Chapter 145

I suddenly got an interesting idea popping up in my head: MHA + Death Note. Issue is, I didn't read MHA properly.

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[Risky Red; August 11th, 1522]

Another day passed by swiftly.

It was early in the morning, with the sun not having risen up in the sky yet.

All the marines have retreated, the bounty hunters hid for their safety, and the lawless pirates were either caught by the marines or escaped successfully.

Some pirates, either out of admiration or ambition, tried to join under the name of the Grimheart pirates, however, were quickly rejected by Rowan without any consideration; all of such pirates harboured malicious intents that he didn't approve of.

Along with the departure of the Red Hair pirates, Risky Red, for once, was surrounded by the peaceful and calming silence.

*Plop*

Within such silence, one man, Rowan, was seen to be the only one awake. Without any worry, he was fishing as he gazed off into the far horizon.

'According to the information that Carina gathered, Kaidou is occupied with expanding his territory, even more so after Whitebeard's death.' Rowan, indulged within his thought, failed to see that his fishing rod twitched, 'He takes the strong warriors into his ranks, and raids various metal ores and money. It's as if... he's preparing for war.'

*Plop*

'Additionally, SMILE fruits. With all those factors combined, it was already guaranteed that the balance that Shanks and the World Government value so much wasn't going to last long.'

Rowan could already see that defeating Kaidou was going to be a hard task.

*Plop*

'That's why I am trying to fight Bullet.' Rowan reminded to himself.

Douglas Bullet. Given the title of 'Demon Heir,' and was a crew member of the Roger pirates in the past. Back then, he was renowned to be equal to 'Dark King' Rayleigh in terms of strength, and after over 20 years, he's gotten even stronger.

If Rowan was unable to defeat such an individual by himself, how will he dare to fight against Kaidou? How will he dare to survive against this harsh sea of the New World without submitting to those Emperors?

Additionally,

'In order to test out this manifestation of Conqueror's Haki as well.'

Ever since Rowan became capable of using the technique, he used it just once within the Impel Down for a brief moment. A single burst was enough to demolish the whole level, and he knew that this technique will be the key to take Kaidou down.

Hiding it against Imu? As long as it doesn't reach the ears of the World Government and Marine, and as long as Rowan leaves no witnesses, it was fine.

'Then there's also the Haki of Resistance.'

Speaking of which, the enigmatic fourth type of Haki, which he decided to term it the 'Haki of Resistance,' felt incomplete to him. The adamant will that withstands any other will...

'One is the will to conquer and stand on top, while the other is to resist against such will. If they can be fused into one—will that be possible, even?'

Rowan simply couldn't figure it out. He found it impossible for those two types of Haki to mix into one, for they were the stark opposite of one another.

*Plop*

In the end, there was no point in thinking about it. Rowan decided to focus on the present, that such present is that he and his crew will reach Foodvalten. Then, while his crew closes off the area from the eyes that peer into the battle, he will combat Bullet.

'Back in the Impel Down, he was wearing a Seastone cuff as well. He too is a devil fruit user. An anomaly to consider there.'

However, it didn't matter. Back in the Impel Down, through the operation of his Observation Haki, Rowan knew that he was at least equal to Bullet. Now, after having his ocular abilities enhanced to the next level, regardless of how burly and fearsome Bullet may be,

'There's no way in hell that I'm losing against him.'

*PlopPlopPlop*

"Ah, I almost missed it." Coming back to reality upon hearing the plopping sound, Rowan hurriedly pulled the fishing rod skillfully.

*SPLASH*

With a violent surge of water, a gigantic azure-coloured fish has revealed its body. It was an extremely vigorous one, for it continued to flop potently even when its whole body was now laid on the ground, deprived of water.

Rowan looked at the dying fish with thoughtful eyes.

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[Coconut Seal]

In the middle of the white and puffy-looking island. A tea-kettle-like hot air balloon seemed to be sitting idly. Although it may look underwhelming, this hot air balloon was none other than the headquarter of the World Economy Newspaper.

"Big news! Big news!" Within the enticing scenery, a bird-man exclaimed in excitement. This man was Morgans, the president of the World Economy Newspaper.

"Grimheart accepts Demon Heir's challenge! In the Foodvalten, the war for the throne of an Emperor will ensue! This... this belongs to the title page!" Morgans shouted while dancing around in joy. He looked unable to conceal his joy.

"Foodvalten, Foodvalten... how coincidental! Coconut Seal is literally the island right after Foodvalten... how exciting! Big news! But, hmm..." Morgans hummed as he gazed at the slip containing the information that he acquired, "Grimheart doesn't accept any spectator... how troublesome."

Now, within the underworld, Rowan has become famous for his mastery over the Observation Haki. From the logical viewpoint, Rowan's seemed to surpass even Charlotte Katakuri's; Morgans knew that any attempt to sneak in a view will not work against such an individual.

"Haa... is there really no choice but to wait until the conclusion has been drawn out?"

In the end, Morgans couldn't figure out a way to get around it.

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[Risky Red; Few hours later]

"Food."

"Check."

"Water."

"Check; filled the tank to the maximum."

"Power."

"We literally have a human battery aboard."

"Hm... think that's about it—" Carina stated as she stared at the list that was written down on the piece of paper.

"Yes, I think so too." Robin, who was going through the list with Carina, nodded in agreement.

"...And of course, one more thing," Carina smiled cheekily, "money!"

The day before, Rowan and Carina invaded all the casinos within the Risky Red. With their exceptional Observation Hakis and Rowan's ability to bounce the objects remotely, those games were piece of cake to them.

From the deck, Urouge questioned with a grin, "Just how much is all that even?"

Dan shrugged, "We gave up counting a long time ago. I assume that it should amount to 2 billion or so in total."

Carina placed her hands on her waist and turned to Rowan, "Rowan, we are ready to go!"

Rowan gave an okay sign to Carina before shifting his attention to the captains of the other crews: Nojiko, Nami, Law, and Bonney.

"Stay safe. Also, here."

Rowan distributed his Vivre Cards to them, "Forget Den Den Mushi. They can be eavesdropped on by special breeds. After a year, by July, travel along those Vivre Cards to reach me."

Law adjusted his hat, "Don't do anything stupid, Grimheart-ya."

He seemed to have grown accustomed to Rowan; there existed no wariness that he had back in the Sabaody Archipelago.

"Hehe, I wonder how stronger we will be by then." Nojiko smiled gently.

"Ah whatever! If I see people that I find annoying, I'm just going to beat them up to a pulp!" Bonney claimed boldly while raising her fist up.

Nami, on the other hand, seemed to be in a slight sadness.

<Hehe, the next time we meet, it will be something more than just this.>

That was what she said to Rowan in Alabasta, after the kiss on the cheek. However, now that she met him once again, she realized.

She stood no chance.

'Back then in Cocoyasi, if I joined you from the beginning... would it have been me, instead of her?' Nami thought with sorrow as she forced a grin onto her face,

"Heh, just you wait, Rowan! After a year, I will become so strong that you won't be able to recognize me!"

It was an end to the short-lived feeling.

"...Yeah." Rowan chuckled with a sense of understanding. He managed to glimpse Nami's bitterness, and to some extent, he could see why she was feeling such a way. But alas, he decided to turn blind eye to it.

Rowan simply turned around and began to walk off. While doing so, he waved his hand,

"See you all next year. Until then."

He walked back to the Prominence, where his crew was all waiting on the deck.

"Well?" Carina leaned in toward Rowan with a knowing look.

"Boha!" Rowan, having understood, laughed before speaking up, "Alright! Sail out!"

"""Aye aye, captain!"""

Within seconds, after the responses from Rowan's crew members,

*BOOOOOOM*

Prominence flew off from the Risky Red at an incredible speed. The other crews simply watched the scene with their jaws dropped in shock.

"...They were purposely slowing down the speed... just to match us?" Law muttered.

"From start to the end... we really were nothing but a burden to them, weren't we?" Nami shook her head with a sigh, before turning back toward her ship with determination.

"Nojiko."

"What is it, Nami?"

"Let's get strong. Strong enough to stand next to them."

Nojiko smiled,

"You bet."

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[Whole Cake Island; August 12th, 1522]

"Has our envoy returned yet?" Linlin asked with a sliver of annoyance within her demeanour.

"Mama, about that, perorin..." Perospero stuttered with sweat all over, "I... think he died."

"Died? Died?!! Against whom?!!!"

Perospero gulped. According to the intel that he received from the underworld, it was likely that Rowan killed the envoy. However, what would happen if he tells the truth to Linlin?

<WHAT?!!! How dare that puny brat look down on me?!!!! Perospero, get Queen mama Chanter ready to sail!!! I'm going on a hunt myself!!!>

The war against Rowan and his Grimheart pirates will become official. With various issues such as Linlin's frequent hunger pangs, being closely located to Wano, and Rowan's prowess, Perospero found such development dangerous for the survival of the Big Mom pirates.

Therefore,

"N-no, mama! The envoy died at the hands of..."

Perospero couldn't say that the envoy died in midst of his sail. After all, the envoy was the user of Bird Bird fruit, model: Crow, and besides, the Big Mom pirates were quite familiar with the navigations within the New World.

"At the hands of whom?!!"

"...o-of... minks!"

That was the best solution that Perospero could think of. The minks dwelled in Zou, the island on top of the forever-walking Zunesha. Without a specific guide, reaching such an island was nigh-impossible, and Perospero found this perfect to divert Linlin's anger toward.

"You better be speaking truth, Perospero!!" Linlin leaned in to Perospero with bloodshot eyes, before moving her head away and commanding,

"Tell Snack to begin searching for Zou!! As fast as possible!! For daring to kill my envoy..."

Big Mom grinned savagely,

"...I will add all of them to my freak collection! Also, send another letter of invitation to that Grimheart prick then! This one better reach them, you hear?!!"

"Y-yes, mama!!"

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[Nearby Wano, Onigashima]

"Doflamingo? You wish to talk to Supreme Commander?" One member of the Beast pirates said as he held onto the dial that connected to the Den Den Mushi.

"Yes, I have something to discuss with him. Now pass the call already!"

"Uh..." The member of the Beast pirates hesitated as he gazed at the back. Within his view,

"WORORORORO!!!!! Drink, drink more!!!! GrahhhhH!!!!!!!!!"

Kaidou was screaming like a mad man while drinking non-stop.

"I... think you might have to call back later. He clearly isn't in a state to talk right now."

"Heheheheheh... you got to be kidding me, right?" Doflamingo's voice was heard with a deep frown of Den Den Mushi, "Wasn't it the same yesterday?"

The member of the Beast pirates scratched the back of his head before speaking, "Trust me, Doflamingo. One wrong word while Supreme Commander is this drunk, and you are going to be killed within seconds. Something like, 'Oh, you are so weak—'"

*BOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Kaidou, with a tickmark on his forehead, swung his Hassaikai toward the member of the Beast pirates. One wall collapsed instantly, and the wave of compressed air produced by his simple swing was enough to blast the pirate member into oblivion.

"...Hello? What's going on?"

Somehow, the Den Den Mushi managed to survive. Doflamingo's confused voice resounded out of it, but there was no one to answer.

"Fuhihihi..." Kaidou simply went back to drinking, with his sudden burst of anger having been replaced into an abrupt joy.

"...S***." Doflamingo eventually muttered in realization, before immediately hanging up the call.