Chapter 151
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High above the New World, Arthur was soaring through the sky without any form of cover. At such a height, it was unlikely anyone would even notice him.
*Buru-buru-buru*—his Den Den Mushi started to ring.
This unique ringtone was specially set for the Den Den Mushi Arthur used for covert communications. Only his closest allies and members of his intelligence network had access to this frequency.
*Click.*
Arthur paused mid-air and pulled out the receiver. The winds roared around him, and without proper shielding, even speaking clearly was a challenge.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Boss, Big Mom's crew is heading for Bux Island! They'll be there soon!" reported one of his intelligence officers. This was the same agent who had earlier provided updates on the movement of the user of the Air Pressure Devil Fruit.
Arthur frowned. "Who did she send?"
"Baron Tamago and Pekoms! Just those two."
"Alright, got it. Keep an eye on them. I've made it to the New World, and I'll be there in thirty minutes!" Arthur felt relieved it wasn't Big Mom herself. An encounter with her was something he wasn't ready for.
To be honest, of all the things in the New World, he least wanted to cross paths with Kaido and Big Mom. Both were known for their wild and unpredictable behavior. He still remembered how Kaido had swum thousands of miles into the sea only to battle him over a misunderstanding related to Nolan.
Arthur slipped the Den Den Mushi back into his pocket, determined his direction, and disappeared in a flash of electricity.
Even without using his wings, Arthur could achieve incredible speed, thanks to his mastery of electrical-based movement. As he zipped through the sky, a series of booming sounds erupted, leaving a streak of white lightning trailing behind him.
Down in Qinghai, a few people heard the explosions and looked up curiously at the sky.
"What was that?" one person wondered.
"I have no idea. Maybe it's some strange weather phenomenon?" another guessed.
"No way! I bet it's the work of a Devil Fruit user," someone else suggested.
"Well, this *is* the New World. Anything is possible! Now get back to work!" came the reply.
Arthur paid little attention to whether or not people noticed his flashy entrance. With the power he wielded, there wasn't much he couldn't handle, and no one would dare challenge him over it.
Meanwhile, on Bux Island, a small landmass about 20 kilometers across, known for its delicious chocolate products, tensions were rising. The island was caught on the borders between territories of the Whitebeard and Big Mom pirate crews. The ruler of the island, Lord Ross, sat anxiously in his study.
Despite his ambition, Ross was only a second-rate powerhouse in the New World. He might have seemed impressive back on the first half of the Grand Line, but here, he was just one of many struggling to survive.
Although Ross had managed to avoid aligning with Whitebeard, his island had been overlooked because it lay on the fringes of both emperors' territories. But with rumors circulating about Whitebeard's age catching up to him, Big Mom's forces had started encroaching. The two crews clashed often, and now, Ross's troubles had come to a head.
Three days ago, Ross received a message from Big Mom's crew, demanding his allegiance. He'd been hoping that Whitebeard and Big Mom would continue fighting, sparing him from having to choose sides. But this morning, he learned that Big Mom's messengers were already on their way.
"From now on, all I can do is pray she doesn't destroy this island," Ross thought, resigned.
*Knock, knock.*
His butler entered the room. "What is it?" Ross asked anxiously.
The butler nodded and motioned to a guard behind him, who carried a locked box.
"Master, it's here," the butler said.
In this world, Devil Fruits were rare treasures, highly sought after. Although it sometimes seemed as if there were many Devil Fruit users, that was because they tended to congregate in significant areas.
Ross had seen Devil Fruit users before, but he had never had one of these mystical fruits within his grasp—until now. A few hours earlier, a fruit vendor had discovered an unusual, strange-looking fruit among his stock and called attention to it. The rumor quickly spread across the island.
When Ross heard about it, he became excited. If he obtained a Devil Fruit, he could become powerful, maybe even a Logia-type user. The thought thrilled him.
He sent his butler to retrieve the fruit and paid off the townspeople to keep quiet. Now, the box lay before him.
"Amazing!" Ross opened it and saw a white Devil Fruit covered in swirling patterns, resembling a pineapple.
"This Devil Fruit... It looks impressive! Must be Paramecia or Logia! Either way, it's got to be strong!" he thought, eager to eat it.
Just then, a guard burst into the room, interrupting his thoughts.
"Master Ross! Big Mom's ship has docked!" the guard announced, panic in his voice.
"What?! Have they come ashore? Who is it?" Ross's face went pale.
"Yes, sir! Baron Tamago and Pekoms are here!" the guard replied.
"Damn it! Looks like I really have no choice," Ross muttered, eyes flicking to the Devil Fruit. Reluctantly, he locked it away. It was better to face the situation head-on than gamble on the unknown consequences of eating the fruit.
Five minutes later, Ross plastered a smile on his face and warmly welcomed the two strange-looking pirates into his castle.
"Quick! Bring out our finest chocolate treats for our esteemed guests!" he said cheerfully.
Baron Tamago and Pekoms were pleased with the reception, clearly satisfied by Ross's eagerness to cooperate.
Meanwhile, about 150 kilometers away, Arthur closed in on the island. He sensed the two members of Big Mom's crew entering the castle.
"Let's hope that fruit hasn't been eaten yet. It'd be a real pain if I missed it," Arthur thought, frustrated he hadn't arrived sooner.
A minute later, Arthur arrived on the island, streaking toward the castle. People looked on, stunned, as he descended from the sky.
Inside, Baron Tamago and Pekoms were enjoying the feast while explaining the terms of joining Big Mom's crew. Ross, meanwhile, was desperately trying to stay on their good side.
Suddenly, Baron Tamago's expression changed. He stood, sensing a powerful presence approaching.
Pekoms stiffened. "Who's coming? This aura... it's powerful!"
"Stay alert! It could be someone from the Whitebeard Pirates," Baron Tamago warned.
*Crackle.*
Electricity surged through the air as Arthur materialized in the banquet hall.
"Who's the owner of this castle?" Arthur's voice boomed.
"Who are you?!" Ross shouted, spinning around in shock.
Both Baron Tamago and Pekoms broke out in a cold sweat, recognizing the figure before them. Their voices trembled.
"It's... King Arthur?!" Pekoms stammered.
Arthur's cold stare didn't waver as he stood his ground, unyielding against the threat looming through the phone worm. He felt the weight of Charlotte Linlin's presence even over the device, but his resolve remained unwavering. "Bigmom," Arthur replied firmly, his voice steady and commanding. "I'm not here to play games. If your subordinates have no respect for the dynamics of kings, then perhaps it's you who needs to teach them better manners."
Bigmom's sinister laugh echoed through the room, chilling everyone present to the bone. "Well, well, well~!" she mused. "You've got guts, Angel Boy. Not many dare to speak to me like that." Her voice turned menacing. "However, since you came all the way to *my* territory for that fruit, I wonder... how precious it must be."
Arthur's expression didn't change. His aura of power seemed to intensify, the electric energy around him crackling, reflecting his growing impatience. "Let's make this simple, Linlin," he declared. "I'll be taking what I came for. And if you truly wish to contest it, I'd suggest coming here yourself instead of sending lackeys."
Curly Dadan and Pekoms, now visibly trembling from Arthur's overwhelming Haki, were frozen in place. Even the usually confident Rose was unsure if he should move or speak. The entire room felt the suffocating pressure of two emperors' impending clash, even if one was only present over a phone worm.
Bigmom's laughter subsided, and there was a tense pause. Then, her voice returned, now low and calculating. "Well~! Arthur, I'm curious to see just how strong you've become.
You may think you can handle everything, but New World has a way of humbling even the mighty. We'll meet sooner or later, but for now, you have my interest. Take that fruit... if you can." She ended the call with a chilling laugh, leaving the room eerily silent.
Arthur's eyes glinted with determination. "Good," he said, glancing at Rose. "Now, lead me to that fruit."