Chapter 332
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Next, Abel passed by several more islands. However, due to having made a major deal earlier, he found the smaller trades less appealing and so did not engage in them.
"Abel, another island is coming up. Should we go take a look?"
"What's its name, and is it marked on the nautical map?"
"I think it's called Baltigo Island," Baby-5 said while holding a sea chart, looking for the island before announcing it loudly.
Baltigo Island? Abel felt the name was somehow familiar. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly remembered—it was Ace's birthplace! Speaking of which, one can't help but mention Ace's mother, Portgas D. Rouge.
Truly a great woman, an extraordinary mother. To protect her unborn son Ace from the searching Marines, she used every means possible to delay his birth, enduring for an incredible 20 months before dying from exhaustion right after giving birth to Ace. Such maternal love truly touches the heart.
After thinking it over, Abel decided to approach the shore, taking Baby-5 for a walk around the island. It was a very peaceful little island with simple and kind-hearted residents. Perhaps it was these qualities that had attracted the former Pirate King, Roger, to return here towards the end of his life's journey. There was certainly no need to let weapons made for taking lives defile the air here.
"Let's go," Abel finally said.
"Aren't you going to look for something?" Baby-5 asked.
"No need. I was just trying my luck by coming here." Abel shook his head as if to indicate that stepping foot on the island was more about checking in since they were already there. If by chance he came across Rouge's grave, he might have offered a bunch of flowers out of respect, but it wasn't his main concern.
After some simple provisioning, they set sail again, eventually passing the island where the Kingdom of Solbe was located. Upon asking around, Abel belatedly realized this was the territory governed by Bartholomew Kuma. However, the 'tyrant' was no longer in the country, having joined the Revolutionary Army somewhere else.
Considering the situation, Abel thought that offending Kuma and his Revolutionary Army allies just to sell some arms for Doflamingo would be a losing deal. So, he decided against smuggling weapons into the country and, consequently, did not meet Kuma's daughter. Of course, even if he had met her, it was unlikely he would have recognized her. After all, 'Giant Eater' Jewelry Bonney, the Supernova, was still only an eleven-year-old girl at this time.
However, Abel's journey led him to Punk Island, a place suitable for offloading his wares.
Punk Island had once been a small nation, a non-affiliated country of the World Government and, as such, lacked Marine protection, which left the island frequently vulnerable to pirate invasions. This had resulted in the virtual disintegration of the nation, with the true rulers now being the cruel and insane pirates.
In such a survival environment, one could only imagine the living conditions of the local residents. Words like happiness and peace had been strangers to them since birth. Fighting, stealing, and robbery were the main themes of the country.
The law of the jungle prevailed here, and it was survival of the fittest. It was a place where you could see pirates swaggering through the streets, thugs taking protection fees from others, while honest, hardworking people rarely dared to show their faces.
Especially those attractive women.
Without a strong backer, their fate is often very bleak.
And such a chaotic island is like paradise for arms dealers.
It means any weapon can be sold here without worry.
Of course, initially, you need the ability to protect your goods and money.
After all, sometimes the pirates here don't reason with you, or in their eyes, might is right.
Pay for things?
No, no, no, they prefer to take by force!
However, upon setting foot on this small island, Abel was greeted with an extremely warm welcome.
In the short one-kilometer distance from the port to the town, he was robbed by three groups of people and encountered five thieves trying to pickpocket him.
The result was that those who tried to rob him were all shot by him and Baby-5.
The would-be thieves had their limbs broken and were thrown aside.
Abel knew all too well how to survive in such a place of chaos and disorder.
Weakness and concession only invite the scoundrels to push their limits, thinking you are easy to bully.
Only toughness and ruthlessness can instill fear in them, deterring their harassment.
As for being so ruthless, might there be repercussions?
Abel would love to say with a smile, "Welcome to try."
With a gun in hand, and an aura of lingering murderous intent and bloodshed, Abel boldly entered the town with Baby-5.
Many people, after assessing them, reined in their greedy expressions.
To survive in such a place, having a good eye for people is essential.
You need to know which individuals can be bullied without worry of violent retribution.
And also, who you absolutely cannot afford to provoke, lest an inadvertent glance costs you your life.
Clearly, this new face wasn't some weakling one could push around.
Sporting such a handsome appearance and daring to bring a young maid to such a place, he was either a fool or fearless.
And the former wouldn't have managed to leave the port alive, let alone arrive here.
Obviously, those who had designs on these two had made a big mistake.
Trouble!
Better wait for a few hotheads to test the waters.
Every place has its old hands, hot-headed young guns, and hotheads.
These folks are usually favored by the old hands.
They often end up taking the fall for others.
Here they come, speaking of the devil.
"Hey, pretty boy over there, haven't seen you before. Which boss are you under?"
A group of arrogant men adorned with tattoos and nose rings approached.
Abel smiled and gave a name honestly, "Donquixote Doflamingo."
"Don what, who? You guys ever heard of him?"
"Nope, must be some street punk."
"Such insignificant riff-raff, who would bother remembering their names?"
At these words, Abel revealed a peculiar expression.
He thought: "Good, I'd respect you as real men if you dare to say that to his face!"
He truly wanted to record it on a Tone Dial and present it as a gift to Doflamingo.
"Kid, let me give it to you straight, you and this little girl are pretty good-looking."
"Now, there are two choices for you. One is to follow me nicely to see the boss."
"The other is for me to let some blood first, and then drag you to see the boss."