"Yes, just as the intelligence report said, he really does have the ability to control metal."
Headquarter Rear Admiral Kaji, currently covered in bandages with seven swords stuck into him, was giving his first-hand report through the Den Den Mushi in communication with HQ. He winced and sucked in a breath sharply from the pain.
"It's the Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit)," the Den Den Mushi said emotionlessly. "He first used this ability back in South Blue. Unlike when he took Caesar's Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas-Gas Fruit) and never used it again, this time he's kept the Magnet-Magnet Fruit all along… It seems he intends to use it long-term."
"The Gasu Gasu no Mi?! That's right!" a nearby Marine exclaimed in shock. "That's a Logia-type fruit! And he just… just discarded it like that?!"
That's a Logia!
Everyone knows how powerful Logia-type Devil Fruits are, undeniably the most powerful class among the three types of Devil Fruits.
The moment someone obtains a Logia, their strength skyrockets. Even a decrepit, worn-out old man, running on empty stamina, could dominate the majority of the world's people using just the basic "elemental transformation" ability.
And yet that Chopperna Giorno… just threw away a precious Logia-type fruit without even using it?
The Marines looked at each other in disbelief. They couldn't understand this pirate's logic at all, why would anyone abandon a Logia in favor of a Paramecia like the Magnet-Magnet Fruit?
Why?!
"He has a unique ability to steal other people's Devil Fruits," the Den Den Mushi continued in the same blank tone. "So his view on the value of Devil Fruits is naturally different from ours."
At this point, Vice Admiral Onigumo, head wrapped in bandages, spoke: "And Life Return. That pirate's mastery of Life Return far surpasses mine."
He recalled how Giorno had turned his back on him, imitating his technique, grabbing seven or eight blades with his hair, and slashing at him so relentlessly he could hardly respond...
Onigumo felt deeply powerless.
To be defeated by someone in the very field you excel in, that's the most crushing blow of all.
"And his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) is also exceptional," Vice Admiral Onigumo tried to keep his tone calm. "To maintain such a high level of training in both Life Return and Haki... that's an incredibly rare kind of genius! Admiral Sengoku, this Giorno's threat level can no longer be ignored…"
"…" The Den Den Mushi was silent for a moment, before slowly asking, "What about Gion? Her fight with that Kujo Jolyne…"
Kaji shook his head. "Gion lost to that female pirate. And ever since she returned, she's been… a bit off."
He frowned. "She's been absent-minded. That's not like her. She's never been the fragile type."
"That Kujo Jolyne also possesses a special ability."
Just then, Gion walked over. Without looking at Kaji, she calmly walked up to the Den Den Mushi.
"A special ability?" the Den Den Mushi's expression didn't change. "Right, I recall from earlier intel that Kujo Jolyne might have some kind of teleportation or space-movement ability…"
"It's not that," Gion shook her head. She held her neck, or perhaps her chest? The pain from that blade sinking into her flesh was still vivid. After briefly describing what she felt during the battle, she frowned and said slowly, "I suspect it might be some kind of hallucination-type ability… or perhaps something that manipulates my five senses…"
"I see. Got it." was all the Den Den Mushi said.
Gion let out a soft sigh.
There just wasn't enough information. Even experiencing it firsthand, she still couldn't make a proper judgment.
And the most frustrating part was…
Vice Admiral Onigumo and Rear Admiral Kaji both shared the headache, the most frustrating part was that Chopperna Giorno's special ability…
No one knew when, or whose, or what kind of Devil Fruit he might steal next!
Because of that, any temporary assessment of his or his female captain's abilities might become completely invalid at any moment…
It seemed even Admiral Sengoku's somewhat indifferent attitude stemmed from that,
If the opponent's abilities could change at any time, what's the point of wasting effort to guess anything?
"If we want to deal with those two, it can only be done by overwhelming them with pure strength," Vice Admiral Onigumo thought to himself. "Send multiple Vice Admirals to hunt them down, or… deploy Admiral-level power!"
The Marines have three Admirals. One must remain stationed at Headquarters.
Another must stay to oversee the New World. Only one Admiral-level force can be dispatched to the seas of Paradise…
Normally, in the first half of the Grand Line, Paradise, there is no pirate crew worthy of requiring Admiral-level deployment.
But now… the JOJO pirate crew has emerged.
In Vice Admiral Onigumo's view, even if this crew were thrown into the New World, they'd still count as one of the stronger pirate groups.
And yet, this bizarre pair of pirates forming this bizarre pirate crew insisted on loitering around the seas of the First Half, even drifting over to the South Blue for a while…
Such a weak ocean, what's there to stay for? Absolutely no ambition as true strong ones!
Just like that Red-Haired pirate crew!
Birds of a feather, united in nonsense, creating trouble out of nothing, utterly incorrigible.
They're clearly strong, and yet they wander the weaker seas. And on top of that, their behavior isn't particularly aggressive.
Even though they're a crew of monstrous strength, the destruction they cause is less than a small-fry pirate gang…
This left the Marines in an awkward, uncomfortable position. To act? Regular troops would just be cannon fodder. To ignore? How could they bear the shame of the "Justice" on their backs?
Just thinking about it made Onigumo furious.
"Enough overthinking," the Den Den Mushi said slowly, "Since that vacation island currently flies under Crocodile's Warlord title, we don't need to interfere with those pirates for now. Once the tournament ends and Crocodile's flag is withdrawn, then we'll talk. For now, dispatch some forces to continue pursuing the Sun Pirate crew…"
"Understood!"
"Honestly…"
A delicate hand reached down to pick up a towel, wrapping around a blossom-strewn body.
Robin, leaning against the wall, long hair hanging low, wore a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
She soon left for the living room, boiling water, preparing milk, getting ready to make a cup of floral milk tea.
Hua la la!
In the bathroom, a 2.4-meter tall, broad-shouldered and muscular young man stood beneath the showerhead, washing off.
Suddenly, a pitch-black battle armor phased through the wall.
B.I.B., at close range, examined its host's body, watching the water run down the sharp contours of his muscles.
"Got any gold in there?" Liam asked casually.
B.I.B. shook its head.
Liam lathered his hair and chuckled, "Makes sense. Since we already have the Gold Lion, having him wouldn't be surprising!"
The ember on the cigar tip glowed brightly, then dimmed, in turns. Wisps of smoke curled through the air.
Crocodile sat like an Admiral on a leather sofa, alone in a lavish, dimly lit room, quietly puffing his cigar.
(End Of This Chapter)
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