One Piece: Starting with God Valley, intercepting the Dark-Dark Fruit

"Has Lucia eaten a Devil Fruit?"

"You want to get her a Devil Fruit, right? Don't worry about it. I've already given her a decent one. Otherwise, do you think a slave like her could have risen to the position of captain of the guard so quickly?"

"Really? Then thank you very much, Uncle Garin!"

"No need. She is indeed loyal to you. Giving her a reward is nothing. Besides, if she died in the guard, you'd probably go crazy when you came back, wouldn't you?"

“Then I should give her something else. I see she’s a swordsman, and there are four famous swords hanging outside. I’ll pick one and give it to her.”

"Okay, you decide."

Giger wasn't just thinking about Lucia; he hadn't forgotten Ginny either. However, he wasn't going to give Ginny the Devil Fruits from here, because he had already thought of a Devil Fruit that would be most suitable for Ginny.

He wanted to give Ginny something else, like a gun.

"Uncle Garin, does the family have a decent gun?"

"A gun? What do you need that for? Our family uses swords, we don't need one."

"I wanted to give it away. I have a friend who uses guns, and a good gun would greatly improve her skills."

"Are the friends you're talking about the three from God Valley back then?"

"Yes, it's that pink-haired girl, her name is Ginny."

"Hehe, I see. Well then, I'll instruct the science team to forge a suitable gun. I don't think you'll choose to stay with the family now, right? I'll send it directly to the navy then."

Giger nodded. With Gulando around, he definitely wouldn't stay. Only when he became strong enough would he truly return to the family, kill Gulando, and take back everything that belonged to him.

However, the gun's development would take some time, and Giger didn't want to go back empty-handed, especially since he had promised Ginny he would bring back a gift.

He remembered that he had said he would give Ginny a pair of boots, so he reached out his hand to Garin again and said,

"Uncle Garin, surely the family has some boots? I want the kind women wear, the most expensive and the prettiest!"

"Of course there is, but you're going to give it to Ginny, right? Just looking good isn't enough. There's a guy in the science class named Judge who recently developed some combat boots, including a women's version. You can take it later."

"That's great, thank you so much, Uncle Galin."

"Hmph, two women have appeared in no time. You better not waste your energy on them, or I'll have to personally get rid of these distractions for you!"

"No, I know what I should do, Uncle Galin, don't worry."

"It better be this way."

After saying that, Garin led Giger to bow to the coffin again, and then the two of them walked outside together.

When they arrived at the large sea stone gate, Giger subconsciously slowed his pace; the feeling of utter weakness was simply too unbearable.

Garin glanced at him and said indifferently,

"What are you dawdling for? Do you need me to help you?"

Giger didn't try to be stubborn and nodded very readily.

Garin suddenly laughed and said,

"You're overthinking it. I won't support you anymore, and you don't need it anymore."

"Huh? Uncle Garin, you're here...?"

Before Giger could finish speaking, Garin suddenly reached out and pressed on Giger's back, and before he could react, he was pushed away by a strong force.

Garin controlled his strength very skillfully. Although Giger was suddenly pushed out, his body was able to quickly regain its balance and finally stand steadily in front of the Seastone gate.

Giger's hand was still on the door, his eyes rolled back, and he was ready to face that damned feeling of weakness.

However, after half a day, Giger was surprised to find that he did not feel anything special. He even tried to activate his ability, and his hand on the door turned dark. The ability was activated very smoothly.

Garin stood a short distance away with his arms crossed, and teased,

"How are you? Do you need me to help you up?"

Chapter 51 Battle with Lucia

Giger stood there stunned for a moment, then hesitantly raised his hands and clenched his fists tightly.

He not only did not feel any powerlessness, but also felt that the dark power within him was much stronger than before he arrived.

Seeing Giger standing there in a daze for a long time, Garin shook his head and chuckled, then stepped forward and said,

"How are you feeling? Are you satisfied with your current situation?"

Giger nodded, then flicked his right hand. The knife-shaped mark on the back of his hand began to wriggle, and several streams of black liquid flowed out and gathered in his palm through his fingers, gradually taking the shape of a knife.

With a jolt, the liquid darkness solidified abruptly, and the demon sword Muramasa, gleaming with black light, appeared in Giger's hand.

Holding Muramasa, Giger felt the dark power within him surging out continuously. If it weren't for the treasures in the secret chamber, he really wanted to unleash it completely.

Giger probably guessed why he wasn't affected by the Seastone. He looked at the Muramasa demon sword in his hand and said...

"Uncle Garin, is it because of this knife?"

"That's right. The Muramasa sword can not only enhance the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but it can also cover up the aura of the Devil Fruit on your body. You will never have to worry about the sea or Seastone again."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Giger's face. After he and Garin walked out of the gate, he turned around and released the Universal Pull towards the gate. Under the pull of gravity, the two Seastone gates quickly closed together with a loud bang.

Garin took out the key and locked the door, and then the two left.

Outside the palace, Lucia had dismissed all the golden-armored guards and stayed behind alone to wait.

When Gig and Garin appeared at the entrance of the palace, Lucia's burning gaze instantly locked onto Gig.

Giger waved to Lucia, who immediately teleported to his side and gently called out, "Young Master."

Lucia's voice was as captivating as she was. Giger gently took her hand, and she blinked her large amber eyes, her gaze sparkling as she spoke.

"Young Master, I am merely your slave, this is far too intimate..."

Despite saying this, Lucia showed no sign of struggling and even moved closer to Giger.

"Stop calling me a slave. You know I've never considered you a slave."

Giggs summoned the Dark Bible and took out a long sword from it.

Lucia curiously examined the knife in Giger's hand. The blade was sealed in an exquisitely designed scabbard, the guard was shaped like a golden petal, and the bright red hilt was wrapped with wisps of dark gold patterns.

Even before it was drawn, the faint glint of sharpness already indicated that this sword was extraordinary, Lucia asked.

"Young Master, is this the gift Lord Garin gave you?"

Giger shook his head and said,

"No, this is a gift I picked out for you. Its name is Zhuiming."

"This...this is for me?!"

Lucia's eyes widened in surprise, and after regaining her senses, she waved her hands repeatedly, saying...

"Young Master, this is far too precious. I am truly unworthy!"

Seeing that Lucia refused to accept it, Giggs's expression turned stern, and he said fiercely,

"What do you mean by 'good enough' or 'not good enough'? If you don't want me, then don't stay by my side anymore!"

Hearing this, Lucia was speechless. She knew that Giger was probably faking it, but she didn't want to gamble on the probability.

Lucia obediently took the pendant from Giger's hand and said softly,

"Thank you, young master."

"That's more like it. It's just twenty-one work points. You can accept it without worry."

Giger performed a Sichuan opera face-changing act and casually imitated Garin's pose. Lucia's eyes narrowed into crescent shapes, and she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

Garin rolled his eyes discreetly to himself, thinking to himself, "You little brat, you're giving away the things I gave you and then pretending to be something you're not! This is just too much for me to bear!"

Seeing Gigg still whispering sweet nothings to Lucia, Garin glanced at Gigg and said indifferently,

"Gig, have you forgotten what I just told you inside?"

Without turning his head, Giger casually asked,

"Hmm? Which sentence are you referring to, Uncle Garin?"

"You brat... I told you I'd see how strong you are when we get out. Now, you and Lucia are coming with me to the training room!"

Garin gave the order in an unyielding tone, then turned and left. Giger sighed helplessly and pulled Lucia along as they chased after him.

It was called a training room, but when Giger arrived, he realized that this so-called training room was even larger than the naval academy's training grounds, with the walls and floors covered in dense sword marks.

Upon entering, Garin immediately spoke.

"Alright, go fight Lucia and let me see how well you've trained in the Navy. If I'm not satisfied, you can train here until I am! Oh, and you're not allowed to use your Devil Fruit powers."

Before Gigg could respond, Lucia said with a troubled expression,

"But... I don't want to lay a hand on you, young master!"

Lucia's words were arguably extremely disrespectful, and a hint of displeasure flashed across Garin's face as he said calmly,

"You've got some nerve, daring to defy me. What? Are you afraid of hurting Gig?"

"No, the young master is definitely stronger than me, I..."

"Alright, Lucia, let's go have a match. Don't worry, I'm much stronger than you think."