Chapter Title: Serialized Chapter, Longing Pauses for Now Nine, Set Off, Buru Gioia Kingdom
The wandering painter George and the second-rate hypnotist Tilda spent all their savings to buy a small boat, preparing to drift across the ocean… They embraced at the bow of the deck, tears streaming as they repeatedly read the newspaper in their hands…
…
Among several pages of huge reports about the so-called Swordsman Tournament on Vacation Island, news about Giorno, Hawk Eyes, some "Demon Lady," Shiryu of the Rain, and others, there was a small missing person notice tucked in the corner of the page, with text, a photo, an address, and a flashy rose mark at the end…
In the photo, standing on the deck of some ship, was a pure-faced little girl, their long-lost daughter Mari-An…
"We absolutely can't let that guy off just like that!"
Under the clear blue sky, the noon climate on Vacation Island was pleasant, a given, really, since Vacation Island's weather was always pleasant; otherwise it wouldn't qualify as a vacation island.
A group of several dozen people gathered together, exchanging looks filled with mutual anger.
Anger towards that Chopper-na, Giorno.
These were the disgraced, the losers who had been swept away like trash in the most humiliating way. Holding their swords, they gathered in a bar near the arena, their minds focused on only one thing: revenge.
"He's just relying on his Devil Fruit power to control metal."
"That despicable bastard, nothin' special."
"I hate him so much! I want to chop him into hundreds of pieces…"
Over a thousand had been eliminated in one fell swoop by Liam.
Some were so frightened by the scene of the rain of a thousand swords that they lost their courage to hold a sword ever again.
Others simply realized the gap in strength…
But there were also groups like this one, and perhaps many others scattered across the island, several dozen who were not cowed by that scene, but instead ignited with Kuma's fury and unwillingness to accept defeat. They were angry that Giorno won with such un-swordsmanlike tactics, unwilling for this Swordsman journey to end like this. They gathered together, vowing revenge against that Giorno and his female captain.
Bah! She's just his lover!
That lovey-dovey couple were all over each other at the tournament, infuriating to see!
"Look at this."
One Swordsman gulped down a large mouthful of alcohol, slammed the cup on the table, and picked up a large bundle from the floor by his feet.
He opened it in front of everyone. Inside were long staffs, rough swords, axes, and hammers…
Robust Man's face flushed red with a sneer: "He can control metal, right? Then all we gotta do is make sure there's no metal on us for him to control!"
These weapons inside the bundle were bought at great expense by him, hastily purchased on the island specifically to fight Giorno.
All crafted from diamond!
When it came to hardness, diamonds surpassed ordinary metal swords and blades!
"Nice stuff!"
The gathered Swordsmanes' eyes shone as they picked up these rough diamond weapons. Only a few swords were sharpened to the point of being true blades; most looked like unsharpened swords, or simply diamond clubs, axes, and hammers.
In this world, diamonds were not marketed extravagantly, though not worthless, but compared to Liam's past life, diamonds here were far cheaper, even cheaper than most gems, not to mention gold.
As a raw material, diamond was even cheaper here. The Swordsman who bought these weapons spent far more on processing costs than on the diamond material itself.
"This is great! With these diamond weapons, we'll teach that hateful bastard a good lesson!"
"He's just a 200 million Belly brat from Paradise, who happens to have that annoying ability…"
The several dozen unwillingly eliminated Swordsmanes clinked their glasses. Each one was a famous Swordsman stirring up storms on the seas, some from the New World, some passing cleanly through Mari Gioia, pirates even from Whitebeard's Fish-Man Island, who had braved the deep sea trenches… How could they accept being eliminated by some inexplicable brat who only appeared a few years ago?
Especially in such an infuriating way!
"Let's go! Kill him on his way to the arena this afternoon!"
"And that woman! Kill her too!"
The several dozen people stormed out of the bar with fierce determination.
The other patrons inside the bar exchanged glances:
"......…"
"They're just shouting so loudly like that?"
"What else would they do?"
"Are you going to go warn that Giorno?"
The bar was abuzz with talk and speculation.
"Cut it out. No matter what, that guy's a pirate, right? Who would risk getting revenge from those desperados to help two pirates?"
"Giorno dared to do that kind of thing, he should be prepared to face the consequences. If those people kill him, he only has himself to blame!"
"Yeah, look at the bar boss? He's acting like he didn't hear a thing…"
The bartender, busy mixing drinks, didn't even look up. "Sir, I honestly didn't hear anything."
The whole bar erupted in laughter.
Meanwhile, across the room, the several dozen people armed with diamond weapons spread out, blocking the area around the arena where the Swordsman Tournament was being held, silently waiting for Giorno and Jolyne to appear.
Time passed slowly. The sun moved past the zenith. Afternoon approached…
More and more spectators, in groups of three to five, poured through every street, rushing toward the arena.
The eliminated Swordsmanes hid in dark corners, their eyes sharp, scrutinizing every person passing by.
There were still four more preliminary matches in the afternoon, each with over forty participants, more than a hundred swordsmen in total… Among the crowd, the eliminated Swordsmanes watched those swordsmen walking toward the arena with the spectators.
"We are no weaker than them! It's just bad luck we got cut by the blades!"
The Swordsmanes lurking in the shadows burned with hatred.
Wearing military caps and uniforms, biting cigars, carrying monstrous blades at their waists, Shiryu of the Rain walked through the crowd. People automatically parted to leave a clear path.
He had already won the fourth preliminary match that morning and advanced successfully. He was here in the afternoon only to watch another woman named Charlotte and Hawk Eyes Mihawk's match.
On another street, Charlotte Amande, having won her morning match, accompanied her elder sister Monde on the way to the arena.
In the Charlotte family, except for their mother, most siblings loved each other dearly. Their strong family bond was both a result of years of education and because their mother would occasionally rage and lose control, if they didn't stick together, the family might have been wiped out by their mom long ago.
Over the years, the Charlotte siblings had long gotten used to the rule "family above all." Even the so-called "Demon (harmony) Lady" would appear quite humane in front of her brothers and sisters, unless absolutely necessary.
"Losing to these people… is at least not a wasted trip!"
"That's how it should be…"
The eliminated Swordsmanes spying from the shadows felt their hearts bleed. If they lost on the arena to the Demon (harmony) Lady, to Shiryu of the Rain, or to the man called Hawk Eyes… at least they would lose respectfully, with a name!
But being eliminated by that Giorno in that way, they wouldn't even leave a name!
No one would remember they came to this Swordsman Tournament.
Such an elimination would become an eternal scar in their hearts.
Mihawk, wearing a feathered hat politely, a trench coat over his bare chest, arms crossed, carrying his huge Black Blade, and stepping in leather boots, walked down the street toward the arena.
He paid no attention whatsoever to the rats hiding in the alleys on either side.
"......"
The eliminated Swordsmanes waiting at key points around the arena waited a long time, until the streets became empty. Most people had already entered the arena. They could even hear the loud roar of the crowd inside.
The matches had already started, but they still hadn't seen any sign of Giorno or Jolyne…
(End Of This Chapter)
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