Chapter 8

• Knowledge

{Third Year of the Great Age of Pirates}

A few hours later, the sun stretched lightly across the clear, spotless blue sky. It was early morning, and its rays shone brightly on the disheveled individual seen digging in the mud far out in the western section of the cabin.

It was Chisato Hisewaga.

Despite her dislike for the mink lady, Chisato felt obligated to bury her and leave her in peace. This act of reluctant kindness left brown spots smeared across her clothes, skin, and hair, making her feel disgusted. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her forearm and headed back to the cabin. Before entering, she peeked inside to make sure the man wasn't present—she didn't want him to see her current dirty appearance.

Luckily, he wasn't.

She quickly slipped inside and went straight to the bathroom, cleaning herself with such focus that it seemed she wanted to sparkle like a diamond.

{1 hour later} 

Chisato emerged from the bathroom, a white towel wrapped securely around her chest, and another draped over her head as she gently dried her hair. She paused when she noticed a baby crawling across the living room floor toward her. She frowned in confusion. 'How could a newborn move so soon?'

Then again, considering how strong the mink lady and his father were, she shrugged it off as another strange but explainable thing.

She crouched down and picked up the baby, who made a soft, babyish noise, as if begging to be held. She held him close to her towel-covered chest and sighed, remembering her duty to care for him until he could survive on his own.

"He's so cute… but my babies are even cuter," she thought bitterly, her heart aching. Damn that man. How dare he trap me here!

As Chisato drifted into a nostalgic haze, Cain, on the other hand, was busy processing something entirely different. For a newborn baby, he was far more observant than he appeared.

"Is her breast real? If it is, I'm impressed. Hopefully, she isn't the only one with that figure," thought Cain, his expression unreadable but certainly not befitting a normal infant.

Cain had always admired women—their beauty, their bodies, and especially the intimate experiences he once shared with them. However, he wasn't gentle or kind to everyone. His treatment of others depended on their intentions and behaviour. For example, he despised sadistic women with cruel motives and would have no problem retaliating harshly against anyone who disrespected him. He believed in true equality, whether it came to race, culture, or gender.

In Cain's mind, respect was earned, and punishment was due for purposeful ill intent.

But that was a discussion for another day.

At this moment, he was rather enjoying the "soft pillows" Chisato unwittingly offered. He couldn't help but muse that perhaps this world contained many women with naturally impressive figures.

Chisato smiled gently at the baby's seemingly goofy expression, interpreting it as an attempt to make her laugh. She chuckled softly and stroked his cheek before heading toward her "temporary" room.

Unfortunately for her, the man she so despised—Enzo—entered the living room just in time to witness the tender scene. Amused, a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

Enzo could sense his son's emotions and, surprisingly, it was lust. He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment; there were far stranger things in this world. Meanwhile, Chisato, oblivious to the truth, merely assumed the baby was being adorable.

Enzo, however, was not blind to the nurse's enticing state—practically naked, with only a towel to cover her.

"Oi, nurse," Enzo called out, his voice stern and commanding. "Since you didn't leave the island, your new mission is to take care of the baby. Understood?"

"Wait—why? I'm begging you! Please, take me back!" Chisato pleaded desperately, unwilling to stay any longer.

Enzo ignored her pleas, turning toward the door. As he opened it, he glanced back at her.

"Make sure when you come out of the bathroom, you go straight to your room—or else I'll eat you," he said nonchalantly before leaving.

Chisato's face flushed with embarrassment as she shouted curses at his retreating form. She huffed angrily, her chest rising and falling with the effort.

'I think I know what's going to happen,' mused Cain, watching their interaction. 'They're going to end up together. It's always the same in these kinds of stories.'

He chuckled inwardly, finding amusement in what he predicted would be a toxic relationship.

Chisato eventually calmed down. She placed Cain back on the ground absentmindedly, walking to her room and closing the door. She was used to Enzo seeing her in a towel by now, but his earlier comment—"I'll eat you"—left her embarrassed and unnerved.

Slumping onto her bed in just her underwear, Chisato sobbed softly before drifting off to sleep.

{Another couple of hours later}

Chisato slowly woke up, her room bathed in the warm red glow of sunset. Gazing out of the window, she gasped softly at the breathtaking view. Then, she remembered the baby.

Panic hit her as she realised she hadn't checked on him. She threw on a shirt and rushed out of her room, frantically searching the living room. The baby wasn't there.

She checked the kitchen, the bathroom, and the bedrooms, calling his name despite knowing he couldn't respond. Her heart raced. Finally, she had no choice but to face Enzo.

Out in the southern garden, Enzo was training intensely, carrying a massive boulder with one arm while sweat poured down his face. His eyes were tightly shut as he visualized opponents in his mind.

"Your son is missing!" Chisato yelled anxiously, breaking his focus.

Enzo's eyes snapped open, and his face twisted into an annoyed scowl. Without moving, he spread his aura, sensing everything within the cabin. Moments later, he relaxed.

"He's still inside. You just can't find him. Don't lose him again," Enzo said gruffly.

Chisato blinked in confusion. "How? I checked everywhere!"

"He's in the hidden room. Don't worry; he'll come back when he's ready."

Though his response didn't completely reassure her, Chisato felt relief that Cain was safe. She walked back inside, shivering slightly from the cool evening air.

Collapsing onto the sofa, she picked up an old newspaper lying nearby. As she read it, her eyes widened in shock.

{News by Morgans}

• Gold Roger, The Pirate King

The Great Pirate Gol D. Roger has turned himself in to the Marines and has been sentenced to death.

Before his execution, Roger's final words inspired countless pirates to seek out his hidden treasure, One Piece:

"My treasure? Why, it's right where I left it… But you'll have to search the whole world to find it."

This event marks the beginning of the Great Age of Pirates.

Chisato rushed back outside, holding the newspaper.

"Did you hear the news? Gold Roger is dead!" she exclaimed.

Enzo, irritated, glanced at her. "What are you talking about? That happened three years ago."

Chisato blushed in embarrassment. "Oh… well, I didn't hear about it. I was pregnant at the time!"

Cain, meanwhile, sat in the hidden room surrounded by dusty books, reading and learning everything he could about this new world, including Devil Fruits and their powers.

"This world is no different from my old one," Cain thought. "Power, corruption, and chaos everywhere… nothing changes."