does he think I'm not worth it…?'
Arrogant bastard.
"Fine. Don't blame me if you die."
Kid was just about to move again, but before he could activate his Devil Fruit, he noticed something flying overhead.
"Buzz—"
"Hm?"
"What the hell is that?"
Kid looked at the rapidly approaching object, confused.
Did Sabaody have vehicles that could fly that fast?
"That's… a flying fish bike?"
Jin was a little surprised. Weren't those things unique to Duval's crew?
Why were those idiots here?
No, wait…
The one riding it… looked like Nami!!
Why was Nami with them?
"Hey, Jin!!" Nami shouted from the flying fish bike. "Something happened!"
The moment he heard that, Jin's brows furrowed.
"Something happened?"
Had a Marine Admiral come to hunt them down?
"Tch."
Hearing Jin's guess, a look of disdain appeared on Kid's face.
A Marine Admiral coming to hunt him down?
What nonsense.
Did he really think he was important enough for that?
Even with a bounty of 400 million, there was no way an Admiral would be dispatched just for him.
Jin ignored the idiot completely. Fighting was important, sure—but his crewmates mattered more!
"Hurry, tell me!" he said.
The flying fish bike descended, and Nami jumped down immediately.
"Jin, something's wrong." Nami said anxiously.
"Slow down. Tell me properly." Jin said. "Did a Marine Admiral come after us?"
"No! It's Merry and Camie—they're gone." Nami said urgently. "They might be sold as slaves. Come with me, we have to find them!"
The moment those words came out, Jin's expression darkened.
"They were kidnapped?"
"What the hell was that idiot Luffy doing?!"
With that moron around, two people still got taken?
What the hell had Luffy been doing?!
"I don't know either, but now's not the time to blame anyone." Nami said. "Let's go."
As she spoke, she signaled to the flying fish bike in the air, telling it to come down and pick them up.
"It's true that the Sabaody Archipelago has a thriving slave trade." Galette said as she approached. Then, after a brief pause, she apologized. "Jin, I'm sorry. I don't have an intelligence network here…"
Their information network was spread throughout the New World. They had never bothered cultivating one at Sabaody.
That was why, after coming ashore, she had immediately sent her subordinates to search for the Straw Hat Pirates.
"It's fine, you don't need to apologize." Jin said.
This had nothing to do with her, and it wasn't like she had a way to gather information here. There was no reason for her to say sorry.
"Then how about I contact my brother—"
"No need. I have a way." Jin said.
The first person he thought of was Shakky. He could contact her and see whether she could track down Merry and Camie.
With her information-gathering ability at Sabaody, that shouldn't be difficult.
Hearing Jin say that, hope immediately lit up in Nami's eyes.
That was perfect!
"Hey, are you planning to leave?!" Kid looked at Jin coldly. "I don't remember saying you were allowed to go!"
As he spoke, he flicked the short blade in his hand with magnetism, sending it flying straight toward the flying fish bike overhead!
Lyle was startled and immediately pulled hard to the side, barely dodging the attack.
Then he shouted with a shark-like glare, "Bastard, that's dangerous!"
If his reaction had been even a little slower, his flying fish would've been killed!!
If they lost the flying fish now, they'd be finished.
Kid only sneered and said nothing.
"I don't have time to waste on you right now." Jin said, staring at Kid. "If you really want to fight, I'll come back and fight you after I deal with this."
"No chance." Kid shook his head. "What happens to your crew has nothing to do with me."
"You either defeat me, or I kill you."
As he spoke, Kid raised his right hand and began gathering scrap metal again.
Jin's face darkened.
"In that case…"
"I'll handle him."
Hearing Galette's voice, Jin froze for a moment and looked at her.
"You…"
"I told you already. I'm not a flower vase." Galette smiled. "I may not be able to help you with information, but… stopping this guy? That, I can do."
"Big words." Kid spat. "You?"
"Forget talking." Kid raised his hand and launched an attack. "You all die together!"
"Whoosh—"
A crude spinning projectile made of scrap metal appeared in Kid's hand, then shot toward the three of them at high speed.
"Punk Vortex Bomb!"
The instant he attacked, a large amount of butter appeared in Galette's hand. Then she flung it sharply to the side.
"Butter Flowing Wall!"
"Bang!"
The spinning projectile hit the butter and immediately began veering off-course, sliding uselessly to the side and flying away!
"What?"
Seeing his attack deflected so casually by this woman, Kid was stunned.
The ninja countering him was one thing—but how was this woman, who looked so harmless, doing it too?
Galette ignored him completely and smiled at Jin instead.
"See? I'm not a flower vase."
"Whoosh—"
"BOOM!!"
As soon as she said that, the projectile she had deflected smashed into the ground off to the side with a thunderous explosion.
The shockwave swept over them, making Galette's cape flutter behind her. For a moment, she looked genuinely cool.
"Amazing…" Nami stared at Galette in shock. "Who are you?"
Was this some new friend Jin had just met?
"Me?"
"I'm Jin's fiancée~" Galette said with a smile. "You're Cat Burglar Nami, right? Nice to meet you."
Nami: ???
Fiancée?
Jin had a fiancée now?
"This is a bit complicated to explain. I'll tell you later." Jin said. Then he looked at Galette. "Are you sure you're fine with this?"
"Of course."
Galette raised her hand, coating her fist with Armament Haki.
"Don't forget—I know Haki too."
Perhaps worried that Jin still doubted her, she continued, "And besides… if I'm counting right, my brother should be here soon."
"So just go handle what you need to do. Leave this to me."
At those words, Jin paused.
'Katakuri…'
Yeah. If it was him, then there was no problem.
Galette didn't seem weak either. Add in her brother with a bounty over a billion—
taking care of Kid wouldn't be a problem.
Still… was Galette just trying to act brave? He didn't want her getting hurt because of him.
Thinking that, he asked, "You're not forcing yourself, right?"
Galette understood what he meant and nodded.
"Please trust me."
Looking into her serious eyes, Jin fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"Then I'm leaving it to you."
The moment he finished speaking, he scooped Nami up over his shoulder without hesitation and leaped toward the flying fish bike in the air, landing neatly behind Lyle.
"Not bad, ninja." Lyle said in admiration.
Even while carrying someone, he could still jump that high. That jumping ability was ridiculous.
"Bastard, did I say you could leave?!" Kid shouted.
At the same time, the metal fragments on the ground began trembling violently, clearly preparing to launch upward and strike the flying fish out of the sky!
"I said it already—your opponent is me!" Galette said.
"Butter Restraint!"
Several yellow butter rings shot rapidly toward Kid and his crew.
They were special rings made from her Devil Fruit ability. Once they caught someone, she could completely control their movements.
If she could trap everyone in one go, her brother wouldn't even need to step in.
"Tch."
Kid spat and quickly retreated, widening the distance.
He had no idea what weird effect that ability carried, and he had zero intention of testing it with his own body.
Letting your body take an unknown ability head-on was a stupid move.
But while Kid himself dodged, his crew was not so lucky.
"Huh?!"
"What the hell is this?!"
Seeing the butter rings around both his wrists, Mick stared in horror.
"Damn it, I can't break free!"
Just as he shouted, both arms abruptly lifted over his head, and his body began moving against his will.
Mick: ???
What… what was happening to him?
"Bitch, what did you do?!" Kid roared.
"You'll find out soon enough." Galette sneered. "Now… come here."
The next instant, the restrained Mick actually began sliding toward her.
Kid: ???
"Hey, Mick, what the hell are you doing?!"
"Captain, I can't move!" Mick shouted in terror. "I can't control my body!"
"I can't break free!"
Kid's expression darkened. What kind of weird Devil Fruit power was this?
Before he could think any more, Killer charged in and slashed at the butter rings with his blade.
"Pfft—"
His sharp blade passed through the butter without resistance—
but failed to cut it at all.
Killer: ???
"What kind of bullshit is this?"
His weapon couldn't cut it?
Seeing Mick still being pulled forward, Killer gritted his teeth, put away his blades, and physically grabbed Mick's body, hauling him backward with brute force.
Galette didn't get angry at all.
She had only wanted to show a glimpse of her strength.
Glancing at Jin and Nami, who were already far away in the sky, a smile appeared on her face.
"So this counts as… being useful, right?"
"Tch…"
Kid spat again. Jin had already moved out of his attack range, and there was no way he could chase him now.
In that case…
he'd just kill this annoying woman instead!
Thinking that, Kid shouted, "Kill her! It'll count as teaching that ninja a lesson!"
"Yeah!!"
Kid's crew roared and raised their weapons, charging straight at Galette.
But in the face of that, Galette's expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, she calmly lowered her hands.
Kid: ???
What was that supposed to mean?
The next second—
"Brother!!!"
"Whoosh—"
"BOOM!!"
The moment Galette's voice rang out, Katakuri's massive figure came crashing down in front of her with a thunderous impact.
"You bastard…"
"What exactly are you trying to do to my adorable little sister?!"
Katakuri glared coldly at Kid, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent!
At this moment, Katakuri was burning with anger.
Not just because Jin had rejected his adorable sister—
but because this arrogant rookie now wanted to kill her!
He couldn't touch Jin for now.
So instead… he'd vent all that fury on this idiot.
Seeing that figure, Jin thought to himself, 'So… that's Katakuri…'
Now that the man had appeared, he could finally set his mind at ease. He looked away and followed his companions as they flew off.
As for sparring with Katakuri?
That could wait for another day.
"And who the hell are you?" Kid asked, frowning at Katakuri, showing no fear despite the man's size.
After all… along the way, he'd met plenty of big idiots too, and every one of them had ended up beneath him.
At the end of the day, height didn't decide strength.
"Captain, I know who he is!" the flamethrower guy shouted in horror. "He's from a Yonko crew—Katakuri, with a bounty of 1,057,000,000 berries!"
Why was someone on that level… here?!
Shouldn't he be in the New World?!
"Someone from a Yonko crew?" Kid froze for a second, then a grin spread across his face. "That's even better!"
"Running into someone like you without even reaching the New World… this is perfect!"
At that moment, Kid had already decided to use Katakuri as a stepping stone.
After all… he was a man who would become Pirate King. There was no way he'd fear a mere Yonko!
"What a clueless rookie…" Galette looked at Kid like he was mentally deficient. Did he not understand what an individual bounty over a billion actually meant?
This was the second strongest fighter in their entire crew!!
"Galette, step back." Katakuri said.
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Galette withdrew, leaving the battlefield entirely to her brother.
Once his sister was clear, Katakuri looked coldly at the group in front of him.
"You lot…"
"Come at me together."
…
At the same time, elsewhere, behind Auction House No. 1—
"Today's haul was really great." Peterman narrowed his eyes. "Hope it fetches a good price."
Then he glanced toward the back entrance of Auction House No. 1 and walked over without hesitation.
The staff member saw him and naturally opened the door to let him in.
They had worked together too many times. By now, they all knew each other well.
"Oh?"
"Peterman?"
Vic, who was handling the slaves, looked at the two sacks over the man's shoulders in surprise.
"You bringing in stock?"
"Yep." Peterman nodded. "I'm not too late, am I?"
"It's not exactly early." Vic said. "Today's auction is about to start."
"As long as it hasn't started yet, it's fine."
Peterman dropped the sacks onto the ground.
"Go ahead. Check the goods."
"Well, today's a little special. There's a giant slave in the lineup, so your goods might not sell for—" Vic stopped mid-sentence the moment he caught sight of the figure sticking out of one of the sacks.
"A mermaid?!"
Vic stared at Peterman in shock.
"Where the hell did you get this? This is top-tier merchandise!"
They hadn't had many fish-men or mermaids in years, and now Peterman had brought one in?
"That's a secret." Peterman said. "Vic, don't break the rules."
"Hahaha, of course not!"
Then Vic looked at the other sack.
"And this one… is it another mermaid?"
"It isn't."
Peterman opened the sack, revealing the small figure inside.
"This little one has pointed ears. Looks like some kind of special race, so I grabbed her too."
"Why isn't she moving?" Vic frowned. "Did she die?"
Peterman wasn't someone who didn't know the rules. So what was this?
"No, she's alive." Peterman said.
"Then what's wrong with her?"
"She's just unconscious." Peterman explained. "Don't be fooled by how small she is. She's strong."
"To keep her from making noise and ruining things, I had to knock her out first."
"But don't worry. She'll wake up in half an hour at most."
"Half an hour…"
Vic estimated the timing, then nodded.
"Yeah, that should be fine."
"Good. Then I'm leaving them with you."
"Don't worry, we've done business too many times now. You'll be satisfied~"
The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Clearly, they had high hopes for what this mermaid would bring them.
'Merry…'
Off to the side, Camie looked at the unconscious Merry, tears sliding down her face.
Would anyone come save them?
For the first time, Camie felt real despair.
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