One Piece: I Weave the Pirate Codex with My Zanpakuto

This time, the sheriff did not kneel down; instead, he mustered his courage and looked the other person directly in the eye.

"Our place is often visited by some newly-set pirates. With your help, they can surely recuperate safely for a few years."

Ross didn't bother to explain; once someone rises in status, there are always people who like to over-interpret what they say.

For example, As, who lives far away in his ideal world.

While we were chatting, the old woman suddenly called out with a puzzled voice from outside the door.

"Strange, when did so many unfamiliar faces appear in town?"

Knowing that Ross didn't want to reveal his identity, the sheriff immediately straightened up and dropped his previous cautious expression.

"Young man, this is the breakfast your mother-in-law promised you."

A bowl of plain water porridge, and a plate of radish with only a few specks of oil visible.

"Her son Barnes suddenly set sail a few years ago, saying he wanted to become a super powerful pirate. Last year, news of his death suddenly came, but I never dared to tell her about it."

The sheriff leaned down and whispered an explanation in Ross's ear.

"Her daughter-in-law couldn't bear her husband abandoning his wife and children, so she jumped off a cliff and died after giving birth. Now she's the only one raising her grandson."

Ross's eyes flickered as he called out to his mother-in-law, who was about to leave.

Pick up the suitcase at your feet.

"Grandma, do you know Barnes?"

"Barnes?"

The old man muttered under his breath, "Don't mention that unfilial son!"

"I am his friend, and he asked me to give this to you."

"This is……?"

Ross pressed down on the old man's hand as he was about to open the box, and explained with a smile:

“He runs a musical instrument business overseas and has made some money over the years. The reason I came here is because of his request.”

“He said he would make a lot of money and build you a big house in Rum Town.”

The old man asked Barnes why he didn't come himself, and Ross shook his head.

"He is far away on the Grand Line. It will take him at least several years to get back here. Moreover, the Grand Line has not been very safe these days, and it is easy to die on the way."

"If I hadn't happened to be traveling in Beihai, I probably wouldn't have been able to deliver this gift."

"Is that so? That kid's actually quite promising, huh!"

The old man put down his suitcase and took out a crumpled letter from his pocket.

"Could you please give this letter to him? I asked my neighbor to write it for me."

Ross accepted the letter and promised to deliver it personally.

Watching the old man happily leave, the sheriff remained silent for a long time.

"There's no point in you doing this. Barnes was executed by the Navy last year."

"At least it will make her happy for a while, and that's enough."

Ross ate his porridge and radish with gusto.

"People are always soft-hearted because of some inexplicable things, but isn't that just human nature?"

As Ross put down his empty bowl and chopsticks and got up to leave, a golden light flashed in the corner of his vision.

That light was...

Suppressing his thoughts, Ross asked the sheriff for paper and pen and wrote down a string of numbers.

"Contact this number if you need help. He's one of my subordinates and might be able to lend you a hand in a pinch."

Chapter 106 Names are like underwear; once you wear them, that's enough.

dusk.

Ross sat on the edge of a cliff outside the village, taking a crumpled letter out of his inner pocket with his left hand.

"Let's open it and take a look."

[To your unfilial son, Barnes:]

We are doing well back home. Your son and my grandson are growing up healthily. Please be careful while you are away from home. Remember to eat on time and don't make any noise while eating. Also...

The letter contained a jumbled mess of random thoughts, as if it had been written down wherever the mind took it.

But between the lines lies a mother's love and concern.

[...Although I don't know where your unfilial son is now, and although I don't know why you went to sea, you have always been a son who makes your mother proud.]

At the end of the letter, a smiley face was drawn with watercolors.

"...Mom's love is always so troublesome."

A slightly languid voice came from the woods behind.

"Thanks to you, my mother-in-law is so happy."

Borsalino emerged from the darkness and leaned against a tree that was fully illuminated by the setting sun.

"Although my mother-in-law always called him an unfilial son, she actually valued him a lot."

Ross didn't turn around. He let go of her hand and let the wind carry away the letter with dried tear stains.

Surely the wind will carry this mother's words to the underworld...

"Is it really okay to just let go like this? Isn't that letter supposed to be given to Barnes?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ross said with a smile. "I'm Barnes, aren't I?"

Borsalino was stunned.

"Ross, Barnes, I'd like to call myself Monkey D. Im if I wanted."

"Names are like underwear; today I like triangles, tomorrow I might like squares."

"Anyway, as long as I wear them, who cares what style of underwear I'm wearing today?"

Ross got up, brushed the pebbles off his backside, and headed back the way he came.

"My mom's calling me home for dinner, Borsalino, wanna come over for a free meal?"

“I see you have lots of vegetables and fruits in your field. Do you raise chickens? Maybe I can stew a chicken for Mom tonight.”

Borsalino's lips curled up slightly as he turned and followed Rose.

The two shadows stretched long in the setting sun.

"Hey hey~~"

"Stop joking! Those chickens are my treasures! You better give me 50 Berries to buy them, you pirate bastard!"

"You're kidding! I'm a pirate. Have you ever seen a pirate pay for something?"

The wind rustled through the trees.

The clouds in the sky vaguely transformed into the shape of words, only to be blown away a few seconds later.

"Pirates are a bunch of hopeless villains, especially me. I'm one of the best among them."

"I've been on the dark side of life for a full fifty years, you curly-haired bastard!"

……

at the same time--

New World, Punk Hazard Island

"Handle with care, or you'll be working for free for the next ten years if you damage the equipment!"

"You! Yes, you, don't slack off! These are high-end devices that the scientists in the special science class need to use!"

Agents and marines worked tirelessly, carrying one oddly shaped instrument after another onto the island.

"Commander Spandam!"

"The Admiral himself has come, and his warship is anchored in the northern coastal waters."

Spandain frowned slightly.

Admiral?

What is he doing here?

“I’ll be right there. You stay here and watch over them.”

"Be especially careful with that thing; materials from the Lunaria race are extremely rare treasures!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than an operating table was carried over from a short distance away.

A silver-haired boy was bound by chains and leather straps.

"Yes, I know, don't worry."

……

Punk Hazard Island, northern cliffs.

Standing on the edge of the cliff with his hands in his pockets, he gazed intently at the construction site undergoing a massive transformation.

"Marshal Kong, what are you doing here?"

Spandam strode up from behind, squinting at the empty back.

"I haven't received any news that the Fleet Admiral will be landing on the island. I think the Five Elders said that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to land on this island."

"I was also ordered by the Five Elders to come and ensure the integrity of the materials."

He remained expressionless, showing no intention of looking at Spandam.

"That material, hehehe~"

Spandam walked to Kong's side and they looked into the distance together.

"I thought the Lunaria race was extinct, but I didn't expect there would still be one on the high seas."

“That monster is no ordinary creature. If it weren’t for his safety, the Five Elders would never have entrusted this place to your Naval Science Class.”

“I know these things naturally, you don’t need to remind me.”

Kong withdrew his gaze and glanced sideways at the agent beside him.

"I'm not in a good mood lately, so you'd better watch your tone when you speak to me."

Spandam knew his limits and let out a few strange laughs.

"Anyway, I've relayed the warning to your navy. Don't blame me if something goes wrong later."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

"I was originally planning to inform you later when I went to Marineford, but since you're here, it's fine to tell you directly."

"The Naval Science Class has two tasks ahead of them."

"The first is to study the Lunaria materials as quickly as possible. The second is... come with me, I'll take you somewhere."

Kong turned around and followed Spandam away.

Before long, the two entered the deepest part of the jungle cave.

Deep inside the cave, Kong stared blankly at the enormous ice mass that had frozen the ancient giant, his expression gradually shifting from shock to horror.

"Ancient giants?!"

Why are so many ancient giants frozen in this place!?

"That's why I said that before; the secret that the World Government most wants to crack is hidden here."

Spandam tapped the surface of the ice cube lightly, his expression serious.

"The second task of the Naval Science Class is to study these ancient giant races, and ideally, to replicate their genes to create mass-producible giant soldiers for the World Government!"

Clone giant soldiers?!