After their periodic brainwashing session, the Spiders dispersed.
Chrollo, accompanied only by Feitan and Shizuku, continued down the stairs toward the deepest levels of the Black Whale. Shizuku carried the massive Urouge effortlessly on her shoulder—a display of strength that stood in stark contrast to her petite frame.
As the light grew dimmer, cells began to appear on both sides of the corridor. These cells were forged from the world's strongest steel, reinforced externally by Nen barriers. Within the cells, thin figures were visible, and voices filled with malice and resentment echoed through the darkness.
This was the prison Chrollo had built.
Due to the nature of [Bandit's Secret], if the original owner of a stolen ability dies, that ability vanishes from the book forever—unless the owner possesses a grudge so powerful it transforms the Nen into "Post-Mortem Nen." However, people capable of that are few and far between. Therefore, to prevent his abilities from disappearing, Chrollo kept his "trophies" locked in this prison, ensuring they didn't die in the outside world.
Chrollo ignored the wails from the surrounding cells and stopped at an empty room. "This one."
Shizuku tossed Urouge's heavy body inside. Thick chains were retrieved and driven through Urouge's collarbones and limbs, pinning him firmly to the cold wall. Blood instantly soaked through his tattered monk robes.
The intense pain woke Urouge from his coma. He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, his blurry vision finally focusing on Chrollo's expressionless, chillingly handsome face.
"Where... am I?"
"The bottom level of the Black Whale," Chrollo answered flatly.
Urouge panted heavily, the pain making the veins on his forehead bulge. "Why didn't you... kill me?"
"You are more valuable alive than dead." Chrollo paced forward, looking down at him. His shadow completely enveloped Urouge. "Tell me: how do we navigate accurately on this vast sea? And, in this nearby sea, who else possesses 'special abilities' like yours?"
Chrollo hadn't forgotten that the South Blue was known as the "Sea of Evil," a breeding ground for criminals. Among the Eleven Supernovas, several hailed from here. Since he was already here, he might as well hunt them down.
Urouge bared his blood-stained teeth in a mocking grin. "You think... I'll tell you?" He tried to struggle, his chains clattering. "Heh... aren't you afraid of raising a tiger only to be bitten? Be careful. The day I get out, I'll return the pain you've given me a hundredfold! Tell that wild man to wash his neck and wait!"
Chrollo watched him calmly. "Is a tiger without teeth still a tiger?"
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon enough..." Chrollo said meaningfully. He stepped aside, and Feitan walked forward.
Feitan Portor—the cruel, cold executioner. In the Troupe, he was responsible for interrogation and torture. His habitually gloomy eyes now held a hint of pleasure. He slowly rolled up his sleeves, eyeing Urouge as if he were an interesting toy.
"Where should I start first~?"
Before long, the dark cell was filled with Urouge's screams of agony and furious curses.
"Don't let me get out! I'll tear you all apart—!"
"You bastards! You'll die a horrible death!"
"You're not guards, you're animals! Demons from hell!"
The curses, the violent rattling of chains, and the subtle sounds of flesh being cut or burned intertwined to form a cruel symphony. Eventually, the noise faded to a weak whimper.
Feitan stepped back, and Chrollo approached the dying Urouge. "Now, can you tell me?"
In that instant, Urouge's aura—which had seemed faded—suddenly surged! His weakness had been a feint. He had been waiting for this exact moment. These people were arrogant! The chains holding him were ordinary steel, not Sea Prism Stone!
Using the power of the Karma-Karma Fruit, he planned to convert the damage from the torture into strength, shatter the cage, and take the leader hostage. The agony stored in his body roared, ready to transform into a power that would crush his shackles and his enemies!
Next second...
"..."
A look of total confusion crossed Urouge's face. The expected flood of power never came. His body felt empty. The stored "Karma" had vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean, yielding no "Fruit" of strength.
Urouge's fury froze into disbelief and horror. "What did you do?!!"
"You wanted to resist, didn't you?" Chrollo smiled, entirely unsurprised. "You can't. That 'Power of the Sea' you were so proud of... it's gone, isn't it?" He leaned in close to Urouge's ear. "You're just struggling in despair—"
Chrollo straightened up, appearing to have lost interest. "Let's go."
As he turned to leave, Urouge's dead, hollow voice came from behind him. "I'll... I'll tell you everything. Just don't kill me." Urouge's eyes were blank. "Sail toward the sun. About three hundred nautical miles away, there is a town. It has everything you need: a compass for the sea, and... a pirate crew with strength similar to mine."
"Good."
Chrollo's lips curled up. He, Feitan, and Shizuku vanished into the shadows of the corridor. Silence fell over the cell once more.
Once Chrollo was far away, a hidden, malicious smile crept onto Urouge's face. His intelligence was real—there was a town toward the sun, and there were pirates there. However, he had hidden the most critical detail.
The leader of those pirates was Jewelry Bonney.
The woman who ate the Age-Age Fruit. A terrifying monster capable of manipulating time and age at will. Her power was far more frightening than his! He had encountered her once and barely escaped with his life. If these strangers clashed with her, there would be a bloodbath. In the chaos, he might find a chance to flee.
"But..." His brow furrowed. "Why is my power gone?"
Urouge suddenly remembered Chrollo asking where other ability users were. The realization hit him like a physical blow. "Could it be..."
His pupils shrank, and a chill shot up his spine. Was there someone in this group who could steal Devil Fruit abilities?
If that were the case... "The world is about to change."
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