Chapter 99: The Suitcase
After a period of intense mental struggle.
Orochi ultimately couldn't think of any other way to deal with it.
Ultimately, he possessed too little information.
Altars, murals, prophecies, gods, sacrifices... Aokiji had dumped all of this on him at once. The volume of information and the level of shock were beyond his capacity to process.
At this point.
Orochi looked at the mural once more.
The distorted, terrifying, and profound figure was merely a pattern carved by humans from an unknown, distant past, yet it filled his heart with an inexplicable certainty.
God... actually exists!
And he really was just a "suitable sacrifice."
He had agreed to cooperate with Psykos's experiments and survived countless near-death experiences to become a Monster, but it wasn't to become a "sacrifice"!!
Finally, Orochi nodded slowly... "From now on, this will be your stronghold."
Returning to the upper level, to the underground space where the Subterranean Clan once lived and built, Aokiji spoke.
The Subterranean Clan had their own civilization.
It was primitive compared to human society, but it had basic functional zoning, and the space excavated for their territory was quite extensive.
"A stronghold? What for?" Orochi asked.
"To recruit Monsters," Aokiji said flatly.
"You need sacrifices to increase your strength, and another executive—the one you just saw—also needs a supply of blood."
He would also need a large number of Monsters to complete his progress bar in the future, so it was better to be prepared.
Aokiji then pointed in the direction of the villa district base and said:
"Dig a tunnel from here to my base. The location must be hidden."
Aokiji also planned to involve Genus to better hide the tunnel using technology.
"A group of my subordinates will come over later. From now on, they will nominally be your subordinates, and you will be the public leader of this organization for recruiting Monsters."
"The organization's name will be the Monster Association."
After briefly explaining the upcoming tasks to Orochi.
Aokiji then let Orochi stay behind.
He returned to the villa district base alone.
There was still Psykos waiting for him to deal with.
As it turned out... his Observation Haki quietly spread out.
There was absolutely no sign of Psykos in the entire base.
Only her suitcase full of "necessities" remained; she likely left it to make her escape easier by lightening her load.
How should he put it? It wasn't too surprising.
However, this meant the level of re-education would have to be significantly increased... Aokiji emptied the oversized suitcase.
He notified the Association to restart the detection device, selected the recorded Psychic Power wavelength, and took out a disc-shaped display instrument.
Beep, beep... the notification sound followed the flashing red dot on the map.
Aokiji carried the empty large suitcase, watching the moving red dot.
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Huff... huff... Run! Faster!
Aokiji might discover I've escaped very soon!!
Wrapped in Psychic Power, it lifted Psykos as she flew almost flush with the ground.
She disregarded all consumption and pushed her Psychic Power to the limit!
The fabric on her back was soaked with sweat, leaving dark wet marks.
She specifically chose the direction closest to the wilderness. Under her full-power sprint, she had already left the Z-City area.
But Psykos still felt uneasy.
Her hiding place, which she had kept concealed for so long, had been discovered and broken into by Aokiji.
And she had no idea why.
Was her location simply exposed?
Or was it some ability or technology?
If so, was the tracking targeting her or Orochi?
Psykos knew none of this; she could only gamble!
Gamble that the way Aokiji found her hiding place wasn't by directly tracking her!
But unfortunately... on the vast, flat wilderness.
A figure could be clearly seen in the distance, blocking her path.
Damn it! It's the worst-case scenario!
Regardless of the specific method, being intercepted so easily proved that Aokiji could precisely pinpoint her location!
Psykos, breathing heavily, had a dazed look in her eyes. The Psychic Power she had overextended through continuous fighting and fleeing left her face with an abnormal flush.
Gritting her teeth, Psykos changed direction and continued to flee!
But suddenly, a series of sonic booms echoed behind her!
Closing in rapidly in a very short time!
Her flowing, wavy blue-purple hair was suddenly grabbed!
A look of pain flashed across Psykos's face as her upper body jerked back, and she was thrown to the ground by her hair.
"Trying to quit right after starting the job? That's a bit much, don't you think?" Aokiji gently grabbed her neck and pulled her up.
"If you had any grievances, we could have communicated. Now, I have no choice but to take disciplinary measures."
"I... I was wrong, Aokiji... Lord Aokiji..."
Psykos said intermittently and with difficulty.
She had lost the gamble... She should have stuck to her original plan: endure under Aokiji first and plot in secret.
Instead, during the gap when Aokiji left with Orochi.
She chose to flee to gamble on that uncertain possibility, leading to the current passive situation.
Psykos was filled with regret.
"Please... please let me go this time..."
She had finally taken the first step toward her goal!
How could it end like this!
Psykos's obsession remained.
As long as she lived, there was still a chance her goal could be realized!
"...I'll... I'll do anything..."
Her Psychic Power, weakened by oxygen deprivation, began to struggle.
Just like her name, Psykos was doing something very "Psykos".
"If you make a mistake, admit it; if you're being hit, stand up straight," Aokiji's lazy tone remained unchanged. "You're being punished for your mistake, not being given a treat."
"Don't think this can be brushed aside so easily... Any sense pushed to its extreme becomes a form of torture."
It's been so long, and I haven't experienced a battle that lasts for days and nights, like the duels between powerhouses in One Piece. (Modified: People in One Piece really can fight for days and nights!)
It would be a waste of the stacked templates of two stamina Monsters.
Finally, there's a chance for one.
Psykos clutched her red-pinched neck, kneeling on the ground and coughing repeatedly.
The precise intuition brought by her precognitive Psychic Power surged with a strong sense of impending doom!
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Old City District, Z-City.
"Eh, Lord Aokiji?" an ordinary resident who was shopping said in surprise.
"I saw you land over in the Ghost Town earlier. Why are you back with a suitcase?"
"What do you care what Lord Aokiji is doing? Does a hero have to report to you?" the wife beside him said, slapping the man's shoulder.
"It's fine." Aokiji patted the large suitcase beside him. "Just collecting a criminal's loot."
"I see. Thank you for your hard work."
Their conversation drew the attention of other residents on the street.
Although the population density of the Old City District wasn't as high as the city center, this street was considered the busiest commercial street here.
Soon, pedestrians on the road flocked over to greet him.
The residents here saw Aokiji quite often, so they weren't as crazed as fans in other cities.
But after they had surrounded him enthusiastically for a while.
Aokiji finally dragged the suitcase out of the crowd and continued toward the Ghost Town.
"Lord Aokiji is truly kind, he has no air of self-importance at all."
Someone sighed in admiration, and the rest nodded in agreement.
Thanks to Lord Aokiji living nearby, not only has security become excellent, but even the property prices in this area are constantly rising.
Everyone discussed among themselves as they returned to their daily routines.
The fading rays of the setting sun shone on the spot where he had just stood, reflecting a shimmering light.