I'm Not Interested in Devil Fruits

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Liam leaned in to examine the young King Kuma's photo and the accompanying introduction with a surprised expression on his face.

So that's how Kuma earned the title of "Tyrant"...

He exchanged a glance with B.I.B.

Hancock, holding the book in one hand, leisurely flipped through its pages as she strolled out of the ship's cabin.

The surrounding Kuja warriors moved with swift efficiency, working in perfect harmony. They chatted and laughed amongst themselves as they systematically emptied the pirate ship of its treasures.

"Is everything looted?" Liam inquired.

The girls from the Kuja pirate ship raised their hands, broad smiles illuminating their faces as they displayed their spoils.

As expected, compared to plundering small villages or impoverished towns, seizing the wealth of a pirate crew of this magnitude yielded significantly greater rewards. Whether the pirates' loot originated from the common people or from their own treasure-hunting endeavors was of little concern to them…

Hancock lightly leaped back onto her own ship.

Liam was the last to depart the Glacier Pirate ship. Through the Marine's binoculars, the lone man among the women on the pirate ship was observed leaping high into the air. As he ascended, he seemed to float and jump even higher, almost as if he were walking through the air.

"I believe I've seen a move like that…" Colonel Augat's eyes narrowed as he peered through the binoculars.

The next moment, he gasped in disbelief as he witnessed an extraordinary spectacle: the notorious male pirate, hovering in mid-air, unleashed a series of devastating kicks upon the pirate ship. 

His long legs sliced through the air, leaving behind crescent-shaped arcs that resembled 'Rankyaku'… No, the "'Rankyaku'" appeared to emanate from his feet themselves!

What in the world?

A slicing kick?

Shuā Shuā Shuā! 

The figure in the air continued to pummel the pirate ship with a flurry of crescent-shaped kicks. The massive vessel was cleaved into pieces with terrifying ease as if it were made of butter.

The deafening bangs reverberated in Augat's ears, even across the vast expanse of the sea. He couldn't help but swallow hard.

He had just witnessed the effortless destruction of a pirate ship, a vessel no less formidable than their own battleships. Did this mean he could casually sink their battleships with equal ease?

What kind of monster had I encountered that night...?

Colonel Augat wanted to order his subordinates to lower the binoculars, but when he turned around, he found his men standing nearby, seemingly frozen in shock, their eyes fixed on the pirate ship that had been utterly annihilated by a single individual. They were all dumbfounded, paralyzed by the sheer display of combat power. 

It clearly surpassed anything the branch soldiers could have ever imagined! Augat shook his head. Even he, a Colonel from Headquarters, couldn't help but feel a chill of fear!

Seriously, a pirate of such immense power was not even operating in the Grand Line, but instead loitering in the South Blue. Did they never tire of it?

"Report, Colonel!" At that moment, several drenched marines hurried over, standing at attention and saluting. "The target has been successfully retrieved."

Augat looked past the drenched marines, spotting the Glacier Pirate's Vice-Captain, who had inexplicably been thrown from the pirate ship earlier. He had reverted to his human form, his limbs, and body tightly bound with thick iron chains.

Unfortunately, Seastone handcuffs were in short supply at the branch base! For the time being, they had to make do with regular iron chains.

In truth, Seastone handcuffs had always been a scarce commodity within the Marines.

Seastone, renowned as the hardest substance in the world, was incredibly difficult to process. Manufacturing them into handcuffs required significant resources. 

Moreover, the world was teeming with a diverse range of beings – humans of varying sizes, individuals towering at two to three meters tall, even some reaching five to six meters, slim figures, bulky figures, and countless others.

Therefore, the size and design requirements for Seastone handcuffs varied greatly, necessitating the Marines to maintain a diverse inventory.

As for Giant criminals? Well, that was simply a logistical impossibility for the Marines. They lacked the resources to produce Seastone handcuffs specifically designed for Giant Ability users. Instead, they were typically confined to Seastone-made cages or simply thrown into the Impel Down.

With the conditions within the Impel Down and the cruel and unwavering methods employed by the prison guards… in reality, whether or not Ability user criminals were provided with Seastone handcuffs was often inconsequential. 

Even if they somehow survived the hellish torture within the prison, endured the fear instilled by the guards, and miraculously managed to escape to the prison gates, what awaited them beyond was nothing but the endless abyss of the deep sea! An Ability user – where could they possibly flee to?

Colonel Augat shook his head, refocusing his attention. Even that impossibly powerful individual from earlier, if he were an Ability user, once captured and thrown into the Impel Down, would have nowhere to hide. There would be no escape, only despair. Such was the fate of these pirates, these criminals!

"Take him back!" The Colonel ordered. "Contact our colleagues in other branches..."

He glanced towards the red tower ship that had just departed the wreckage of the Glacier Pirate ship, now sailing away. He observed the giant serpent-haired skull pattern adorning its sail. "Inform them of the Kuja Pirates' movements! Warn them that if no admiral-level officers are dispatched, they must exercise extreme caution, and utmost care!"

The marines, though surprised, couldn't help but agree with the Colonel's assessment after witnessing the extraordinary spectacle just moments ago.

"Yes, sir!" The marines saluted.

.........

On their voyage to the Sorbet Kingdom.

On the Kuja pirate ship, the girls were patrolling the deck, simultaneously enjoying drinks and feasting on meat, celebrating their successful plunder.

Though they were warriors of a nation, they were also pirates. As they were aboard their own pirate ship and not engaged in combat, there was no need for strict discipline.

Inside the cabin—

Robin, Liam, Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold, along with the others, were engrossed in the book "South Blue Island, Kingdoms, and Major Tourist Attractions," which provided information about the Sorbet Kingdom and the past of the "Tyrant." 

Since they were planning to visit that island and potentially seize an opportunity along the way, it was crucial to understand the situation.

Besides, three years ago, they had a brief encounter with Kuma.

But…

"This book is simply fabricating stories, right?" Sandersonia exclaimed in shock. "That Kuma… he doesn't seem anything like what's described here!"

Marigold muttered, "Yeah, Kuma… he was so gentle! How could he do something like this…"

Robin examined the page in the book, where a photograph of a young Kuma wearing a crown was featured, his expression faintly fierce. The accompanying text read:

"… On this day, in the year 1494 of the Sea Circle Calendar (14 years ago from Liam's current time), pirates invaded the Sorbet Kingdom. The Marine S-23 branch battleship arrived to provide support… It was also on this day that the 17-year-old King fully revealed his true nature… He tore apart the marine ship and the pirate ship, and while crushing the pirates, he showed no mercy, mercilessly slaughtering his own people, as well as the Marine soldiers who fought to defend their country… According to the recollections of former citizens of the Sorbet Kingdom who fled to other nations, 'The Tyrant' unveiled his cruel nature on the day he ascended the throne, though everyone once harbored hopes for him… hopes that should never have existed!"

(End Of The Chapter)