"Conqueror's Haki? What is that?"
Feeling the oppressive aura that weighed on her heart, Robin asked in confusion.
"It's... the mark of a king."
Marco explained succinctly, "Most of the strong in the New World possess a power called Haki. Whether they are pirates or marines, to establish oneself in the New World, mastering Haki is essential."
"Haki is divided into three types: Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. Among them, Armament Haki and Observation Haki are powers that anyone can develop. Armament Haki can enhance attacks and capture the physical form of Logia users, while Observation Haki allows one to anticipate enemies, sense the environment, and even briefly foresee the future."
"Unlike the first two, the probability of Conqueror's Haki appearing is less than one in a million. It is also the only type of Haki that cannot be acquired through training. It is an indispensable condition for becoming a top-tier powerhouse. Whether it's the Four Emperors or the former Pirate King, all of them possess Conqueror's Haki..."
Robin glanced in Caesar's direction with some surprise, "So, does that mean Mr. Caesar has the potential to become one of the Four Emperors?"
Marco chuckled, "Well... that's true, but this is the New World we're talking about..."
"Indeed, the New World..."
In the darkness, Caesar slowly folded his wings and raised his right hand, carefully examining his sickly pale yet long and broad palm.
The surrounding darkness did not hinder his vision in the slightest. His crimson eyes were like voracious whirlpools, devouring every trace of light, projecting every scene within his line of sight into his mind.
His pointed, elven-like ears twitched slightly. Caesar could clearly hear the faint sounds of insects burrowing through the soil behind the stone walls, the vibrant and healthy heartbeats of the two people in front of him, and the rushing sound of blood flowing through their veins.
Most importantly, he could see the 'temperature' emanating from the two people before him!
"A one-in-a-million chance of possessing the mark of a king? In these waters, who among those who have made a name for themselves isn't a standout from their own region? The so-called mark of a king is, at best, just an entry ticket."
"But if we must say... the vast majority of people in this world don't even have the qualification to enter."
"Think about it. You're the famous strongman of your hometown, capable of flipping a cow with your strength. One day, you set sail with confidence, becoming a marine or a pirate, and you manage to make a name for yourself. Then you enter the New World—you see hundred-meter tsunamis, flying dragons, cascading magma, falling meteors, and slashes that split the sea..."
"A single casual strike from these monsters is a terrifying force you could never achieve in your lifetime. You can't even withstand the aftermath of their battles. A random piece of debris flying from the battlefield might contain a power you cannot resist."
"This is the disparity of the world, and it's the pitiful fate I am willing to risk everything and spend a fortune to change by setting sail."
As he spoke, Caesar stepped out of the darkness. His pale face was illuminated by the torch in Robin's hand, making his already handsome features appear even more striking under the firelight. His crimson eyes added a touch of an ascetic aura to his appearance.
"Not bad-looking, huh..."
Marco clicked his tongue in amazement as he examined Caesar's new appearance. "The legendary Vampire Fruit... How does it feel?"
Caesar didn't say much. He simply folded his wings, gestured for the two to follow, and strode out of the ruins with an irrepressible smile on his face.
Marco and Robin exchanged a knowing glance, clearly sensing Caesar's excitement, and quickly followed suit.
The moment the three of them emerged from the underground passage, a streak of black light suddenly pierced the sky!
Above, Caesar spread his wings wide, his semi-long black hair dancing in the wind. His blood-red eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly extended his arms toward the setting sun.
In the next instant, countless vampire bats seemed to be summoned, swarming into the sky and circling around Caesar.
His black wings fluttered gently, keeping him suspended in mid-air.
Though he was a legendary vampire, he appeared almost sacred under the glow of the setting sun.
"Not bad at showing off, this kid..." Marco smirked, seemingly recalling his own experience after eating a Devil Fruit. He couldn't help but shout, "Can you only control bats? Show us your abilities already!"
"Hehe, it seems this curiosity is a universal experience for every Devil Fruit user..." Robin chuckled softly, covering her mouth. "Speaking of which, this vampire gentleman is only eighteen years old. It must have been quite a challenge for him to suppress his youthful nature and remain calm and composed throughout the journey, waiting for its end."
"Yeah, I really want to tie him to the ship..."
"???"
"Ah, no, I mean, it's like seeing my former self, haha..." Marco scratched his pineapple-shaped head and laughed.
Robin fell silent for a moment. You definitely just blurted out your true thoughts, didn't you?
But she wasn't wrong. A young and promising individual like Caesar, whether for pirates or the Marines, was the highest quality of fresh blood. No wonder Marco was tempted.
Most importantly, Caesar was rich!
Extremely rich!
This was also the main reason Robin was willing to associate with Caesar. Regardless of whether he had any ulterior motives, at least she didn't have to worry about being betrayed because of her bounty.
After all, her bounty of 79 million berries was less than the amount of tips Caesar had casually handed out during their journey.
Suddenly, a flash of blood-red light streaked across the sky.
The two of them saw a crimson bloom, and in an instant, Caesar appeared before them. His body was flushed, and a faint trace of blood slowly dissipated around him...
Marco's pupils constricted sharply. "So fast!"
"By controlling the flow of blood to enhance my body, I can significantly increase my strength and speed. The cost is that frequent use will shorten my lifespan if my body isn't strong enough. Fortunately, lifespan is the one thing I have in abundance..."
Caesar slowly clenched his fist, the flush on his body gradually fading. The surge of power within him left him exhilarated.
The principle of this technique was similar to Luffy's Gear Second, but the difference was that Luffy could endure it due to his rubber body, while Caesar relied on his instinctive, absolute control over blood.
Caesar slowly opened his palm, and a mass of crimson blood gathered in his hand.
Then, with a flick of his finger, the blood transformed into a surging shockwave that shot out like a cannonball, effortlessly piercing through a towering tree several meters in diameter and shattering a massive boulder several meters high!
"That's impressive, it seems even more suited for combat than my phoenix abilities..."
Marco's eyes gleamed with eagerness as he witnessed the scene. "Are there any other abilities?"
"The core ability is the control over blood. Not only can I create blood for combat, but I can also draw blood from others—or rather, the life force within their blood—to maintain eternal youth and heal injuries. You already know that. As for other aspects..."
"Wait, hold on!"
Marco quickly interrupted Caesar, looking at him with anticipation. "Can you use this ability on others?"
"...Yes, but there's a cost."
Caesar shook his head. "Those who receive my blood will become Thralls. Not only will their thoughts and actions be controlled, and their abilities weakened, but if they come into contact with seawater or are exposed to strong Haki, the ability will be nullified."
"Even if someone regains their youth through blood absorption, once the ability is nullified, the life force that doesn't belong to them will rapidly dissipate. Only I, as the vampire, can truly absorb this external life force."
Marco's disappointment was palpable. "I see..."
"There's no way around it. After all, the fruit isn't omnipotent. Eternal youth is already a fantasy. If it were any more exaggerated, the World Government would probably dig to the ends of the earth to find this fruit. How could it have ended up in my hands?"
Caesar shrugged slightly. The abilities of the Vampire Fruit were already absurd.
In terms of combat, it offered both strength and speed, along with long-range attack capabilities. In terms of endurance, not only did it provide the immense stamina typical of a Zoan, but it also allowed for continuous recovery of injuries and stamina through blood absorption.
Moreover, his methods of stealing life force weren't limited to just blood absorption!
For instance, Caesar could also directly steal life force through physical contact, as long as there was no Haki barrier.
The stolen life force would be stored to maintain his youthful body and heal injuries when needed.
As long as there were enemy cannon fodder around during battle, he would always be in peak condition. No wonder this fruit ability only appeared in games.
Fortunately, perhaps because this was an extension of the One Piece universe, in this real pirate world, this bug-like fruit actually existed, allowing him to stumble upon a great bargain.
"But you don't need to be disappointed. Even though the life force will dissipate quickly after the ability is nullified, the healed old injuries and ailments won't return. You asked this for Whitebeard, didn't you?"
"Ah, yes."
Hearing that it could heal old injuries and ailments, Marco perked up again.
"My phoenix flames heal wounds by accelerating cell regeneration and stimulating the body's potential. While this method is highly effective for external injuries, it can't effectively heal internal damage. Moreover, cell division has its limits. I have an endless supply of Flames of Rebirth, so I'm not affected, but for someone of Pops' age..."
Marco shook his head, sighing softly, a mix of helplessness and relief in his voice.
Over the past two years, Pops' health had started to decline. Aside from age, the main issue was those lingering old injuries and ailments.
While aging couldn't be reversed, if those persistent injuries could be resolved, it would still be a great boon.
"Since that's the case, let's set off right away."
Caesar looked at Robin with enthusiasm: "By the way, Marco, I'll need you to take me to Fish-Man Island. There's something there that I promised Robin as payment… Actually, even if we don't go, I already know what it is. Do you want to hear it?"
This trip to Sleepy Hollow Town would have been much more troublesome without Marco's help. After all, the seas of the New World aren't something just anyone can navigate, so Caesar was more than happy to owe him a favor.
As for Robin…
In the past, Caesar's abilities were limited, and he didn't dare to get involved in conflicts easily.
But now, with the power of the Vampire Fruit, Caesar felt a bit more confident.
He had collected almost everything in the world, but the main quest of collecting the world was still stuck at nine percent.
This made Caesar seriously suspect that the quest to collect the world might not be limited to physical objects. Perhaps it also included abstract concepts like strength and influence.
The evidence was that the moment he became a Vampire Fruit user, the progress of the main quest jumped from nine percent to ten percent!
So, according to Caesar's thinking, the main quest of collecting the world might, in a sense, mean conquering or ruling the entire world.
And to achieve that, he had to win over Nico Robin.
To Caesar, Robin herself wasn't particularly useful—he wasn't interested in history.
But to the world, Robin's existence was crucial.
If the comic's storyline was anything to go by, Robin would inevitably reveal the truth of the Void Century at a critical moment. Therefore, Caesar had to secure this woman for himself.
Caesar wasn't particularly interested in ruling, but as the saying goes—since he was already here!
While the Vampire Fruit granted eternal youth, it didn't eliminate the risk of death entirely. What if the reward for completing the main quest was true immortality?
"Mr. Caesar, can you also read the Poneglyphs?"
Hearing Caesar's words, Robin immediately turned a curious gaze toward him: "Would you mind sharing?"
"The same old stories from eight hundred years ago, and the locations of the Ancient Weapons… I don't know much, but I happen to know some key information, enough to pay your fee."
As he spoke, Caesar tilted his head to look at Robin, paused for a moment, and then suddenly said:
"Jaguar D. Saul…"
Hearing this familiar name, Robin's pupils contracted sharply. She stopped in her tracks and looked at Caesar with a mix of shock and suspicion.
"Do you want to know?"
A faint smile appeared on Caesar's lips: "What happened to him after 'that incident'?"
"After… that incident?"
Robin murmured, then seemed to realize something. The fear in her eyes was quickly replaced by excitement: "He… he's still alive?"
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Caesar smiled but didn't rush to answer: "To be honest, I'm still in need of a secretary."
"Then I'll be counting on your guidance, boss."
Without a moment's hesitation, Robin quickly stepped to Caesar's side, instantly slipping into the role.
She had many questions, but now was clearly not the right time.
And Caesar clearly knew something. After all, the only person who knew about her connection with Saul was the current Marine Admiral, Kuzan.
Although it was unclear how Caesar had obtained this information, it was certain that his sources were somewhat reliable. It was even possible that he had been in contact with Saul!
In any case, if they wanted to know about Saul, they had to stay close to Caesar.
Even if… it was a trap!
"It's not you, Caesar…"
Marco, who was leading the way, turned around and saw this scene, his eyes wide with shock: "You're moving way too fast, aren't you? Already eager to compete for the title of Pirate King?"
"Well… Whitebeard isn't really interested in that position, is he?"
Caesar chuckled lightly: "After all, if he really wanted to become the Pirate King, he wouldn't have waited until now. You would've already kidnapped Robin and brought her back to the Moby Dick, right?"
"You sure know a lot, kid…"
Marco grinned, not the least bit embarrassed.
As the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, he was well aware that Robin, who could decipher the Poneglyphs, was an indispensable figure for reaching the final island.
But at the same time, he also knew what Whitebeard valued most, far more than the title of Pirate King.
"I say, why don't both of you join our crew? The old man would definitely like you!"
"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you?"
Caesar rolled his eyes: "I've already given you three billion, and now you want two more people? Should I just wait for two pies to fall from the sky for you?"
Marco laughed heartily, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand as he looked up at the sky: "Don't say that. There's Skypiea up there, who knows, maybe a pie will really fall… down?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a small black dot suddenly appeared in his line of sight, catching his attention.
"Hey hey… no way?"
As the black dot rapidly descended, Marco finally got a clear view of its full appearance, and his expression gradually darkened.
Noticing Marco's strange reaction, Caesar and Robin also looked up at the sky.
Robin frowned slightly: "What is that?"
"Definitely not a pie."
Caesar narrowed his eyes, barely making out the outline of the falling object—a horned humanoid figure.
What a familiar move…
Almost instantly, Caesar confirmed the identity of the newcomer.
Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and pulled Robin close. Under her surprised gaze, he gently bit her delicate neck, his sharp fangs piercing her skin as a mix of blood and paralyzing toxin was injected into her body.
Immediately after, Caesar waved his hand, and Robin's body transformed into a golden card, which he swiftly stored in his card album.
"It's Kaido of the Beasts! This is bad… we need to get out of here, fast!"
Recognizing the newcomer's identity, Marco's expression changed. He turned to look at Caesar but didn't see Robin: "Where's Robin?"
"No idea, maybe she went to the bathroom."
Caesar casually tore off his tattered shirt, which had been shredded by his bat wings, revealing his muscular upper body. His well-defined muscles looked like a finely crafted piece of art, perfectly balanced and symmetrical.
His black bat wings spread out once more, flapping gently as they carried Caesar into the sky: "That guy probably isn't here for you. Let's end the journey here for now, Marco. I'll come find you later."
Marco's expression darkened. "Don't joke around, you bastard! Caesar, do you really think I'm some kind of coward who fears death? Don't forget, you paid thirty billion! If something really happens, what will people think of us?"
"Interesting… risking the lives of the entire crew for someone who can't die?"
"You can't die, my *%￥#… damn it, that's true!"
Marco gritted his teeth, his face flushing red with anger.
As the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, Kaido couldn't possibly be here to capture him. If Kaido dared to do such a thing, Whitebeard would risk his life to tear down Wano Country.
However, while Kaido might not dare to go all out against Whitebeard, he certainly had the guts—and plenty of it—to take down a second-in-command and kidnap someone.
Every dog in the New World knew that Kaido had a particular fondness for Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, especially the most elite among them, the Mythical Zoans.
Given Caesar's status, even if he were captured, his life wouldn't be in danger. But the same couldn't be said for his crew…
"Caesar, you need to leave now, I—"
Before Marco could finish his sentence, Caesar had already transformed into a streak of black light, slicing through the sky and vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Just as Caesar had anticipated, upon detecting his intent to escape, the rapidly descending figure of Kaido suddenly transformed into a blue divine dragon. The dragon, treading on flaming clouds, let out a roar that echoed across the heavens and swiftly pursued Caesar!
"Tch, that reckless guy, I wasn't even done speaking! If it's just about holding him off for a moment…"
With a wave of his hand, Marco's body became enveloped in the azure Flames of Rebirth.
Just as he was about to step forward to engage Kaido, Marco saw the Azure Dragon suddenly turn its head and glance at him. Then, with a threatening look toward the direction of the harbor, a faint red glow flickered in its mouth.
"That bastard!"
A chill ran through Marco's heart, and he quickly transformed into the Phoenix, flying toward the docks.
By the time he arrived at the docks, the two figures in the sky had already flown out of sight...
"Damn it... Set sail! We're going back to find Pops!"
The signing notice has arrived, but considering the word count is too low, the editor has scheduled the signing for Friday. However, everyone can start investing now!
(End of Chapter)