Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle, Room of Authority.
Ju Peter activated the Den-Den Mushi at his side and set it to presentation mode.
"Look, this is the map that Crocodile brought. According to the information received, this is not a map of the world, but a map of the country where the Dimensional Gate was opened."
"We originally sent him to the Otherworld just to recruit him, but it turns out he brought us so many valuable things along the way. I'm really starting to appreciate him." V. Nusjuro said with a satisfied smile on his face.
"After the mission in the other world is over, we must call him back as soon as possible to train him. His physical abilities and Haki must be improved as soon as possible, otherwise if he delays a few more years, it will be useless."
"Okay." Ju Peter nodded.
While they were talking, the other three were examining the projected map and the place names marked on the map. There was no difficulty in understanding it, since everything was written in Japanese.
"This turns out to be an island in the sea, but there is no scale on it, and I don't know what its area is." Mars said softly, stroking his long beard.
"And look in the upper left corner, there is clearly a region that appears to be a peninsula, suggesting that there may be other islands abroad, and even continents."
Ju Peter nodded and said: "Through the interrogation of the Governor that Crocodile brought, we learned that this country is called Hinomoto, and there are also the continents of Europe, Eurasian, etc. The Kabane are brought from the continent of Europe."
"If this is the case, it means that these continents have also been poisoned by Kabane. Ignore them for the time being. Let's take control of the country in front of us first." Warcury said seriously.
"Exact." Ju Peter nodded.
As he spoke, he controlled the Den-Den Mushi to switch to the next image, which was a detailed map around the base of the Dimensional Gate that was specially enlarged and photographed.
"Judging from this map, our base is located in this place called Deer Peninsula. There are three cities nearby that they call stations."
"One of these stations was previously discovered by CP9 and has been confirmed to have fallen. Now the army, led by Bullet, is clearing the interior of Kabane."
"Due to the large number of Kabane that occupy this country, and the lack of ability of the people to resist them effectively, they built high walls around the so-called stations and live enclosed in them."
"Then they transport supplies and labor between stations via armored trains they call Hayajiro. That's why at first we don't find any people or cities, all the people are concentrated in cities separate from each other."
"These stations or station cities are all under the jurisdiction of a government organization called the Shogunate, led by a military leader called the Shogun."
Hearing this V. Nusjuro raised a question: "Didn't CP9 previously discover a group of armed forces clearing and capturing Kabane in the wild? How do you say they have no ability to compete?"
Ju Peter continued to explain what he had learned. "According to the information revealed by the Governor, that group is the only force in Hinomoto that dares to fight Kabane at close range and head-on in the wild."
"They are called Karikatashuu, also known as the Liberators. Their leader is Amatori Biba, who is the eldest son of the shogun Amatori Okimasa. He turns twenty-two this year."
"It is said that ten years ago, when he was twelve years old, he was able to command an army of 400,000 people and carry out a massive cleanup of Kabane on the island of Kyushu, at the southern tip of Hinomoto."
"At first, his actions were very successful, and they recovered a lot of land, but later he was betrayed by his father and his logistical supplies were cut off, resulting in the annihilation of his entire army."
"Then he cut off relations with his father and from then on the entire country's policy towards the Kabane became completely conservative."
Hearing this, everyone on the scene understood that this was another unpleasant drama between radicals and conservatives. However, Amatori Okimasa was ruthless enough to send his own son as a sacrifice.
The only flaw was that he failed to kill Amatori Biba, who has now grown up and has his own wings.
"It seems that this boy is a tactical talent. Even if he has the identity of the Shogun's son, it is almost impossible to achieve it. He has courage and strategy, he just trusts his own father too much, but that is also understandable." V. Nusjuro somewhat appreciated this Amatori Biba that he had not yet met. He liked talented people in the field of war.
"In short, they really have the ability to eliminate the Kabane. Although it is necessary to hit several times with those weapons called steam guns to pierce the latter's heart."
"As I understand it, as long as the distance between the two sides is close enough, two shots are enough. Furthermore, the impact of the bullets can effectively repel the Kabane, but it's a pity..." Ju Peter said with emotion.
"Do most people not have the courage to fight the Kabane at close range?" V. Nusjuro said.
"Correct!"
Ju Peter said: "In addition, Laskey and Marta have already boarded an armored train. Apparently it is heading to another station, but after reporting that, they have not sent any more news."
"There's no rush about that. An overrun station and Yashiro Station intact are enough to keep the base occupied for a few days. Let them fend for themselves, there's no need to rush." Warcury said solemnly.
…
World Base No. 0001.
"It's amazing, it's amazing. I still underestimated this Kabane virus. This is definitely not a naturally occurring virus. It was developed artificially!"
Professor Fritz watched the special Kabane excitedly. The blue light emanating from his heart illuminated his face strangely.
This Kabane, called the 'core', can really attract the surrounding ordinary Kabane, and then stick to the surface of his body.
"Use mental fluctuations full of negative emotions to attract other Kabane, and then use stronger mental fluctuations to suppress the will of other Kabane, completely controlling their bodies and kneading them at will" Professor Fritz mutters to himself.
Professor Fritz whispered: "I want to try to awaken your conscience."
These words surprised the scientific researchers who were close to Professor Fritz. They listened to the director of the Institute of Biochemistry continue to talk while thinking.
"Since we know that its conscience is filled with fear, cruelty, bloodlust and other extreme negative emotions, we simply have to address it."
"However, this is already beyond the scope of biochemistry; I will need to submit a report to higher-ups to see if they can find a solution."
"In addition, I need a test subject who has a strong will and preferably has mastered Haki, but without too high combat strength."
"I want to see if, after injecting the blood of this special Kabane into his body, he can resist the invasion of negative emotions and successfully control the power of the virus inside him."
…
"Wake up." At the end of the black armored train, Laskey, slightly fatigued, gently pushed Marta, who was resting with her eyes closed on the outside wall of the car. The latter slowly opened her eyes and woke up in a matter of seconds.
"Is it morning already?"
"Yeah."
During these three days, due to their height, they were unable to infiltrate the people inside the train.
When the soldiers came to patrol the end of the train, they would hide on top of the car. If they needed food and water, Laskey would sneak inside the train.
As for alleviating their needs.
These Hunters were not always on the train. They would stop the train on the way every evening. After secretly observing them for days, they noticed that they replenished water to the locomotive's steam cauldron, inspected the train, hunted meat for reserves, and allowed people to air out.
This time was enough for both of them to resolve their needs.
The only annoying thing was that when the train passed through mountainous areas, many Kabane would frantically jump towards them.
This forced them to take action to ensure that the small space at the end was clean.
Fortunately, they adapted quickly. After arguing, they decided to take turns sleeping and watching.
At this time, it was morning.
"Hey, I really didn't expect that our height would bring such great difficulties to ourselves. Why are people in this world so short?"
Marta complained and stood up to adjust her clothes, but Laskey did not answer her words because he had already complained in his heart.
"There's something wrong with this Amatori Biba!"
"Last night I went to the front of the train from the roof and felt that there were many Kabane breaths below. One of them had a very special and strong mental fluctuation, full of negative emotions."
"Combined with the situation where they had captured several Kabane alive before, they must be using these Kabane for something."
[Woo, woo, woo, woo...]
Just as he was going to continue, a whistle sounded from the front of the train, indicating that the train was about to stop.
"Hey, what's going on?" Marta looked on in confusion, since these days, the train never stopped so early.
Laskey looked at the clear blue river and the city that was becoming increasingly clear ahead and reminded her: "We have arrived at the station."
"Great, we finally have a chance!" Marta exclaimed excitedly.
"Let's get off the train first, then we will walk towards that city. Otherwise, we will surely be discovered by the soldiers in the city."
After saying that, Laskey jumped off without saying a word, not caring that the train was still moving at high speed. Marta did not hesitate when she saw this and she followed him decisively.
The black train continued to go along the rails toward the city gate of the station. When it approached a certain distance, the huge city gate began to slowly descend, and the tracks on the bridge connected perfectly with the tracks at the end of the drawbridge.
Its arrival woke up the city residents.
"It's the Karikatashuu!"
"Liberator! Long live!!"
"Ah, the Karikatashuu members have returned. Now we will be safer."
Whether it was the armed soldiers defending the city or the residents who ran out after receiving the news, they all had bright and excited smiles on their faces, cheering for the black train that slowly entered the city gates.
After the armored train stopped, a group of powerful armed soldiers dressed in black uniforms got off. Their expressions were indifferent, paying no attention to the warm welcome of the crowd on both sides.
However, the people did not seem to care about his attitude, rather they thought that warriors should be like this.
And when a handsome man with long pink hair, holding a long red sword in his right hand, and a beauty with short blonde hair behind him, approached surrounded by a group of soldiers. The atmosphere suddenly reached its highest point.
"It's Mr. Biba!"
"What a heroic presence!"
"He really is the Shogun's son."
Laskey and Marta, who had been hiding in the corner, put on a loose kimono at some point, so that they no longer felt too inconsistent with the city.
At the same time, the two of them carefully observed every detail around them.
"What's next?"
"First contact the base, listen to the information obtained by other teams, and then report about the Karikatashuu to the base, especially the aura I sensed at the front of the train."
"Um?"
As soon as Laskey finished speaking, his eyes suddenly focused on a little girl in red who ran in front of Amatori Biba. He squinted and said: "Another person exuding the aura of Kabane."
As early as on the train, he and Marta noticed that Amatori Biba and the blond woman exuded a unique aura. After comparison, the two discovered that this breath was very similar to Kabane's breath and judging from his performance during the fight when clearing the Kabane, his abilities stood out, surpassing other people in this world.
"She seems to call Amatori Biba her brother." Marta listened carefully and said.
"No, there's another one!" But Laskey paid no attention to that and fixed his gaze on a young man standing at the back of the crowd who had approached Biba and the girl in red.
He was a boy with gray-green hair, wore glasses with a light green lens in his right eye, and was wearing an emerald green shirt. At this moment, he was seriously looking at Biba, who was talking to the girl in red.
"What's going on with them? Or are there more people like this?"
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