Chapter 36: I'm Not the Boss

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Though he spoke with bravado, deep down, it was his dream. He mocked the rookies because they lacked the strength to back up their ambitions. Survival itself was their primary concern.

"Don't preach to me about dreams! In this world, it's all about survival and profit. People will betray even their own family for a chance to get ahead. It's all about the exchange of value…"

Mr. 5 was about to continue his lecture to Bellamy when a cold, emotionless voice interrupted him, cutting through his words like a sharp blade. His face went blank.

"Well, well. Things seem lively here. Mind if I join in?"

They looked up to see a figure standing on the bow of a ship, clad in white, a black-sleeved Marine Vice Admiral coat draped over his shoulders. The sun cast his form in silhouette, obscuring his features.

"Damn it! A Marine Vice Admiral? Here? And it's that Black Winged Devil! Wait, our boss is a Warlord! What's there to be afraid of?"

The partial horned skull helmet, deathly pale skin, distinct tear marks, and piercing green eyes.

His identity was unmistakable: the Black Winged Devil, the man who had defeated Gecko Moria, now a Marine Vice Admiral.

"No, we can't judge this guy by normal standards. He attacked Moria. We're small fry compared to him." Panic surged through them. If this man wanted them dead, he could easily find a justification.

Their own boss wouldn't risk a confrontation with a Marine Vice Admiral on their behalf. As Mr. 5 had said, this world was all about self-preservation and exploiting opportunities. Even if they possessed some value, the consequences of aiding them far outweighed any potential benefits, especially for Bellamy, who wasn't even an officer, merely a peripheral figure operating under their flag.

"May I ask what brings the Black Winged Devil Vice Admiral here?" Mr. 5 asked with a nervous laugh. His partner, Miss Valentine, clad in a yellow dress and carrying a parasol, had also descended from the sky, her usual haughty demeanor replaced by apprehension.

Bellamy remained silent, his gaze fixed on the imposing figure. This was the man who had defeated Gecko Moria, a feat even his own boss, the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, wouldn't attempt.

Ian's mere presence exuded an aura of power and danger that intimidated even the most hardened pirates. The combination of his Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, his mastery of swordsmanship, and his high-ranking position in the Marines created a potent blend of strength and authority that was impossible to ignore.

"Black Winged Devil?" Ian was taken aback.

That was the name given to Ulquiorra's true Hollow form. He recalled the newspaper articles depicting the epic clash between himself, soaring through the sky with his black wings unfurled, and Gecko Moria, transformed into a massive toad after absorbing 900 shadows.

"Black Devil? Not a bad moniker. Whether you're a pirate or a Marine, you need a cool and intimidating name. Otherwise, you're just another nameless face in the crowd."

"What do you think? You were the ones who came looking for me. And isn't it our duty as Marines to eliminate pirates?" Ian's impassive expression gave no hint of his thoughts.

Mr. 5 turned to Bellamy and said, "See? If you had joined us, none of this would have happened. You insisted on scavenging for scraps, like a true hyena. Any bone will do, as long as you can gnaw on it."

Ian and Tashigi felt no sympathy for these heartless pirates, driven solely by greed and devoid of empathy. They had eliminated them without hesitation, a decision that yielded an unexpected bonus.

"What?! Aren't you just a dog following behind, eating shit?" Bellamy retorted, his words catching Mr. 5 off guard. He was right. If Bellamy hadn't interfered, they wouldn't be in this predicament. They were both dogs, after all.

"I don't care about your petty squabbles. I hereby declare that your reign of terror is over. If you have any last words, save them for the Grim Reaper. Let's see if he can do anything to this devil." Ian announced.

"..." Silence descended upon the ship. No discussion, no negotiation. Just a swift and decisive judgment.

"Vice Admiral-san, we're subordinates of a Warlord! We have the right to plunder, granted by the Marines themselves!" Mr. 5 stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He knew that if they weren't careful, this man might actually kill them. As if to confirm his fears, Ian spoke,

"How about attacking a Marine Vice Admiral, conspiring with a Warlord, and plotting to overthrow a kingdom? Those crimes are worth a few dozen deaths, wouldn't you agree?"

Ian didn't hesitate to use Crocodile's own words against them. Against pirates who disregarded honor and loyalty, one couldn't afford to be honorable.

"To repay kindness with resentment, how does one repay kindness? When evil finds justification, it only grows bolder. True strength is the only language that matters."

"..." Damn it! He had already prepared his accusations. What could they say in their defense? Their boss was aware of their plan to overthrow the kingdom.

That was why, unlike in the original story, where Crocodile had spent three years concealing his true identity, he had openly declared his intentions, aggressively recruiting new members. This had led to the unexpected encounter with Bellamy, who, despite the risks, was determined to join Doflamingo's ranks.

Crocodile sought to accelerate his plan, believing that obtaining the ancient weapon Pluton would grant him the power to rival even the Four Emperors, even if world domination remained out of reach. His subordinates would become renowned figures, feared and respected throughout the seas.

However, the entire plan was a sham. The information regarding Pluton was merely a distraction, a legend passed down through generations. The real weapon had likely crumbled into dust centuries ago. Even with Franky's blueprints from Water 7, constructing it would be a monumental task.

And even if they succeeded, the World Government would likely intervene, seizing the weapon and condemning them as criminals. It was a masterful manipulation, a cruel deception.

Nico Robin had employed a similar tactic, seeking protection from the World Government until she encountered the Straw Hat Pirates. Ian was certain that the Five Elders were capable of such machinations.

"The Bomb-Bomb Fruit and the Kilo-Kilo Fruit… Two truly remarkable Devil Fruits." Ian commented.

They were like branches and twigs on the Devil Fruit tree, two fruits that Ian coveted. Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit was also on his list, which was why he wouldn't let them escape.

They were incredibly powerful abilities, yet their users had failed to unlock their true potential. They had only managed to defeat Bellamy with his inferior Spring-Spring Fruit. "Bellamy, let's take him down together! It's our only chance to escape!"

Mr. 5, ever the schemer, saw this as another opportunity to recruit Bellamy. His words left Bellamy speechless. Was this guy an idiot? The Black Winged Devil could defeat Gecko Moria. Did he think their combined forces stood a chance?

If he were truly that strong, he would have already replaced Doflamingo as a Warlord. In theory, if Mr. 5 had properly developed his Bomb-Bomb Fruit and combined it with Busoshoku Haki, he could potentially challenge Crocodile, whose Sand-Sand Fruit was weak to explosions. Unfortunately, he lacked the necessary skill and intelligence.

Bellamy, uncertain of his fate, hesitantly nodded in agreement with Mr. 5.

In the face of death, dreams held little value. Only by surviving could one pursue their ambitions. Even against insurmountable odds, one had to fight, otherwise, even in victory, their spirit would be broken, their ambition extinguished.

"Spring Hopper!" Mimicking Luffy's Gear Second, Bellamy crouched low, transforming his lower legs into springs, compressing them before launching himself into the air.

However, he didn't attack Ian directly. Instead, he bounced off the ship's walls, his movements becoming a blur as he reached speeds beyond human perception.

"Spring Sniper!" At the peak of his momentum, when his kinetic energy was at its maximum, he unleashed his most powerful attack.

He propelled himself towards his target, aiming to pierce them with his spring-loaded body and send them flying. He had used this technique against Luffy in the original story, and Luffy had later adapted it to defeat Doflamingo, showcasing the clear hierarchy between the Spring-Spring Fruit and the Gomu-Gomu Fruit.

"Full Body Explosion!" Mr. 5 roared, his body crackling with explosive energy, engulfing him in a cloud of gunpowder.

He activated both his Foot Bomb and Breath Bomb techniques, a combination similar to Bellamy's attack, unleashing a simultaneous assault on Ian from both sides.

Miss Valentine, the user of the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, capable of manipulating her weight, floated into the air, reducing her weight to zero.

She positioned herself directly above Ian's head, then instantly increased her weight to ten thousand kilograms, plummeting towards him with devastating force.

"Ten Thousand Kilo Guillotine! Die, you foolish Black Winged Devil!" She shrieked.

Even a Vice Admiral wouldn't be able to withstand such an attack. But she had forgotten that Gecko Moria, in his massive toad form, had unleashed a punch infused with Busoshoku Haki, far exceeding ten thousand kilograms in force.

That attack was likely on par with Kaido's Thunder Bagua in his base form, Luffy's Kong Gun in Gear Fourth, Kid's Damned Punk.

"He's not dodging? Is he that confident?" Mr. 5, Bellamy, and their crewmates scoffed, believing Ian's conceit had finally caught up with him.

Ian could have easily evaded the attacks with Sonido, but he wanted to test the results of his recent Haki training. He channeled his spiritual pressure into his hands, coating them in a layer of jet-black Busoshoku Haki. He could now control his Haki, hardening specific parts of his body.

His Haki was far superior to that of ordinary individuals. He simply raised his arms, effortlessly blocking both attacks. The explosions and compressed force reverberated against his hardened hands, but they couldn't penetrate his impenetrable defense.

"How is that possible?" Both crews were stunned. He had simply raised his arms? The gap between them was insurmountable.

At that moment, Miss Valentine reached the apex of her descent, ready to deliver the final blow. Ian grabbed both Bellamy and Mr. 5, pulling them back half a step, their bodies locked in his grasp, unable to break free, becoming shields against the impending attack.

"Die!" Miss Valentine screamed. However, it was Bellamy and Mr. 5 who bore the brunt of her attack. Their last conscious thought was a single word: "Idiot."

BOOM! The ship's hull shattered, a massive hole torn through its wooden frame. Miss Valentine had been right. No one could withstand such a force. They all lost consciousness.

Ian couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Hadn't he witnessed a similar scene in another world, where a group of students had attempted to seal a powerful boss with a combined attack, only to fail?

"Come out!" Ian stepped back, his Busoshoku Haki still active. He reached into the unconscious bodies of the three pirates, extracting their Devil Fruit souls.

Bellamy's soul resembled a spring, while Miss Valentine's and Mr. 5's were two distinct clouds of gas, one pulsating with explosive energy, the other fluctuating in density.

Without hesitation, he devoured them, absorbing their powers. Two new branches sprouted on his internal Devil Fruit tree, bearing three unique fruits.

His Devil Fruit tree had grown even stronger… 

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Word Count [2006]

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To Be Continued..

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