Chapter 145: Aramaki and Fujitora, Meteor Descent!
"Hey, who is that guy!?"
"Is that a flower on his back?"
Outside the Fairytale Forest.
The survivors who narrowly escaped the nightmarish forest looked at the figure descending slowly from the sky.
It was a man.
He was tall and muscular, with high eyebrows, thick lips, and dark green curly hair.
He wore sunglasses, smoked a cigarette, and was shirtless. A sword hung at his waist, and four characters were tattooed on his left torso.
[Shikawa Shinju (Double Suicide at Death River)]
THUD!
His body landed slowly on the ground.
Only then did everyone see clearly—the spinning thing on his back was indeed a flower. As he landed, the flower withered and shattered into dust.
"Ability User!?"
They realized immediately that he was likely a Devil Fruit user.
At this moment...
"Oh, arrived—sunlight feels good after a long time."
They noticed the man held a Den Den Mushi, speaking into it with a cigarette in his mouth.
"Cough, cough... As long as you get the Fountain of Youth for me, Aramaki..."
An old voice came from the snail. "The crimes of killing so many people, destroying the business of the country's important partners, and causing the country's decline... I will pardon all of them."
"Hah?"
Hearing this, the man named 'Aramaki' sounded annoyed. "Human lives? Business partners?"
"Hey, hey, Your Majesty, don't get it wrong..."
He sneered. "Crushing a few bugs from non-member nations isn't a crime. They aren't considered 'humans'."
"To be honest, I only volunteered to go to jail because that incident involved Celestial Dragons... don't misunderstand that part!"
He stretched his body casually. "As for the Fountain of Youth—I can indeed share some with you, since you are a King of a World Government member nation."
"But most of it must be given to the Celestial Dragons... The highest nobles possessing the most precious 'resources', that is the proper order of this world."
Saying so, he hung up, ignoring the voice shouting "Aramaki, you..." from the other end.
His gaze swept over the survivors who escaped from the forest.
"As for you..."
He said calmly.
As his words fell.
Almost all survivors felt a terrifying killing intent wash over them.
"Careful, this guy isn't friendly!"
They realized it immediately.
"Deal with him first! Then escape this island—or else the things in that forest might come out again!"
The hot-tempered Kelly Funk shouted, charging at Aramaki with his fist.
Not just him, other survivors charged too.
But at this moment...
"Wait..."
Only Baby 5's expression seemed stiff.
"Aramaki... I think I've heard this name..."
She even forgot her usual catchphrase, muttering internally.
She tried hard to recall where she heard this name.
"Young Master... it must be the Young Master..."
As a maid and assassin executive of the Donquixote Family, she had access to a lot of info.
She was sure that if a name left an impression, it likely came from her Young Master, Doflamingo, who raised her since childhood.
Confirming this, she recalled quickly.
It was a conversation from a few years ago.
"Fufufufufu... There really are monsters hiding everywhere."
Back then, Doflamingo, not yet King of Dressrosa but just a 'Pirate', sighed while reading a newspaper.
"Young Master? What monster? An enemy?"
Baby 5 asked curiously.
"Fufufu... A police officer in the Taya Kingdom."
Doflamingo said.
"Taya Kingdom? I remember that country... seems to have cooperation with us? Not a strong country?"
"Yes—because it's not strong, it needs more help from the 'Underworld'."
Doflamingo said casually. "Slave trade, arms trade, organ trafficking... the most profitable industries in the world need an 'Umbrella'. Taya Kingdom is a member nation and can play this role."
Baby 5 didn't understand then, but she did now.
Why did countless nations yearn to join the World Government?
Not just for protection from pirates.
More importantly, the status was profit itself!
Countless black trades needed 'goods' from non-member nations—arms, war, humans, organs... non-member nations were the 'hunting grounds' of the Underworld.
After getting goods, they needed an 'Umbrella' to sell them.
Member status was this umbrella—trading through it, the World Government wouldn't interfere.
Nations like Taya Kingdom prospered by cooperating with dark organizations under this cover.
From 'Prey' to 'Hunter'.
From 'Loser' to 'Beneficiary'.
This was why nations desired to join the World Government.
But...
"What this guy did probably enraged his King."
"Underworld members, plus sold slaves, including rare species reserved for Celestial Dragons... Fufufu, he sure had guts."
Doflamingo showed the newspaper to Baby 5.
Now, Baby 5 recalled the image on the paper.
"Wait, don't attack, this guy is..."
She wanted to speak.
But it was too late.
The man named Aramaki took the cigarette from his mouth and threw it on the ground.
He stepped on it, crushing it.
Or rather—what he crushed wasn't the cigarette butt.
Then...
From beneath his feet, something broke the soil.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Plant roots.
Sprouting from under his feet, they grew into vines, branches, and leaves.
As if a massive forest was hidden beneath him.
"Again?"
This scene horrified the survivors instinctively.
First the terrifying 'Fairytale Forest', now another forest?
The next moment, they heard the answer.
"Forbidden Hate Woods."
SQUELCH! (xN)
Countless branches pierced everyone around instantly—even Bobby Funk, with a monstrous physique, couldn't resist effectively.
"Ughhh!"
"Ahhh!"
Intense pain made them scream miserably.
But moments later, the screams faded like the cigarette's spark.
Funk, Jett... the strong hired by various kingdoms saw their skin shrivel at a visible speed.
Their cheeks sunk, eye sockets deepened.
"Haa... haa..."
Their pleas or roars became weak.
In a short time, they turned into dried corpses wrapped in clothes, skin clinging to bones.
Correspondingly.
The branches piercing them became thicker.
"Assassins, bounty hunters, pirates—trash trying to steal precious treasures for others. Becoming nature's nutrients fits your value best."
Under the lifted corpses, Aramaki looked calm.
He walked forward slowly, hands in pockets.
"Haha... as expected..."
Seeing this, Baby 5 tensed up completely.
The scenery of corpses and trees matched the image in her memory perfectly.
[Taya Kingdom Incident, 3,300 Dead]
A report that appeared briefly then vanished, erased by the Underworld.
Members of 'Underworld Organizations' trading with Taya Kingdom, from various non-member nations.
Including the slaves they transported, totaling 3,300 people—all turned into 'tree nutrients' by this man that day.
The only survivors were members of World Government affiliated nations and some female slaves.
He was imprisoned for this.
This incident had a huge impact, making the name 'Aramaki' famous.
And now, Baby 5 faced this man.
She smelled death.
Injured and knowing she couldn't win even at full strength—she knew this clearly.
"Woman, you better not attack me."
But then, she heard Aramaki say.
He walked past Baby 5.
"Or else, you won't be 'Doflamingo's Property' anymore, but an 'Enemy'."
"..."
Baby 5 froze, stopping her attack instinctively.
Property?
"Wh... What do you mean!?"
Mustering unknown courage, she shouted loudly.
"Property? What kind of term is that—you bastard..."
"Hm?"
Aramaki turned, lowering his sunglasses.
"Need to ask?"
Baby 5 saw the eyes under the sunglasses.
"Beasts fight for mating rights, only the strong have the right to possess—humans are the same."
"Beautiful females are like money, precious resources, 'Property' of the strong and noble."
Those eyes held no emotion.
"I saw you in the intel. You are the Donquixote Family maid, 'Heavenly Yaksha's' property—he is the King of Dressrosa, a Government-chosen Warlord, part of the 'Order'."
"I won't destroy or steal his property. That's impolite."
That was his genuine thought. "This is nature's rule—I always respect nature. So... I respect your 'Value' too."
Baby 5 understood—he didn't kill the female slaves in the news or attack her now out of pity.
But because he never considered them 'Humans' from the start!
Thinking deeper, his reason for killing the Underworld members was simple too—not for justice, but simply because he thought those non-member trash had no right to steal resources!
"Monster..."
Baby 5 realized—the guy in front of her was a monster like her Young Master.
Not just strength, but twisted inside too!
But Aramaki ignored her.
"Run away yourself, woman—I have to get the Fountain of Youth. But what's with this forest? My ability doesn't work on it?"
He clicked his tongue. "Trees, yet not part of 'Nature'? Truly precious stuff. Offering this island to the Celestial Dragons should be good."
"You..."
Baby 5 gritted her teeth, raising her hand.
Click!
She didn't know why she was so angry.
But she knew.
"I am not 'Anyone's Property'—you tree bastard!"
As she spoke, her hand began to transform into a cannon.
Sensing killing intent from behind, Aramaki turned. "Stupid woman... Hm?"
Before he could finish, his expression changed abruptly.
The next moment...
VMMM!
Intense gravity struck, shattering the ground instantly.
"This is..."
Aramaki looked serious—even his body couldn't move under this intense gravity.
A moment later.
He heard the sound of wooden clogs from behind.
"This old man feels two things you said are wrong."
A steady voice came. Aramaki saw a figure walking out.
Though blind eyes were healed, he still held a cane sword.
Though shackles were removed, he still held to his nature.
It was Issho!
"First, this old man believes no one in this world can treat others as goods. Those who do will eventually be treated as goods by others. Your words are truly unpleasant."
"On the contrary, this lady, though an intruder—her courage earns this old man's praise."
He stepped forward slowly.
Tiger-sharp eyes looked at Aramaki.
Simultaneously, a strong repulsive force pushed Baby 5 far away.
"Second, the owner of this island and this forest is this old man's benefactor and friend."
"You want to offer this island and forest to the Celestial Dragons—such a thing..."
At this point.
Click.
Aramaki heard the sound of the blade sheathing.
And...
RUMBLE!
A massive roaring sound from above his head.
He lifted his head slowly against the intense gravity.
Then...
He saw the massive Meteor falling from the sky.
In his ear, Issho's calm yet stern voice rang out.
"This old man... will not sit idly by."
☆☆☆
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