"Seems like my talent for genjutsu isn't all that great," muttered Shin, rubbing his head in frustration.
Despite Black Maria's somewhat weaker will compared to her peers, she was still a senior member of the Tobi Roppo, her strength nearly on par with an elite vice-admiral. Even though she was unconscious and heavily drugged with hallucinogens, it was no simple feat to subdue her with genjutsu alone.
Fortunately, after nearly exhausting himself, Shin managed to get the information he wanted—the location of the Beast Pirates' treasure vault.
With that knowledge, Shin didn't spare a second thought for Black Maria lying unconscious on the floor. He wasn't looking to start a full-blown feud with the Beast Pirates. His objective was the treasure, and as long as he could avoid a personal vendetta with Kaido, he intended to take only what he needed.
If Kaido finds out about the theft and confronts Shin directly, Shin can always claim that he intended to pledge his loyalty to the Beast Pirates, hoping that Kaido will accept him. Had he killed Black Maria, Kaido would likely have crushed him with a single blow and then unleashed dragon fire to ensure his ashes scattered to the wind.
Following Black Maria's directions, Shin arrived at a reinforced iron gate within the Skull Dome. Embedded with sea-prism stone, the gate and its frame were designed to thwart Devil Fruit users.
But Shin wasn't here to quietly slip in. He intended to blast his way through.
Shin stepped back after placing explosive tags around the gate. With a resounding boom, the iron doors collapsed, revealing a glittering treasure trove within.
Ignoring the mounds of gold and jewels, Shin focused his attention on the weapons.
"Wano's reputation for top-tier craftsmanship holds up," he remarked, admiring the swords on display. "Even the worst of these outclass my current blades."
Shin spotted weapons surpassing even the "good-quality" swords he possessed among the trove—though nothing quite at the level of a Supreme Grade Sword. Nonetheless, it was clear that only weapons of higher quality made it into Kaido's vault.
Several Devil Fruits, each labeled with care, then caught Shin's attention. The fruits included a Bat Fruit, a Frog Fruit, and a Honeybadger Fruit.
"Even the honey badger made it into the lineup. Eat this, and you'd fear no one," he mused with a chuckle. Kaido truly lived up to his reputation as the head of a zoo—the Devil Fruits in his collection were all animal types.
Without further hesitation, Shin summoned a sealing scroll and packed the blades and Devil Fruits within. He didn't care much about the piles of gold and cash—he wasn't interested in building his own pirate crew. Wealth held little meaning for him right now.
Still, he pocketed a few chunks of gold in case they came in handy later.
Shin prepared to leave the Skull Dome, feeling time pressing down on him. He'd spent two or three hours inside, and although he assumed Ace was still battling Yamato when he exited, he found them sitting together, drinking.
"Uh, did I miss something?" Shin asked, perplexed by the sight of them laughing over sake.
Ace looked up and introduced Shin with a grin. "Yamato, this is my best friend and the ship doctor of the Spade Pirates. Don't let the 'doctor' title fool you; his combat power is as fierce as anyone's."
Yamato beamed and pulled Shin into a hearty hug, her towering frame making him feel like a child next to her. With her arm wrapped around both Ace and Shin, Yamato exuded a playful warmth that contrasted sharply with her fierce reputation.
Shin tried to break free but found it impossible—especially with the explosive handcuffs around Yamato's wrists, keeping him on edge whenever he touched them.
'Well, might as well join in,' he thought, resigning himself to a drink. Both Ace and Yamato were clearly deep in their cups, and the atmosphere was lighthearted.
Ace and Yamato appeared to be kindred spirits, both struggling with issues of legacy and parental expectations. They had gone from opponents to friends within a few short hours—something Shin found surprising and amusing.
Taking another swig of sake, Ace looked at Yamato and asked, "With your strength, can't you stand a chance against Kaido?"
Yamato shook her head. "Not even close. That bastard's power is leagues above mine. A few moves, and I'm already down."
Ace's face turned serious. He now had a clearer picture of the power gap between them and the Four Emperors.
"Why don't you come with us? You've wanted to set sail for ages, haven't you?" Ace suggested, the idea lighting up his face.
"If it were that simple, I would have left already," Yamato replied, a shadow crossing her face as she held up her handcuffs. "These handcuffs have a bomb inside. The moment I leave Onigashima, they'll explode. I don't know if it's true, but I'm not willing to risk it."
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Mass Release: [1/5]
For each power stones milestone—50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also release a bonus chapter for every two reviews until it reaches ten reviews.
Review status: [7/10]