One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me.

Chapter 72 The Name of the Rat Shakes the Sea! (910, Requesting First Subscription!)

Several days later, on an unnamed deserted island.

The rebels on Candied Fruit Island are having lunch.

Although it was called lunch, it was actually just the cheapest food available on the nearby islands, and the taste was definitely not good.

Especially recently, their tension and anticipation have made them feel that these things are completely unpalatable.

"Brother Abel, do you think Lord Rat can kill that bastard?"

Turner asked in a low voice.

"."

Abel swallowed the paste in his mouth, wanting to say something encouraging, but he couldn't quite bring himself to say it.

It was only after the Rat left that he realized he had overlooked a crucial issue—that this period of time coincided with the annual tribute that Candied Fruit Island paid to Bigom.

"That terrifying 'Four Sweet Commanders' under Big Mom's command will be heading to Candied Fruit Island, if Lord Rat happens to run into them."

Abel was very worried.

“If you’re talking about Snag, I’ve already run into him.”

A voice suddenly rang out.

Following the direction of the sound, everyone saw that Zishu's figure had reappeared in front of the door at some point.

"Lord Zizishu!?"

Even though he had witnessed the rat's elusive appearances more than once, Abel still couldn't help but widen his eyes and leap up from the ground.

But he quickly came to his senses and immediately looked at the rat.

"My lord, you're back? Wait, what did you mean by that just now!?"

"You...you encountered that Snag?"

After realizing what the rat had said, Abel's tone changed instantly.

After Zishu nodded, his face turned completely pale.

"So, you've failed?"

He had obviously heard of the concept of the Sweet Commanders and knew how strong Snag was.

Therefore, he naturally made the judgment that the commission had obviously failed.

He also knew that after this assassination attempt failed, the difficulty of assassinating Caramiro III again would increase many times over.

But just when Abel was almost in despair...
"fail?"

Zishu seemed to smile and said, "No, the task has been completed."

He reached out and grabbed at the air, then tossed a package in front of everyone.

The package wasn't sealed very tightly—so those present could clearly see that the head inside appeared to be wearing a bloodstained crown.

"."

The scene was eerily quiet—like a suppressed volcano.

And when Abel opened the package with trembling hands...
"It's him!"

As the first scream shattered the silence, a wave of ecstasy instantly swept through the entire village.

"That bastard, he's finally dead!"

"It's that beast's head!"

"Success!?"

"Waaaah! My daughter."

The screams and cries no longer conveyed despair, but joy.

The mouse stood quietly in place, not disturbing the revelry.

Until half a moment later
"Lord Rat, thank you. We have been waiting for this day for far too long."

With his left hand wiping away tears, Abel tightly gripped the pendant in his right hand as he walked to Zishu's side and said gratefully.

But at the same time, he naturally had some doubts.

"Didn't you say that Snag was also on Candied Fruit Island? How come you..."

Abel asked this question.

But without a doubt, judging from his expression at this moment, he had almost guessed the answer, but just couldn't believe it.

"He died too, of course."

The Rat calmly stated the result that was destined to shake the sea.

The scene fell silent instantly.

All the rebels stared at Zishu in disbelief.

died?

That 'Four Sweet Commanders,' that Charlotte Snag!?
"you"

Especially seeing that the rat seemed to have suffered no injuries.

Abel finally gained a clear understanding of the power of the Rat.

He was able to easily kill a general, and seemed to be unharmed.

This 'Rat' is undoubtedly one of the top powerhouses standing on the sea.

But just as he was so horrified that he was speechless...

“You have confirmed the target’s identity. According to the rules, I will collect my payment.”

The rat's words were like a wake-up call for Abel.

"Yes! You're right, Mr. Turner—quick! Get the stuff out here!"

He quickly shouted to the crowd behind him.

So Turner led a few men deep into the village and dug up a hidden cave.

A short while later, they came out carrying several large boxes.

The box was covered in dust, and inside were stacks of Pele cards.

They were neatly stacked, with various denominations, some looking old and others relatively new.

Clearly, as Abel had previously stated, almost all the money the rebels on the island had earned over the years had been hoarded.

They live only for 'revenge'.

"Sir, this is the reward—a total of 201.03 million Berries."

Abel pointed to the box and said without hesitation, "Please take it all. Although it cannot express even a fraction of our gratitude, it is the only thing we can give you."

"We'll inform Otsuka Funeral Home in a few days that you've completed the commission."

"."

Upon hearing his words, Zishu did not hesitate.

He simply raised his hand and snapped his fingers, and then the box was seen to be dragged into the air by something.

Seeing this, the rebels showed no reluctance whatsoever.

Although this money was the result of seven years of hard work and saving.

But as Abel said, without the Rat, they might never have had the chance to take revenge.

But it is precisely at this moment.
"I deserve the payment, and I accepted it."

They heard the sound of the rat again.

"However, you are very lucky."

“Based on the information you provided, I found the metals I needed in the treasury of King Caramilo III, and not just two, but three.”

“According to the rules I set out, anyone who provides me with those nineteen metals can have their 3000 million Berries reward waived.”

"so."

As Zishu's voice faded, Abel and the others saw bottles of radiant, seven-colored jars appear before them.

That was indeed it.
"Rainbow candied fruit!?"

They recognized the candied fruit island's specialty at a glance, which was also the source of their nightmare.

The rat calmly said, "These candied fruits are stored in the treasury of King Caramilo III, and it would be troublesome to dispose of them. But I think you should have the necessary channels?"

As he spoke, Abel was almost trembling all over.

"We do know some black market dealers, you...you mean..."

He already understood what Zishu meant, but he couldn't believe it.

You should know that rainbow candied fruit is a specialty of the Kingdom of Calamiro and is a favorite of Bigom, making it a very valuable commodity in the underground dark world.

This huge pile of rainbow candied fruit is worth at least tens of millions of Berries, enough for them and the remaining people of Candied Fruit Island to start their lives anew.

"They are yours, as payment for those metals."

"That's what Zishu said readily."

"However, I must remind you—be careful when handling these rainbow candies, and don't produce too many at once to attract attention."

Upon hearing this, Abel naturally understood what Zishu meant.

So at this moment, he looked at Zishu with some concern: "My lord, is BIGMOM... something to do with you?"

Yes—the Rat killed Charlotte Snag, and Big Mom must be furious about it.

The wrath of the Four Emperors would be a catastrophe for anyone.

But to Abel's surprise, the Rat's reply was very calm: "Yes, I guess BIGMOM is probably very angry, and things must have gotten quite out of hand."

"but."

His words returned to calm: "I am the 'Twelve Constellations'."

Snag was indeed somewhat surprised that he had connected to the Den Den Mushi before he died, but in the end... after all, the Rat was just a clone, so what did he have to be afraid of?

But clearly, Abel did not understand what he meant.

The Twelve Zodiac Signs

At that moment, he was simply horrified—yes, the twelve constellations.

That's an organization that dares to directly confront the World Government.

How could one of the highest-ranking officials of such an organization be afraid of the mere Four Emperors?

But before Abel could continue, he saw the rat raise its hand again.

"Besides that, I also found this in the treasure vault."

Something was thrown to Abel. He hurriedly caught it, looked at it, and then froze on the spot.

It was a sapphire pendant.

It's not particularly exquisite, and the sapphires on it are only of average quality.

But Abel would never forget it.

"Mother."

His voice was almost hoarse.

These are his mother's belongings.

He remembered clearly that she died by the sweet spring outside the furnace, and that the pendant was taken away by Homies who was standing nearby.

That was the biggest reason why he was determined to take revenge on Caramilo III at all costs.

And now.
The hatred ended today, and she returned to his side.

Then Abel looked up in disbelief.

But he saw that the figure who had changed everything was now slowly turning around.

"You gave me over a million Berries more than I should have paid—let's consider this pendant as a way to make up for it."

After speaking, he vanished without a trace.

"."

Abel gripped the sapphire pendant tightly in his hand.

His gaze was fixed on the spot where the figure had disappeared, his fists clenched until they turned white.

Make peace?

No, this kindness... cannot be forgiven with just a few words.

"The twelve constellations, the Rat."

He murmured softly, as if trying to etch those two names into the depths of his soul.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

On a certain island in the Grand Line, where no one knows.

At the highest peak in the center of the island, a burly man lay on a chaise lounge listening to a report from his subordinate.

He wore a bizarre clown mask on the upper half of his face, and his hairstyle was strange—his fluffy hair almost circled his face, looking like a lion's mane or the flames of the sun.

Beside him lay a long scythe and numerous bottles and jars containing human organs.

The sunlight fell on his entire body, but it seemed to be swallowed up and disappeared without a trace when it touched him—making this sun-baked mountain peak feel not warm, but rather strangely cold and menacing.

He is Dracula Piecrow, the 'Funeral House of the Big Hand'.

"They actually killed Charlotte Snaggle Mouse? Are those Zodiac guys really all lunatics?"

His teeth were grinding together incessantly, as if he wanted to devour someone.

Interestingly, even when they were so angry they wanted to eat people.

But his body remained lying on the parasol, even slightly turning with the sun.

“Lord Piecrow, what should we do now? Bigom has ordered that we obtain any clues about the twelve constellations.”

And standing in front of him, giving an intelligence report, was none other than 'Miss Spider' from Coffin Island.

At this moment, her voice was also somewhat anxious: "It is said that Charlotte Katakuri has left Totto Land and come to Coffin Island to ask for information."

Hearing this, Piekro was clearly even angrier.

"Bring me the things!"

He suddenly sat up straight and growled like that, as if suppressing some kind of impulse.

Upon seeing this, Miss Spider's expression changed drastically, and she quickly selected a jar containing a heart from the jars beside her and handed it to Piekro.

then
"Snapped!"

The jar shattered instantly, and the glass pierced Piekro's glove, leaving it covered in blood.

But Piecrow seemed oblivious, simply enjoying the heart he held in his hand.

then
"Snapped!"

His heart seemed to explode, and his angry expression seemed to relax.

He lay back down on the sun chair and started sunbathing again.

"The message must not be given to Bigom; the rules of the assassin world must never be broken."

His voice returned to calm, but it carried an utter chill.

"Otherwise—in a world without order, there would be no 'king'."

Clearly, this aligns with the prediction made by the Rat.

For the sake of his status as the emperor of the underworld, even under pressure from Bigom, Piecrow had no choice but to conceal information for him.

Although Piecrow knew that Bigom's anger would put him under immense pressure and cause him huge losses, he had no other choice.

But it was precisely at this moment
"But, sir..."

Miss Spider began to stammer.

"If you have something to say, just say it!"

Piecrow, however, said coldly—he didn't like people who weren't straightforward.

"There's one more thing about the Rat."

"Ok?"

Piecrow had a bad feeling.

"What happened to him? That guy should be hiding, right?"

He quickly asked, feeling as if sunlight was flashing across his body.

According to his estimation, after doing such a big thing, that rat should hide away for a while.

But
"No, he didn't hide—he...he took on another mission."

Miss Spider was almost in tears: "It's another mission to assassinate the king, this time to a country protected by the 'Deep Current'."

"boom!"

Miss Spider didn't finish her sentence.

With a crisp sound, almost all the jars around shattered.

Along with that came Piecrow's low growl through gritted teeth.

"What did you say!?"

And obviously.

Not just Dracula Piecrow.

In the dark underground world, a sufficiently shocking message can spread almost instantly.

So very quickly, the underground dark world was in an uproar.

Whether it's one of the six emperors of the underworld, or the Navy, the World Government, or other small and medium-sized forces.

Anyone with even a little bit of knowledge has already heard the information about BIGMOM and the Rat.

The third highest-ranking officer of the Twelve Constellations, known as the "Rat," accepted an assassination commission and successfully killed "Karamiro III" and "Sweetheart General" Charlotte Snag.

[BIGMOM has issued orders to search the underground world and the sea for any clues about the twelve constellations, and has threatened to send them a special invitation to a tea party.]

[It is said that Charlotte Katakuri went to Coffin Island to request information about the Rat, but was refused by the Undertaker himself. A battle ensued between the two, the outcome of which is unknown.]

Reports indicate that subsequent investigations on Candied Fruit Island revealed that the entire Kalamiro Palace had been razed to the ground. Analysis of the battle traces suggests that one side may have been a race of giants with an extremely exaggerated physique, possibly even the legendary 'Ancient Giants'.

Such explosive news appears almost every day.

Various rumors and information about the Rat also began to circulate in the underground dark world.

Some believe that he might be a giant, and not just any giant, but an 'Ancient Giant' who has concealed his giant identity through some means.

Some believe he is human, achieving a similar effect to a giant through some kind of Devil Fruit power.

But one thing is certain.

That is, almost everyone is lamenting that the members of the 'Twelve Zodiacs' are all abnormal.

"The first was stealing the Heavenly Gold, the second was assassinating the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and this one is no less impressive—I originally thought he was crazy enough to put a price tag on the heads of kings and nobles, but I never expected that he would dare to and be able to kill the 'Sweetheart Four Commanders'!"

What's even more astonishing is...
Even under BIGMOM's relentless search and pursuit, the Rat did not give up.

Just a week later, he appeared once again in another kingdom on the Grand Line and killed the king of that country, who was known for his cruelty to civilians.

Less than three days later, he reappeared in the West Blue and killed a duke from the Kingdom of Ilucia—this duke was even more remarkable, as the Kingdom of Ilucia was one of the member states of the World Government.

As a result, not only BIGMOM, but countless kings and nobles began to offer bounties for the Rat.

The bounty starts at 500 million, and some offers even go up to 1 billion Berries.

But surprisingly, no one could catch him.

Or to be more precise—even if someone discovered some trace of him and managed to seal off the entire sea area, he still managed to escape in the end.

He was like a ghost that appeared and disappeared without a trace, as if he were hiding in another world.

Especially after a king summoned thousands of guards to protect him, he was still killed by the Rat in full view of everyone.

This member of the twelve constellations became even more famous than the Rooster and Dragon for a time, truly resounding throughout the sea.

After all, compared to those two members of the twelve constellations who have disappeared for some time.

A terrifying assassin with a 100% success rate in completing a commission, who only hunts down kings and nobles, is obviously more feared by rulers.

It is said that some kings of member states of the World Government have even begun to call for the addition of a topic on the 'Twelve Constellations' to the next World Conference next year.
Soon, some people realized a problem—the Rat seemed to be receiving tasks more and more frequently.

This is certainly not surprising.

After the first person to try something new appeared and proved that the Rat truly possessed the strength to kill the Four Generals and the determination to kill the King.

Those who were hiding in the shadows and were originally just watching will naturally join in.

But the problem is.
"After so many missions, how much of those nineteen metals is he still missing?"

Many people still remember that the Rat seemed to be collecting those nineteen metals.

Obviously, nobody knows the answer to this question.

Just as no one knows the answer to the next question that follows.

"What will the twelve constellations do after they have collected all these metals?"

　This chapter has 5300 words. It mainly needs to describe the follow-up effects after the Rat's mission. Splitting it into two chapters would have been too drawn out, so I wrote it as a single chapter.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)