The first half of the Grand Line, in a small town—
A few minutes earlier, Kaelen and Robin had stepped onto the island.
"According to the latest intel, Wapol showed up here three days ago," Robin said.
At Kaelen's suggestion, she had changed her hairstyle—no more bangs hiding her forehead—and swapped out her clothes for something more stylish and modern. Her pale complexion now held a healthy glow, and with it came a new radiance and confidence.
Beside her, Kaelen replied casually, "Let's find a bar first."
Bars were the best place to gather information—a chaotic blend of fishmongers and pirates, full of rumors and leads.
They walked through the streets, heading toward one such bar.
Kaelen's search for Wapol wasn't random. After defeating the Golden Lion, he had devised a plan—to systematically track down Devil Fruit users with rare or dangerous powers, especially those involving time, space, or unnatural attributes.
From memory, Kaelen had created a list of targets. Robin was in charge of intel gathering. Her years of hiding from the World Government had made her a master of disguise and connection. Her underground networks stretched across the seas.
According to her latest findings, Wapol was the closest.
Wapol, once the king of the Drum Kingdom, had eaten the [Munch-Munch Fruit], a power that allowed him to consume and fuse anything—even humans or machines—within his body. After Luffy defeated him, Wapol had disappeared from politics and started manufacturing toys, trying to regain influence in a different way.
A formidable Devil Fruit user, reduced to selling children's novelties.
---
Inside the bar, Kaelen and Robin sat quietly in a corner, having ordered wine and a few simple dishes.
Around them, pirates filled the place with noise and chatter. Kaelen's name came up often—always with fear or admiration.
"How does it feel to be the center of every conversation, Captain?" Robin asked as she sipped her coffee with casual elegance, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Kaelen adjusted the brim of his hat and replied coolly, "What can I say? Low-profile just isn't my style."
Robin said nothing, downing her coffee in a single gulp before standing and walking toward the bar.
She pulled out a newspaper and a few gold coins, sliding them across to the bartender. After a brief exchange, she returned.
"There's a toy merchant on the west side of the street. Looks a lot like Wapol—it should be him."
"Good. If he had taken to the sea again, tracking him down would've been a nightmare."
Kaelen nodded.
"Gulp."
"Let's go meet him."
Finishing their meal, the two rose and exited the bar.
As they stepped outside, silence fell across the entire room.
Pirates exhaled in relief, wiping cold sweat from their brows.
"Whew... he's gone."
"Just sitting near that guy was suffocating."
"He's got a bounty of over a billion Berries... you don't mess with someone like that."
Though Kaelen wore a hat and kept his posture relaxed, everyone in the bar had recognized him. Some even went out of their way to offer praise or respectful gestures. Pirates who survive long in these waters rarely act without caution.
---
Outside, Kaelen heard the whispers and chuckled softly.
Soon, they came upon a street vendor's toy stall.
A stout middle-aged man stood behind it, plastering on a forced smile that didn't touch his eyes.
Kaelen's gaze sharpened. That was him—Wapol.
Smiling, Kaelen stepped forward.
"Care to make a deal, Wapol?"
Swish.
Startled by the voice, Wapol snapped his head up.
"Who are you? I don't know you. What do you want to trade?"
Wapol didn't recognize Kaelen. He'd been too absorbed in toy sales and back-alley dealings to pay attention to recent bounty posters.
Kaelen bared his teeth in a confident grin that made Wapol's chest tighten with unease.
"Ah, forgive me. I forgot introductions. My name is Kaelen Tsukishiro."
"And this is Nico Robin, my maid."
"My offer is simple—stand still and let me kill you. I promise it'll be painless."
Robin turned her back, clearly disinterested in watching what came next.
Wapol blinked, stupefied.
What kind of lunatic offered death like a business deal?
"You're insane."
---
"Heh heh heh... kid, looks like you came looking for a death wish!"
Wapol's fake smile twisted into a scowl as his body began to transform.
In an instant, he became a mechanical monstrosity—gears spinning, pipes hissing, limbs clicking into place.
"Then die!"
Twin mechanical arms slammed down like falling towers, targeting Kaelen and Robin.
"So dramatic," Robin muttered, completely unfazed. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Kaelen shook his head slightly and lifted his hand.
With a wave of his palm, the air turned dim.
Stones, debris, trees, and rubble lifted into the air, pulled from every corner of the street.
In a flash, they all shot toward Wapol like guided missiles.
This technique mirrored the ancient shinobi art of "Heavenly Burial."
"Aghhh, wait, don't—"
BOOM.
Before Wapol could finish pleading, the entire street exploded in a cloud of debris.
A mound of rubble buried the former king.
Kaelen lowered his hand, walking forward without urgency.
"Villains always talk too much."
He glanced at the crushed mass.
[Ding. Congratulations, host. You have absorbed the Munch-Munch Fruit ability...]
---
Send Powerstones 🥀