"You recognized me."
Rasya replied in a slightly surprised tone.
"Didn't you recognize me too… I wouldn't think someone who gets close to me really just brushed past by coincidence and happened to chat for a couple of lines."
Vane only then fully turned his head. Rasya looked into his eyes and guiltily lowered her head; his gaze seemed able to see straight through her heart.
At the center of the field, the soil churned. Bonez's shiny bald head popped out first, then his whole body.
Bonez rubbed his head and said, "Nice strength. Give me a few more."
"That's impossible!"
The Pulverizer was dumbfounded—there wasn't a single mark on the other guy's forehead.
He was the powerful Pulverizer, incredibly strong and vicious. From the age of three he robbed kids his age of their toys…
"Invincible Pulverizer Hammer!"
The Pulverizer leaped high, and the spiked sledge in his hands turned into a streak of black light, smashing straight toward Bonez's gleaming bald head.
"Alloy Steel!"
Facing the opponent's all-out attack, Bonez used his powerful defense.
After all, he was a pirate with a bounty of over fifty million—no one to be underestimated.
Clang~~!
The Pulverizer's hammer wobbled nonstop, and his hands went numb with pain.
This was absolutely the hardest thing he had ever smashed.
Bonez himself wasn't without feeling it either. The tremendous impact made his head spin a bit, but he was happy.
Because just now, he seemed to have brushed the edge of Haki.
"Very good. A few more."
Bonez pulled his feet out of the dirt and patted his shiny bald head, telling the other side to give it a few more.
The Pulverizer had already been thinking of backing out, but Bonez's provocative gesture made his anger flare up again. Damn it, no one had ever dared to let him smash like this.
"As you wish, I'll smash—"
Clang, clang, clang…
A blind man coming here would definitely think there was a blacksmith shop nearby—the clanging just kept going.
...
Vane stood at the edge of the field with a faint smile. Bonez had finally touched the threshold of Armament Haki.
From the West Blue until now, the first batch who followed him had been training Haki for half a year. Bonez had been grinding away at Armament Haki, while Lena had been grinding away at Observation Haki.
Bonez worked extremely hard, but Armament Haki was harder to get started with in the first place. Lena seemed to have some talent in Observation Haki, so she naturally reached the threshold of Observation Haki first and was now in the consolidation stage.
And today, Bonez had finally touched the threshold of Armament Haki too. With predecessors' experience and Vane's guidance, it still took half a year to reach the threshold of Armament Haki… Vane really had the makings of a mediocre teacher-king.
Not like Teacher Kaido: one strike for Ryuo, two strikes for Conqueror's Haki Infusion, three strikes for Devil Fruit awakening…
A few minutes passed. The web between the Pulverizer's thumb and index finger split open, threads of blood seeping out. Sweat kept pouring down his head—half from physical exhaustion, the other half from fear.
Judging from the feedback of the hammer's force, the opponent's body was getting harder and harder. At first, some humming vibrations still came from the opponent's body; later it became a pure clang.
"Why did you stop? Didn't you eat?"
"I… I'm not hitting anymore. And I really haven't eaten yet."
The more he hit, the more afraid the Pulverizer became. Right now he just wanted to run.
"Lost your value, huh."
Bonez's eyes changed. He spun on his heel, and his whole body turned into a spiral-charging "wall-breaker." For the specific move, you can refer to that guy next door in Naruto who does the man-and-dog fusion, Fang Over Fang.
Thud! Boom!
The Pulverizer's hammer handle was smashed apart. The next moment, he was blasted away in a bloody mess, crashing into a roadside rock and coming to a stop.
His eyes rolled white. The sight at his chest would make timid people unable to look a second time after just one glance.
"Pirate Pulverizer with a bounty of 57 million, selling for 50 million. Anyone who wants him, bring the money."
Bonez walked up and started doing business on the spot. As the current number two in the fleet, he was always thinking about the team's development. Fifty million Belly was no small amount.
In Mock Town, plenty of people did this kind of business. Very soon, a group of rather mysteriously dressed people appeared and made the exchange with Bonez—money in one hand, goods in the other.
...
Nearby, the succubus lady Rasya stated her purpose.
"Captain Vane, I want to make a deal with you."
"I know the whereabouts of two Devil Fruits. Unfortunately, my strength isn't enough to get them. If Captain Vane is willing to help, we'll each take one Devil Fruit."
"You may choose first."
Devil Fruits? Interesting.
"I am indeed interested in Devil Fruits, but how can I be sure what you say is true?"
Rasya explained, "These two Devil Fruits were collected by the World Government–affiliated Elegant Kingdom, to be presented to the Celestial Dragons."
"The Devil Fruits came from the Four Seas, and I've already figured out their route."
"I also know about one of the two Devil Fruits: a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Clear-Clear Fruit."
The Clear-Clear Fruit?
The one Sanji dreamed of. Its first appearance was when it was eaten by a modified human under Gecko Moria.
That guy really developed the Clear-Clear Fruit in a thoroughly sleazy direction… turning invisible to lick Robin, turning invisible to run into the bath and see Nami completely, and even doing indecent things.
"As for the other one, I'm not sure, but once we get our hands on it we'll definitely be able to find out… Captain Vane, will you accept this Devil Fruit deal?"
Vane downed the grape juice in his hand in one gulp and asked,
"What about the escort's defensive strength?"
"The Elegant Kingdom's royal army, and of course some World Government agents as well. If my information is correct, they'll stop at Crescent Island to resupply, then set sail and head straight back to the Elegant Kingdom."
"Crescent Island is the last chance. With our two pirate crews joining forces, we'll definitely be able to take the Devil Fruits."
After saying that, Rasya looked at Vane nervously. He crossed his arms over his chest, his fingers tapping lightly on his arm as if thinking.
After nearly half a minute, Vane finally spoke again.
"When do we set out?"
Rasya showed a delighted expression.
"Two days from now. We're not far from Crescent Island—we'll definitely catch up to them."
"Then it's settled. I choose first when the time comes."
After reaching an agreement with Vane, Rasya didn't linger and left directly.
Vane watched her figure disappear from view and murmured,
"Interesting… This trip to Crescent Island is worth making."