Chapter 041 – The Second Devil Fruit & Nico Bear's Ransom
"Report, Colonel! I'm fine!"
Seeing Smoker arrive, Tashigi immediately spoke with joy. Then she looked outside, but didn't see Kai coming in!
"Colonel! What about the person who was fighting outside?"
Tashigi then asked Smoker!
"He left!"
Smoker replied concisely.
"As for you, you're still as reckless as ever—chasing two bounty pirates all by yourself… And how exactly did you defeat them?"
Smoker then looked at Onika and Masakide, who were cuffed on the ground, and asked curiously!
"Ah! What about the 'Maple Leaf Hunter'?"
Hearing that the pirates had escaped, Tashigi exclaimed in surprise and asked!
"These two despicable pirates were caught with his help. He said he would come later to collect the bounty, but why isn't he here?"
Tashigi continued.
"Oh? You met the 'Maple Leaf Hunter'?"
Smoker let out a light sound of surprise. He had been in Loguetown for a month and knew quite a bit about Kai! The "Maple Leaf Hunter" was simply too famous in the East Blue! Almost every pirate crew knew him—if Smoker didn't, it would be strange!
"Colonel? You know him too?"
Tashigi exclaimed in surprise! It seemed Kai really was an extraordinary person. Pirates knew him, and even Smoker—the colonel she greatly admired—knew of Kai!
"No, wait! Colonel, we should hurry and chase them now! We must capture that pirate crew!"
Realizing the situation, Tashigi immediately urged Smoker anxiously!
"Since it's the 'Maple Leaf Hunter' pursuing them, we don't need to chase. We'll just wait at the Marine branch for him to bring the people in!"
Hearing Tashigi's words, Smoker spoke calmly.
He had just received news that over a dozen pirate crews had suddenly arrived in Loguetown. He couldn't abandon the town just to chase one group and risk chaos—or worse, let them slip through Reverse Mountain! So now was not the time to pursue Nico Bear!
"Men! Take them back to the Marine branch!"
Smoker then ordered his subordinates!
"Yes, Colonel!"
Several Marines immediately stepped forward and took Onika and Masakide into custody. As for Tashigi, although she was unwilling, she could only follow Smoker back to the Marine branch!
...
"Alright! We're safe on your ship now! Give me the 50 million Berries!"
Once they reached the Explosive Bear Pirates' ship, Kai spoke calmly to Nico Bear!
"Hahaha! Good! I used to think the 'Maple Leaf Hunter' was just someone who only knew how to catch pirates. I didn't expect you to also understand human relationships so well!"
Nico Bear laughed heartily upon hearing Kai's words. No one knew what he was really thinking.
"You're very smart! You're the most sensible pirate I've ever met. I catch pirates to train my strength and collect bounties—that's all!"
Kai looked at Nico Bear and smiled as he spoke!
"Hahaha! Good! Little Monkey! Go get the stuff from the storeroom!"
Nico Bear laughed heartily and then shouted at a nearby pirate grunt!
"Yes, Captain!"
The skinny Little Monkey immediately responded and ran to the storeroom. Soon, he came back carrying a treasure chest!
"Kai, my brother! I can't give you 50 million Berries all at once, but I have something that's definitely worth 50 million Berries! If you take it to tomorrow's auction, it might even sell for 100 million! I'll use it to ransom myself!"
Nico Bear then spoke to Kai! Facing Kai's eyes that seemed to see through everything, combined with Kai's strength and the ability that could nullify his Anger Fruit, Nico Bear didn't dare have any ill intentions toward Kai! He even started calling him "brother"!
Nico Bear was also a decisive and mentally tough person. Knowing he couldn't afford to offend Kai, he completely let go and didn't cling to his wealth. As long as the green hills remained, there would always be firewood!
"Oh? What kind of thing is worth that much?"
Kai's heart stirred. He let out a light sound of surprise and immediately thought of a possibility. His heart beat a little faster!
"Heh heh! I think you'll definitely like it, Kai my brother! Even if you don't, you can take it to tomorrow's auction and it will definitely sell for over 100 million Berries!"
Nico Bear chuckled lightly!
"Is that so? You came to Loguetown this time specifically to sell it, right?"
Kai smiled faintly and asked Nico Bear!
"Hahaha! Kai my brother is truly sharp! Nothing can be hidden from you!"
Nico Bear's eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Kai with admiration. Seeing that Kai was not only incredibly strong at such a young age but also so sharp-minded, he finally understood why no pirate in the East Blue could escape Kai's capture!
"The treasure I obtained—no pirate in the East Blue can afford it, and they don't dare to buy it. They think it's cursed. So normally it would only sell for around 50 million Berries. But at the auction, it's different. Collectors or people who truly know its value will definitely pay over 100 million Berries for it!"
Nico Bear continued!
"You mean a Devil Fruit? A treasure cursed by the sea?"
Hearing Nico Bear's words, Kai became even more certain that he was talking about a Devil Fruit. His eyes flashed with excitement as he asked!
"Heh heh! Nothing can be hidden from Kai my brother!"
Nico Bear laughed again, admitting that the treasure in his hands was indeed a Devil Fruit!
"However, I don't agree with the idea that it's a treasure cursed by the sea. In my view, Devil Fruits are simply envied by the sea!"
Nico Bear added, sharing his own opinion on Devil Fruits!
"Hahaha! Not bad! I think the same way!"
Kai's eyes flashed with a brilliant light. His heart surged with joy. It seemed letting Nico Bear go had been the right decision—it had brought him the Devil Fruit he had been dreaming of! Especially after hearing Nico Bear's words, Kai looked at him with even greater appreciation!
"Captain! The item is here!"
Right after Kai spoke, the skinny pirate grunt called Little Monkey finally came out of the storeroom carrying a treasure chest. The chest wasn't large—it was clearly meant for small treasures! A Devil Fruit fit perfectly!
Seeing the chest in Little Monkey's hands, Kai's eyes lit up. If it really contained a Devil Fruit, this would be the second Devil Fruit he had seen since coming to the One Piece world. There was no reason for him not to feel excited!
"Come! Kai my brother, take a look for yourself and see if it's a Devil Fruit!"
After taking the chest from Little Monkey, Nico Bear immediately handed it to Kai and laughed! Although his heart ached, he kept a calm expression on the surface!
"Heh heh! Good!"
Kai didn't stand on ceremony with Nico Bear. He took the chest and slowly opened it. Inside, a Devil Fruit lay quietly!
"Paramecia-type Devil Fruit!"
Seeing the shape of the Devil Fruit, Kai immediately knew it was another Paramecia. His eyes flashed with excitement!
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