Chapter 108 – The King Becomes a Sausage Dog, the Doctor Gets an Upgrade
Crocodile wasn't actually stupid.
After his initial knee-jerk order, the 120-million bounty gave him pause.
Bounties weren't everything, but that number couldn't be ignored.
"They took the Whiskey Peak route."
"Then Alabasta is their next stop. We'll settle the score on my home turf."
For the sake of his carefully hoarded empire, Crocodile shelved immediate retaliation.
Endless desert was his domain.
Even Whitebeard would have to respect the house rules.
A rookie crew? Child's play.
.........
Aike's side.
With the Alabasta Eternal Pose, Little Garden lost all appeal.
One island of dinosaurs? Good for barbecue, nothing else.
The only thing even slightly interesting was the giants' combo move, Elbaf's Spear.
But with Aike's current strength, a casual slash was orders of magnitude stronger.
No point collecting it.
So he skipped Little Garden entirely and set course for Drum Island.
Same deal as Little Garden—just a quick fruit and medical resource grab. No plans to linger.
"Hope that king's still around."
"The Munch-Munch Fruit is decent. Could give it to Doyu or Guren."
Aike mused.
He remembered Wapol only fled after Blackbeard attacked.
Blackbeard's betrayal and murder of Thatch had rocked the seas a while back.
Timeline-wise, he should have reached the first half of the Grand Line by now.
Wapol ought to still be on the island—with his doctors and all their knowledge.
"Any Blackbeard news in the papers lately, Nami?"
"Blackbeard?"
Nami thought for a second, then shook her head.
"Not since the huge headline about him killing his crewmate."
"But Ace, the guy chasing him, was spotted in Sabaody not long ago."
"Sabaody…"
Aike nodded.
If Ace was already in Sabaody, Blackbeard had only just arrived in the first half.
Wapol should still be home.
Perfect.
He was secretly hoping to catch the exact moment Blackbeard attacked.
Dark-Dark Fruit was top-tier even among Logia.
Combine its black-hole properties with Tenseigan gravity control… Miniature real black hole? Maybe.
One can dream.
The moment the Libra entered Drum Island waters,
Aike extended his senses.
…Nothing.
Island and surrounding seas—no trace of Blackbeard.
Opportunity missed.
To soothe his minor disappointment, Aike Kamui'd straight into Wapol's throne room.
While the fat king gawked in terror, Aike politely ripped the Munch-Munch Fruit out of his body.
"Sorry, taking this fruit. Also all your medical equipment and records."
"Consider the fruit payment. See ya!"
True to his merchant code, Aike left a replacement Devil Fruit in Wapol's body.
Fair trade! Very elegant!
Just… the replacement was a little undignified.
The moment the bindings vanished and the new fruit activated,
Wapol's massive frame began shrinking.
In front of his horrified guards, the king turned into a very confused, very small dachshund.
Drum Island stop: a three-minute smash-and-grab.
The Libra never even dropped anchor.
Aike handed every medical text and tool to Kaya.
Then pulled out the freshly harvested Munch-Munch Fruit.
"Devil Fruit! Is that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit you promised?!"
Nami pounced instantly, eyes sparkling with naked greed.
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