Chapter 185: Sabaody Auction
"Kehehe... Marines! I just love killing Marines!"
Caribou slowly stood up, licking the blood from the corner of his mouth. With a sweeping gesture, he unleashed a massive wave of toxic mud that surged toward both Hina and Sylvia.
"Tch... Smoker-san's Moku Moku no Mi is definitely more troublesome than this."
Seeing the approaching sludge, Hina quickly retreated.
If she became engulfed in this swamp, suffocation would be inevitable. The nature of Caribou's Numa Numa no Mi was insidious—the more you struggled, the deeper you sank, the closer to death you came.
But Hina didn't panic.
Once Marine reinforcements arrived with seastone bullets, they'd quickly teach this arrogant pirate a harsh lesson.
She steadied herself and glanced around. The other bar patrons had already fled in terror.
As for the other people involved in this incident—
Wait.
Why were Sylvia and that Rhodes guy still here?!
Oh no!
Hina's expression changed dramatically as she tried to dodge away—
But almost instantly—
SMACK! SMACK!
That familiar stinging sensation spread across her rear once again, sending Hina into an absolute fury.
"DAMN YOU!"
"Hina will never forgive you!"
Hina clutched her burning backside with both hands while leaping away, glaring daggers at the infuriating young man who'd suddenly appeared beside her.
"What a coincidence—you show up wherever I am. Are you worried your butt isn't getting enough attention? Want me to provide some physical therapy?"
Rhodes teased with a grin.
"You bastard...!"
Hina seethed with rage, but seeing the swamp mud about to engulf them both, she couldn't help but warn:
"Watch out!"
But Rhodes simply clenched his fist and threw a casual punch without even looking.
"Hasshoken!"
BOOM!
A massive shockwave rippled outward, crushing the swamp mud like rotted wood and shattering it completely before it could reach them.
"How filthy."
Looking at the mud splattered everywhere and the bar that had been completely polluted by Caribou's ability, Rhodes shook his head in distaste and vanished in a blur.
His fist coated in Armament Haki, he appeared directly in front of the startled Caribou and delivered a single devastating punch.
WHAM!
Wet-Haired Caribou's eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious, never even seeing the attack coming.
"Boss Caribou got knocked out in one hit?!"
The other pirates stared in horror at the young man in white before them, a nagging sense of familiarity tugging at their minds.
Caribou's younger brother, flew into a rage.
"How dare you hurt my big brother!"
He roared, gripping his shovel with both hands and swinging it at Rhodes's neck—clearly intending to decapitate him in one brutal strike.
Unfortunately for him—
His movements were far too slow. Compared to Rhodes's superhuman reflexes, he might as well have been moving underwater.
Perhaps because they'd only recently set sail from the North Blue, the Caribou Brothers weren't particularly skilled despite their Logia advantage and high bounties.
Looking at this portly, ugly man with his lizard-like features, Rhodes drew Spectre—the cursed blade that had been vibrating with anticipation since the fight began.
FLASH!
In a silver arc, Blood-Splatterer" Coribou shovel was severed cleanly in half.
Along with his head.
A fierce expression remained frozen on that ugly face, completely unaware that the attack had even occurred.
"Is this... the true power of the Dragon Slayer?"
Hina watched in a mixture of awe and despair. How could I ever get revenge? He's simply too strong... I can't even see his movements clearly...
Meanwhile, Rhodes stood perfectly still, his attention focused inward.
He sensed a strange power flowing from Spectre into his body—hazy and tinged with a dark, spectral aura.
"Spiritual energy? Or some other supernatural power..."
Rhodes's eyes widened slightly in realization. This was the first person to actually die by Spectre's edge since he'd acquired the cursed blade.
His mind connected with the weapon.
He could vaguely sense a feeling of... satisfaction? Relief?
It seemed to convey: "Finally! A supreme blade of my caliber, comparable even to the Kitetsu demon swords, and it took this long to taste blood after being drawn!"
"The power of the netherworld... a force existing between the living and the dead. It can temporarily enhance the swordsman's capabilities. The stronger the wielder, the more power can be channeled..."
Receiving the subtle impressions from Spectre, Rhodes understood.
This was the unique characteristic of the cursed blade, the supreme sword—Kitetsu Spectre!
"It requires killing to accumulate this power?"
Rhodes pondered thoughtfully. Of course, he'd never abandon his principles and slaughter innocents for a power boost.
But the pirate world was full of irredeemable scum who deserved their fates a thousand times over. His next destination, for instance—the Sabaody Archipelago—was crawling with such people.
"What an unexpected bonus. I'm a bit more confident about the coming Battle of Marineford now."
Rhodes smiled, sheathing his blade. He casually grabbed the unconscious Caribou from the floor and tossed him to Hina.
Hina instinctively caught him, then immediately handed him off to the Marines who'd just arrived, ordering them to restrain him with seastone handcuffs. She turned back to Rhodes, somewhat puzzled as to why he'd given her the captured pirate.
Rhodes chuckled and offered playfully:
"This guy's bounty is pretty substantial, isn't it? Consider it compensation for the... medical examination I gave you."
With that, he strode out of the bar with Sylvia and Elsa in tow.
Caribou was far too weak at this stage, relying entirely on his Logia intangibility for his reputation. The meager netherworld power he'd provided was probably comparable to what Rhodes got from Krieger back in the East Blue—simply not worth keeping.
"THAT BASTARD!"
Hina's usual composed demeanor shattered completely. If she weren't thoroughly outmatched, she would have charged after him and bitten him!
"Captain Hina... Caribou's bounty is 210,000,000 berries..."
One of the Marines spoke up hesitantly, trying to lighten the mood.
"SHUT UP AND GET OUT!"
Hina snapped, her face burning crimson.
After leaving the bar, Rhodes and the two women didn't continue sightseeing, instead heading straight for the harbor.
Sylvia and Elsa had their own adventures to pursue, and Rhodes had his own objectives, so the three prepared to part ways.
Under the longing gazes of both women—particularly Sylvia's determined eyes—Rhodes used Geppo to gracefully ascend, vanishing against the distant horizon.
"Someday..." Sylvia murmured, gripping her sword hilt. "I'll be strong enough to stand on that level."
"We'll get there," Elsa assured her friend, squeezing her shoulder. "Let's keep moving forward."
Sabaody Archipelago.
Rhodes emerged from his spatial portal and once again arrived at this magnificent island that resembled something from a fairy tale—massive mangrove trees creating bubble-filled groves numbered 1 through 79.
"By now, the Supernovas should have all arrived at Sabaody."
"I should visit Shakky first and confirm the information about that Devil Fruit."
He had multiple reasons for coming to Sabaody.
First, because the Paramount War at Marineford was rapidly approaching, and this location was conveniently close to Marine Headquarters.
Second, because Robin had sent intelligence about an auction house on Sabaody selling a particularly rare spatial-type Devil Fruit.
Grove 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
Returning here, Rhodes's entire perspective had changed.
The last time he'd visited, he'd been relatively weak—no match whatsoever for the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh.
Now, while he probably still couldn't defeat the legendary right hand of the Pirate King, he could at least hold his own in a brief confrontation and retreat safely if necessary.
"Oh my, what a rare visitor!"
Shakuyaku—Shakky—looked up in pleasant surprise, still dressed in her usual stylish outfit with a cigarette between her fingers.
Rhodes, characteristically direct, asked about the auction details.
"The Human Auction House in Grove 1? There's supposedly a rare Devil Fruit being offered—likely a spatial-type based on the descriptions. The exact details are being kept secret to drive up interest and bidding."
Shakky recalled, exhaling a stream of smoke.
"I see."
Rhodes nodded slightly, confirming it was indeed spatial-type.
"How much do I owe you for the information?"
"Don't worry about such a small matter."
Shakky waved dismissively, then her expression became more meaningful.
"Consider it thanks for the information you shared about Ace."
Rhodes's eyes gleamed with understanding, and he smiled knowingly.
"That will certainly be a grand occasion."
"Indeed."
Shakky's expression grew more serious. "Though there are some things you shouldn't interfere with."
"Of course. But some people shouldn't die there either."
Rhodes nodded slightly, understanding her meaning perfectly. Some events had to unfold as destined—but not all the deaths were necessary.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
Rhodes turned and departed, heading toward Grove 1. The auction would begin soon, and he had a Devil Fruit to acquire.
(End of Chapter)
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