Half an hour later, on the sea.
"Why are these guys taking so long?" Sanji frowned.
Franky glanced at the ashtray already filled with cigarette butts and shook his head. "No use getting impatient. We'll just have to wait."
Though he also wanted to rush ashore immediately to find Luffy and the others, locating those guys wouldn't solve anything. Only by having Duval, the local expert, investigate could they possibly track down Merry and the other girl.
"Aaaah~"
"Black Leg Young Master, we're here~" Duval shouted loudly.
"Finally!"
Sanji's face lit up with excitement as he rushed to the ship's railing. "You guys took way too damn long!"
"Don't be like that~ We came as fast as we could," Duval replied.
"Yeah, yeah," his underlings nodded in agreement.
"Whatever, just get here already," Sanji said. "Anyway, I need your Flying Fish Riders' help now."
"Tch tch, Young Master, have you forgotten we've changed our name~" Duval said with a dramatic flourish. "We are now... the Rosy Life Riders!"
As he finished speaking, Duval threw Sanji a flirtatious wink.
CRACK!
"Idiot! The name doesn't matter!" Sanji roared, his teeth sharpening into shark-like points. "And stop winking at me, damn it!"
Had this fool still not realized how terrifying his winks looked?
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Sanji continued, "Anyway, I need you to help me find two people."
His expression darkened as he spoke in a grave tone: "A merfolk and a child from our group have been kidnapped. I need you to track them down."
"Hmm?"
"Human traffickers have appeared?" Duval's expression changed immediately.
"What audacious bastards..."
Loll and the others looked shocked. They couldn't believe traffickers would dare target this group. Could it be... those guys hadn't seen the Straw Hat Pirates' wanted posters? This was a terrifying pirate crew with total bounties exceeding one billion berries!
"Weren't you guys traffickers before too?!"
"We weren't that kind of evil scum," Duval retorted. "We only targeted pirates."
After a pause, Duval continued, "The merfolk... must be that woman named Camie we met before. As for the child... that little girl in the dress?"
He recalled Merry's appearance - indeed a likable little thing.
"Correct."
"You should know this business well," Franky said. "So please help us out."
"Of course!" Duval declared. "We just need to find them before they're sold, right?"
"Right."
"Then leave it to us!" Duval gave a thumbs-up. "Men! For the honor of the Rosy Life Riders, we must find those two young ladies!"
"Yes, Handsome!!"
"Surprisingly reliable..." Franki murmured.
One could only say that fate is truly a marvelous thing.
"Come on, hop on!" the bearded man called out.
"Alright!"
Franky immediately jumped down and landed on the bearded man's Flying Fish Motorbike, taking a seat in the two-person compartment.
"So, what's your plan?"
Sanji, who had arrived at Duval's place, glanced at him and asked, "Where should we start looking?"
"Listen, young master, every trade has its own way of doing things. I already have a pretty good idea who might be behind this."
After saying this, Duval looked at Sanji and said, "Your crewmates are on the island, right?"
"Yeah, they're scattered around..."
"Got it!" Duval shouted loudly. "Boys, gather the Straw Hat Pirates and search for the kidnapping group that took the two ladies!"
"Let's move!"
"Yes, handsome!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Meiser and Galette strolled leisurely through the commercial district, each holding giant soap bubbles filled with their shopping haul from earlier.
"This is so much fun~" Galette sighed happily.
"Hmm?"
"You don't usually go shopping?" Meiser asked curiously.
"Who has time for that...?" Galette replied helplessly. "Even though I'm Mama's daughter, I'm busy every single day."
As a member of a Four Emperors Crew, there simply wasn't much time to enjoy life—especially since... she was in charge of managing an entire island. The daily workload was overwhelming.
Shaking her head, Galette turned to Meiser and said, "Besides... this time, I'm shopping with you. It feels completely different."
As she spoke, Galette's face flushed slightly—clearly, she was treating this as a date.
"Is that so."
"Well, as long as you're happy."
Galette rolled her eyes at Meiser but didn't press the matter further.
Just then, a man suddenly appeared before them, blocking their path.
"Took me long enough to find you... Blood-Eyed Ninja, Meiser!!" Kid sneered. "As fellow Supernovas... I want to see for myself why your bounty is higher than mine!"
After hearing that the Straw Hat Pirates had landed on the island, he had been searching for both Meiser and Luffy. Instead of finding Luffy, however, he had stumbled upon Meiser.
Galette's expression darkened instantly upon hearing his words, her gaze turning murderous as she glared at Kid.
She had finally gotten a chance to spend time with Meiser and deepen their bond, only for this bastard to ruin it?
At this moment, the way she looked at Kid was no different from how one would look at a dead man.
"Huh?"
"You're... that Kid guy!"
Taking in that arrogant face, Meiser recognized him immediately.
Wasn't this the guy Shakky had mentioned earlier—the one who might cause trouble for him?
To think he actually showed up... What a perfect punching bag!!
The thought alone made Meiser's excitement surge.
"Glad you recognize me." Kid grinned. "That makes things easier—saves me the trouble of introducing myself."
"Come on, let's see what you're made of!"
After crushing this guy, his bounty would surely skyrocket, right?
"Then... let's finish him off right here!"
"Fighting, huh?" Meiser nodded. "Fine, I'll play along."
"But not here—we'll wreck the shops. Let's take it to the outskirts."
They were in the busiest commercial district. A fight here would cause massive damage to the locals.
Most importantly... this wasn't lawless territory. Too much noise would 100% draw the Navy!
"You actually care about that?"
Kid was surprised. As a pirate... this guy cared about ordinary people?
Was he even a real pirate?
Or was he just playing make-believe on the seas?
At that thought, a hint of disdain flashed in Kid's eyes. "Pathetic."
"But I'll agree to your request. Consider it picking your own grave."
As he spoke, Kid stepped toward Meiser, ready to follow him to the outskirts.
Just then, Kid noticed Galette's gaze and froze. His expression darkened. "What's with that look?"
"Want me to gouge your eyes out?"
"Hah, I'd like to see you try." Galette smirked. If this bastard laid a finger on her, her brother's fork would be in his face the next second.
"Tch, another loudmouth." Kid scoffed, ignoring Galette and turning back to Meiser.
"Control your woman, or I won't mind killing her too."
With that, Kid strode off without looking back.
Hearing his words, Galette blinked.
"Meiser's... woman?"
This brat's got good taste... Fine, I'll leave his corpse intact later.
"Definitely a loudmouth."
"Galette, don't mind his crap. Just treat it as hot air."
Meiser handed her the bubble he was holding. "Go find your brother. I'll handle this guy."
"What, you're ditching me?"
"The fight might get messy. Could attract the Navy." Meiser explained. "As part of a Four Emperors Crew, clashing with them would be trouble for you."
Worse, it might even draw the World Government's attention.
After all... the World Government had a special interest in him!
"Since when do I fear the Navy?" Galette shook her head. "And... Meiser, do you think I'm some fragile vase?"
"I'm a pirate from a Four Emperors Crew!"
As one of Mama's daughters, she wasn't some weakling who only knew how to cry. She was a true Haki-wielding fighter!
Even if that rookie had a Logia fruit, she could crush him.
Maybe fearing Meiser's refusal, she added, "If you won't let me come, I'll go anyway!"
"Might as well clean up some trash for you while I'm at it."
"Especially... this Kid's crew!"
As she spoke, a grin spread across Galette's face—but this time, it felt entirely different. Like a little devil's.
Meiser opened his mouth, then sighed helplessly, "Fine, let's go together then."
It seemed this elegant lady from the Four Emperors Crew had quite the temper.
Then again, she was the daughter of one of the Four Emperors.
Seeing Meiser agree, Galette dropped her earlier demeanor and flashed a gentle smile again. "Then let's go!"
"Mhm."
This time, Meiser didn't say much else. Instead, he led Galette toward the street exit, intending to fight Kid outside.
Just then, Galette glanced back and immediately spotted the towering figure standing atop a high vantage point.
This put her mind at ease.
Hmph, that bastard Kid... You dare mess with my man? You're dead!
Soon, the two caught up with Kid in the outskirts—a desolate, uninhabited area perfect for a fight.
After signaling his crew to stay back, Kid sneered, "I'm giving you a chance, ninja."
As he spoke, he shot a glance at Galette, making his intentions crystal clear.
If she hadn't followed, he wouldn't have bothered chasing her down. But since she came along... he wouldn't mind killing her too!
"Want to kill me?" Galette scoffed. "Try getting past Meiser first."
With that, she walked over to a nearby boulder and sat down, silently watching the two on the battlefield.
Since this Kid guy hadn't ordered his crew to attack, she saw no need to interfere in Meiser's fight.
After all... men were all about pride!
"Don't worry, I'll give you both a chance to die together," Kid grinned viciously. "Right here!!"
As a pirate who had destroyed countless villages, the word "mercy" didn't exist in his dictionary.
Anyone he deemed an enemy would meet a brutal end.
That... was Kid's way of piracy!
"Too much talk," Meiser said flatly. "Are you fighting or not?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Kid's expression stiffened before darkening. "Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll oblige!"
BOOM!!
The next instant, Kid activated his Devil Fruit Ability.
Under the power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, piles of scrap metal rose from the ground, rapidly converging toward Kid.
The sight left Meiser momentarily stunned.
"What kind of... move is this?"
"A magnet?"
What's the point of gathering a heap of scrap metal?
Just then, Meiser felt the Grass Sword at his waist tremble. He immediately pressed a hand against it to steady the weapon.
Even Chakra-conductive metal is affected...?
This really is one special magnet.
"I ate the Magnet-Magnet Fruit—I'm the Magnet Human!" Kid snarled. "Now witness its unparalleled destructive power!!"
"Magnetic Arm!!"
BOOM!!
In an instant, under Kid's control, the scrap metal assembled into a crude, massive arm several meters long, attached to his own.
Once it was complete, Kid glared coldly at Meiser. "Here I come!"
With that, he charged straight at Meiser, aiming to crush the reckless ninja beneath his colossal metal arm.
"What an ugly move," Meiser said disdainfully.
As he spoke, Armament Haki quickly spread over his fist, and then Meiser charged toward Kid.
"Magnetic Explosion Fist!!"
"Armament - Super Strength Fist!"
"Bam!!"
"Boom!!"
"Wha...?!"
Kid's eyes filled with disbelief as he watched his mechanical arm shatter from Meiser's punch.
His mechanical arm had been crushed like paper in an instant?!
Was the opponent's strength really this terrifying?!
How is this possible?! Kid thought in shock.
After being active for so long, this was the first time he'd encountered someone who could directly destroy his mechanical arm.
Is this... the strength of someone with a 400 million berry bounty?!
With these thoughts, Kid was sent flying by the force, hurtling backward toward the hillside.
"Boom!!"
He crashed hard into the ground, leaving a crater.
"Kid?!"
His crewmates stared dumbfounded as Kid was sent flying.
"What, is this guy not knocked out yet?" Meiser remarked coolly.
"Damn it..."
The others immediately glared at Meiser in anger, but Killer stopped them.
Because... Kid hadn't lost consciousness yet—they couldn't interfere with the fight!
"This is the difference between those who can use Haki and those who can't," Galette commented with a chuckle.
Undeniably, there are many Devil Fruit abilities that are quite formidable, and relying solely on the fruit's power can still make one strong.
But... when facing a Haki master, Devil Fruit abilities alone aren't enough.
This was why Katakuri insisted they learn Haki after coming of age.
Without Haki, they'd be finished against certain tricky ability users.
"Haki?"
Killer gave Galette a puzzled look—what the hell was that?
"Boom!"
"Damn it!"
Kid flung away the rubble pinning him down and climbed out of the crater, furious. "Let's go again!"
As he spoke, he activated his Devil Fruit ability once more, gathering scrap metal.
But this time, he forged two steel arms for himself.
"Let's see how you break through this!"
"Truly... such crude use of a Devil Fruit ability..." Meiser shook his head.
"What did you say?!"
Veins bulged on Kid's forehead as he snarled, "You got a problem with how I use my Devil Fruit?!"
Was this bastard looking down on his mastery of the fruit?
What the hell did this guy know?!
He'd used his Devil Fruit's power to destroy village after village!
"Turning the Magnet-Magnet Fruit into nothing more than a glorified magnet... honestly..."
For a moment, Meiser was at a loss for words.
The Magnet-Magnet Fruit... if he wasn't mistaken, this should involve electromagnetic force—one of the four fundamental forces!
Such a powerful Devil Fruit, and this guy was using it like a simple magnet... At least try to be like Magneto or something.
What a waste of a Devil Fruit on him.
Maybe it's because he's uneducated? Meiser pondered.
Come to think of it, most pirates seem to be muscle-brained idiots—even Luffy is no exception.
This Kid was probably the same.
At this thought, Meiser looked at Kid with a trace of pity in his eyes.
"You bastard, what's with that look?!" Kid roared.
That look in the other's eyes... was it pity?
Or was he being treated like a fool?
"I just think you're uncultured, that's all," Meiser said.
Kid: ???
The furious Kid opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
Because... he really was uncultured.
He could barely read—anything more advanced was beyond him.
"Pfft."
Galette couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Meiser's angle was truly unexpected—even she hadn't seen that coming.
"What are you laughing at?!" Kid snapped. "Have you even read a book?"
"Of course."
Kid: ...
These two bastards... were they deliberately trying to piss him off?
"Whatever, none of this even matters," Kid said. "Becoming the Pirate King doesn't depend on culture anyway."
As long as his fists were strong enough, nothing else was a problem.
"Hmm, you're right about that. Becoming the Pirate King does require real strength," Meiser said. "But...
Do you have it?"
"Heh, you'll find out soon enough."
Kid sneered before charging at Meiser at full speed. This time, he planned to attack with both metal arms—there was no way the other man could block that!
Yet halfway through his charge, he realized Meiser, who had been standing in the distance, had vanished.
"Huh?"
"Where'd he go?"
Kid quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for any trace of Meiser, but found nothing.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the man appeared right in front of him, causing Kid's pupils to shrink in shock.
"Wha—?!"
At that moment, Kid's eyes were filled with disbelief.
He never expected this man's speed to be so terrifying!