Chapter 280: Is This Heaven?!

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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After sending Luffy away, Colt began enjoying the wine and food once again.

He and Nami…

One was too lazy to cook, the other mediocre.

After eating Nami's cooking twice, Colt never asked her to cook again.

He, being accustomed to high-quality cooking, and one who had been taken care of by Hinata and others, was not used to average taste.

After all, for someone like him, eating average cooking, it would make even Ichibi seem better off than him.

Colt silently added "finding a chef" to the list of things he needed to do while at sea.

Although Sanji's cooking was excellent, his character…

'Well, having 'two lecherous men'- I mean a lecherous man' on my ship wouldn't do.'

As for anyone else, Colt had no idea where to begin.

Pushing his thoughts aside, Colt casually struck up a conversation with Makino to gather some information.

"Makino-san, I heard this is the hometown of the Marine hero Garp?" Colt asked, feigning casual curiosity.

"Yes, Garp-san is the pride of our Windmill Village. He comes back from time to time," Makino said nonchalantly as she wiped a glass.

She was smart enough not to reveal Luffy's identity.

Despite hearing Colt say that he'll help Luffy beat up his grandpa, she assumed that was because of Luffy's comparison of Colt's hits to his grandpa, and she thought that he didn't really know who the grandpa was.

Colt didn't mind, simply nodding slightly.

It wasn't for nothing that the East Blue was called the weakest sea.

With Garp's frequent visits, any pirate foolish enough to come here would be quickly taken care of.

"When will Vice Admiral Garp return to Windmill Village? I've admired him for a long time and would like to see him," Colt inquired.

Hearing this, Makino relaxed even more.

Most pirates would tremble at the mention of Garp's name and instinctively try to avoid him.

But here was Colt, actively seeking him out. That meant he was not a bad person just as she thought earlier.

She thought carefully and then smiled.

"It's probably been about a few months since Garp-san last visited. Yeah, that's about it. As for revisiting, it usually isn't much longer than half a year in between his visits"

Colt nodded silently, offering no further comment.

Under Nami's worried gaze, the two returned to their room in the restaurant.

"You're not really planning to meet that Marine hero, are you? If he finds out about us…" Nami's expression was that of a frightened little mouse.

After dealing with Arlong, Colt had killed Nezumi, a Marine Captain.

The news hadn't spread yet, but if it did, they'd definitely have a bounty placed on them.

"Don't worry, we'll be out of here in two days, there's no chance he'll be back in that time" Colt said, offering words of comfort.

Nami thought about it and relaxed.

"That's true"

Colt seeing this smiled;

Nami was a scaredy cat, but he could understand considering what she went through and her current age.

"Now, go to sleep, you troublemaker" he chuckled as he gently knocked her on the head.

She held her head and grumbled.

"Fine"

She then went back to her room.

Late at night, Colt got up from his bed and left the Windmill Village, heading to a deserted hillside.

Casually forming a couple of seals, he slapped the ground.

"[Summoning!]"

A coffin slowly emerged from the ground, and after a few moments, the door opened.

"It seems this workaround is a success."

Colt observed with a slight smile, unsurprised by the result.

The [Impure World Reincarnation] was essentially a summoning technique, bringing souls back from the Pure Land.

But, in the Pirate World, the true [Impure World Reincarnation] couldn't be used due to the absence of that pure land created by the Sage of Six Paths.

But Colt had found a workaround.

He first used the [Impure World Reincarnation] in the Shinobi World, and then, he would merely summon their bodies here.

"Colt? You actually used the [Impure World Reincarnation] on me!" A deep voice echoed from the coffin as a tall figure stepped out.

Tall, at least compared to most in the Shinobi World, not the Pirate World…

"Kakuzu, long time no see," Colt greeted with a smile.

Indeed, the figure was none other than Kakuzu from the Akatsuki.

"This body..." the man in question was still confused.

"I made it. Are you satisfied?" Colt stood with his arms crossed, seemingly proud of his work.

The body had been perfected by integrating cells from the Divine Tree with White Zetsu's body.

It was stronger than Kakuzu's original form, and his ability to release ninjutsu would have greatly improved as a result.

"Hm, what do you want from me?"

Kakuzu didn't dwell on the details of his new body.

His deep voice conveyed suspicion, knowing that Colt hadn't summoned him from the Pure Land for a friendly reunion.

Besides, their relationship hadn't been that close.

"I'll get to the point," Colt said, slowly extending his hand to explain the situation.

"This is a whole new world, quite different from the Shinobi World." Colt began his explanation…

However, he tailored it, omitting the details about the One Piece or the ideals of the people.

Instead, he highlighted the pirate bounty system and the existence of bounty hunters.

In the dark, Kakuzu's eyes gleamed brighter and brighter, until they shone like ghostly flames.

"Is this heaven… a world like this truly exists?"

Images of pirates sailing across the sea, no—moving treasure chests—flashed through Kakuzu's mind.

His greedy heart ached as he glared at Colt with dissatisfaction.

"Why did you wait so long to call me out? Do you know how much time you've wasted for me?!"

Every second delayed was another opportunity lost.

Other people could be stealing his prey!

Colt was speechless for a moment, then realized—he was not the only one to have been affected by the call of treasure.

Even Kakuzu was thinking of his profit.

"Forget it. I won't hold a grudge," Colt waved his hand dismissively, forgiving Kakuzu's impatience.

"I'll allow you to sail this sea and pursue your interests."

"But I have some conditions."

"Who do you want me to kill? If it's you asking, I'll do it for free," Kakuzu's words were filled with eagerness.

For him, as long as it made money, anyone could be a friend.

"You won't need to kill anyone. I can handle that. But I want half of the money you earn."

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.

"You're asking for 50 percent of my work?"

Colt smirked.

"Weren't you dead already? How can you do any work if I didn't bring you? And even now, you're still under my control. I'm just not interested in a zombie servant…"

The man in question stayed silent at that.

"Can't we lower that amount?" Kakuzu's voice trembled slightly.

"No. Without me, you'd have no chance to make 'any 'money. I could ask for seventy percent, but I'm being generous."

'This man is the devil!' Kakuzu thought bitterly.

He wanted to rage and quit, but also wanted to make money in this new world.

In the end, he reluctantly agreed to Colt's terms.

"Good. Work hard, and you can even aim to become a Shichibukai. You'll be able to legally rob people then," Colt said with a smirk.

"Whatever," Kakuzu grumbled.