"No! I'm doomed never to live peacefully," Ayanami Kaito muttered with a tired smile.
With a wave of his right hand, the air before him rippled. The space twisted and tore apart like fragile glass, revealing a black rift. Reaching into the void, he pulled out a small package — the 300 million Berries he had seized from the Marines back in Orange Town.
"This," Kaito said, handing it over, "is for Risa's living expenses. Use it to take care of her."
Makino blinked in shock, not at the money — but at the way he had just ripped open space.
"That's—! No, please, I can't accept this," she said quickly, shaking her head. "Risa is a sweet, clever girl. I already adore her. And besides, I've been living alone here for so long… having her around feels like gaining a companion."
Her voice carried genuine warmth, and Kaito could sense the sincerity in her words.
"Take it anyway," he said gently. "Keeping it with me won't let me rest easy."
Seeing there was no room for refusal, Makino finally accepted the package, though she sighed softly.
"I understand. But I'll hold onto it until you come back — so make sure you do."
"I will," Kaito promised.
Makino hesitated, then asked, "Will you be meeting Luffy and Ace?"
"Maybe," Kaito said thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"
Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. "It's nothing serious. Just… if you do meet them, please look out for them. They're always getting into trouble."
Kaito chuckled quietly. "Even if you hadn't said it, I would have. I'll help them if they ever need it."
"Thank you," Makino said softly, her expression brightening.
He gave her a reassuring smile. "From now on, Risa will be in your care. We're family now. If you ever need help, contact me."
Makino's eyes glimmered. "Then promise me one thing, Kaito. Be careful… and come back safely. Risa will be waiting."
Kaito gave a faint nod. "I'll return."
With that, he stepped forward — and vanished. The air where he stood rippled briefly before settling, leaving Makino staring at the empty space with a quiet ache in her chest.
For some reason, the silence that followed felt heavy, almost lonely.
---
A New Destination
In Loguetown, under the dim glow of street lamps, space distorted once more. Kaito stepped out of the void, his cloak fluttering lightly.
He drew in a deep breath of the salty air and exhaled. "Finally, some room to breathe. It's time to get moving, Doflamingo."
He spent the night in a modest hotel, resting and gathering his strength. By dawn, after a quick breakfast, Kaito used Wood Release to craft a sturdy mid-sized ship. Once it was done, he stepped aboard and set sail toward the Grand Line.
As the waves grew rougher, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
> [Ding! Host has entered the Grand Line. New system missions released:]
[1. Eliminate the one who wields the power of the Thunder Fruit and uncover its origin.]
[2. Establish your own pirate crew and dominate the seas.]
[Complete both missions to advance to the next world.]
Kaito arched a brow, amused. "Enel, huh."
The missions were straightforward. The first clearly pointed toward Enel of Skypiea. The second meant forming a crew and taking control of the sea — simple goals for someone like him.
"Well, Skypiea it is," he murmured, smirking. "Might as well take a detour."
With a flick of his wrist, a spatial vortex formed beneath the ship, absorbing it into his personal pocket dimension. He rose into the air, floating effortlessly above the open sea.
"To reach Skypiea, I'll need to stop at Jaya Island first. But to get there, I'll need a Log Pose tuned to that island."
He sighed, rubbing his temple. "Troublesome."
The nearest islands were Whisky Peak and Little Garden. Whisky Peak, he recalled, was filled with bounty hunters disguised as townsfolk — a trap waiting for unsuspecting pirates. Still, it was worth checking.
"Let's start there," he decided, and took off through the clouds.
---
The Bounty Hunter's Town
Not long after, the twin peaks of Whisky Peak came into view, and beneath them lay the familiar town.
Kaito descended from the sky, landing quietly in the middle of a cobbled street. His sudden appearance sent a ripple of panic through the townspeople.
One of the men — a bounty hunter in disguise — froze, eyes wide with terror.
"Y-you! You're—!"
"Relax," Kaito said coolly. "Get your boss or whoever's in charge. I'm not here for you."
The man swallowed hard and nodded quickly. "Y-Yes, right away!" He bolted down the street, nearly tripping over himself.
Moments later, a thin, middle-aged man approached, led by the frightened hunter.
"Welcome, traveler!" he said, forcing a smile. "I'm Gabi, the mayor of Whisky Peak. What brings you here?"
Kaito's expression didn't change. "Mayor? Isn't this a bounty hunter stronghold?"
The man froze, his fake smile faltering. "W-we— that is…" He stammered, unable to continue under Kaito's gaze.
Normally, when a pirate entered this island, the bounty hunters would feast them, get them drunk, then ambush them for their bounty. But the man before him wasn't ordinary — he was a pirate worth over 100 million. Attacking him would be suicide.
"Relax," Kaito said flatly. "I'm not interested in your little operation. I just need a Log Pose that points to Jaya Island."
Relief washed over Gabi's face. "Ah! I see, I see! Unfortunately, we don't have one for Jaya Island. We usually trade within nearby waters — the farthest we've been is Alabasta."
"Fine," Kaito said. "Then give me a Log Pose for Alabasta."
"Right away!" Gabi said quickly, scurrying off.
Back in a small upstairs room, several bounty hunters sat waiting impatiently. When Gabi entered, a bald, burly man spoke first.
"So? When's the banquet? That guy's a big catch!"
He licked his lips greedily, eyes shining with ambition. But the look on Gabi's pale face made the room fall silent.
"You idiots," Gabi hissed. "That's not someone we can touch. If we try, this whole town will be erased."
The others glanced at each other uneasily. Outside, the sea breeze carried faint traces of thunder.
It was as if the air itself warned them — this was no ordinary pirate.
_____
The rate at which I get little to no power stones, lol💀
Well, if you want to at least read (60+ to 90+) chapters in advance.
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