"S-surrender!"
Unexpectedly, Kurekku shouted out a surrender.
The sudden move almost made Oguro freeze in disbelief.
Well… it made sense. A guy who only dared to fight while clad in heavy armor and relying on all kinds of equipment… there was no way he had the courage to risk his life recklessly.
Oguro let out a cold, disdainful chuckle, his voice cutting, "Why would I accept the surrender of trash like you?"
You think this is a war between armies and you'll get mercy as a prisoner? You're pirates… scum!
Just as Oguro's blade was about to fall, Kurekku quickly shouted, "I-I have information! About a Devil Fruit! I'll trade it for my life!"
The tip of the sword hovered over his skin, the icy aura emanating from the blade making Kurekku's scalp tingle.
For now, his life was spared.
"A Devil Fruit?"
Oguro raised an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and skepticism crossing his face.
After all, Kurekku wasn't a Devil Fruit user in the original story, and Oguro didn't think he would just give away a precious Devil Fruit to someone else.
"You planning to become a fruit user yourself?" Oguro asked coldly.
Kurekku shook his head repeatedly, "N-no! Nobody knows what abilities a Devil Fruit grants! I'm planning to sell it!"
"This treasure is worth a hundred million Berries. It's enough for me to upgrade my ship and head into the Grand Line in style!"
Oguro nodded in understanding. The guy was cautious. Even when faced with something that could change his life, he avoided the risk. If luck hadn't thrown him against Mihawk, maybe he really could've made a name for himself in the Grand Line.
"Tell me the location," Oguro commanded.
With his system, he had no interest in a Devil Fruit with obvious drawbacks. But he was curious… what exactly is a Devil Fruit, and why does it grant such miraculous power? One day, the 12th Division could research it.
"You mean you'll spare my life?" Kurekku asked cautiously.
Oguro gave him a cold glance. "Keep talking and I'll gut you right now."
Kurekku's legs trembled. He didn't dare utter a word and hastily pulled out a map from his armor, pointing out the Devil Fruit's location, handing it over with a grimace.
That Devil Fruit was worth a hundred million Berries, but life… was more important.
Oguro took the map and, in a blink, returned to his ship.
Nami ran up with awe in her eyes. "Lord Oguro… you're incredible!"
After Arlong's death, Nami knew Oguro and his crew were strong, but this… this was beyond imagination.
Freezing a whole sea and crushing an entire fleet… it was a scene she hadn't even dared dream of.
She felt more certain than ever that joining Oguro in Cocoyasi Village had been the right choice.
Oguro smiled faintly, handing the map to Nami. "Check if there's anything wrong with this map."
Professional matters were best left to the professional. With Nami's expertise, he didn't have to worry about Kurekku tampering with it.
"A treasure map?" Nami's golden eyes gleamed as she quickly analyzed it.
"All good! This treasure isn't far. We could reach it in a day," she said confidently.
Oguro nodded. "Alright, let's head to this island first."
Rukia immediately melted a path through the ice, allowing the ship to boldly sail past Kurekku's pirate crew.
Just as Kurekku thought he had survived, Oguro turned to Rangiku Matsumoto.
"Matsumoto, destroy all their ships."
"Yes!"
Rangiku immediately followed orders. The tornado of Haineko swept across the fleet once more, smashing every ship with unstoppable force.
Seeing the whirlwind approaching his flagship, the Dauntless, Kurekku leaped off in panic, hopping on one leg as he shouted furiously at Oguro, "Bastard! You tricked me!"
Oguro's smile remained cold. He hadn't lied.
As the Soul King, his word was law. Promising to spare Kurekku's life meant he would.
But he hadn't promised to leave the pirate ships intact.
"Think you can keep these ships to keep plundering civilians? Dream on."
Without the fleet, Kurekku and his remaining crew had almost no chance of surviving at sea. If they did, Oguro would be impressed—but he doubted it.
A day later, Oguro landed on the island marked on the map.
According to Kurekku, it was the hideout of an old pirate who had hidden the Devil Fruit here, planning to sell it later for an easy life.
The island was deserted, a stretch of untouched jungle. The Devil Fruit was hidden deep inside a cave, guarded by fierce beasts.
But against Rukia and Rangiku, these terrifying beasts were nothing but paper tigers.
Soon, the group arrived at the cave, only to find it in disarray—gold and silver scattered everywhere, yet the Devil Fruit itself was gone.
"So much treasure!" Nami's eyes gleamed as she lunged toward the piles of gold.
"Looks like… someone got here first?"
Oguro's face darkened. Losing a Devil Fruit was rare.
"Lord Soul King, it doesn't seem like humans," Rukia concluded after a closer inspection.
"There are claw marks… some kind of beast must have destroyed everything."
A beast?
Oguro froze, considering a possibility. Could it be that the Devil Fruit had been eaten by an animal?
In the original story, a few animals had eaten Devil Fruits, and some gained incredible powers.
"Ugh… wasted trip. Let's go."
Oguro had only been curious about the Devil Fruit. He wasn't interested in the fruit's user.
But at that moment, Rukia and Rangiku suddenly turned, their voices serious.
"Lord Soul King, something's approaching!"
"A beast?"
"No! At least ten times stronger than the ones before!"
Before their words finished, a massive figure appeared at the cave entrance, almost blocking it entirely.
Oguro's eyes widened. "A lion?"
A nearly five-meter-tall lion glared at them, its eyes locked on Oguro and the others.
Even Oguro's limited perception sensed the lion's body radiating overwhelming vitality, almost impossible to harm.
"Did this lion eat the Devil Fruit?" Oguro muttered under his breath.
The giant lion let out an enraged roar, clearly seeing its territory invaded… and it hadn't eaten enough yet. These small intruders would make a perfect snack.
***
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