Chapter 35: The Hyena Bellamy

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"Fishmen?" The two ape brothers looked at Tashigi with puzzled expressions.

"Yes, Fishmen are humans with fish-like features, while mermaids are beautiful creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish," Tashigi explained, a hint of longing in her voice.

She had always wanted to see them. Fishman Island was located beneath Sabaody Archipelago, not far from Marine Headquarters. She had also heard that the people of Skypiea possessed white wings and ethereal beauty, resembling the angels of legend.

Her fantasies were abruptly shattered as the two apes presented her with crude drawings: a grotesque figure with a fish head, a fish tail, and mismatched limbs. Tashigi scowled. "That's not what they look like at all!"

"Mermaids aren't that ugly! Fishmen are closer… And angels aren't bird-brained creatures like that!"

Her face flushed red as the apes presented more drawings, depicting bizarre hybrids with animal wings and claws. They had only witnessed Ian's black-winged Devil form and attempted to combine it with their own unique features, resulting in a nightmarish amalgamation of mismatched body parts. Their understanding of evolution seemed to have taken a rather misguided turn.

Cricket, however, was more intrigued by Ian's tales of the New World. If those stories were true, then the City of Gold paled in comparison to the wonders and challenges that awaited them there. Perhaps they should consider venturing beyond the skies…

"Haha…" Ian burst into laughter. The two apes truly were kindred spirits with Luffy, capable of producing such absurd masterpieces. Tashigi glared at him, her cheeks puffed out in indignation.

"Do you need our help reinforcing your ship?" Cricket and the ape brothers refrained from questioning how they intended to reach Skypiea without a South Bird to guide them. They had witnessed Ian soaring through the sky. That ability alone would solve many problems.

Indeed, with his memories from his past life, Ian had a clear picture of Skypiea's general layout. He could easily acquire a detailed map upon arrival. Moreover, Enel could utilize his Observation Haki in conjunction with his lightning powers to create a network that spanned the entire island, a "Mantra."

While this technique relied on the unique properties of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Ian could achieve a similar effect with the Shadow-Shadow Fruit. After all, wherever there was light, there were shadows. And in the absence of light, there were only shadows. It was a fundamental principle of the world.

This was shaping up to be a clash between lightning and shadow, a battle between a devil and a god.

"Don't worry. If time permits, I'll try to locate the Golden Belfry and ring it for you." Ian declared, taking another swig of his drink. Cricket and the ape brothers were overjoyed.

"Thank you so much!" The three of them bowed deeply.

"It's nothing. Besides, once you know the way to Skypiea, you can go there yourselves."

Ian waved his hand dismissively. His nonchalant attitude only deepened their respect. It was a simple act of kindness for him, an effortless gesture that held immense value to those who received it.

For some, such a request would be met with indifference, or even outright rejection.

"Well, I didn't expect them to find us so quickly. Impressive. There are three Devil Fruit users among them. It seems my fusion rate is about to increase."

Ian turned towards the distant coastline, his Observation Haki detecting the approach of several large ships.

"Ah, Crocodile and Doflamingo. Their relationship is quite… complicated." He muttered, observing the flags emblazoned on the two leading ships.

During the Paramount War, Doflamingo had taunted Crocodile with a cryptic remark, "You abandoned me…" It had sparked much speculation among fans.

"Those are the flags of the Warlords, Crocodile and Doflamingo! Why are they working together?" Tashigi exclaimed in surprise.

"Should we report this to Marine Headquarters, Ian-san? A meeting between two Warlords is a significant event. First, it was Gecko Moria, and now Doflamingo… Are they planning something? This could justify taking action against them!"

Tashigi adjusted her glasses, her analytical mind racing. Sometimes, a brilliant mind could lead to excessive speculation.

"Don't overthink it, Tashigi. Those ships are filled with low-ranking pirates. It's probably just a coincidence. But now that they've met, we might as well take advantage of the situation and eliminate them."

Ian replied. He could deduce the reason behind their alliance. Luffy's journey was still two years away. Crocodile was still pursuing his ambitious plan to usurp Alabasta's throne and acquire the ancient weapon, Pluton. He needed competent subordinates, and Bellamy was a valuable asset.

Both Crocodile and Bellamy, however, had rejected Doflamingo's offer of partnership due to their mutual distrust. But that didn't preclude them from attempting to poach each other's crew members. After all, any disruption or inconvenience caused to their rivals was a victory in itself.

"Small? Where? They might still be growing, but their crews are quite large, Ian-san. Don't be ridiculous… Do you prefer mature and voluptuous women like Vice Admiral Momousagi? That's not good! Everyone in the Marines knows that Vice Admiral Chaton is pursuing her!"

"I know you were recruited by Vice Admiral Momousagi, but you can't do this! They're like mother figures to us! And you shouldn't interfere in a budding romance… Everyone in Marine Headquarters knows that Chaton is courting Momousagi. They're a perfect match…"

Tashigi glanced down at her own figure, a source of pride among her peers. Her words left Ian speechless, his face turning purple.

"I didn't choose you because I have a preference for mature women… Try asking your little calf to pull an older ox. And I was recruited by Momousagi, not her chosen lover. Let me finish speaking, will you?"

"Destroying a relationship goes against my moral compass and my upbringing. I would never do such a thing…" His words seemed to have backfired. This young woman was clearly interested in him.

"It's all because of my devilishly handsome appearance… Ulquiorra, I tell you! Strong and handsome… it's such a burden!"

Fortunately, the real Ulquiorra couldn't hear his inner monologue. Otherwise, he would have surely challenged him to a duel, his stoic, aloof demeanor shattered by Ian's absurd self-aggrandizement.

Tashigi's figure was indeed impressive. On Punk Hazard, the island where Akainu and Aokiji had clashed for the position of Fleet Admiral, leaving it half volcanic and half frozen, she had undergone a heart swap with Smoker, courtesy of Trafalgar Law.

The image of her bold, assertive demeanor during that ordeal had remained etched in his memory, replacing his initial impression of a shy, bookish young woman.

"Haha… Vice Admiral-san, your subordinate clearly has feelings for you. And there's gossip like that in Marine Headquarters?" Cricket, Masira, and Shoujou roared with laughter, leaving Tashigi blushing furiously.

"It's all Ian-san's fault! He's misinterpreting my words…" Tashigi protested, but her gaze lingered on Ian for a moment longer than necessary. During their days of flight, her heart had been captivated by his strength, his cool demeanor, and his undeniable charm. Perhaps he truly was a good person.

"…I was referring to age, Tashigi. What were you thinking?"

Momousagi had warned him to behave himself, but this young woman had taken matters into her own hands.

"Age? I'm eighteen, just like Ian-san!" Tashigi refused to back down, her competitive spirit flaring.

This stubbornness had been evident in her interactions with Zoro in the original story. She refused to accept that women were inherently weaker than men. It was this very determination that had propelled her through the ranks of the Marines. Ian sighed. "Fine, then what about strength?"

"Ah!" Tashigi was finally silenced, but her large, watery eyes conveyed her indignation. He was bullying her!

"…Don't look at me like that, Tashigi. You're tempting me to do something I'll regret. I'm not a saint, you know." Ian groaned inwardly.

He shifted his attention back to the approaching pirate ships, accompanied by Cricket and the ape brothers. Their target was clear: the spoils of their recent victories, both the defeated pirates and their own possessions. It was a tempting prize for any opportunistic pirate.

However, the two strongest captains among them had already engaged in a heated battle.

Amidst the cheers of their crewmates, Bellamy, a blond pirate with a long scar over his left eye, crouched low, his legs and arms transforming into springs.

He was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, the Spring-Spring Fruit granting him the ability to stretch his limbs, similar to Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Mi, but with a limited range. It was essentially a weaker version of Luffy's power.

By compressing his body like a spring, he could generate immense kinetic energy, unleashing devastating blows upon his enemies, mimicking Luffy's Gear Second.

Their abilities were similar, but Bellamy's had a lower ceiling. Luffy could easily overpower him.

"Spring Death Knock!" Bellamy roared, launching himself forward with a powerful spring-loaded kick, his fist cocked back, aiming to punch a hole through his opponent.

"Foot Bomb!" His opponent, a brown-clad pirate with an afro, resembling a rock star, countered with an explosive technique.

BOOM! The deck beneath his feet splintered as he propelled himself forward, matching Bellamy's speed. His Devil Fruit, the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, allowed him to generate explosions, achieving a similar effect to Bellamy's spring-powered attacks.

"Exploding Punch!" He met Bellamy's attack head-on, their fists colliding in a thunderous explosion.

"What the hell are you doing?! I told you, I've already joined another Warlord!" Bellamy shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the blast.

Born in the North Blue, he had idolized Doflamingo since childhood. Upon becoming a pirate, he had dreamed of joining Doflamingo's crew.

Under Doflamingo's influence, Bellamy had developed an arrogant and condescending personality, believing that pirates with dreams were foolish and weak. He was a rising star in Mock Town, notorious for stealing from others and earning the moniker "The Hyena."

Now, a stranger had appeared, offering him a chance to serve another Warlord.

"What's so strange about a pirate switching allegiances? My boss is also a Warlord, and he's in dire need of recruits. You might even become a commander. Are you even officially part of Doflamingo's crew? Or are you just using his name?"

Mr. 5 taunted. Bellamy paused, realizing the truth in his words. While they were both Warlords, Doflamingo's organization was well-established. He wasn't a true member, merely using Doflamingo's name for protection.

Joining Crocodile might actually grant him a position of power, as long as he wasn't replaced by a newcomer… 

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Word Count [1863]

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To Be Continued..

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