The most courageous pirate hunter

The secret chamber made of sea stone was opened, and Mansherry rushed in immediately. A moment later, she took out a Devil Fruit with a strange pattern, her little face beaming with joy.

I was very lucky.

Nature-type Mori-Mori Fruit successfully extracted.

"Eat it!"

When Mansherry took out the Forest Fruit, Hermes breathed a sigh of relief. After all, if he had failed, it would have been very difficult to get it again, and who knew where it might be reborn.

It may not be discovered for hundreds of years.

As for Green Bull, he's dead, so be it.

In Hermes' eyes, it was just like the death of an unknown nobody. The only reason to blame Mansherry was that she was very interested in this Devil Fruit and seemed to be unexpectedly satisfied with it.

"Then I'm welcome."

Mansherry smiled and bit into the Sensen fruit, then her smile vanished and she vomited. However, she still managed to swallow the fruit with difficulty, and then it was time to carefully experience and explore it.

"You should focus on developing this during this time! Luckily, I have a habit of screen recording. Here are some of Green Bull's fighting styles, which might give you some inspiration."

Hermes took out a Den Den Mushi (snail phone).

I admire my own foresight more than once. I subconsciously record every battle, since it will be edited and released. It has become a habit over the years.

"Thanks, Boss."

Mansherry picked up the Den Den Mushi, jumped onto Alpagachino's head, waved, and left.

Next, she will go into seclusion to ponder.

After Mansherry left, Hermes went to other parts of the research lab to look at the construction of the spaceship and to the outside to see the modifications to the sky island.

Everything is progressing in an orderly manner.

Who could have imagined that a dignified naval admiral, one of the strongest warriors on the sea, would die so simply and without any fanfare? Who would believe it if word got out?

Chapter 377 [What went wrong during the awakening?]

Jingjing Island.

Located in the New World, it was originally the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates. The entire island is shaped like a giant grid, hence its fame. Because of its inland sea, its port is very well-developed.

The shipbuilding industry, in particular, is renowned in the New World.

However, the island has not been peaceful in recent years. Before Whitebeard was captured by the Navy, the island was under the rule of the Whitebeard Pirates. However, after Whitebeard was imprisoned in Impel Down, the island was occupied by the Blackbeard Pirates.

Later, Blackbeard was captured by the Hunter King, while Whitebeard was rescued. Currently, the Whitebeard Pirates have recovered many islands, but not Iijima.

As Blackbeard returned to the scene, his ambition began to expand rapidly. Although he had some conflicts with the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates, he was more interested in the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Damn it, I didn't expect the Blackbeard Pirates to be so difficult to deal with."

In a slightly secluded tavern.

Three figures, looking travel-worn and extremely depressed and demoralized, were drinking and eating.

As one of the most popular new generation, the Great Bear King is also very famous. His Poker Pirates are notorious. Unfortunately, he was killed in a recent challenge against the Blackbeard Pirates.

In the end, only the three of them escaped.

Even so, they were still being hunted down.

"Captain, what should we do next?"

With her blonde hair cascading down, exuding a distinctly Western beauty, Sweet Queen's pale face only made her more endearing. She was a user of the Paste-Paste Fruit, which allowed her to turn her body into a liquid (paste), enabling her to penetrate any crevice and create large waves.

During the Blackbeard Pirates' encirclement, he escaped through a gap using his abilities.

Next to the Sweet Queen is a short man dressed like a skunk, carrying a gas bag, and whose name is simply Skunk. His attack method is the gas bag on his back.

The head of the table.

He is a burly man, resembling a monkey, dressed in a playing card outfit, known as the Great Bear King. He is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user with the Iron-Steel Fruit ability and is among the leading new generation in this chaotic era.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have challenged the Four Emperors.

"Recruit soldiers and horses, and make a comeback."

The Great Bear King looked rather grim, because all one hundred of his underlings had been killed in action, leaving only Sweet Queen and Skunk as his two capable lieutenants, which was no different from being a commander without troops.

In this campaign against the Yonko Blackbeard, he was utterly defeated by the captain of his fleet before he even saw Marshall Teach, and he himself was wounded.

The Great Bear King was very dissatisfied.

He believed that given enough time, he would make the name of the Poker Pirates resound throughout the seas, and he was destined to become the Pirate King.

"But we have no money left."

The skunk looked utterly dejected.

This is the price of failing to defeat the Four Emperors: not only will they lose their lives, but they will also lose all their wealth. Now, the three of them are penniless, and they have no idea how they will pay for this meal.

However, they are pirates, so it's normal for them not to pay for their meals.

"It seems the only way is to hunt down pirates or marines to earn bounties, but that's too inefficient."

Sweet Queen pondered, but pirates and marines aren't so easy to hunt down. Those with slightly higher bounties are usually quite skilled, and they're not stupid either; they'll definitely run away when they're no match for the enemy.

As for plundering kingdoms?

Unless they are poor, small countries, they would only be crushed by the army. Now, slightly richer countries have artificial Devil Fruit armies, Six Styles Haki armies, and clone armies. It's not like before the Great Rise era, when a top-level powerhouse could easily control a kingdom.

Making money is much harder now than it used to be.

"There is another way."

The skunk's brain flashed.

"any solution?"

The Great Bear King and the Sweet Queen both looked over. To raise an army, money was essential, and it was impossible to raise an army without equipping it with some weapons.

Nowadays, the minimum standard is artificial Devil Fruits; otherwise, no one would want to be your underling.

There are also various necessities like food, drink, toileting, and sleeping, all of which require money.

So being the captain of a pirate crew isn't so easy.

The main problem is that robbery is too difficult now. Even a kid is proficient in the Six Powers or Haki, and those from slightly wealthy families have eaten artificial Devil Fruits. Whether it's fighting back or escaping, it's all very easy.

Unless it's an absolute crushing defeat in terms of strength.

"Selling steel."

"Captain, your ability has already awakened, hasn't it? With just a little effort, you can refine steel, which is a resource that every faction desperately needs. We can definitely make use of it."

The skunk thought he was a genius.

Why didn't I think of that before?

Their captain's Devil Fruit is the Paramecia-type Steel Fruit, which has already been awakened. Crucially, the Steel Fruit has another characteristic: with enough effort, it can assimilate any object and forge it into real steel.

Other Paramecia-type Devil Fruit users might only temporarily assimilate into their surroundings upon awakening, but the Great Bear King somehow went astray during his awakening and was able to create steel.

This is an advantage that others don't have.

Without hesitation, I said it.

If the Great Bear King hadn't sought hegemony but instead had become a businessman, he might have become the leader of the steel industry within a few years, and might even have become the new king of the underworld.

Because steel is a necessity for any power, and with steel comes weapons. It's important to know that the arms industry has always been a violent one. From this perspective, it seems that the Great Bear King has completely gone down the wrong path.

Some people are putting the cart before the horse.

The reason why the Great Bear King is so popular among the new generation is because of the awakening of his Devil Fruit, which greatly increased his combat power and gave him the courage to fight against the Blackbeard Pirates.

I just didn't expect the Four Emperors to be so terrifying.

It's so easy to fight the Hunter King.

"Skunk, I never knew you were a genius."

"Captain, I think this method is feasible. As long as we develop steadily for a period of time and accumulate enough wealth, we can form an army of artificial Devil Fruits and clones. At that time, we can even sweep away the Four Emperors."

Sweetheart Queen became excited.

"Hahaha~"

"The Blackbeard Pirates' failure to kill us will be the biggest mistake of their lives."

"When we rise again, that will be the day the Blackbeard Pirates are destroyed."

The Great Bear King, who had been somewhat gloomy, suddenly saw a bright future after listening to the words of the Skunk and the Sweet Queen. He had already seen a broad road ahead.

As long as he doesn't die.

He will always have the means to make a comeback, and that is his Devil Fruit.

I never imagined that the Iron-Steel Fruit would not only make him stronger, but also make him richer. Why didn't I think about this before, and only focused on his strength?

So much time wasted.

"That's why our admiral wants your Devil Fruit so much, meow."