Chapter 147: Steel Fruit Emiro

"The Adam Wood is a unique treasure of the giants. To obtain enough of it, it's best to visit the giants' homeland, Elbaf."

"The giants admire strength, so if you, Li Yuan, can subdue them, they might provide us with ample Adam Wood."

Lazuli suggested.

"The giants of Elbaf, huh? I'll visit when I get the chance."

Hearing this from Lazuli, Li Yuan became interested.

The giants are one of the world's most powerful races, with adult giants possessing strength comparable to a Vice Admiral.

With some training in combat techniques, they could easily be standard Vice Admirals.

Given this formidable strength, Li Yuan naturally wanted to recruit some giants into his pirate crew.

If he could gain Elbaf's friendship, recruiting giants would be no problem.

Moreover, Li Yuan knew the whereabouts of the two former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates. Bringing them along could easily secure the giants' friendship.

**Benatseraf Island:**

Wano and Amazon Lily are far apart, with many islands in between. Li Yuan chose Benatseraf Island as a midpoint for the two.

"Shakky, make two mirrors here to serve as a link between Amazon Lily and Wano. This way, we can transfer from Amazon Lily to here, then from here to Wano, avoiding long sea journeys. The children haven't sailed before, and I worry they won't be comfortable."

Li Yuan, Shakky, and Lazuli arrived at the forest behind Benatseraf Island.

Finding a hidden spot, they dug a large hole to conceal the mirrors.

"Got it!"

Understanding Li Yuan's plan, Shakky nodded.

Since they couldn't directly transfer from Wano to Amazon Lily, creating an intermediary point for phased travel was the solution.

After Shakky made the mirrors, they hid them, sealing the entrance to prevent tampering.

"Alright, let's go!"

Shakky clapped her hands.

"Wait, there's something happening over there. Let's check it out."

Li Yuan's Observation Haki detected movement at the forest edge.

Curious, Li Yuan led Shakky and Lazuli to see, since they were in a leisurely mood.

"Stop running and hand over the Devil Fruit!!"

Outside the forest, a group wielding swords chased a boy of about fourteen.

They were after the Devil Fruit in his possession.

"Damn Wild Dog Gang, trying to double-cross me!!"

Emiro cursed angrily.

While hunting in the forest, he had stumbled upon a Devil Fruit.

He intended to sell it for his mother's and sister's medical expenses.

Unexpectedly, news of his find reached the island's largest gang, the Wild Dog Gang.

They pretended to buy the fruit but planned to rob him.

Growing up on Benatseraf Island, Emiro knew the gang's nature.

Taking advantage of their distraction, he fled.

The gang soon noticed and gave chase, catching up here.

At fourteen, Emiro was nearly caught.

If he was, the fruit would be lost!

"If I can't sell it, I might as well eat it!"

Seeing his pursuers closing in, Emiro gritted his teeth and ate the fruit.

"Stop, kid!!"

The pursuers yelled as Emiro raised the fruit to his mouth.

"Ugh, it tastes awful!"

Emiro nearly vomited after eating it.

At that moment, the pursuers caught up.

Seeing the eaten fruit, they were furious, and the three in front angrily slashed at Emiro.

"No!!!!"

Seeing the blades, Emiro instinctively screamed, raising his arms defensively.

"Clang clang clang!!!"

Surprisingly, when the blades hit him, they made metallic sounds.

Aside from torn clothes, Emiro was unharmed. The swords couldn't pierce his body.

"How is this possible?"

The others were shocked, looking between Emiro and the front three, who clearly weren't faking.

"It's the Devil Fruit, must be its power!"

They quickly realized the fruit granted Emiro immunity to blades.

"Hahaha, Wild Dog Gang scum, you dare attack me? Let me show you my strength!"

Realizing his newfound power, Emiro punched the nearest man.

His small fist, gleaming with a metallic sheen, sent the man flying ten meters.

"Get him!!"

The dozen or so pursuers surrounded Emiro, swords slashing down.

But like before, the swords couldn't harm him.

With each punch, Emiro sent one flying.

This newfound power thrilled Emiro. Previously, he couldn't even push a child ten meters.

And now, he was invulnerable to blades!

Soon, all his pursuers lay defeated.

"You brat, you ate my Devil Fruit!!"

Wild Dog Gang's leader, Joseba, arrived to see Emiro defeat his men.

Seeing the half-eaten fruit, Joseba's face darkened.

"Hmph, you're Joseba, Wild Dog Gang's leader? That was my fruit, not yours!"

Emiro retorted angrily.

"What I want is mine, even if you ate it. I'll capture you!"

"A Devil Fruit user can fetch a good price, recouping my losses!"

Joseba transformed into a dog-headed man. He was also a Devil Fruit user, but only a regular Zoan, Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Wild Dog.

"Hmph, I'm invulnerable now, why should I fear you!"

Emiro scoffed, charging Joseba, his steel-like fist aiming for his face.

Joseba dodged effortlessly.

"Kid, the New World isn't for brats like you."

He said, his paw covered in Armament Haki, tearing into Emiro's steel body, leaving deep claw marks.

"Ah!!!!"

At fourteen, Emiro had never been so severely wounded.

The intense pain made him scream, unable to stand.

Unlike Emiro, Joseba was experienced, having faced death many times, subduing Emiro swiftly.

"Kid, blame yourself. Didn't your parents teach you not to flaunt wealth?"

"Don't worry, I hear you have a mother and sister. I'll take good care of them!"

Joseba taunted with an evil grin.

"I won't let you hurt them!!"

Hearing Joseba, Emiro's eyes reddened, and he stood, fighting the pain.

"Rip!!"

But as he rose, Joseba struck again, slamming him to the ground.

"Kid, you're too green to fight me!"

Joseba pinned Emiro, foot grinding into his wound.

"Damn it!!!"

Emiro struggled, unable to rise, pain nearly causing him to faint.

"Hey, kid on the ground, want to join me?"

"If you do, I'll kill the guy stepping on you. What do you say? Think about it?"

Li Yuan, with Shakky and Lazuli, emerged from the forest.

Regretful for arriving late, he had seen Emiro eat the intriguing Steel Fruit.

"Who are you, meddling in Wild Dog Gang's affairs!"

Joseba shouted at Li Yuan and his group. Disguised, they were unrecognizable to him.

But sensing Li Yuan's strength, Joseba hesitated to attack.

"Kid, you haven't answered. If you don't, I'll leave."

Li Yuan ignored Joseba, addressing Emiro.

"I-I agree!!"

Emiro, like a drowning man grasping a straw, agreed without hesitation.

"You're courting death!!"

Seeing Li Yuan's disregard, Joseba released Emiro, appearing before Li Yuan, Haki-clad paw slashing for his heart.

"Bam!!!"

But before reaching Li Yuan, Joseba was kicked tens of meters away.

"How is this possible, my heart!!"

Fallen, Joseba coughed blood, clutching his chest

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