"Alright, it's almost dinner time. Everyone, put away your books and prepare to go home for dinner," the old village chief said to his three children, setting down the book in his hand as he looked at the sun about to dip below the horizon. "Remember to review well when you get home; there will be a test tomorrow."
"Okay!" the three children, one girl and two boys, responded.
"Oh, and Kla, Beats, you two need to study hard like Isaac. If you fall asleep in class or don't pay attention again, I'll spank your bottoms," the old village chief said to the excited children while tidying up books. "Oh, and also…"
"Grandpa Village Chief! We know, we know, we'll study hard!" Knowing that the village chief had a tendency to talk endlessly once he started, Kla, the eldest, immediately took her two younger brothers and slipped away.
The village chief's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing more.
"Beats, Kla, what are your full names?" Isaac asked. He couldn't say his full name, but he could at least ask others, right? After all, he was still a Child.
"Full name? It's just Beats, isn't it? Isaac, why are you asking that?" Beats replied, and Kla nodded as well.
"Just asking, don't mind it…" Isaac scratched his head, skipping the question.
They were, after all, just three or four-year-old children, with no hidden intentions.
"Speaking of which… Isaac, why do you learn so fast?" Beats inquired. Isaac's "miracle" in class today—understanding something with just a glance and grasping it after one explanation—had left Beats incredibly envious.
"Uh… it's just… isn't it quite simple? You didn't learn it?" Isaac looked at Beats with a surprised expression.
"…Isaac! I'm going to get you!" Beats was silent for a moment, then charged over aggressively. Isaac was not to be outdone and pounced back. The result was obvious: against Isaac's immense strength, Beats, a normal three-year-old Child, was no match and was immediately tackled to the ground.
"Hahahahahahaha, Beats, you're so silly, comparing strength with Isaac!" Kla couldn't help but burst into laughter, looking at the disheveled Beats.
Beats' face turned beet red as he pulled off his schoolbag. "I, I'm not convinced! Just now… just now it was the schoolbag…"
Kla gave him a look of disdain.
"Alright! I'll play with you!" Isaac also put down his schoolbag. "I'll go all out, Beats!"
This was a duel between men, a war concerning dignity! To prove their strength, to prove that the schoolbag's seal would affect their combat power!
"Isaac!"
"Beats!"
Two figures resolutely charged towards each other. This was a war!
"Are you two going home or not?!" Kla rushed forward, giving both boys a knuckle rap on the head, ending the war… It's just… Isaac's head is so hard (T_T) My hand hurts so much… (╥╯^╰╥)
No, I must maintain my big sister image (ง •̀_•́)ง! I must endure!
After returning home and eating dinner, Isaac reviewed his homework and learned some basic arithmetic under his mother's supervision, then went to bed feeling fulfilled.
Salai looked at her son's cute sleeping face with a warm smile. Then, as if remembering something, she sighed and, after confirming no one was around, entered the cellar.
Salai used all her strength to move the pickle jar, then pushed the floor, revealing a secret passage!
Salai didn't light a torch or carry a lamp; she walked in the dark. At the end of the passage was a very small room. In the room was a dusty treasure chest. Salai took out a key and opened it, and inside was a Devil Fruit! The secret room was very dark, but the Devil Fruit was like a black hole, incredibly deep and dark, standing out clearly even in this pitch-black place.
Seeing that the item was still there, Salai smiled and let out a breath. Although it was a bit of unnecessary worry, she checked every day to make sure it was there. After all, this was Salai's last hope and thought.
At this time, in the waters near the island, a ship belonging to the World Government appeared at the end of the sea.
"Report! We are still over sixty nautical miles from Kohn Island!"
"Still that far? Really, is that thing really here?" The CP9 Agent, smoking a cigar, drinking red wine, and dressed in a black suit, looked displeased. "Where's the evidence?"
"Someone reported that there's a very beautiful woman here, seemingly the former Valforost Queen, Salai," a CP8 Agent reported. He was also very displeased right now. He was clearly the stronger one, yet he had to listen to this useless second-generation heir. It was disgusting, a piece of trash who got in through the back door! With his strength, whether he could even get into CP1 was questionable, yet he became a member of CP9 because of his father, and was even above him… "Huh? Just because of such an unreliable reason, you made young master Lux come out so late? My time, young master Lux's time, is very precious!" Lux slammed the table hard, roaring at his subordinate.
"Wait, you said… that woman is very beautiful? How beautiful?" Lux suddenly calmed down, leaning closer to the CP8 Agent and asking.
"I don't know, just heard," the CP8 Agent replied patiently.
"Useless!" Lux stood up. "Young master is going to sleep. We'll leave after I wake up tomorrow."
"But we can arrive tonight!"
"Are you deaf! This is an order!"
"Yes—!" That reply had a hint of reluctance.