Water 7. Junk Island former site. One hour later.
"Old man..."
"Old man..."
"Vice Admiral Momousagi..."
"Vice Admiral Onigumo..."
"Vice Admiral Smoker..."
"Where are you all...?"
Sentomaru was shouting loudly on Junk Island, trying to locate Kizaru and the others. Sentomaru had originally been waiting for Kizaru's orders.
But there had been no news. After waiting a long time to no avail, Sentomaru tried to contact Kizaru using a Den Den Mushi, but it remained unanswered.
Left with no other option, Sentomaru led the Pacifista to Junk Island to search, but found nothing after ten minutes.
Sentomaru couldn't imagine Kizaru being defeated or killed. In Sentomaru's heart, Kizaru was like a War God, impossible to defeat.
Sentomaru now only considered Kizaru's old habits, thinking that Kizaru was answering calls on a black recording Den Den Mushi, ignoring the sound of the golden Den Den Mushi.
After searching in vain, Sentomaru could only give up, taking the Pacifista and leaving Junk Island to return to Marineford.
Above Water 7. Floating Island. Akatsuki Organization Headquarters.
Pain eventually brought the heavily injured Kizaru to the valuable materials reserve area, secretly killed Kizaru, and plundered the Glint-Glint Fruit.
Kizaru's Soul was stored by the Human Path, and Pain had no intention of letting go of the body. Instead, he had the Asura Path directly devour it and transform into Kizaru's appearance.
Pain's purpose in doing this was to act as a deterrent in the next war with the World Government, showing the World Government Kizaru's fate.
In the conference room, everyone sat in a circle, discussing their next moves and how to deal with the World Government's retaliations for their heavy losses.
"Pain..."
"How should we handle the two people sent by Emperor Kaido to recruit us?"
Apoo and Hawkins had already been imprisoned in a temporary cell built on the island, a cage made of Sea Stone.
Momousagi, not an Ability User, was currently being watched by everyone, sleeping soundly in a corner of the conference room. Konan had given her some simple first aid.
"Kill one... release one."
Pain answered decisively. This was to make Akatsuki's stance clear to Kaido: do not attempt to send more people for recruitment, or next time, all will be killed.
"Kill who... release who?"
Reno didn't know who Pain intended to kill and didn't want to act on his own initiative.
"What are their abilities?"
Pain wanted to see if there were any suitable abilities for the Asura Path to devour.
"One ate the Instrument Fruit, an Instrument Man..."
"His entire body can transform into musical instruments for attack..."
"The other is a Curse Man with the Straw-Man Fruit..."
"His entire body can transform into a scarecrow for curse battles..."
"He can also achieve immortality by transferring damage..."
Reno had fought them and had figured out both of their abilities.
"Kill the Instrument Man... release the Straw-Man."
"Have the Straw-Man deliver a message..."
"Emperor Kaido... I will come find him."
Pain's punishment for the two was based on their abilities. Achieving immortality by transferring damage was useless to Pain's Six Paths, as all Six Paths are immortal. In this light, the Instrument Fruit seemed more practical.
"Hancock..."
"Thank you for your assistance..."
"Why did you come to assist us this time?"
After arranging matters for Hawkins and the other, Pain asked Hancock about their purpose. Although he knew they sought revenge, they didn't necessarily need to come here for it; attacking the Marine everywhere was also a way to get revenge.
"Pain..."
"Please allow me to join the Organization..."
"I wish to use the Organization's power to seek revenge against the World Government."
Hancock made her request without hiding her intentions, expressing her sincerity.
Pain, a bit puzzled, turned to Konan. Upon receiving Konan's affirmative nod, Pain understood that Konan had previously attempted to recruit her.
"Hancock..."
"Welcome to the Organization..."
"From this moment on, your codename will be Akatsuki's Maiden..."
"Konan will give you the Organization's uniform and ring later..."
"From the moment you put on the uniform and wear the ring..."
"..."
Pain solemnly informed Hancock of the Organization's declaration with the same words, acknowledging Hancock's joining and identity.
"Hancock..."
"Let Golden Lion accompany you to pick up your companions..."
"I suspect the World Government will make a big move against Water Seven next."
Pain's arrangement made Hancock feel his thoughtfulness. Hancock's heart was also very worried at the moment, and Pain's arrangement just resolved Hancock's concerns.
Golden Lion steered the Floating Island to the coast where the Kuja Pirates were located, lowered its altitude, and floated the Kuja Pirates' ship onto the Floating Island.
After handling these matters, Golden Lion and Hancock quickly returned to the conference area to continue the meeting.
"Pain..."
"There are some minor issues on the island that we need to pay attention to..."
After Golden Lion returned, he prepared to bring up the problems currently facing the Floating Island, as there were too many things on the Floating Island that needed to be organized.
"Gran Tesoro occupies a considerable portion of the island..."
"I think it's possible to melt Gran Tesoro into gold now..."
"The old shipyard is still floating in the air..."
"There's no place to put it on the island yet..."
"If we want to build warships, we need a dedicated area."
"All the Kuja Pirates are women..."
"They also need separate living quarters..."
Golden Lion was very clear about the situation on the island and therefore made suggestions for organization to facilitate island management.
"I understand what you're saying..."
"You can plan it according to your ideas later..."
"Now..."
"There is a more important issue."
Pain's gaze swept over everyone, paused, and then he continued.
"How should we deal with Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit?"
This question was a bit heavy for Lucci and the two others. It meant that Kizaru had been secretly eliminated by Pain, and his Devil Fruit had been plundered through some means.
Lucci finally realized that Pain had indeed been moved by their brotherly bond at the time, which prompted Pain to show mercy.
It wasn't because Nero's ability had value for exploitation that Pain chose to show mercy. If they hadn't chosen to surrender back then, the consequences would have been like Kizaru's today.
Lucci secretly congratulated himself on the wise decision he made back then. If he had been prepared to die then, he would indeed have died worthlessly, just as Pain had said.
Lucci also inwardly admonished himself that he must strictly control Kaku and Nero in the future and not let them do anything that would displease Pain again.
"Let me consume it..."
Oden didn't wait for others to speak and voluntarily expressed his wish.
Everyone present was an Ability User; Oden was the only one who hadn't consumed a Devil Fruit, and he now yearned for power.
Oden's physical condition had been developed to its limit, with no possibility of further improvement. As he aged, his strength would only decline, not advance.
Oden still harbored a massive obsession for revenge. Although it was well hidden, Pain and the others could somewhat guess that Oden and Kaido had a history when they saw Oden's eyes while mentioning Kaido.
For Oden to seek revenge, he could only pursue greater strength. Previously, he hadn't consumed a Devil Fruit because there wasn't one that met his needs.
Oden also lacked the ability to plunder a Devil Fruit. Now, by a stroke of Opportunity, Kizaru had been killed, and the Glint-Glint Fruit plundered. Oden believed this was fate.
Oden's suggestion was neither opposed nor approved by the others; they simply waited quietly for Pain's decision.
Pain said nothing, directly took out a golden Devil Fruit and pushed it in front of Oden, conveying his decision through action.
In fact, Pain's original intention was for Oden to consume it, which is why he extracted the Devil Fruit energy to form the Glint-Glint Fruit; otherwise, he could have just let the Asura Path devour it.
Oden took the Devil Fruit, bit into it in front of everyone, and waited for his body to change. It didn't take long; Oden already felt an inexplicable affinity and control over light. Oden knew the Devil Fruit had taken effect.
After dealing with the Devil Fruit issue, Pain then put the construction of the Ancient Weapon "Pluton" on the agenda and summoned Iceberg and others.
To be continued...