Chapter 41: The Weight of a Whetstone
Cavendish moved with an elegant, leisurely stride, his handsome face a mask of utter indifference. The chaos around him seemed to belong to another world entirely, one far beneath his notice. Behind him, a dozen of his subordinates clashed fiercely with the Marine soldiers. The air was filled with the relentless cacophony of gunfire and the sharp ring of clashing swords, yet Cavendish remained insulated, lost in his own self-absorption.
"Mr. Marine Swordsman," Cavendish announced, his voice dripping with condescension as he stepped forward. "My name is Cavendish. Not that an introduction is necessary, of course. Everyone already recognizes me." With a theatrical flourish, he swung his jewel-encrusted rapier, Durandal, sending several arcs of slicing sword energy flying toward his opponent.
Boom! Boom!
The attacks slammed into the ground, forcing T-Bone to raise his own massive blade in a desperate defense. He was holding his own, but just barely. The sheer number of civilians trapped in the area tied his hands; a single careless swing of his enormous sword could wound an innocent bystander. He was completely on the back foot. The enemy had no such reservations, attacking without a single thought for the collateral damage, while the Marines were forced to consider a hundred different consequences.
"How despicable!" T-Bone grunted through gritted teeth, parrying another swift strike. "Cavendish's swordsmanship... is truly formidable! But why? Why won't these people disperse? Is a pretty face truly more important than their own lives?" He muttered to himself, completely unable to comprehend the logic of the swooning girls.
"I was so excited when I saw the Marine patrol," Cavendish mused aloud, his voice a theatrical lament. "Finally, a chance to confront that upstart who stole my spotlight! And yet... he isn't even here?" His grip tightened on Durandal's hilt. "Perhaps I need to make a bigger scene... cause a few more casualties before your precious Commodore Jock Ian deigns to show his face!"
He crushed a rose in his hand, its petals falling to the ground like drops of blood, his face contorting with intense anger.
"Young Master, if you kill a few more Marines, Jock Ian will have to show up!" one of his pirates shouted.
"Hahaha! Today is the day our Handsome Pirates' fame will soar to new heights!" cheered another.
"Captain Cavendish, the Pirate Supernova, personally slaying a Marine Supernova! This will be the biggest news sensation!" a third yelled.
"That's right! Did they really think these common Marines could stop our Young Master? He's a pirate with a 280 million berry bounty!"
The crew of the Handsome Pirates cheered madly for their captain. Sailing under Cavendish had brought them nothing but fame and admiration. To arrive on this island with no fanfare was an insult they could not bear.
"Haha, you all do have a knack for stating the obvious," Cavendish said, preening as he glanced at the crowd of adoring girls.
"Ah! He's laughing! The noble young master is laughing at me!"
"I can't take it! My legs feel so weak!"
"So beautiful! How can such a beautiful man exist in this world!"
A wave of swooning sighs passed through the crowd. One after another, girls, overwhelmed by their excitement, collapsed to the ground in a dramatic faint. The exaggerated display only made the Marines trying to control the scene feel more helpless.
"Oh my," Cavendish chuckled playfully. "The burden of beauty is so heavy."
Yet, in the very next instant, his smile froze solid on his face.
Whoosh!
An inexplicable, powerful pressure swept across the entire street like an invisible tidal wave. Cavendish's pupils trembled as the oppressive force struck his very spirit. He gritted his teeth, gathering his will to resist. The world around him seemed to warp and blur for a few seconds before gradually returning to normal.
"This is... Conqueror's Haki!" Cavendish gasped in shock, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple. With his innate talent, he could withstand this direct assault on his soul. The others around him possessed no such capability.
Thud! Thump! Thud!
In an instant, the members of the Handsome Pirates and the girls who had been cheering for Cavendish fell to the ground like dominoes, unconscious before they even hit the pavement.
Not far away, a figure blurred into view at high speed, appearing in the very center of the street.
It was Ian.
Simultaneously, a series of prompts chimed in Ian's mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Handsome Pirate Fighter" Salif!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 20 points!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Handsome Pirate Fighter" Clairtier!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 25 points!]
[…]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Sabaody Archipelago Resident" Tashina!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 1 point!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Sabaody Archipelago Resident" Caroline!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 1 point!]
[…]
[Current Accumulated Enhancement Points: 1046 points!]
Ian's Conqueror's Haki had been a precision strike. Aside from targeting the Handsome Pirates, he had not spared the mindless fangirls surrounding them. If a real fight broke out, who knew what idiotic moves those girls, utterly enchanted by Cavendish's looks, might make? To be stabbed in the back by the very people you were trying to protect? Ian would never allow such a situation to occur.
"'White Horse' Cavendish!" Ian's voice was cold, his gaze locking onto the pirate captain like a hawk sighting its prey. "I heard you were looking for me?"
The perfect whetstone was right in front of him.
"What's going on? Why did all these people faint all of a sudden?"
"It's Commodore Ian! Commodore Ian is here!"
"Great! Our base commander has arrived! The 'White Horse' Cavendish is finished!"
"I'd only heard the rumors... Could this be the legendary power of Conqueror's Haki?"
"The Haoshoku Haki... a one-in-a-million talent! No wonder Commodore Ian is held in such high esteem by Headquarters!"
Ian's arrival immediately reinvigorated the Marines on the scene. With the uncontrollable civilians now "asleep," the area had become much quieter and easier to manage.
"Jock... Ian!" Cavendish spat the name, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fury. "How surprising! You actually possess the Qualities of a Conquering King!"