Chapter 115

Weeks passed, and Mansherry and Leo had adapted to their new environment. Their frequent visits to Green Bit helped them integrate more smoothly with our family. Doffy was actively expanding our ranks, recruiting from the list of hundreds of pirates he had subdued.

However, none of them were suitable to join our inner circle and were destined to be used as cannon fodder when we began expanding our territories.

Meanwhile, the condition of the Dressrosa kingdom and its army grew more dire with each passing day. The original standing army of Dressrosa, once 400,000 strong, had dwindled to 300,000.

On top of King's Plateau, inside Dressrosa's Royal Palace, an urgent meeting was taking place, attended by all the prominent figures within the kingdom.

"Your Majesty, have the Marines responded to our request yet? It has been more than a few weeks since we put forth the request. We've already lost a quarter of our army defending the general populace from the pirates, and the influx of pirates is only increasing each day. We don't know how much longer we can hold on," the general of the army spoke with a gloomy note, aware of the army's dire condition. Morale was at an all-time low, and only loyalty to their king kept them going. If this continued, the army would soon collapse.

"We just have to hold on a bit longer. The World Government has already dispatched the Marines to reinforce us. They are being accompanied by the battleship that will escort me to the Holy Land to participate in the upcoming Reverie," King Riku, who seemed dead tired, replied. He hadn't had a proper night's sleep since the advent of the pirate era.

Each passing day brought new issues, and the two Donquixote brothers had become a massive headache. They were actively recruiting, and currently, the entire town of Balsa to the north of Dressrosa has become out of bounds. To his dismay, most of the citizens who had originally relocated from Balsa had returned home because of the safety provided.

Since the Donquixote brothers took control, none of the pirates who entered Dressrosa dared venture towards the northern town. Those who did never returned. They had even gone as far as to build a small port next to the town on the northern shore.

"Will they be able to drive away the pirates inhabiting the northern town, Your Majesty?" a minister questioned, eager to know. The northern town was originally under his administration and, with its lush forests and resources, was among the most prosperous in all of Dressrosa. As its overseer, he had fattened his pockets well, but now all that was lost. He desperately wanted to chase away all those pirate scum.

King Riku sighed heavily, the weight of the kingdom's troubles evident on his shoulders. "The Marines have promised assistance, but we must be realistic. The Donquixote brothers have entrenched themselves deeply in Balsa. They have not only established a stronghold but also garnered the support of the townspeople by ensuring their safety. Driving them out will not be as simple as we hope."

The general nodded, understanding the complexities of the situation. "Your Majesty, we need a strategy that goes beyond brute force. We must consider the morale of our troops and the support of our people. If the citizens see us as liberators rather than oppressors, they might rally for our cause."

A murmur of agreement spread through the room. The ministers and advisors recognized the need for a nuanced approach.

"We must also consider our resources," another advisor chimed in. "Our supplies are dwindling, and the pirates are becoming bolder. We need to secure our borders and ensure that our people are fed and protected. If we can maintain stability within the rest of Dressrosa, it will bolster our position when the Marines arrive."

King Riku nodded, a glimmer of determination returning to his eyes. "Very well. We will strengthen our defenses and support our people as best we can. We will also continue to seek diplomatic solutions. Perhaps we can find a way to negotiate with the Donquixote brothers, or at least buy ourselves some time."

Meanwhile, back in Balsa, within a narrow alleyway, a group of newly recruited pirates surrounded a woman who was originally a resident of the town. Despite strict orders from their superiors not to disturb the townspeople, the group disregarded the rules and cornered the woman with the intention of forcing themselves upon her.

"What do you think you're doing?" Another civilian, seeing the scene, rushed forward to help the woman but was kicked aside by a pirate, eliciting jeers from the group.

"Don't you know the rules? You're not supposed to trouble the people living in this town!" Another man, mustering some courage, questioned the pirates. In the past month, Issho has created a sense of security among the townsfolk, so they are no longer as fearful of the presence of pirates.

"Rules? Damn those rules! We're pirates. We take what we want, and right now, we want to savor this woman to our hearts' content. As for the superiors, they're pirates too, so they'll understand," the pirate leader jeered, dragging the struggling woman along.

"Maybe we should join in on the fun too!" one of the pirates from another group, initially bystanders, commented. His inner demons were taunted by the scene unfolding before him.

Originally, they had come to the New World with grand dreams, but the monster known as the Heavenly Yaksha of the Donquixote Pirates had shown them what true terror was, he was cruel as they came. To survive, they had to serve under the new leader. Now, seeing another group challenge the authority of their superiors, he also wanted to test the boundaries.

"If you want to die, go ahead and try it," the original captain of their pirate crew commented, glancing in a certain direction where a blind man in a purple yukata was approaching the area, followed by a child wearing a white top hat.

"Is that who I think it is?" The pirate questioned his ex-captain, a cold sweat dripping down his back from fear.

"Yep, that's the one they call Fujitora. He's the one who established all these rules to safeguard civilians, and anyone who dares to go against these rules will know the true terror of the blind man. He's one of the top cadres of the Donquixote Pirates. He treats regular folk with a kindness that's unlike any pirate, but against pirates, he becomes a different monster altogether," the ex-captain explained as Issho, known as Fujitora, reached the center of the commotion.

Issho's presence immediately commanded attention. The pirates, initially emboldened by their numbers and disregard for the rules, now felt a palpable sense of fear. Issho stood tall, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword, his demeanor calm yet exuding an aura of authority and impending doom.

"What's going on here?" Issho's voice was calm, almost gentle, but it carried a weight that silenced the street. The struggling woman and the cowering civilians turned their eyes toward him, a mixture of relief and hope in their gazes.

The pirate leader, trying to muster some semblance of bravado, sneered, "We're just having a bit of fun, old man. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."

Issho tilted his head slightly, as if considering the pirate's words. "Fun, you say? And do you believe that terrorizing innocent people falls under the category of fun?"

The pirate leader's sneer faltered, but he tried to push back. "We're pirates. We do what we want."

Issho's grip tightened slightly on his sword. "Indeed, you are pirates. But in this town, there are rules. Rules that I enforce."

Before the pirates could react, Issho moved with a speed that belied his condition and appearance. In a blur, his sword was drawn, and the pirate leader found himself on the ground, missing his body. In one graceful, precise, and lethal slash, a dozen heads that had surrounded the woman flew into the air.

The brutal maneuver was executed with such efficiency that the blind man didn't ponder it for even a second. Since joining the Donquixote family, Issho's views on violence have shifted slightly. While he still held a deep sense of kindness for the innocent, he had become utterly ruthless towards their enemies.

Issho turned his blind gaze towards the remaining pirates, who had been spectating. They were now frozen in fear, paralyzed by the bloody display they had just witnessed. The blind man's calm demeanor, combined with his deadly prowess, made for a terrifying contrast.

"Anyone else wish to disregard the rules?" he asked, his tone calm but carrying an edge that promised swift retribution.

The pirates quickly backed away, some stumbling over each other in their haste to escape the scene. Their earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by sheer terror. The townspeople, who had been watching the scene unfold, were in awe. Issho's swift and decisive action had not only saved the woman but also sent a clear message to anyone who might think of causing trouble in Balsa.

Issho turned his attention to the woman, who was trembling but otherwise unharmed. He approached her with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the violence he had just unleashed. "You're safe now," he assured her, his voice a soothing balm. "Return home and rest."

The woman nodded, tears of gratitude in her eyes, and hurried away. Issho then addressed the remaining civilians, his expression softening. "Do not fear. As long as I am here, no harm will come to you."

"Damn, I almost got myself killed just now. I didn't even see the blind man's sword move. What kind of monsters are these Donquixote pirates made of?" The pirate, who had earlier shown interest in tormenting the women, commented as the crowd started dispersing.

However, he heard no response from his ex-captain. When he turned back to look at him, he saw the man frozen, staring in his direction as if a monster stood before him. But just as he was about to turn to see what had caught his ex-captain's attention, a childish voice echoed in his ears.

"Shigan: Oren!"

A sudden flurry of Shigan attacks pierced through the pirate's chest, targeting his heart. He hadn't expected such a sudden and lethal assault from out of nowhere. The attacker was just a small child wearing a top hat.

The pirate choked on his blood as his breathing passage was blocked. "You little bastard!" he managed to croak out before collapsing to the ground.

The ex-captain roared in fury at the sight of a child killing his companions. But before he could react, he felt a massive presence behind him. Slowly turning, he saw Fujitora standing right behind him.

"Do you have any complaints?" Issho questioned calmly as he watched the life drain out of the pirate wriggling on the ground.

"Even the mere thought of breaking my rules is not something one should consider," Issho added sternly. He had heard the pirate's intentions earlier, and such individuals were always a threat. It was better to eliminate them swiftly. So, he had asked Lucci to take care of the man.

Just as the pirate's life was snuffed out, a massive thundercloud formed right on top of Greenbit. Even the skies surrounding Dressrosa darkened as a massive thunderstorm was brewing. However, none of the civilians present reacted harshly because they had experienced such a similar phenomenon many times in the past month.

"Young Master Ross must be tempering his physique again," Lucci remarked, gazing at the massive thundercloud in the sky with longing in his eyes.

The ex-captain knew that he could not challenge these monsters and resigned himself to fate, picking up the pirate's body to give him a proper burial.

Issho did not stop the man and turned to Lucci, who was observing the sky. "Don't worry. Maybe in the future, once you are strong enough, you can have Ross-kun help you with tempering your own body. But for now, you should think about how to adapt and increase your body's foundation. I will soon be starting your training in Haki," he commented. Lucci gave a soft smile upon learning that he would soon start to learn Haki. He had already mastered Rokushiki and even learned the Rokuogan technique, which was the culmination of the six styles.

At the edge of Greenbit, I was seated in an area away from the Tontatta tribe. The area surrounding me for hundreds of meters had been charred black. This had become the place where I regularly used to temper myself. I recently found out that lightning helped me improve my physique, so I started honing my physique further.

"Ross, remember you promised me a hundred different varieties of flowering plants. Don't forget," little Mansherry commented from the side. With her Devil Fruit powers, she had become the perfect aid in my physique enhancement. Despite being a Lightning Logia user, when struck directly by lightning without the aid of fruit powers or Haki, it caused massive damage, even to me. Mansherry could heal me; the process was like tempering steel.

"Leo, keep Mansherry safe. I am going to start," I remarked as the lightning overhead rumbled like coiling dragons. Leo immediately understood, and alongside the princess, they moved a mile away to a safe place where a few other Tontatta tribe members had come to observe the spectacle again.

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