Chapter 20: Jackpot

I strolled slowly through the streets of Lamini, surrounded by my Sans-cœur moving in an almost eerily silent formation. The residents, initially terrified, stepped aside as I passed, pressing themselves against the walls of their homes or retreating into narrow alleys, their faces marked by a mixture of anxiety and relief. Wary glances followed me, some filled with fear, others with gratitude, unsure of what my presence truly meant.

Whispers echoed through the air, with a few brave voices speaking aloud as they watched me move forward, upright and assured, flanked by creatures they had always associated with darkness and chaos.

"That's him... the one who eliminated the governor's soldiers."

"Yes, but look at what he's surrounded by. Creatures of shadow... Is he really here to help us?"

Others, however, seemed less skeptical, their expressions even hinting at silent gratitude. An elderly woman, holding the hand of a young child, looked at me with eyes glimmering with thanks, murmuring words of blessing for the one who appeared to have freed them from their oppressors.

I moved with deliberate calm, walking almost regally along the grand avenue leading to the governor's mansion, the last visible bastion of resistance in the city. My footsteps echoed softly on the cobblestones, and the dark procession of Sans-cœur followed my movements with precise coordination, as if on parade. Each creature moved in sync with my gestures, forming a living wall around me, separating the curious onlookers from any lingering threats.

Windows along the street opened as people observed the scene with wide eyes. Some smiled silently, hoping for the end of a reign of terror. A man, gathering his courage, nodded respectfully as I passed, and I returned the gesture with a slight incline of my head, signaling that I meant them no harm.

As I approached the mansion, the sounds of combat inside grew increasingly distinct. Clashing blades, shouts, and the crash of weapons hitting the floor... The governor's last loyal soldiers were still fighting, desperately trying to protect their leader. The imposing building loomed ahead, the final stronghold of those who had once oppressed these very people.

I slowed my pace slightly, savoring the atmosphere of the street as the Sans-cœur surrounding the mansion aligned themselves along the avenue like a somber honor guard, cutting off any chance of escape. A calm, almost solemn smile spread across my face. The murmurs of the crowd faded, leaving only the sound of my measured steps, advancing with purpose toward the place where I knew Luffy awaited, ready to finish the job.

Entering through the main door, I saw that the ground floor was empty of anyone except for Nami. She stood there, an enormous burlap sack slung over her shoulder, and greeted me with a radiant smile as soon as she saw me.

"Give me that. You'll wear yourself out for no reason," I said with an amused smile, taking the sack from her. She handed it over without hesitation, her expression relaxing even more as she watched me quickly store it away. Thank goodness the chest considers it all one item, I thought gratefully. Otherwise, imagine the space it would take up!

"Done with the black market already?" Nami asked as she climbed the stairs beside me, a note of relief in her voice.

"Yes, mission accomplished," I replied with a conspiratorial wink. "I've collected enough to pay off Arlong. So, if you don't have a set deadline to return there, we could focus on recruiting new crew members before confronting Arlong. The more, the merrier, right?"

She nodded, her smile widening. "That works for me. It'll give me some time to prepare properly too. I didn't think we'd move this quickly. Thank you, Jordan."

I responded with a sincere smile. Just then, a shout echoed from the upper floor: "Gum Gum Face-Crush!" followed by a massive metallic crash. An enormous form flew down the corridor and landed heavily in front of us. Luffy had just launched the governor, still in his giant gorilla form.

Nami and I exchanged a look, both surprised and amused. "Looks like Luffy's already knocked him out," I murmured, raising my Keyblade. "Time to finish the job."

I leaned down to plunge the Keyblade into the creature's heart, but with a swift motion, its hairy hand grabbed my weapon and shoved me away. With a powerful leap, the gorilla burst through the roof, escaping through a breach in the tiles.

Before the debris could fall on Nami, I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her toward the stairs, where a Rondouillard waited. It caught her gently, ensuring she was unharmed. She gave me a grateful smile, and I nodded reassuringly before quickly flying up to the roof to pursue the governor.

Once on the rooftop, I saw the governor staring at the city in palpable terror. Everywhere, Sans-cœur swarmed, invading every corner of Lamini. When he finally turned to face me, his expression was twisted in fear, his eyes wild with panic. In a desperate frenzy, he began to transform, taking on a hybrid form—a more compact, stocky body with an ornament around his neck and tattered shorts, the last remnants of his former dignity.

"Why... why me?" he whimpered, a desperate rage in his voice. "Why does a monster like you come here? What did I do to deserve this?" He stumbled back awkwardly, his wide eyes fixed on me as though desperately searching for an explanation, an escape.

I took a step forward, my Keyblade in hand. "You're not the first, and you won't be the last corrupt leader I deal with," I stated calmly in my Sora form, my sharp voice resonating in the night.

The governor lost all composure. His eyes went wild as he charged toward me, roaring, "No! No!" His voice was a mix of fury and pure fear. In a final attempt, he rose to his full height, raising his arms above me to strike.

"Stop," I said coldly, raising my Keyblade. The governor froze mid-air, suspended in eerie silence, his massive form immobilized and powerless. I stepped closer and drove the Keyblade directly into his heart.

A dark mass escaped from him and flowed into me, granting me a powerful surge of strength. The governor's body was enveloped in darkness, twisting and morphing before my eyes into a new Sans-cœur form. Where the governor once stood, there now loomed an imposing creature resembling a massive black gorilla with icy blue eyes and a glowing heart emblem on its chest. Its long, panther-like tail lashed threateningly through the air.

I looked at him, satisfied, as the former governor, now a creature of darkness, instinctively bowed before me, ready to obey without question.

As the gorilla Sans-cœur lowered itself, I ordered it into my shadow. "Enter my shadow," I said with a smile. This unique Sans-cœur had impressive brute strength, and I didn't want to risk losing it. A powerful surge of physical energy coursed through my body as it settled into my shadow, granting me a tangible, almost beastly, physical boost.

Observing this transformation, I silently wondered why a Simili hadn't appeared. "Perhaps he was simply too weak, or maybe the Devil Fruit doesn't count as an integral part of his body..." I murmured to myself, forming silent hypotheses. After casting one last glance over the city and signaling the Sans-cœur to quiet down, I spread my arms and, with a leap, took to the air, making sure the inhabitants could see me leaving their town. I commanded the Sans-cœur to follow me.

Descending outside the city, I stored all the Sans-cœur into my shadow, except for a few Ombres I left roaming freely to keep watch. Once out of sight, I deactivated the Sora collar and opened a portal to rejoin Nami and Luffy in the governor's manor.

Luffy greeted me with a smile, but I couldn't resist teasing him. "So, Luffy... A little too weak for that gorilla, huh?" I said with a smirk.

Luffy rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, pouting slightly. "Oh, come on, Jordan, he was as weak as a bowl of noodles. Even a Gardienne d'Armure from normal mode is tougher than him!" he said with a shrug. "I just didn't expect him to wake up like that."

While we exchanged words, Nami had been busy opening a large chest, revealing a stash of bills and coins. She emerged with a broad smile, quickly estimating the treasure to be around five million berries.

"Nami, what if we left this money for the villagers? We've got plenty already," I suggested, eyeing the riches.

She paused for a moment, seeming to think it over, then nodded with a smile. "You're right, Jordan. This money belongs to them after all. We don't need to take more than necessary, especially if it can help them get back on their feet."

On cue, I summoned a Rondouillard and a few Soldats Sans-cœur, instructing them to distribute the money throughout the city. "Now that the island has been cleared of its vermin, normal folks should be able to thrive," I said as I turned toward the island's keyhole, hidden behind a tapestry in the governor's office.

As I inserted my Keyblade into the keyhole and turned it, a tide of Sans-cœur began to emerge: Bandits, Gros Bandits, and a few Requiem Verts poured out of the keyhole in a torrent of shadows. I cast one last glance at the scene before opening a dark portal, allowing us to discreetly leave the city without drawing attention.

We reappeared at our docking spot, where I released the Excalibur from my inventory, ready to set sail again. Barely twenty minutes into our journey, a loud rumbling sound echoed in the distance. Looking up, I spotted a bright pink ship adorned with hearts on its sails and a duck-shaped figurehead heading straight for us. The entire sight might have been charming if one of the pirates aboard hadn't started shouting.

"Hand over all your treasure if you want to live!" he bellowed in a voice that tried to sound menacing.

Luffy burst out laughing, turning to me with an excited glint in his eyes. I sighed, feigning boredom. "Go ahead, have fun," I said, waving him off nonchalantly. "I urgently need to hydrate." I turned on my heels and entered the cabin, barely hearing Luffy shout "Gum Gum… Rocket!" before our ship shook from a massive impact.

Casually, I poured myself a glass of water with syrup, watching through the window as pirates were literally sent flying from their ship, scattered across the sea by Luffy's punches. I poured a second glass for Nami, who had joined me, and handed it to her with a smile.

"Thanks," she said, sipping her drink and clearly amused by the spectacle.

Taking another sip, I launched myself into the air, lazily gliding toward the pink ship. Landing on the deck, I noticed a broad-shouldered woman wielding a club, locked in battle with Luffy and his shield. Her face twisted in rage, and she roared while swinging her weapon furiously.

I cleared my throat nonchalantly. "Hey, big girl!" I called mockingly toward Alvida. "If you don't want a free ticket to fly over the sea, I suggest you give up."

She turned to me, outraged, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you, you bastard!" she snarled, lifting her club with a furious growl and hurling it straight at me. I caught it with one hand, smiling casually. "Thanks, that's thoughtful," I said, tossing the club carelessly behind me. Luffy burst out laughing, already preparing his next move.

"And bon voyage!" I added lightly.

"Gum Gum… Bazooka!" Luffy shouted, stretching his arms back before slamming them forward into Alvida's stomach. With an indignant cry, she was catapulted into the air, disappearing into the horizon as a tiny pink dot.

Luffy, still laughing, patted me on the back. "She didn't stand a chance!" he exclaimed between chuckles.

"That's what I call express service," I added with a snicker, glancing over at Nami, who shook her head while laughing softly.

(author note : That's it for this week! If you have any opinions or questions, feel free to leave them in the relevant paragraphs—I'll try to answer as best as I can. Also, I've got one or two special images for this chapter and the last one; just drop a comment!)