One Piece: Adopting Akainu at the beginning, adopted son Barrett

Chapter 250 Miracles Are Not Beautiful
"Mr. Roger, what kind of power is the Conqueror's Haki?"

At dusk on an isolated island, three people sat at a barbecue on the beach, eating and chatting.

After two days of stimulation, Barrett, who still hadn't awakened his domineering color, ate the barbecue in his hand and asked Roger for advice.

Roger laughed loudly, weighed the huge meat and bone stick twice in mid-air, and said heartlessly:
"Hahaha, I can't really answer that question. Although I'm very powerful, my Conqueror's Haki and I are like a tool that a child is born with. I awakened inexplicably not long after I went out to sea, and then I became so strong that I didn't even know what was going on.

If you want to know, then ask Rayleigh, he is an expert in this area~!"

After saying that, Roger pointed the meat bone stick at Rayleigh who was grilling meat not far away, then tore off a piece of meat and swallowed it, muttering how nice it would be if he had brought some wine.

Barrett nodded, moved his sitting body to come to Rayleigh's side, took a bite of the meat and asked:
"Mr. Rayleigh, can you answer my question?"

"Do you want to possess the Domineering Haki, Barrett?"

Rayleigh asked back with a smile, but did not give a direct answer. He then grabbed a handful of spices mixed from unknown plants from the banana leaf beside him and sprinkled them on the barbecue.

The moonlight reflected off his eye sockets, and his long golden hair danced in the sea breeze. The scholar's calmness and the pirate's unrestrainedness were perfectly embodied in him, and his calm demeanor made him look like a tyrant.

Barrett swallowed the piece of meat in his mouth and stopped eating. Instead, he lowered his head and considered Rayleigh's response.

Do you want to possess the domineering color?

Why am I so obsessed with the Domineering Haki?
"I don't know. I want to have it, but I don't know why. Mr. Rayleigh, can you tell me why?"

After a long moment, Barrett looked up and spoke, his eyes revealing confusion.

He envied the outgoing spirit of Roger, Rayleigh, Ross and others, or rather, he yearned for it, and he was pursuing that kind of power in his heart.

But he was like a hollow beast, unable to find his direction, just like getting the toy he wanted, but finding out that he didn't actually like it.

"Everyone says that Conqueror's Haki is a gift that only one in a million people can possess, and that it is the innate ability and symbol of a Conqueror. But is this really the case?"

Rayleigh still didn't answer, but continued to talk while grilling meat, while Barrett beside him also listened patiently:

“But what I want to say is that anyone who can successfully cultivate the two-color domineering is qualified to awaken the domineering domineering!
The only difference between them is whether they are obsessed with something or fearlessly pursue their dreams and are willing to practice them with their lives! "

As Rayleigh spoke, he picked up the roasted meat, tore off a piece of bone-in meat stick and threw it in Roger's direction.

The latter didn't even look up, but based on his understanding of his friend, he stretched out his hand and easily caught it without even using his Observation Haki, and put it in his mouth and devoured it.

Then, Rayleigh turned his gaze towards Barrett and asked:
"For example, Roger's dream is to become the Pirate King. He values ​​his partners more than anything else. What do you think he can do for these things? Which one do you think is more important to him?"

"It's your own life, right? As for who is more important, it should be your partner, right?"

"No! None of them!"

Rayleigh shook his head to deny Barrett's idea, then said slowly:

"It's everything, Barrett, it's everything! Roger can give everything for these! And who is more important is not in his consideration at all. Whoever is in front of him is more important. Do you understand?"

“And I am also a possessor of Conqueror’s Haki. Ever since Roger nearly died trying to save me in the Grand Line, I felt that I would never fall in front of him before he fulfilled his dream. Either we die together, or we both survive!

Do you know why Jabba is the only one who has to stay on the ship? Because he can't do that. He is a strong and reliable companion, but he is not a captain who can take responsibility. "

"Hey, Rayleigh, I can't pretend I didn't hear what you said! If Jabba knew you were talking about him behind his back, he would be very angry and would look for a fight with you! Hahahaha!"

Roger spoke loudly not far away.

Here, Rayleigh waved his hand nonchalantly and said loudly:
"It's because Baldy doesn't have the domineering color. I just like to show off this! And if he doesn't guard the boat, then no one can stop you!"

Although Rayleigh talked about Jabba, and there was some truth in it, he also truly treated him as a brother, just like he treated Roger.

This is also the only thing he would deliberately show off in front of others.

After talking with Roger, Rayleigh turned to look at Barrett again and concluded:
"So, Barrett, you definitely have the potential to awaken the Conqueror's Haki, but you don't understand the significance of awakening it yet.

Is it to protect everything you have now, or to protect the people you cherish, or something else, you haven't really figured it out yet, and you are desperate for it, at all costs for it. "

"Of course, it is not enough for Guangming to understand the direction. Just like your godfather Ross, the strong have their own obsessions. You must learn to accept and let go. Only then can you truly control the power of your will."

After that, Rayleigh said no more. Looking at Barrett who was lost in thought, the scene of their first meeting flashed through his mind.

I thought of the girl sitting on Barrett's shoulders.

Every king has a will that is unattainable by ordinary people, and also has thoughts that they cannot understand, but because of this, they often have relatively fatal weaknesses.

Newgate and Rose are family, Charlotte Lingling is childhood, Roger is a partner, and he is a responsibility.

And the little kid in front of me seems to be just pure... love.

-------

"Ms. Kuleha, is the moon tonight the same as yesterday?"

After a long silence, Barrett came back to his senses and looked up at Kuleha and asked. His fiery body was brewing a long-hidden power, waiting for the opportunity to radiate outwards.

Kuleha was puzzled, and looked up and down at Barrett now, with the corner of her mouth raised, she said leisurely:
"It's the same, kid. There are only one or two days in a month when the moon is full. What a coincidence, there are two consecutive days of full moons this month."

"Thank you."

Barrett thanked her and stood up. This time he did not wait for Mona to take a seat on her own initiative. Instead, he squatted down, picked her up from the chair and held her in his arms.

Mona sat on Barrett's strong forearm, leaning against his chest, her cheeks slightly flushed and revealing a satisfied smile.

"Goodbye Ms. Kuleha, thank you very much for your help. I will remember this unforgettable experience and look forward to seeing you next time. If you need help, you can come to Donghai Yundao to find me anytime." Barrett said, turning his head, and then took Mona away, carefully passing through the small door, and finally slowly disappeared in the almost non-stop wind and snow.

Kuleha leaned against the door and watched the two people walk away. She took a puff of a lady's cigarette. The smoke mixed with the wind and snow and was difficult to distinguish. She said to herself:
"What a love-starved kid! He's lucky to be able to live without any more confusion. Even though little Mona is the only one in the world, it's enough for him."

"Kureha, Kuleha! I'm cured! I'm cured! There must be a panacea in this world! A panacea that can cure everything!"

Just as Kuleha was immersed in the beauty, a crazy voice interrupted her thoughts.

Looking in the direction of the voice, she saw the energetic Shiruluk greeting her, carrying a simple box around his waist, from which she could vaguely see various medicines.

"Your terminal illness is cured?"

Kuleha looked surprised, and then thought of the experience Barrett had told her before. Could it be that the strange man among them was Shiruluk?

"Yes! It's really a miracle! By the way, can I learn medicine from you? I want to create a medicine that can cure all diseases! As for the name, how about Sakura Cure? What do you think? I have a good talent for naming, right?"

"Ah... considering your sincerity in giving away all your possessions, I would like to see what has happened to your body."

Kuleha said this with a smile, not realizing at all the disastrous day that was about to come.

.........

At the same time, Barrett also took Mona and walked slowly towards the cherry blossom forest at the foot of the mountain. On the way, neither of them spoke in advance, and they waited tacitly.

In order to catch up with time, Barrett traveled extremely fast this time.

As the sun set and dusk approached, the two of them arrived at a hillside. Not far below was the forest of everlasting cherry blossoms. Several people who were collecting flower petals happened to be leaving together.

On the hillside, Barrett sat cross-legged in the snow, holding Mona in his arms, his two big hands around her slender waist.

"I thought it would take a long time for you to take the initiative to do this, at least until we go to the new world."

Mona placed her hands on Barrett's crossed arms, her whole body lying on his reliable chest, her head resting on his chin, her voice gentle.

Except at noon, the sun is almost invisible on Magnetic Drum Island. Haze is the main color of the sky. Even at dusk, the sky is just getting dark, and only when the sun is about to set will the last rays of light appear.

Barrett looked at the corner of the setting sun that appeared under the mist and said:
“If power is not for being able to do whatever one wants, then everything I have now seems meaningless.

At first, my father took me away from there, and all my training was just to become a new, useful tool.

It was not until you appeared in front of me, gave me a tiny bit of care, left me with the most profound childhood, and accompanied me through the most confusing years that I realized how expensive it was for me to protect it again. "

"Mr. Tokos gave me my first Bailey, which made me realize that I have the right to choose freely, but I kept it, thinking that leaving precious memories is all I can have.

But that was totally wrong. On the contrary, I lost the first opportunity in my new life to break through myself, which was also a choice. "

"But Mona, you made me understand that even if I lose my choice, I can still be happy. I still haven't forgotten the tears I shed that day because I couldn't give you a birthday present.

You didn't care, you wiped my tears, and in the days that followed you took care of me warmly, taught me how to read, and bought me more clothes. Maybe you only thought it was funny at the time, but it was the happiest time of my life. "

“When my father adopted me as his son, your reaction left me confused and suffocated for a moment. I didn’t understand why you objected at the time, since we clearly had a closer relationship.

I can't see your true thoughts, because deep down in my heart I don't see myself as a normal person. I just see myself as a tool in my father's hands and a tool in your hands, and that's enough for me."

"........."

“Strength, from becoming a better tool to protecting everyone and you for my father, I have never lived for myself, nor have I made many changes from before.

It’s just that my environment has become better and more comfortable. I have power, and there are many reasons why I want power, but I choose to give up tracing back and just go with the flow.”

"........."

Barrett talked to himself for a long time, until the sun was about to fully appear in front of him.

Mona's nose had already turned red as she listened to Barrett's last words:

"Until now, facing your feelings, I think I should take the opportunity to choose and respond to your expectations with my own will.

Instead of choosing to escape and always being a tool for others to live.”

At this point, the sun in the sky had completely exposed itself and was retreating towards the horizon. Behind him, the full moon had risen and was hidden in the misty sky. Barrett asked:
"I have said enough. Are you willing to stay in my arms from now on, Mona? Be held by me and let me protect you forever."

"I'm tired of sitting on your shoulders. It would be nice to try another seat. If you're not afraid of being scolded by your dad..."

"No, I'm just afraid of losing you."

As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible aura began to spread outward from Barrett's body, and lightning appeared out of nowhere and raged among the snowflakes.

Behind me, the mist in the sky seemed to be torn open by someone, and the bright moon peeked out. Its light intersected with the setting sun, and the color of the cherry blossoms gradually dyed the bright moon.

The snowflakes once again turned into cherry blossom petals flying in the air.

But this time, Mona was not happy about the beautiful scenery.

She quietly moved up, slowly turned around and sat on Barrett's waist. The two of them were facing each other, and the girl blushed and lowered her head slightly.

The Sakura miracle is not important. What she wants is always for her beloved to understand her feelings.

The cherry-colored sunset is beautiful, but it can never compare to a word that comes belatedly.

(End of this chapter)