Chapter 57: Pirate Scavengers (Part 5)
[Eliminated the "Gunslinger" Pirate Crew. Total bounty: 69 million Berries. Total pirate crews eliminated: two]
"That's it? That wasn't even a proper fight," Esdeath said, still unsatisfied, her face full of eagerness as if she could keep fighting all day and night.
"I'd appreciate it if you could show some restraint. I still need 'time,'" Kurumi said with displeasure. She couldn't absorb time from regular civilians, so she had to rely on pirates. But Esdeath had slaughtered every last one of them.
"For the next pirate crew, let me extract enough 'time' before you make a move."
"Hmph. Won't that make all the pirates too weak to fight? How can I enjoy the thrill of battle like that?"
"Seems like you don't understand a lady's 'restraint.'"
"'Restraint'? That's useless to a strong person."
"Ara, just keep striving to become the world's strongest. Don't bother coming back—I'll take good care of Eric ."
"I'll tie Eric to myself and move forward together to the top of the world. Give up already."
While Eric and Akame were looting the pirate ship's treasure, the two women were engaged in a chest-thrusting face-off, arguing endlessly. With no one to stop them, it looked like they could keep bickering until the end of time. 'Kurumi, where's your proud tsundere lady act? Esdeath, where's your cool, domineering queen vibe? Gone. All gone…' Eric wept internally.
"That's enough. The next pirate crew will be Kurumi's turn to extract 'time.' There's no point in you fighting such weaklings anyway."
"Hmph, since Eric said it, I'll hand this one over. You'd better be grateful."
"Hehe, I'm not your trained pet. If you want gratitude, maybe take a nap first~"
"Enough!" Eric let out a long sigh. "I know someone incredibly strong. We can't meet them now, but Esdeath, I ask you to be patient. And Kurumi, please maintain your noble etiquette. Arguing ruins your refined image. Don't spoil the beautiful impression I have of you."
Esdeath placed a hand over her chest. 'I don't know why, but being given orders like this… doesn't feel bad. Is this… love?'
Kurumi blushed slightly and nodded. In that moment, she reverted to a noble lady, turning her head with tsundere flair. "I understand."
Akame, observing the scene, bluntly said, "Eric 's skill at coaxing women has definitely improved."
'What do you mean coaxing?! I'm mediating conflict! I'm solving problems!' Eric screamed inside, though even he didn't fully believe it.
After looting the supplies, they left the pirate ship—now in ruins thanks to "White Ice Shard Storm." Another pirate crew had vanished without a trace, replaced by a ghost ship full of corpses.
Funds acquired: +3.1 million Berries.
...
"Wrecker" Vander Thorn was a three-meter-tall giant, wielding a massive spiked club. With his brute strength, he liked to smash both enemies and ships to bits.
Just recently, Vander Thorn had led a raid on a small town, destroying all its buildings and setting the place ablaze, leaving it in ruins. Dozens of civilians were killed or injured. He earned the title "Wrecker," and his bounty skyrocketed to 87 million Berries—already an extremely high bounty for the first half of Paradise.
Having just committed his crimes, Vander Thorn believed Admiral Aokiji had come to Drum Island specifically to capture him. In a panic, he fled under the cover of night, hoping to reach the next island and avoid the Marines.
But he overestimated his importance. For someone like him, even sending a Vice Admiral would be overkill—let alone a full Admiral. Villages and towns destroyed by pirates were sadly too common. If pirates had one "virtue," it was that most only stole goods and rarely killed unnecessarily. Like cutting grass: let it regrow before harvesting again. Few bothered to uproot it entirely.
After a day of running, the pirates let their guard down. Tension gave way to laziness. Even the lookout in the Karasu's nest started slacking off and drinking. Only when Eric 's single-masted boat approached did the pirates finally react.
"Enemy attack!" shouted the lookout, ringing the alarm bell.
"Who's there?!" the pirates, who had been gambling, slacking off, or napping, grabbed their weapons and rushed out.
"City of Devoured Time!" Kurumi's domain activated. Most of the charging pirates collapsed on the deck, drained of strength. Only three or four managed to remain standing. Vander Thorn, being incredibly strong, only grimaced briefly before returning to normal—clearly not heavily affected.
"Who dares?! I'm 'Wrecker' Vander Thorn, the man who makes children cry at night!" The giant slammed his spiked club on the deck, splintering the wood with a loud crack.
'That poor ship…' Eric silently mourned for it.
"A man this huge would be a fascinating interrogation subject."
"Then he's all yours. Just don't harm the others unnecessarily," Kurumi said. She had no real interest in combat—her goal was to absorb time to support Eric .
The golden clock face in Kurumi's left eye spun rapidly. The second hand ticked backward, dragging the minute hand along—proof she was extracting time from the pirates.
"I doubt this guy will stay still. Judging by his look and nickname, he doesn't seem like the disciplined type."
"Ara, are you trying to make me angry?"
"Training you into a pet might be fun too, little kitten~"
Seeing another argument about to break out in front of the enemy, Eric jumped in. "Esdeath, just freeze his limbs. That'll make capturing him easy. Then interrogate him however you like. Kurumi, there are still two pirate crews left. You can sit this one out and enjoy some tea. Here—it's freshly brewed."
"Geez… I don't know why, but every time I see Esdeath, I just want to argue. I must be acting childish. I need to reflect~" Kurumi sighed, choosing to stop the bickering for today.
"I've got him." While Kurumi was still self-reflecting, Esdeath had already subdued Vander Thorn—in an instant.
"What?! I'm already… What did you do to me?!" Vander Thorn, now bound tightly, had gone from towering over Esdeath to lying on the ground, looking up at her. His limbs no longer responded, and he felt sharp pain from several points on his body. Blood flowed from his ankles.
"Hm? I just kicked and punched you a few times, then cut your tendons with my sword so you wouldn't run. That's all," Esdeath said casually.
Vander Thorn's face twisted in horror. Only now did he feel the pain in his ankles. He let out a long scream.
Esdeath didn't stop him. She dragged the three-meter-tall giant behind her, pulling him like a suitcase toward the rear of the ship. Before entering the cabin, she turned back. "Anyone want to watch the interrogation?" Seeing everyone shake their heads, she entered alone.
Three pirates, now completely ignored, quietly moved toward the ship's edge as screams echoed from their captain's cabin. They tried to slip away without a sound, preparing to jump into the sea.
"Ara, your time is valuable too, you know." With the team's Observation Haki, how could they escape? Eric and Akame rushed forward and knocked the three out, electrocuting and binding them.
"How long does your City of Devoured Time need to fully absorb?" Eric asked. It was the first time Kurumi had used the ability on humans for full replenishment—previously, she'd only used it on animals.
"About half a day. The speed depends on how many people are within the domain. There is another faster method though…" (Though that method might involve eating them.)
"Half a day is fine. Esdeath will probably take her time 'playing' too. And I don't want you using that method—it's not very ladylike, is it?"
"So thoughtful, Eric -~" Kurumi smiled, her lips curving into a delicate crescent.
(END CHAPTER)
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