25. Red Lion Pirates

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As a result, Koushirou and I got a little carried away, and in the blink of an eye, two weeks passed, which we completely devoted to creating a new form of combat specifically for the Dark Saber.

Initially, I didn't plan to stay at the dojo for that long, but my new sensei and I completely immersed ourselves in this difficult task, and it paid off. Thanks to the knowledge and experience of Koushirou, as well as my ideas and what I could remember from Star Wars, we managed to create several stances, or rather, kata, which became the basis of the form of combat and now they can be used in battle, alternately changing stances, depending on the situation.

If manage to do it smoothly and without tangling, then it will be like a current of water that can cut through almost anything. True, I'm still very far from this, but at least I have already memorized all the racks and can use them, it remains only to bring them to the ideal so that they become muscle memory.

Although, this will certainly take time.

I don't know much about Star Wars, but I know that the Jedi used seven forms of lightsaber combat, and it seems to me that what happened with Koushirou was a kind of mixture of all styles, which is suitable for both attack and defense, without unnecessary acrobatic movements.

Well, of course, a lot of things have been transferred from Koushirou's own style, which is not surprising. In principle, due to the shape of the Dark Saber, which strongly resembles a katana, it was not superfluous, but only complemented my new style.

Now, It will only be a long and painstaking work to add this style of sword to my fighting style, as well as combine it with my skills and superpowers received from the Outsider's Mark.

By the way, during training under Koushirou, I found out that I greatly underestimated the power of my lightsaber. I don't know the exact temperature of the plasma that makes up the blade, but it still seems to be enough to damage my diamond plating, although it takes a little time.

Fortunately, any contact of my body with the high-temperature blade was short-lived and I did not suffer any injuries. But, if you hold the blade against my diamond flesh for at least five seconds, then I begin to feel a strong warmth, and the cover itself begins to glow red. I could only endure thirty seconds before it really hurt, although before I was sure that I don't feel pain in this form. Well, it will be a lesson to me for the future not to underestimate a lightsaber from a galaxy far, far away.

I guess Armament Haki won't be as overwhelming a defense as I thought. Perhaps the owner of this type of Haki will be able to repulse my blade, and then, most likely, only those who can use Hardening, but it will be incredibly difficult to protect themselves from high temperature and it will still cause a lot of damage.

Although, this all needs to be tested in practice, since these are just empty theories based on what I have seen in manga and anime. Now, I really can't wait to fight some swordsman who can use Haki and see what happens. At the same time, this will make good practice for my fighting style. Still, I know very well that only in such situations can you go beyond your limits and achieve enlightenment.

In any case, Koushirou and I really got along during our time at the dojo, and although it wasn't originally intended, he actually came to consider me his student, and I'm not averse to calling him teacher, without any irony.

I was really prejudiced against him, after digging into his mind and not understanding the true essence of things. And now I'm really ashamed of it.

After getting to know Koushirou better, I realized that he is a nice but rather awkward person who just doesn't know how to express his feelings. And the story with Kuina only happened because he couldn't just say that he wanted to shield her from danger and therefore tried to dissuade her from being a swordswoman. It ended badly, but in fact, there is no one's fault. And that makes it even sadder.

Well, let's not talk about sad things. After I realized that I would be staying at the Isshin dojo longer than planned, I called Bobbie, who had only explored a couple of villages on the eastern part of the island by that time, and asked her to fly to Shimotsuki Village. She doesn't have telepathy, though, and had to interrogate the villagers to find information.

Ahe never found anything about Eldoraggo, but when I told Koushiro the reason I came to the island in the first place, he used his connections and was able to find out from his friend that in the very north of the island, several people had recently seen a suspicious ship which just disappeared. According to the description, it was Eldoraggo's ship, so we know our next target.

Bobby herself also decided not to waste time, and while we Koushirou were busy, she trained with local students at the dojo, learning the Shimotsuki Style, which, due to her features, suited her, because her hands are blades, which is quite practical.

At the same time, she shook Koushirou's worldview so well, showing what some women of this world can be capable of, although in fact Bobby is asexual, but that's not so important.

Anyway, thanks to Koushirou, I got what I wanted, so Bobby and I decided to move on, and so we lingered longer than expected, although it was undoubtedly useful.

- Thanks for everything, sensei. - I said sincerely as I walked out of the dojo.

- It's my pleasure. I was glad to help you. It was an interesting challenge. - Koushiro said with a smile, who actually became more honest with his feelings after Kuina's death.

- In any case, see you soon. I will definitely come back and show you my progress. - With a smile, I said.

- I will wait. And if you meet Zoro again, then say hello to him for me. - asked Koushirou.

- Necessarily. I can even show him the way here so he can come back. I suggested, watching Bobby return from the village, stocking up on food again, which she would likely ruin like the last batch.

- Not worth it. He has his own way and I don't want to interfere with him. - Koushirou said, and then after thinking for a moment, he added: - Though, I would be glad if you could find out what happened to my other student. He went to sea to look for Zoro after he got lost and nothing has been heard of Saga since.

- Of course, it's not difficult for me. I will try to find information about him. I'll call you as soon as there's any news. - I said, remembering the guy who appeared in the fifth movie.

- I will be grateful. See you. - Koushirou said sincerely, shaking my hand.

- Take care of yourself. - I said at last, and went to the hidden Quinjet, along with Bobbie, who waved goodbye to the kids she was training with.

- He is a good man. - Bobby said with a smile as the dojo was out of sight.

- Yes, although very unhappy. At least his students give him the strength to live. - I said, nodding my head.

- And he is the first person we met who did not want to use you for his own selfish purposes, but only helped because we sincerely asked. - Bobby added.

- It is truth too. Although he has connections in the Revolutionary Army, it is only due to the fact that Dragon once studied with Kozaburo along with Koushirou. - I told what I learned from Koushirou's memory. This explains why Koushirou helped Dragon with provisions for the injured residents of the Gray Terminal 9 years ago.

- Anyway, do we need to go to the north of the island now? - Bobby asked when we got to the place where she hid the Quinjet.

- Yes. Koushirou said that there is a secret grotto there, in which, most likely, Eldoraggo's ship is hidden. - I said, opening the ladder and going inside the jet.

- Then, we should hurry, you already spent two weeks training. During this time, Eldoraggo could have already left the island. - Bobby said wisely.

- Well, let's hope it's not. But, during this time, Arthur was able to sell the first batch of my jewelry, and I have already received seven kilograms of gold. - I said as I sat down in my seat as the Oracle controlled Quinjet rose into the air.

- Yes, you already talked about it. Four times. Only for this week. - Bobby said displeasedly as she went about her housework.

- What can I do about it. I am really glad that my business, which turned out completely by accident, and thanks to the fabricator, began to make a profit. At this rate, in the future it will be possible to establish my trading empire. - With a very pleased smile, I said.

- Too much work. You are too lazy to do this. - Bobby said with a grin.

- It is truth too. It's easier to take someone else's than to build your own. - I said with a sigh, watching the landscape outside the window change and soon we saw the sea, on the north coast.

- So, where to now? - Bobby asked as the invisible Quinjet landed on the very edge of the cliff.

- Now, wait a second, I'll try to find them. - I said, and with great concentration, I spread my telepathic detection, almost 500 meters.

I didn't waste time, and when I have free time, I try to train the psionic powers I got from Emma Frost. Still, this is practically my main trump card and my most useful power. In addition, I recently completed a psionic shield and now my mind is protected to the maximum that is available to me.

I don't know if it's because that my body is many times stronger than Emma's or because of the Outsider's Mark, but I have already surpassed the level that the White Queen possessed and my psionic power is constantly growing and improving, as evidenced by the increased telepathic detection radius.

- Well, did you find anything? - Bobby asked impatiently, five minutes later.

- Yes. I found some guy who was thinking about Eldoraggo, although I didn't have time to get anything else since he left the detection radius. - I said, rubbing my temples because of the pain in my head. This kind of concentration puts a lot of stress on the brain.

- Well, then go ahead. - Bobby exclaimed enthusiastically as she ran outside. She was just glad that we could join the battle together.

- Don't be sad, Oracle. - I finally said to the silent on-board computer, which is in the bidet, due to the fact that she had to stand idle for two weeks. Well, it's better that way than in the lottery inventory, which the Oracle says is dark and lifeless.

Boarding the Wingcycle, Bobby and I headed to the place where I had last spotted a possible Eldoraggo henchman. Pretty soon, I started feeling him again and was able to read his memory and find out who he was.

His name was Donny and he belonged to a group called the Hyena Three, along with Danny and Denny, who were part of Eldoraggo team and were his closest subordinates. They were downright weaklings, and not particularly loyal, but they loved money and were dutiful, so Eldoraggo kept them under his wing.

Now this Donny was in one of the villages, and flirted with the waitress, simultaneously looking for information about Woonan, since it turned out that it was on this island that he was last seen alive, although it was almost 40 years ago.

Thanks to Donny, I learned where they hid their ship, so we changed our route and headed for the grotto, which was not far from the cliff where the Quinjet was.

The grotto itself was very well hidden and even with a hint from Koushirou we would have been looking for it for a long time. But thanks to Donny, we knew the secret entrance through which Bobby and I entered the network of caves that ended in that very grotto.

- Wow. Here is the ship. - Bobby said, impressed when she saw the ship that Eldoraggo's crew was sailing on.

There was nothing special about it, an ordinary three-masted galleon, except for the figure on the prow, which looked like a lion's head and consisted entirely of gold. Moreover, it was real gold, in contrast to the fake decorations on the sides of the ship, which looked like scales.

- Bad taste. - I said, while looking at the lion's head with greed, then added: - Let's go.

There was no one on the ship, as the whole crew was looking for information, so Bobby and I climbed aboard unhindered and began to inspect all the crew's belongings. We did not find anything of value except maps and a few decorations, so we decided to immediately take on the lion's head.

- *PUM**PUM* It's hollow inside. - Bobby said, tapping the figure on her nose.

- Badly. Well, I think there are a couple of tons in it, so in any case, this adventure was worth it. - I said, a little upset, because I counted on more.

- Don't be greedy, it's enough for a few tickets. - Bobby scolded me.

- I know, but what upsets me more is that after buying these tickets, the prices will skyrocket. - I said with displeasure, immediately sending the lion's head to the lottery, replenishing my balance by exactly two tons and three hundred and five kilograms.

After the last draw, I had eight kilograms of gold left, to which were added seven that Shadowkhan brought me from Arthur yesterday morning. If I add everything up, now I have two thousand three hundred and twenty kilograms of gold, which is enough for five tickets, up to the fourteenth, inclusive.

And, in the end, I still have three hundred and thirty-six kilograms left. Although, that's not all I get from Eldoraggo...

- Looks like that was his treasure stash. How trite. - said Bobby, after the golden head disappeared, and from the place where it was before, a small hill of gold, jewelry and money spilled out.

- I think there's another sixty kilograms in bullion and coins. Plus the same amount I can get from jewelry. - I said, taking a quick look at my new prey.

- Are you happy now? - Bobby asked.

- And how. Truth, there is one more thing left... - I said, quickly sending all the valuables into the ring, and then, I grabbed Bobby and jumped away from where we were standing before.

In the next second, a concentrated beam of sonic energy struck there, which destroyed almost half of the ship and created a rather strong earthquake, due to which several stalactites fell from the ceiling of the grotto.

- YOU TAKE MY GOLD!!! - shouted a dark-skinned bull with red hair like a lion's mane, dressed in a cuirass and pauldrons of gold.

It was Eldoraggo who returned with his crew to the ship when their search turned up nothing. Understandably, he was very angry when he saw that some unknown teenagers had stolen his treasures.

I felt these people, even at the moment when they entered the caves, but I decided not to pay attention to it, because I have already achieved my main goal. It remains only to defeat this team and we can move on...

- And you prove it. - I said with a grin as I landed on the ground and released Bobby.

- *WOOOOOOOOOOO* - Without even answering my taunt, Eldoraggo once again used the power of his fruit and shouted out another sonic attack from his mouth.

- Idiot... - I muttered as I calmly accepted the attack on my diamond body.

Due to Eldoraggo's power, the entire grotto began to shake and crumble again. This time it was getting worse and the ceiling began to fall on our heads. Although, Eldoraggo himself did not pay attention to this, since now he was incredibly angry and wanted to kill me, spitting on the safety of himself and his team, who tried to reason with him, but in vain.

-Shut up. - I said calmly and taking out my gun, shot Eldoraggo with a powerful stream of air, which destroyed the pirate's attack (by destabilizing the sound particles) and knocked him down, right into the sea water.

- Captain! - one of the pirates shouted and jumped after the captain.

When he surfaced, along with the unconscious Eldoraggo, he only saw that all of his comrades had already been incapacitated by Bobby. Before he could do anything, he met the same fate.

- That's an idiot. Not only does he not know how to swim, he also wears a gold outfit that will pull him even deeper. - Bobby said categorically, putting away her weapon.

- I have nothing to add here. - I said, checking Eldoraggo.

In general, he was fine, although he was deaf in one ear due to my attack, but this is not such a big deal. But when I checked his memoirs, I found something that surprised me very much, but at the same time made me very happy...

- What are you smiling about? - Bobby asked when she saw my smirk of anticipation.

- It seems that we have not all the juices survived from this guy... - I said, immediately sending Eldoraggo five-kilogram uniform to the lottery.

- Let's go. We urgently need to find one person. - I said as I lifted the body of the captain of the Red Lion Pirates.

- What's wrong with them? - Bobby asked, pointing at the bleeding pirates.

- Let's ask Koushirou to take care of it. - I said as I headed towards the exit of the grotto, while thinking: 'This day has brought a lot of profit.'