Chapter 58: Those With Pure Intentions
For Vergil and Fujitora, locating a few individuals nearby was trivial.
Vergil, in his Chīguǐ Form, sensed disturbances in the earth, tracking them down. Fujitora's Observation Haki easily covered the entire city district.
They swiftly found the missing children and dealt with the "pirates" one by one. Only this final location remained.
...
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch…
The two munched on rice crackers, discussing the situation.
"Just as I thought!" Fujitora tapped his cane-sword, sighing heavily. "Not even Elegia's music can redeem the unjust!"
"But…" He changed tack, finishing his cracker, his Observation Haki extending toward Zorian. "Beautiful notes also attract noble souls."
He'd never seen a soul-shadow radiating pure white light like Zorian's. Yet, sensing deeper, something felt… off. Indescribable.
"He…" Fujitora frowned slightly. Something about Zorian felt wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint it.
Meanwhile, Vergil passed Fujitora another snack, also frowning. Not caring didn't mean not curious. Compared to Zorian, he was more intrigued by these so-called "pirates."
Elegia, for all its love of music and peace, wasn't naïve. Allowing pirates during the festival meant their Royal Guard was competent, capable of handling malice.
As for the "pirates" kidnapping children—how would they leave the country? Elegia was a World Government member. The Royal Guard was already alerted. If the children weren't found, ports would be sealed, Marines summoned. Why would the Marines pass up such an easy exploit?
"…" Something's off. Vergil rubbed his fingers. Kidnapping children here seemed an impossible deal unless…
Unless chaos erupted in Elegia, overwhelming the Royal Guard.
Tot Musica? Unlikely. That was a top secret, known only in fragments even to the Government, possibly from Ohara.
Unable to resolve it, Vergil refocused on the present.
...
The fight between Gia Zorian and the "pirates" had begun.
A dozen pirates formed two rings around him—inner circle with blades, outer with muskets, loading lead shot, seeking openings.
"Haa…" Zorian exhaled, his right hand reaching behind his back, gripping his greatsword's hilt.
Click.
The instant his hand touched the hilt, one overeager underling lunged. "You think we'll let you draw?!"
Swish! A slash aimed to seize initiative.
But Zorian suddenly dropped low, twisting his torso, using the still-sheathed greatsword's hilt to block the blade. Then, a powerful wrench—
Snap!
The underling's blade shattered. Zorian swung the sheathed sword forward, easily batting the man aside.
"Hah!" Zorian's eyes shone with excitement. "I'm ready! Come at me!"
"Who's playing fair?" the boss roared. The underlings raised their muskets.
BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG…!
A volley of lead shot.
But the impossible happened. Zorian, one-handed, swung his sword at blinding speed, deflecting every bullet, leaving no gaps.
...
Observation Haki.
Vergil glanced at Fujitora… then patted his shoulder.
"Hm." Fujitora nodded slowly. "That young knight's Observation is formidable."
Bright as the sun, illuminating surrounding shadows, leaving enemies nowhere to hide.
...
"I'm sorry, I'm still practicing my Armament Haki," Zorian said with an embarrassed smile, his sword weaving left and right, scattering the underlings.
"He's blocking the bullets!"
"Damn! What terrifying skill!"
"Run!"
"…"
Soon, only Scar-face, the boss, remained, collapsed on the ground, drenched in cold sweat.
"You… stay back!" Seeing Zorian approach, sword in hand, Scar-face babbled. "I… I took those kids to sea to treat their illnesses! They have a serious infectious disease! Need professional facilities!"
He spun wild tales from half-remembered rumors. As Zorian raised his sword, Scar-face shrieked, "Believe me! I'm a good person!"
"Really? I'm so sorry." Zorian suddenly lowered his sword, face full of remorse. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Why?"
"…"
Scar-face: "…"
Vergil: "…"
Fujitora: "…"
"?"
All three tilted their heads in unison, a question mark hovering over each.
Suddenly, Fujitora seemed to realize something. "I see. I've figured out what's wrong!"
Simultaneously, Scar-face had an idea. He drew a dagger from his waist, lunging at Zorian's exposed neck as the knight bowed in apology.
"?!"
In that instant—
Fujitora's sword flashed an inch from its sheath. The Gravity Fruit's power arrived like icy light.
"SHAMELESS!"
Having discerned Zorian's oddity, Fujitora was enraged. Immense weight attached to the dagger, instantly crushing Scar-face's fingers, sending it clattering.
THUD!
"Agh!"
Scar-face's scream echoed. Before he could recover, a massive hand clamped his shoulder, pressing down.
CRUNCH.
Scar-face was embedded in the ground, motionless.
Zorian, witnessing this, gasped in realization. "He was lying? This despicable villain!"
"…"
"Phew…" Vergil exhaled slowly, sharing a look with Fujitora.
He, too, had noticed Zorian's abnormality.
From their meeting, Zorian's personality shone like the sun, flawless. Such nobility was extraordinary.
But it also revealed another trait: Zorian had never witnessed true "evil" in the world.
...
"Ohhh… To think such a person exists upon these seas…" Fujitora murmured, almost disbelieving.
Even well-behaved children knew good from evil. But one who had never seen "evil" saw only kindness.
See the world with kindness, and you see only kindness.
Was that a flaw? Fujitora couldn't say. Who could claim "seeing the world with kindness" was wrong? Fujitora didn't think so. Neither did Vergil.
But regardless, this sea was filled with malice, rife with schemes and "bad people."
...
Such as?
...
Such as outside the city, in a mountain cabin.
Two figures.
Crocodile, cigar in mouth, faced the "girl" he'd long pursued.
She hid in shadows, eyeing Crocodile with deep distrust. Their mutual probing had revealed each other's aims.
"Heh heh heh heh…" A low chuckle. Crocodile's smile was dark. "But if I have clues to Pluton… would you cooperate?"
"…"
"Fine."
The girl's voice was cold. Her journey had hardened her to betrayal and manipulation. Surrounding herself with a dangerous "crocodile" to pursue and protect Poneglyphs was a risk she'd take.
Crocodile was using her.
She was using Crocodile.
A grand conspiracy, mutually predatory, was brewing.
...
See?
Two very, very bad people.
(End of Chapter 58)
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