NOVEL WEB 0013
This is also the reason for Gion's hesitation. She is familiar with the darkness of the world government and knows all too well the depths of that darkness. If this information were to be revealed, it would likely lead to the involvement of a CP organization or, in the worst-case scenario, a buster call. As Gion recalled the tragic events of Ohara's buster call, her expression darkened momentarily before she spoke with utmost seriousness.
"I should find a group of marine officers to discuss the contents of the diary. If I remember correctly, Zephyr's student, Ain, was mentioned by Evan. He also made comparisons involving Ensign Tashigi and Roronoa Zoro's late friend, Kuina."
...
"It appears that our future adventures will be quite intriguing. I eagerly anticipate what lies ahead."
"It's just that her ship's speed is so slow that I can't wait to set foot on it."
"I especially want to meet Evan, who has been looking forward to my arrival. Perhaps I should head to East Blue."
Nico Robin wore a smile on her face as she delicately moved her fingers. Her hand extended from the table to place a wine glass in front of her. She could already imagine the myriad of fascinating individuals on board.
The revelation of the Three Ancient Weapons left her surprised; she had not expected the historical texts about their locations to be interpreted in such a manner. Of course, the time for her fated encounter was drawing near. Joining the crew of the future Pirate King was an inevitable destiny.
...
"Kurahadol used to be called Kuro? Was he a pirate captain? Did my parents meet their demise because of him?"
"Did he return here solely to lay claim to my family's estate?"
Kaya stared at the journal in shock. She never would have imagined that Mr. Kurahadol, whom she had always trusted so deeply, was a pirate. Furthermore, he was the captain of the Black Cat Pirates, who had caused quite a commotion in East Blue a few years prior. However, it had been reported that he was executed five years ago. To Kaya's astonishment, he had faked his death and returned to her home.
Kaya's mind raced as she recalled Evan's statement about Colonel Morgan being a victim of hypnosis during their fight. Colonel Morgan was the one who had apprehended Kuro and returned him to the Marine base. Kaya couldn't believe that everything had gone according to Kuro's plan, and a look of sorrow crossed her face.
Unbeknownst to her, Kuro had been targeting her family's possessions all along. She had always regarded him as a faithful butler. Uncertain about her future, Kaya felt a burning desire to fight. If Evan were here, he would surely save the village from this peril.
"Is Evan coming? Unfortunately, I can't go to the shore to wait for him."
Kaya sat on the edge of her bed, gazing out the window at the trees. Even if she harbored such a wish, her weakened body would not permit it. Kaya hesitated, attempting to stand and take a few steps. However, a bespectacled man blocked her path.
"Miss Kaya, your body is not capable of strenuous activity," Kuro stated respectfully, maintaining his image as her loyal butler.
It was clear that Kuro cared deeply for Kaya's well-being. He had seamlessly integrated into his role as a butler and was set to inherit the family fortune after Kaya's eventual passing. Jango was expected to arrive in the coming days, and their plans were advancing.
Kuro had patiently earned the trust of the townspeople over time, and even if Kaya fell victim to the pirates, no one would suspect him. Kaya expressed her desire to go outside and enjoy the sea breeze, but her tone remained weak.
However, Kuro firmly declined her request, citing the increased pirate activity at sea during this period and the danger it posed to her. He couldn't allow any harm to come to her, especially since she hadn't yet formalized her will.
Kaya's frustration grew, but she realized she had no choice. She watched as they escorted her back to her room, effectively placing her under house arrest.
"By the way, I'll be keeping watch during this time and won't let that long-nosed kid in."
"That child is always telling a lot of lies. I won't allow him near you, Miss."
Kuro spoke with conviction, determined to protect Kaya from any potential threat, including Usopp.
Kaya, though disappointed, chose not to protest. She had originally intended to confide in Usopp about the shocking revelations in the diary, but Kuro's actions had thwarted her plans.
In her state of despair, Kaya remained seated on the edge of the bed, her sole desire being to avenge her parents. Though her illness had left her physically weak, she longed to regain her strength.
Then, a glimmer of hope emerged as she noticed a peculiar feature of the diary:
"The special functions of the diary are gradually unveiled. First, if a name is mentioned more than ten times in each chapter, the reader's strength can be increased by 1%."
Kaya's face briefly lit up. Could this be her opportunity to grow stronger? However, her excitement was short-lived, as she realized her name had been mentioned only three times in the diary. If she wanted to harness this power, she had a long journey ahead.
Meanwhile, the other women were surprised by the diary's unexpected benefits. The prospect of gaining strength through reading the newspaper fascinated them, particularly Nami. She sported a wide smile, contemplating how to get mentioned more frequently to reap greater rewards.
Standing beside Evan, Nami always made her presence known. If Evan mentioned her more often, she could become stronger. Her thoughts raced with the possibilities.
"I didn't expect that reading the diary could make me stronger, even if it's just by one percent," Nami remarked. "But if my name is mentioned ten or twenty times in a chapter, there could be a significant transformation. Perhaps I can strive to become the world's greatest swordsman or even attain the rank of Navy admiral."
Gion's eyes gleamed with determination. She couldn't contain her restlessness in the office. However, she realized that to become stronger, her name would need to be mentioned at least ten times in the chapters. Gion, a vice admiral and a candidate for admiral, had only been briefly mentioned by Evan at the outset. As the story unfolded, her name was overshadowed by Nami's frequent mentions.
It seemed that if they were to enhance their abilities, they would need to find a way to ensure their names appeared more often in the diary's chapters.
But the revelations weren't over yet. The diary presented further features:
"2. For every chapter in which a name is mentioned more than ten times, a random individual will receive a boost in their ability."
The concept of an ability boost intrigued everyone, though the details remained unclear. Moreover, it was mentioned that this boost would be randomly awarded to just one person.
"3. The person who mentions the most names in each chapter of the newspaper will be rewarded randomly."
The rewards for mentioning the most names included Devil Fruits, Conqueror's Haki, Swordsman's Might, Resurrection, Special Physique, Otherworld Magic, and Otherworld Technology. Notably, Devil Fruits could be stacked repeatedly without side effects, and Conqueror's Haki could also be stacked for increased power.
The diary had introduced a new dimension of potential, sparking excitement and competition among its readers.