2 chapters will be uploaded on daily basis i.e. 14 Chapters will be uploaded every week apart from the bonus chapters.
1 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded for every 50 Power Stones or 1000 Collections.
All interested readers can read advanced chapters on: Free Members of Patreon can read 10 Chapters ahead of Webnovel for FREE.
[email protected]/Heroicverse
×××××××××××××××
A pirate took the lead, rushing toward the cliff. Staying on the island means certain death; I might as well try my luck and see if I can drift to another island! The remaining pirates instantly followed suit, turning and charging toward the cliff.
"Hah! I boasted that I would wipe you all out. If I let you run, where would I put my face?" Auguro sneered, sheathing his Zanpakutō and pointing his right hand at the fleeing pirates.
"Bakudō #62: Hyappo Rankan (One Hundred Steps Iron Rail)!"
A silver-gray rod of light condensed above Auguro. Immediately afterward, the rod quickly split into over a hundred projectiles, shooting rapidly toward the crowd.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The rods fell like rain. Pirates struck by the rods were pinned to the ground on the spot, completely immobilized.
"Damn it! What kind of Devil Fruit power is this!" The pirates roared in desperation as the sea of cherry blossoms instantly covered the entirety of Mock Town.
Ten seconds later, Mock Town regained its quiet. The massive sea of cherry blossoms also vanished. The small town, ruled by pirates for years, was now littered with pirate corpses. Only about two thousand people survived.
These were the forced laborers Kuchiki Byakuya had meticulously selected according to Auguro's criteria. Their strength was minimal compared to the rest of Mock Town, and they had shown no sign of resistance from the start. Sending people like this to the sky island was the safest option.
Auguro looked at the survivors gathered in the square and said calmly, "For those of you still alive, congratulations—you are spared death! But remember, from today onward, you will do whatever I command. If you refuse, I will take your lives without question!"
The pirates, having just escaped death, dared not speak and nodded frantically like pecking chickens.
"First, clean up the town thoroughly!" With tens of thousands of corpses and blood, these two thousand would be busy for quite a while.
Auguro then anchored the coordinates of his Senkaimon (Passage Gate) in Mock Town as well. He planned to convert Jaya Island into a forward operating base and transit hub—to monitor anyone with ill intentions approaching the sky island and to provide easy access for his own people.
The commotion in Mock Town naturally alarmed Mont Blanc Cricket on the other side of the island. When he arrived with the Saruyama Alliance (Ape Mountain Alliance), he was completely stunned by the sheer number of corpses and the pirates busy cleaning up.
"An enemy?"
Suddenly, a long blade was placed against Cricket's neck. Kuchiki Rukia had appeared silently behind him.
"Don't, don't move! I'm not an enemy!" Cricket hastily raised his hands. The gorillas and apes beside him wanted to save their boss, but with their leader held hostage, they dared not move.
"I live on the other side of the island and came over when I heard the commotion! I am not affiliated with these pirates!" Cricket explained constantly, desperately trying to avoid being inexplicably sent to join the pile of corpses!
"Mont Blanc Cricket?" Just then, Auguro noticed the disturbance. He walked over and instantly recognized the descendant of Noland the Great Liar.
Cricket also recognized Auguro—the "Noble Scion" Sith Auguro, with a bounty of 200 million Berries, a super monster rookie who defeated the Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile, upon entering the Grand Line!
"Mr. Auguro! Our Saruyama Alliance is not allied with these scoundrels! Please spare us!" Faced with a 200-million-Berry pirate, caution was necessary!
Auguro waved his hand, signaling Kuchiki Rukia to lower Sode no Shirayuki. The Saruyama Alliance was a pirate crew in name only, actually specializing in salvaging sunken ships. Auguro had no reason to attack them.
Clang!
With Sode no Shirayuki returned to its sheath, Cricket and his men breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Auguro looked at Cricket and suddenly spoke. "Cricket, you want to find the City of Gold, don't you? To clear the name of your ancestor, Noland the Liar!"
Cricket trembled, then looked despondent. "What if I do? It's been 400 years, and no one has found a single clue to the City of Gold!" Because Noland himself speculated that the City of Gold had sunk to the seabed, Cricket had spent his life diving to search for it. He never imagined that the City of Gold didn't sink but flew into the sky!
"I can help you find the City of Gold! And even help you ring the Golden Bell!" Auguro's voice hammered into his mind like a physical blow. For a moment, Cricket thought he was hallucinating!
"Are, are you serious?" Cricket's first reaction was disbelief, but then he wondered why Auguro would lie to him.
Auguro smiled and slowly said, "I have already found the City of Gold. If you wish, I can let you ring the Golden Bell yourself!"
Hearing this, Cricket grew calmer. "What do you want in return?"
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. He didn't believe Auguro was simply being kind.
Auguro nodded. It was easy to speak with someone who understood reality!
"It's simple: from now on, the Saruyama Alliance will become my subsidiary force. You will be responsible for garrisoning Jaya Island and assisting my headquarters!"
Converting Mock Town into a forward base definitely required a garrison. The Sky People, with their wings, were too noticeable. As local experts, the Saruyama Alliance was perfect!
Cricket looked hesitant. The Saruyama Alliance never committed atrocities. If they joined Auguro's pirate crew, would they be forced to raid and kill?
Auguro immediately sensed his worry and chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not asking you to commit crimes! You will garrison this area and serve as sentries, that's all."
Auguro's tone grew much more serious.
"Furthermore, we are not a simple pirate crew! Once you join us, you will be a regular army!" Who would dare call the army of the God Kingdom pirates?
Cricket understood the deeper meaning behind Auguro's words. He nodded. "If you can truly help me find the City of Gold, I will stay and help you! But whether my brothers are willing to stay is a decision they must make for themselves!" He was willing to stay out of gratitude, but he wouldn't force others.
"No problem!" Auguro agreed. He wouldn't use people who weren't willing anyway!
Auguro then led Cricket, along with Masira (Monkey Man) and Shoujou (Ape), to the Senkaimon coordinates. With a wave of his hand, two gates appeared before them, revealing the Seireitei!
Cricket and the two others were wide-eyed and utterly stunned, looking at the majestic Seireitei and the sky island beyond. The solemn, imposing Seireitei was a powerful sight.
On the way to the Golden Bell, many Sky People respectfully saluted Auguro. Cricket thought to himself, This Mr. Auguro is truly extraordinary! He actually took over the sky island!
He wants us to garrison Jaya Island. His ambition must be massive!