Chapter 332: Declaration of War
"Half a year at sea already." Kuina rested her hand on the ship's railing, gazing into the distance towards Shimotsuki Village. Her dark eyes seemed to pierce through the vast space, seeing directly into Shimotsuki Village.
"Aren't you going back to Shimotsuki Village to take a look?" Eric advised from the side. "Master Kyoshiro and Zoro must be missing you."
"No..." Kuina's fingers, which had been resting on the railing, suddenly tightened. She opened her mouth and said with a bright smile, "I would rather they receive the news from the newspaper that I am safe and sound!"
"If I go back to see them now, it would feel like a failure, running back home!" Flames burned in her eyes. "I won't return until I become a great swordsman!"
"...I see." Eric understood that words wouldn't sway her determination. He knew how hard she was pushing herself. "Your name will definitely be known across the world."
After Eric spoke, he turned and walked away.
Kuina remained on the deck alone, gazing into the distance: 'This was our promise. You should understand, Zoro.'
The Without Fear sailed around the East Blue and finally arrived at "the town where beginnings and endings meet," Loguetown.
"So, this is Eric's hometown?" Kurumi lightly moved her lotus steps, her skirt swaying with the movement of her thighs.
"This is just the place where my memories began." Eric closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The familiar scents filled his nostrils—the aroma of cakes, the fishy smell of the sea, a mix of different scents...
"Never mind the smell of pirates who haven't bathed for ages..."
"Ah?" Kurumi paused, confused. "This isn't your hometown?"
"Before I was five, I lost my memories along with my parents due to a pirate attack." Eric reminisced. "The orphanage director in Loguetown raised me. I don't know how the director has been these years..."
"Pat, pat." Akame walked over to Eric, gently placing her hands on his head, smoothing down the stray hairs.
"…Thank you." Eric thanked her, his expression showing a slight sense of embarrassment.
"This town seems quite prosperous, though there are a lot of pirates." Scáthach surveyed the bustling streets, noticing several pirates among the crowd, though the residents didn't seem to mind.
"This is a gathering place for pirates heading to the Grand Line. Even merchant ships resupply here, so with many ships coming and going, trade and work increase, making the town naturally prosperous."
'It seems that Smoker hasn't angered his superiors yet, and has been kicked out of the Navy headquarters, coming to the lowly East Blue.'
"Let's meet at 6 PM, until then, you're free to wander around."
"Eric, where are you going?" asked Genos , raising his hand.
"To meet my benefactor." Eric stretched and yawned. "But don't cause any trouble in the town. I'm talking to you, Esdeath. Did you hear me?"
"Trash, trash, all of them are trash." Esdeath glared at the pirates on the street. "What did you just say?"
"..." There was a moment of silence in the air. Eric continued, "I hope you show mercy."
...
The Navy stationed in Loguetown, due to limited manpower, turned a blind eye to the pirates gathered there. As long as the pirates didn't cause trouble for the townspeople, the Navy didn't interfere much.
It was said that Roger left behind the Great Pirate Treasure, starting the Great Pirate Era, but among the surge of pirates, many came with dreams of treasure hunting, roaming the seas like obsessed fans. The Grand Line was just ahead, and pirates wouldn't intentionally cause trouble in the town. Thus, both the lawful and unlawful lived peacefully side by side in Loguetown.
"Colonel Hammer, bad news!" A sailor rushed into the commander's office. "A soldier reports that the Dawn Pirates were spotted in Loguetown!"
"Spit!"
The colonel, sitting at his desk and sipping tea, sprayed the green tea from his mouth, and the splashed tea and saliva flew toward the soldier. Unfortunately, gravity took its toll, and the liquid arced and fell onto the floor.
"What, what did you say?!" Hammer, whose name was quickly becoming synonymous with panic, stood up hastily, knocking his chair over with a loud crash.
"In front of a restaurant, 'Hunter' Akame and two girls in black entered the place!" the sailor reported, saluting. "Since the Dawn Pirates became famous worldwide, Akame has never been apart from 'Kui Long Eric ' Darren Eric..."
The sailor wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's clear that 'The Four Emperors' Eric has also come here, to Loguetown!"
"Clop, clop, clop."
A flurry of hurried footsteps drew nearer, and the door to the office was pushed open, colliding heavily with the body of the first sailor, knocking him to the ground.
Without taking time to help his colleague, the second sailor raised his arm and spoke quickly, "Residents report that a pirate fight broke out in the shopping district! One of the fighters is 'Ice Queen' Esdeath and 'Devil Cyborg' Genos !"
"Bam!"
Hammer slammed his chin into the desk, hands on his head in a pose that screamed denial, hoping that by not hearing his subordinate's report, the Dawn Pirates wouldn't actually be in Loguetown.
"Colonel?"
The sailor continued, "Aren't we supposed to report the sighting of the Dawn Pirates to Vice Admiral Garp ?"
"Right, right!" Hammer's eyes lit up as if a solution had just dawned on him. "We'll leave everything to the hero of the Navy! Hurry, report to him!"
"Vice Admiral Garp ." Bogart put down the receiver. "The officer stationed in Loguetown, Colonel Hammer, has discovered the whereabouts of the Dawn Pirates."
"Loguetown?" Garp frowned. "Isn't that the entrance to the Grand Line? Are they going to re-travel Reverse Mountain?"
"Since they are leaving the East Blue for the Grand Line, isn't that just in line with the Navy's interests? I won't go," Garp waved his hand.
"But Vice Admiral, if you don't put in some effort, it might be hard to explain things to Admiral Sengoku."
Garp 's muscular body stopped, and a heavy smack of his lips followed.
...
On top of a high roof, Eric gazed at the orphanage nearby. The old seesaw, the half-empty sandbox, looked just like it did when he left. But the swing set seemed to have new ropes, did the little fatty break the old ones?
"This is where you lived?" Kurumi asked curiously, taking in the full view of the orphanage.
"Yeah..." Inside the orphanage, many children were playing, while the director, along with several workers, was hanging out freshly washed sheets. The white sheets fluttered in the wind, occasionally blocking the director's figure as they danced in the breeze.
The director, feeling something, looked up at the roof where several doves were descending.
"Why not go and say hello?" Kurumi smiled. "I saw information about you in her room, cut out from newspapers and stuck in her diary."
"You still have a habit of spying on other people's diaries?" Eric leaned back and glanced at Kurumi.
"Hmph!" Kurumi flicked her right hand, giving Eric's arm a solid slap.
"Ouch!" Eric massaged the arm that was stinging from the slap, muttering, "Why use Haki when you could just slap?"
"No pain, no gain."
"If I visit the director now, it'll just ruin the orphanage." Eric smiled bitterly. "This place is a paradise, I don't want to see it tainted by anything."
"I can only help the orphanage with this dirty money, I can't do anything else."
"Dirty money?" Kurumi sneered. "In this chaotic world, what's the difference between black and white money..."
Kurumi grasped Eric's left hand with both of hers, pulling it to her chest. The warmth of her touch seeped through her delicate skin, making Eric's palm feel her warmth.
"I'll be with you, to end this chaotic world."
"Mm." Eric raised his right hand, wrapping it around the fine palm before him. "Meeting you is the greatest happiness of my life."
"Forgot the 's'?" Kurumi's face held a teasing smile.
"Uh..." Eric was left speechless.
Kurumi chuckled softly, "You're such a greedy man, trying to grab everything."
"How could I not hold on tight to such a wonderful woman?" Eric pulled her in tightly.
"Eh?" Kurumi's body, like a moth to a flame, fell into Eric's chest, her not-so-broad chest providing her with enough comfort.
Listening to his strong heartbeat, her cheek brushed against his chest, and the air mixed with his scent filled her body, causing her to feel as if she were melting into him.
[Kurumi Tokisaki's affection has reached its maximum value.]
Eric embraced the woman in his arms, gently stroking her delicate shoulders.
"Don't move around too much."
The sudden words caused Eric's hands to freeze.
"I swear, it wasn't me moving them on purpose..." Eric smirked in explanation.
Kurumi lifted her head from his chest, a faint pink blush on her face, her eyes moist like water.
Leaning forward, Eric kissed her lips, blocking her words with his.
"Mmm... Mmm~~" Kurumi's arms weakly looped around his neck.
The dark shadows twisted and rolled as various versions of Kurumi cheered within them.
"Go, 'me'!"
"That's right, push her down now!"
"Wait… First time under the sky? Or in broad daylight? I'm so daring!" The Kurumi in white lolita garb covered her eyes with one hand, her fingers spread wide, exposing a grin.
Although Kurumi wanted to make things difficult for Eric, she was overwhelmed by his advances and silently promised to get back at him later.
After a long kiss, Kurumi pushed against Eric's shoulder, suppressing her desire, and gasped lightly.
"Wait... Let's finish this later tonight..."
"Finish what?" Eric asked in confusion.
"You!" Kurumi frowned, turning to see the teasing smile on Eric's face, realizing he was intentionally teasing her.
"Hmph!" Kurumi's elbow jabbed into Eric's abdomen.
A sharp pain shot through Eric's stomach, the food and stomach acid swirling inside, as though they had been tossed in a washing machine. He crouched, holding his stomach.
"Serves you right!" Kurumi crossed her arms, turning her head, glaring at Eric.
"Hahaha... Sorry." Eric raised his hands in surrender. "Even when you look fierce, Kurumi, you're still cute!"
"Hmph, compliments don't work on me." Kurumi's bad mood disappeared as she saw Eric in pain. "Don't you have other things to do?"
"Go do them!"
"Mm." The pain gradually subsided, and Eric stood up, looking toward Gol D. Roger's execution platform. "If I don't make a public announcement, it'll feel like I came here for nothing."
...
Standing atop the execution platform, Eric looked down at the square.
"Fifteen years ago, Pirate King Roger, was this the last view he had?" Eric chuckled. "Though the numbers probably differ, but..."
Eric crouched and tapped the execution platform lightly. "This is the second big figure to sit here, you better remember it."
"Hey, you up there!"
Someone from below shouted into a megaphone. "Get down here right now!"
The loud voice caught the attention of the visitors, and everyone turned to look at the execution platform.
The cheerful expressions quickly changed to pale, stiff faces.
"Kui Long Eric ..."
"Th-the Four Emperors are here...!"
The sense of fear spread like an infection, rippling through the crowd. The people in the square turned and hurried to flee.
"Tch, I was about to witness my shining moment." Eric smirked, pushing his body upright, raising both arms:
"Imu, the Gorosei—! I hope you remember what I said, I will soon bring you down, along with those worthless Celestial Dragons! Believe me—soon!"
Eric's voice thundered like a storm, reverberating in the ears of the crowd. As the ordinary people fled, their steps slowed, and the huge shadow loomed over them.
They looked up, and the once clear sky, just like on the day Roger died, was quickly covered by dark clouds.
"You heard that, right? Heaven!" Eric shouted, tilting his head back. "Let the next downpour wash this filthy world clean!"
"Boom!"
A flash of lightning appeared, the thunderous sound echoing through the air, as if the world only contained the rumbling thunder, the sound deep and shock, leaving the people amazed at such power.
"Wham—!"
A torrential downpour suddenly soaked everyone standing outside.
A green-haired boy witnessed everything, trembling uncontrollably, as if electrocuted.
"Ara, really, I quite like the outfit Eric got me~" Kurumi had switched into her Senryu Spirit Form, the rain not getting through the protective gear.
"Let's go!" Eric flashed to her side. "Time to embark on our conquest!"
"So domineering~" Kurumi lifted her skirt, curtseying. "I welcome my Emperor—"
Eric pulled her in. "Come, my consort."
"Hmph~" Kurumi lightly poked his stomach with her elbow. "You get a little sunshine, and you blossom."
"This isn't sunshine..." Eric looked up as the heavy rain poured onto his face, flowing down his collar.
"Really." Kurumi pulled out a white umbrella from the shadows and held it above their heads.
Suddenly, Eric heard a voice saying, "That's my umbrella~!" He wasn't sure if it was a hallucination.
"Don't use your abilities casually and end up soaking yourself."
"No, I didn't use my abilities."
"Eh?" Kurumi froze.
"This is the will of the world," Eric smiled. "I've gained the world's recognition!"
◇
"Vice Admiral Garp !" Bogart entered Garp 's room. "We've received a report from Loguetown. Eric and his crew have left Loguetown and are heading toward Reverse Mountain."
"Really..." Garp thought for a moment. "If that's the case, we won't catch up. To catch them, we'll need to cross the Calm Belt and block them ahead."
"Do you want to pursue them?"
"Of course not." Garp took a large sip of tea. "Sengoku only gave me orders to capture them in the East Blue, and they've already left."
"Also..." Bogart pulled out a report. "Darren Eric shouted something on the execution platform of Pirate King Roger."
"Oh?" Garp took the document, his big eyes scanning it. "Puhahaha!"
His large hands slapped the table, causing the surface to rattle, his muscular stomach tensing slightly from the laughter.
"What a kid, to dare say such things." Garp wiped away a tear from his eye. "He did what I never dared to, what I never said. You really got guts, Thunder Boy!"
Garp squinted his eyes. "Now the World Government can't sit idly by, can they?"
Bogart asked, "He declared war on the World Government. What should we do?"
"Do nothing, let the bigwigs deal with it!" Garp grinned mischievously. "We don't have to worry about it."
(END CHAPTER)
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