Brook's arrival brought an instant festival atmosphere to the Going Merry. His lively tunes filled the air, and his macabre humor—primarily his repeated, polite requests to see Nami's panties—successfully terrified her and Usopp, much to Luffy's immense amusement. Zoro, Sanji, and Robin observed the skeletal musician with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
"Is this really our new crewmate, Kaito?" Zoro asked, his voice laced with dry skepticism.
"I've heard of him. He's a famously successful musician," Robin mused. "I never understood why such a person would be a pirate."
Sanji, seeing Brook's antics, erupted. "Hey, I think I'm going to kick this perverted skeleton to the bottom of the sea!"
"Hahahaha! He's great!" Luffy laughed, thoroughly entertained.
Kaito smiled and decided to enlighten them. "Don't be fooled by his appearance. Brook is incredibly strong, and his Devil Fruit is exceptionally rare. He's been honing his skills for decades. As for his quirks... he uses humor to lighten a heart that has endured profound loneliness. I have immense respect for him. A lesser man would have given in to despair, but he endured decades of solitude for a promise. That tells you everything about his will."
The crew listened, their perspective on the skeleton shifting.
"Yohohoho! Allow me to introduce myself formally!" Brook said, striking a dramatic pose. "I am the Soul King, Brook! Previously known as Humming Brook of the Rumbar Pirates. I owe a great debt to Kaito, and when he asked me to join this crew, I agreed without hesitation. My dream is to help that young lady, Uta, and all those like her by creating the 'Song of Endless Voyage.' It is my duty to heal scarred souls with music. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"
"Nice to meet you, Brook! I'm Luffy, the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!"
"I'm Zoro, the future world's greatest swordsman."
"I'm Robin. I wish to uncover the truth of the Void Century."
"I'm Usopp! A brave warrior of the sea!"
"I'm Nami, you pervert! I'm going to draw a map of the whole world!"
"I'm Sanji. I will find the All Blue. And if you keep harassing the ladies, I'll turn your bones into stock."
"Alright, everyone," Kaito interjected, steering the conversation back on course. "Let's pay attention to our navigation. But first, there's something important we need to discuss."
"What is it?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
"A brief overview of the world's power structure," Kaito began. "We have the four Blues, and the Grand Line, which is split into two halves: Paradise, where we are now, and the New World. The East Blue is indeed the weakest. If I were to rank them, it would be East Blue, Paradise, South Blue, North Blue, West Blue, and finally, the New World. The New World is on a completely different level. You could combine the power of all the other seas and it wouldn't equal half the strength of a single Yonko's crew."
He let that sink in. "So, I propose we don't rush into the New World. Instead, we should travel the other seas first to hone our strength."
"Impossible! I'm not running away!" Luffy declared immediately.
"I'm not suggesting we run. I'm saying we should prepare. Let me be blunt, Luffy. You and I are the strongest here, and you possess Yonko-level prowess , comparable to Big Mom or Kaido. But Shanks is different. He's in his prime, his crew is elite, and he is arguably the strongest pirate alive right now. I think we should wait until you're at least nineteen, to let your body fully mature and your skills peak before we face him."
"...Kaito, are you saying I'm weaker than them?" Luffy asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.
"Currently, yes. Let's take Whitebeard. His Tremor-Tremor Fruit can create tsunamis and earthquakes and that's inside your body if hit directly . To withstand that, you need a fully developed physique. Shanks is a master of Haki, which demands the same. While you have immense power, your young and un fully developed body can still be overloaded. If an enemy can outlast your initial assault, they could win."
Kaito's reasoning was sound, though he privately believed Luffy was already a monster but he still needs some time to fully develop . The more important reason is his desire to preserve his knowledge of the future. He didn't want to alter the timeline too drastically and lose his strategic advantage, especially with Luffy's potential awakening so close.
Luffy was silent for a moment before nodding. "Okay. We'll train for two years, then enter the New World."
"Good. That's a wise decision. It would be even better if you could awaken your Devil Fruit in that time," Kaito added with a smile.
Robin smiled softly, while Nami looked confused. "What do you mean by 'awakening'?"
"It's the ultimate mastery of a Devil Fruit, allowing the user to affect their surroundings," Kaito explained.
Nami thought for a second. "Why is that so important? Wouldn't it just turn everything to rubber?"
"Partially, but I don't think that's the whole story. Something about Luffy's fruit has never seemed right. I've consulted historical sources, and there's no clear record of a 'Rubber' Paramecia. The only fruit with similar properties is a Mythical Zoan known as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika."
The crew stared at him, Robin excepted. "Why does that matter?" Usopp asked.
Kaito glanced at Robin, who gave a knowing smile. "Luffy," she said, "if your fruit is truly Nika, then our ship will become the most wanted in the world. I am an archaeologist who can read Poneglyphs. Kaito is a man who attacked Mariejois. But we would be nothing compared to the legend of your fruit. Nika is known as the 'Warrior of Liberation'—and also the 'Warrior of Destruction.' The World Government fears that name above all else. With the prophecies circulating about its awakening after 800 years, they would stop at nothing to erase you."
"Warrior of Liberation? Destruction? What's that?" Luffy asked, intrigued.
"What prophecies?!" Nami pressed.
"As you know, I've been with the Revolutionary Army," Robin continued. "We've accessed many Poneglyphs. They describe Nika as a warrior who frees slaves and brings joy. To this day, it's a legend whispered among the oppressed. The 'destruction' refers to the utter defeat he brings to his enemies. The prophecy speaks of a savior born around a specific time. Based on the timeline, Luffy, you fit. After I told Kaito, he was certain it was you."
Luffy burst out laughing. "Hahaha! I'm that great?"
The others immediately punched him. "Kaito, are you serious? You believe it's this dumbass?!" Zoro yelled, knowing Kaito was usually skeptical of legends.
"I am. This isn't just about the fruit or the prophecy. It's about Luffy himself. He possesses a unique strength and charisma I've never seen in anyone else. I believe that is what drew the fruit to him."
"What is it?" the crew asked in unison.
Kaito simply smiled and shook his head. "You'll have to figure that out for yourselves."
They all turned to stare at Luffy, who just blinked. "What? Is there meat on my face?"
Kaito chuckled, changing the subject. "Nami, are we on the right course?"
Nami snapped out of her daze and checked the Log Pose. Her face instantly paled. "AAAAHHHH! We're going the wrong way! Turn the ship around, 180 degrees!"
Luffy looked confused. "Why? Did you forget something, Nami?"
"Shut up and do as I say! The current turned us around!" she shouted.
After correcting their course amidst the chaos, they sailed on, eventually reaching their destination: Whisky Peak. However, as they entered the island's bay, Kaito frowned. The place was vastly different from his memories.
The harbor was bustling with merchant ships, and the town was well-developed and visibly prosperous.
"Yohohoho! This is very different," Brook remarked. "I've heard they developed a famous grape wine here, on top of their other liquors, making them a major trade hub. I've been invited to perform many times, but it was always too far."
Zoro scanned the area, his hand resting on his swords. "Hey, Kaito, are you sure this is the second weakest sea? I feel a lot of strong presences on this island."
Kaito was equally puzzled, but after a moment, he smiled. "Yeah, something's going on. I have a theory about who's behind it, but I won't spoil the surprise. Consider it training for your ability to adapt to the unknown."
"Eeehh?! Why?!" Nami and Usopp cried in unison.
After some fuss, they docked at a harbor clearly designed for pirates, separate from the trade docks. It was filled with bars and casinos, all teeming with pirates, yet there wasn't a single fight in sight.
"This is weird," Usopp muttered, shaking. "How are there so many pirates with no fighting?"
"They must be afraid of something, or someone. That's the only explanation," Sanji deduced, lighting a cigarette.
"Hey, let's go to a restaurant! I want meat!" Luffy declared.
"Of course you do," the crew sighed in unison.
At the restaurant, they learned the island was under Crocodile's control. His organization, Baroque Works, enforced a strict no-fighting policy. Even Marines were prohibited from entering.
"So it is Crocodile. Your ex-partner has been busy, Robin," Kaito said, impressed.
"This is likely a result of you exposing him. After his defeat in Alabasta, he must have changed his plans," Robin replied with a smile.
"But why?" Kaito pondered. "Without you, his original plan failed. Even if he wanted to capture you to read Poneglyphs, he's been exposed. He shouldn't gain anything from being here."
"Wait, wait, wait," Nami interrupted. "You're saying Robin used to work with Crocodile? And he wanted something translated?"
"Yes," Robin confirmed calmly. "Before I met Kaito, I hopped from one organization to another for survival. The Marines and World Government's pressure was too much for them, and they would always try to hand me over. Crocodile offered a partnership, and as he was strong, I accepted."
"Robin..." Nami said softly, the crew looking at her with sympathy.
Robin smiled. "I'm okay now. It's all in the past."
"Those bastards!" Luffy growled. "How dare they betray their crewmate! If I find them, I'll kick their asses!"
"Robin-chan, do not worry! With me, your shining knight, no one will ever harm you again!" Sanji declared, spinning gracefully.
Zoro nodded. "For once, I agree with the ero-cook. You're safe here."
Sanji immediately spun around. "Who are you calling an ero-cook, you damn marimo?!"
"Yohoho! Robin-san's past brings tears to my eyes, even though I have no eyes! Do not worry, I will protect you!" Brook added, placing a bony hand over where his heart would be.
Robin looked at them and gave a genuine, warm laugh. "Well, I'll depend on you all, then."
Kaito smiled. "Alright, let's split up and see what we can find. We'll be here for three days while the Log Pose sets."
The crew agreed and scattered. Kaito and Robin spent the first day investigating Baroque Works but found little. On the second day, however, they overheard a crucial Den Den Mushi call.
"So, you're saying the Straw Hats are on the island with Nico Robin?" a familiar, sandpapery voice—Crocodile's—came through.
"Yes, sir. They are likely waiting for their Log Pose to set," a Baroque Works agent replied.
"...Hahaha. It seems Miss All Sunday is coming to us, and at the perfect time. They'll likely leave tomorrow; there's no time for me to get there, but I'll send agents who are nearby. Keep an eye on them."
Kacha.
Kaito and Robin retreated into the shadows. "What do you think?" Robin asked.
"Interesting. This is a good chance to see what we're up against. Let's wait and see what happens," Kaito said with a sly smile.
Robin nodded. "Should we inform the crew?"
"No. They already know Crocodile controls this zone. They need to learn to adapt to ambushes. We'll keep an eye on things from the shadows."
Later that night, Robin reported, "A Baroque Works ship has docked. There's a strong crew on board, including a woman who sensed my presence."
"Oh? They've certainly upgraded. It seems they're trained in Haki," Kaito noted.
"What's the plan?" Robin asked.
"Hehehe, I've already locked onto them. There are twelve strong fighters and many minions. Leave the monitoring to me. You keep an eye on the rest of the crew, especially Nami and Usopp. Don't interfere unless their lives are in danger."
"Understood," Robin said with a smile.
The Baroque Works agents split into three teams. Six headed for Luffy, Usopp, and Brook at a restaurant; four went after Sanji and Nami, who were shopping; and two were sent to find Zoro, who was, as usual, hopelessly lost.
Kaito identified the agents: Mr. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and their partners. He was surprised to see Vivi with them, partnered with a man known as Mr. 6, who seemed oddly familiar.
---
Luffy looked at the six figures blocking his path. "Who are you guys? Why are you stopping us?"
"Hehehe. Monkey D. Luffy, 80 million berries. We're here to capture you, but we might let you go if you hand over the traitor, Miss All Sunday," said Mr. 7.
"Miss All Sunday? What a weird name. I don't know anyone like that," Luffy said, genuinely confused.
"Idiot! They mean Robin!" Usopp hissed from behind him.
"What? You're after Robin? You bastards! Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!" Luffy's fist shot out, sending Mr. 8 flying through a wall.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Mr. 7 yelled, using Soru to close the distance and throw a punch.
Luffy met it with his own. Mr. 7 grinned. "Hehe. Kaboom."
His fist exploded, shrouding the area in dust. Brook drew his sword, and Usopp aimed his slingshot.
"Green Plant Eater!" Usopp launched a net of vines, capturing the female partners at a distance.
"Cold Soul Slash!" Brook cried, his sword flashing. The agents defended with full-body Haki, surprising the skeleton with their resilience.
When the dust cleared, Luffy stood unharmed, brushing off his vest. "Oh, that surprised me. He makes explosions with his fists."
Mr. 7 was stunned. "You're... fine?"
"You guys are somewhat strong. I'll get a little more serious." Luffy used Soru, becoming a blur. Six rapid-fire punches later, Mr. 7 was down.
"Yohoho! It seems I must hit a little harder!" Brook infused his blade with Haki. His next Cold Soul Slash froze Mr. 10 and the other partners in place, their Haki shattering under the enhanced attack.
Mr. 8, who had just staggered back, was taken down by Usopp's Fire Bird Star explosion.
Nearby, Mr. 9 and his partner were swiftly defeated by Zoro, who then forced them to lead him to Luffy.
---
Meanwhile, Sanji and Nami found their path blocked by Vivi and Mr. 6.
"Black Leg Sanji. 50 million berries, right?" Mr. 6 said.
Sanji ignored him, his eyes turning to hearts as he saw Vivi. "What a beautiful lady. May I know your name?"
"Of course," Vivi replied with a charming smile. "But could you tell us the whereabouts of Miss All Sunday in return?"
Sanji's demeanor shifted instantly. He lit a cigarette, his gaze turning cold. "You mean Robin-chin, I presume."
"Yes. If you want to live—" Mr. 6 began, but Sanji was already a blur of motion.
"You bastard! You already have a beautiful lady and you want Robin-chin too?! I'm going to castrate you!" Sanji's leg, wreathed in fire, slammed into Mr. 6.
Vivi, taken aback, drew a chain-like weapon and lashed out at Sanji. He dodged gracefully, refusing to strike her and focusing all his fury on Mr. 6. Sanji's kicks were a torrent of power, but Mr. 6 defended stubbornly with his hardened Haki.
Nami, snapping out of her shock, saw Vivi preparing another attack. She frowned, and a dark cloud gathered above Vivi. A lightning bolt crashed down where Vivi had just been standing, forcing her to retreat.
Vivi looked at Nami in surprise. "Why do you want to capture Robin?" Nami demanded.
"Orders from above. But if I capture you, I'm sure I'll find out," Vivi retorted, using Soru to close in.
"Oh, she's gotten much stronger," Kaito observed from the shadows.
"I'm not sure Nami can defeat her in a direct fight," Robin replied.
"Hehehe, that's if it were a direct fight. Nami is a strategist. She'll surprise you."
Vivi lunged, but Nami used Soru to dodge and created multiple mirror-image clones with her Mirage Tempo.
"That won't work on me!" Vivi said, using her Observation Haki to pinpoint the real Nami.
"Just as Kaito said," Nami murmured. "But your attack line is predictable." As Vivi charged, Nami dropped a small, dense cloud at her own feet and leaped back. The main cloud above released another bolt, which struck the small cloud, creating a massive electrical explosion right where Vivi was heading.
Caught in the blast, Vivi convulsed. Seizing the opening, Nami closed in with a Haki-inflected attack to her head. While Nami's Armament Haki was weak, the disorientation was enough. She left another small cloud at Vivi's feet, ready for a final strike.
Just as the lightning was about to fall, Kaito flashed in with Soru, scooping Vivi to safety.
"Not bad, Nami. You've gotten much stronger," Kaito said.
"Kaito?!" Nami exclaimed, shocked to see him saving their attacker.
At the same time, Sanji landed a final, powerful kick, defeating Mr. 6 now that he was no longer distracted. The first skirmish was over, but Kaito wanted to know somethings.
"Hey, are you alright? Can you talk?" Kaito asked as Vivi began to stir, her vision clearing from the disorienting effects of Nami's lightning.
"Where's Kohza? Did you kill him?!" Vivi yelled, a surge of Conqueror's Haki bursting from her unconsciously.
"He's right here, just taking a nap. Kohza... I see, your childhood friend," Kaito said, entirely unfazed by the wave of Haki. "Anyway, what are you doing here, Princess Vivi?"
Vivi was stunned that her identity had been discovered. "Eh? She has Conqueror's Haki?!" Nami exclaimed, the rest of the crew equally surprised.
"Oh! Your name is Vivi-chan, and you're a princess! You can conquer my heart anytime! We can live together forever!" Sanji swooned, his eyes turning to hearts.
"Oh? Are you finally leaving the crew, ero-prince? I heard you left your royal status before; wanting it back?" Zoro jabbed as he arrived, dragging two thoroughly beaten Baroque Works agents.
Sanji and Zoro immediately started brawling, while Vivi took a deep breath and asked Kaito, "How do you know who I am?"
Kaito looked at the unconscious Mr. 9 and his partner, ensuring they were out cold. "We met when you were young. You might remember this," he said, producing the familiar gold mask.
Vivi's eyes widened in recognition. "You're the Violet Tempest."
Kaito nodded with a smile.
"No wonder Robin is with you," Vivi concluded.
"So, can you tell us what's going on now?" Kaito pressed.
"...Crocodile is planning something, and he has helpers. They seem to be government agents. Since he's a Shichibukai now, we can't move against him openly. I infiltrated Baroque Works to find out his plan," Vivi explained.
"Government agents?" Kaito's frown deepened.
"Yes. After the Revolutionary Army helped us defeat Crocodile the first time, Admiral Aokiji came to question us about them. He found nothing and left. But a year ago, we found traces of Crocodile again after he became a Shichibukai. He's even regained his strength and Haki."
"Regained his strength and Haki?" Kaito was taken aback. That was unexpected.
"Yes. Since we had no solid evidence of his conspiracy last time, we couldn't stop him from taking the Shichibukai position. So, we acquired the Listen-Listen Fruit and overheard his conversations. He was talking to someone about agents currently stationed in Alabasta."
Kaito remained skeptical. "That doesn't definitively mean they're government agents."
Vivi shook her head firmly. "They are. In another conversation with the same person, Crocodile said he wouldn't obey the 'government agents' orders' because he wasn't their dog."
Kaito fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. Come with me to meet my friends."
He brought Vivi to Luffy and the others. After hearing the story, Luffy grinned. "Oh, so we're gonna fight a Shichibukai?"
"It seems so. If that guy has set his sights on Robin, we need to make him understand the consequences," Kaito said, his smile sharp.
Robin frowned. "What about the government agents?"
"Most likely Cipher Pol, perhaps CP5," Kaito mused thoughtfully.
After a moment's consideration, Robin added, "There is probably a CP0 agent backing them up nearby."
"Are they strong, this CP5?" Zoro asked.
Kaito shook his head. "No. The strongest are CP0, and while they are competent, they're not to be feared for their raw power alone. The problem is they're assassins who strike from the shadows. Imagine you're worn out from a battle with another pirate crew, and they ambush you. The other units are mostly for espionage; their combat strength is weak."
Luffy, growing bored, declared, "Hey, let's just go and beat them up, whoever they are!"
Kaito looked at him, then smiled. "Yeah, overthinking it is pointless. Let's go."
"By the way, what do we do with these Baroque Works agents?" Zoro asked, gesturing to the defeated figures.
"Let's just forget about them," Luffy said with a shrug.
"Yeah, Crocodile will hunt them down himself. He isn't a fan of failure," Kaito added. He then turned to Vivi. "You should return to Alabasta and keep us updated if you learn anything new. We'll handle the rest."
Vivi shook her head defiantly. "No, I'm coming with you."
"The consequences could be severe if government agents link you to us. We need someone on the outside to feed us information," Kaito reasoned.
"If I return alone, the higher-ranking agents will come after me anyway. It makes no difference. I can contact Alabasta from here," Vivi countered.
Kaito looked to Luffy, who simply nodded. "Let her come. It doesn't matter anyway."
Vivi looked from Luffy to Kaito. "Is he really your captain?"
Kaito nodded. "Yes."
---
The next day, they set sail for their next destination: Little Garden.
Vivi approached Kaito. "Hey, why don't we go directly to Alabasta? I have an Eternal Pose."
Kaito shook his head. "No, I want to go to Little Garden first, then Drum Kingdom. Our next crew candidate is there."
Robin, who had been silent, finally spoke up, a conflicted look on her face. "Do you know why it's called Little Garden?"
"I do. Because the people on it are giants," Kaito replied.
"What?! Giants?!" Luffy and the others yelled in surprise.
"Hey, I think we should skip this island! What if the giants want to eat us?!" Usopp cried.
"Seconded!" Nami chimed in, horrified.
"What are you talking about? It's Luffy's decision. Luffy, what do you think?" Kaito asked with a smile.
"We're going! Adventure! Adventure! Giants! Giants!" Luffy declared immediately, as Usopp and Nami began to weep.
Robin looked at Kaito. "Why do you want to go there?"
"I want to know what happened at the God Valley Incident," Kaito said.
"God Valley Incident?" the crew echoed, flabbergasted.
"Are you talking about the matter you told me about?" Robin asked.
"Yeah. No matter how much I look at it, there's something wrong with that incident. Garp and Roger were undoubtedly strong, but for them to defeat Rocks, even together, is a hard pill to swallow. Something happened there that doesn't make sense," Kaito explained.
Luffy was stunned. "Grandpa and the Pirate King... together?"
"Wait, Kaito," Nami interjected. "You're saying the Marine Hero and the Pirate King joined forces to fight one pirate crew, and you think it's impossible?"
"Yes. The Rocks Pirates were the strongest crew to ever exist. They weren't just strong; they were unstoppable. The other point is, why were they fighting there? It makes no sense. Dragon said they were saving Shakky, the captain of the Kuja Pirates. Kuma said they were targeting Devil Fruits, and he and Ivankov ran into Big Mom and Kaido there. But Dragon said he escaped to rescue a child, so he didn't see the end. Kuma was a child, too. The only variable is the Knights of God. But why did only Rocks die, while Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, Shiki, and all the others escaped safely?"
"Wait, are you saying they were all in the Rocks Pirates?!" Zoro asked, incredulous.
"Yes. They were. Isn't it weird? Roger's crew were all elites, no doubt, but the Rocks crew were all insanely powerful legends."
"But what does that have to do with the giants? According to stories, they've been on Little Garden for a hundred years," Robin said.
"What?! A hundred years?!" the crew yelled in shock.
"I know. But I think they might have information, as they must have a way to communicate with the outside world. Besides, I have something to tell them that they need to know," Kaito said.
---
Time passed until they reached Little Garden and disembarked. They headed directly toward the giants, finding them in the middle of a colossal clash.
Kaito flew into the air and yelled, "Hey, guys! Can you stop for a moment?"
Dorry and Broggy were taken aback by the unexpected visitors and halted their duel.
"Who are you, little human?" Dorry boomed.
"I'm Kaito. We want to talk to you both, captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates."
Dorry and Broggy looked at each other, then nodded. After introductions were made and the crew overcame their initial fear, Kaito spoke.
"Do you guys know what's been happening in the outside world?"
Dorry and Broggy were silent for a moment before laughing. "No, we have been here for a hundred years," Dorry said.
"Yeah, we can't leave until we finish our duel!" Broggy added.
Kaito shook his head. "The World Government tricked some of your crew members into serving them. They were told that you were captured and imprisoned and would be freed if they served for a hundred years."
Dorry and Broggy were shocked. "What?! Are they idiots?! How could they do that?!" they roared.
Kaito retorted, "You are the idiots! How dare you leave your crew for a hundred years without any contact? How selfish can you be?"
"Hey, be careful what you say, little human! You don't understand anything about the pride of Elbaf warriors!" Dorry warned.
"No, I do. But do you know what's been happening outside? The King of Elbaf was killed, and the World Government is eyeing your homeland for some reason. Is your honor more important than the very existence of Elbaf itself?" Kaito challenged.
"What?! Harald was killed?! How is that possible?!" the two giants yelled in unison.
"I don't know the exact details. All I heard is that Loki, the second prince, killed him and wreaked havoc, but he was stopped by Shanks and imprisoned in Elbaf. I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm sure the World Government had a hand in it."
"Human, if you are lying..." Dorry began, but Kaito interrupted.
"You don't have to believe me. I just want to know if you'll leave this place to find out what happened. So, are you going back to Elbaf or not?"
"...Even if you are lying, we cannot continue our duel with peace of mind without being sure. We will put it on hold," Broggy said after a long, assessing look at Kaito.
"Good. I hope you'll tell me everything you learn about that time, and also about the relationship between Harald and Rocks."
"Rocks? Who is that?" Dorry asked.
"You'll find out later. Right, do you know anything about Nika?" Kaito asked.
Broggy and Dorry were taken aback. Then Broggy spoke. "He is the Sun God of Elbaf, the warrior of liberation in our land." He went on to describe the legend, confirming what Kaito and the others already knew.
Kaito shook his head, his thoughts racing. It's the same thing. Liberation, destruction... The destruction part is straightforward, but 'liberation' is too elusive. Liberation of slaves? But why fear the fruit if its user is just a freedom fighter? It's not like it can free all slaves by imagination alone. No matter how strong someone is, that's impossible. Even if they could, the World Government could just capture more people. No, the Nika fruit itself must have a special power that Imu fears.
"Kaito... Kaitooooo!" Luffy's yelling finally broke through his reverie.
Kaito snapped back to reality. "Yes?"
"I'm trying to get them to join our crew, but they won't! Do you have a way to make them join?" Luffy asked hopelessly.
Kaito smiled. "No. Their battle of honor forbids it until the duel is concluded. They're like bound by a contract that ends only when..." Kaito stopped mid-sentence, a sudden, shocking realization dawning on him.