"Looking for a beating?"
Teaki, controlling Vista's body, dramatically clutched her chest and let out a piercing laugh:
"Trapped by the Slowing Wave, you can barely lift a finger! What resistance can you offer? Just stand still and wait to be parasitized!"
As she spoke,
she crossed her hands in a camera-framing gesture toward Xiano—apparently the prerequisite motion needed to activate her ability and possess another's body.
"Uh..."
Second brother Kilan scratched his head hesitantly, "Something feels off, Third Sister. When he vomited earlier, his movements seemed pretty smooth..."
"Smooth?"
Teaki froze. Recalling the scene, her face suddenly paled.
"Finally realized it, huh?"
Before she could react, Xiano grinned fiercely, his right hand clenching into a fist as pure black lightning coiled around it.
BOOM!
Armament Haki of the highest caliber erupted violently. The transparent barriers around them shattered like glass, and the Slowing Wave's restraints were instantly dispersed!
"How is this possible?!"
"Our abilities were both...?"
Kilan and Newmo's eyes bulged, mouths agape in shock.
"In this world, Haki reigns supreme over all Devil Fruit abilities!"
Xiano stepped forward through the dissipating light particles, flexing his wrist as he coldly glared down at the trio:
"Three Paramecia-type users with such mediocre mastery dare show off before me?"
"Run! Split up!"
Teaki trembled, the first to regain her senses. She screamed and immediately turned to flee.
Their ambush had failed. Without their Devil Fruit restraints, even their combined efforts stood no chance against him.
The trio knew the terrain well, quickly scattering in different directions—especially Teaki, who sprinted madly, putting over a hundred meters between them in seconds.
Yet the next moment...
SWISH!
Xiano vanished from his original spot, instantly appearing before Teaki. His right hand clamped around her throat like iron pincers.
"You thought just because you ambushed Vista, your Parasite Fruit could work on me too?"
Xiano bared his teeth, his left fist coiling with Armament Infusion. "Then let's test it—see if your parasitic ability can breach this pinnacle-level Haki of mine!"
"You bastard...!"
Teaki gnashed her teeth, but before she could retort, Xiano's fist mercilessly slammed into Vista's abdomen.
"GACK!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed out as Teaki's vision darkened. Her consciousness reeled violently, nearly losing her parasitic hold.
"Third Sister!"
Kilan and Newmo skidded to a halt upon seeing this, turning back with shouts as they rushed to help.
"Seeking death."
Xiano snorted. Without even glancing back, a pulse of Conqueror's Haki struck them like lightning, sending both crashing to their knees before they foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
"Now... it's just you."
Xiano looked coldly at Teaki in his grasp and said indifferently, "Get out of Vista's body, or I won't mind smashing it to pieces along with you."
"You... you wouldn't dare!"
Teaki wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with difficulty, forcing out a vicious grin.
"This mustachioed man is one of Whitebeard's most trusted veteran division commanders! Kill me, and Vista the Flower Swordsman will vanish from this world too. That old man Whitebeard will never let you off!"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Xiano gave her a strange look. "You clearly know who I am, yet you still think I'd be afraid of the name 'Whitebeard'?"
That... was actually true.
Recalling Xiano's terrifying battle record, cold sweat dripped down Teaki's temples as she swallowed hard, filled with regret.
What had gotten into her? How had she been so deluded as to...
Dare provoke this monster!
Seeing her silent, Xiano shook his head slightly, too lazy to hesitate further. He pressed his fist against her chest.
Chilling black-red lightning flickered ominously...
"Wait! I'll come out! I'm coming out now!"
Feeling the terrifying pressure of top-tier Conqueror's Haki and the imminent threat of death, Teaki finally broke down. Sobbing, she separated from Vista's body.
The scene somewhat resembled Brook's Revive-Revive Fruit ability.
A translucent pinkish soul-like entity floated out from Vista's body. From its outline, one could vaguely make out a relatively pretty woman in her twenties.
Before she could flee, a large hand shrouded in dense Haki shot out and grabbed her firmly.
"AHHH!!!"
Amidst piercing screams, Teaki's soul was crushed to pieces by Xiano, dissolving into transparent specks of light that vanished completely into the air.
Thud.
Vista's body collapsed limply.
Xiano reached out to support him, placing his right hand under Vista's nose to check his condition.
"Good, just unconscious."
Only then did he prop Vista against the nearby wall. Turning to the unconscious Kilan and Newmo on the ground, his brow furrowed with disgust.
These gutter rats had been using others' names to swindle money, murder, and plunder. From Old Henry's experience alone, who knew how many merchants and attendants had fallen victim to them during this Mist Star Island incident.
And in the end, they'd had the audacity to scheme against him, even attempting to steal his body.
They'd truly grown tired of living.
After extracting all useful information, these two could absolutely not be spared.
"Smoker."
Xiano dialed directly. "Come to the dungeon. Two subjects for interrogation—time for your specialty."
Hanging up, Xiano walked deeper into the dungeon. Earlier, when extending his Observation Haki, he'd sensed an extremely weak presence here.
Likely, it was that person—
...
"White Bay!"
Vista's face lit up with joy as he limped hurriedly to the hospital bed. "You're finally awake! How are you feeling? Any discomfort?"
"Vista?"
White Bay coughed weakly, looking at him in confusion. "Weren't you with Pops? Why are you here?"
She struggled to sit up, gazing at the starry sky outside the window in surprise. "It's already dark? How long was I unconscious...?"
"How long? You idiot, your body was possessed for over a week!" Vista sighed. "But if we count from when that woman left your body, it's only been about ten hours. I was unconscious for seven or eight hours myself and just woke up not long ago."
My... body was possessed?
White Bay looked dazed until a sharp pain shot through her nerves, flooding her mind with memories from before she lost control of her body.
She suddenly grabbed Vista's arm, speaking incoherently: "It was those three! They should still be on the island... I was ambushed by them. Their abilities were all bizarre, we have to—"
"Relax," Vista patted her hand with a grin. "Those guys were interrogated this afternoon and have all been executed. Thanks to Lord Xiano—if he hadn't happened to be here..."
He then explained everything in detail to White Bay, who listened intently. Meanwhile, hearing the commotion, several figures entered the bedroom from the hall.
"Lord Xiano!"
Upon seeing him, White Bay immediately struggled to rise from the sickbed. Staggering a few steps forward, she bowed deeply, her voice choked with emotion:
"My lord, if not for your intervention, both Vista and I would have—"
"Enough, no need for this," Xiano waved his hand with a smile, cutting her off. "Vista already said the same thing to me hours ago. It was nothing, and besides, I wasn't specifically here to save you."
"You may not take it to heart, but we certainly can't! No matter what, we'll remember this tremendous kindness forever!" Vista laughed heartily, hands on his hips—only to clutch his chest moments later, nearly passing out from the pain.
Hiss...
How could his chest hurt this badly? What had that damned woman done with his body?
And another thing...
Where was his beard?!
His proud, meticulously groomed mustache that had taken years to grow—gone! Had that woman shaved it off just because she wasn't used to a man's body? Absolutely unforgivable!
"Tch." Vista seethed at the thought. Suppressing his frustration, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Xiano with a grin.
"Oh, right, my lord. The old man's been wanting to meet you for ages. Since we've run into you this time, why not take the opportunity to visit the Moby Dick as our guest?"
A visit?
Xiano was slightly surprised and exchanged glances with his companions behind him. Only then did he recall—back on Fish-Man Island, Marco had enthusiastically invited him to feast aboard Whitebeard's ship.
He'd been looking forward to it at the time but hadn't rushed to go. Since Whitebeard's territory was the largest and closest to the New World's entrance, he'd assumed the first Emperor he'd encounter upon entering would likely be Whitebeard.
Yet by sheer coincidence, he'd ended up meeting the other three Sea Emperors first, while the strongest of the Four Emperors remained unseen until now.
"The Moby Dick..."
Xiano rubbed his chin, a peculiar glint flashing in his eyes.
The potential gains there were undoubtedly substantial, but beyond that, he genuinely wanted to meet Whitebeard face-to-face.
During the war against the Marines in Dressrosa, he had owed Whitebeard a favor, and it was only proper to express his gratitude in person.
Additionally.
There was also a little fly that seemed overdue for some attention.
"Sir, we sincerely hope you'll honor us with your presence."
Vista, mistaking his hesitation for reluctance, spoke earnestly:
"Pops' health has improved recently, and he's been longing for drinking companions. Your visit would surely delight him!"
Meeting Vista's hopeful gaze, Xiano couldn't help but chuckle:
"Since you've put it that way, refusing would seem affected. Very well, once matters here are settled, I'll accompany you to the Moby Dick."
"Haha, excellent! It's settled then!"
Vista enthusiastically thumped his chest, only to wince in pain as he accidentally hit his wound.
...
Late at night, aboard the Sunset.
The crew gathered on deck for a brief meeting.
That afternoon, Fat Henry had already taken his leave, overjoyed.
The man's tongue proved looser than claimed—while alleging a loss of two billion Berries, the actual sum exceeded three billion, accounting for nearly half of all the merchants' swindled funds.
Yet he knew his place.
Without hesitation, he promptly delivered the promised one billion Berry reward.
Moreover, he added an extra five hundred million Berries as gratitude for saving his life.
Following his example, the other merchants also contributed portions of their recovered funds as tokens of appreciation.
As for the small remainder belonging to those unfortunate souls already murdered, with no heirs to return the money to, they had no choice but to keep it all.
The total haul amounted to four billion Berries, supplemented by the untouched forty-two billion in Celestial Tribute from the Five Elders.
Combined, that made eighty-two billion Berries!
Eighty-two billion—an astronomical sum beyond any nation's ability to raise quickly.
More than sufficient for establishing their headquarters.
"Everyone, I'll leave the next phase to you."
Xiano scanned the circle, grinning. "I'll be playing the absentee leader for once. By the time I return from Whitebeard's, I expect to see our flags flying over these five unclaimed islands in Wisteria Sea."
"Leave it to us, Captain!"
"We've got this!"
His crew responded with ready laughter, having long prepared for this.
These five neutral islands in the war buffer zone had mostly degenerated into lawless territories, inevitably harboring unsavory elements.
To claim ownership of the house, they first had to clean it thoroughly.
As for the cleaners...
They had more than enough.
Though the Curtain Closer's core members numbered few—barely ten counting the two pets, and realistically eight since the two troublemakers only created more work—this didn't reflect a shortage of capable personnel under Xiano's command.
King Riku's army from Dressrosa, the Tontatta dwarves...plenty were willing to leave Dressrosa and follow him. Reinforcements could be drawn from them at any time.
On those isolated, pearl-like scattered islands of the Agatha Archipelago...
There were over a thousand fully grown warriors proficient in Haki, all following his lead!
Now.
It was time to put them to good use.
...
...
Five days later.
On the Moby Dick, sailing through calm seas under clear skies.
The news had spread throughout the ship days ago - how Vista and White Bay had been ambushed and left hanging by a thread, only to be miraculously saved by the newly crowned Sea Emperor, Xiano.
And now, the entire Moby Dick was abuzz with excitement over the news that this man called Xiano would soon be visiting Whitebeard, accompanying Vista on his return.
"Hey! Is it today? Is Vista returning today, right?"
"Should be, right? Didn't you see? Since last night, division commanders have been returning one after another. Seems even they want to see Lord Xiano with their own eyes, just like us!"
"Duh, who wouldn't? That guy's only been in the New World for half a year and already stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Old Man as a super rookie!"
"Shh! Don't say 'rookie' in front of him. Other than the Old Man being easygoing, these top-tier powerhouses all have their quirks. Better not offend..."
"Got it, got it, do I look stupid to you..."
On the deck, pirates gathered in small groups, discussing excitedly.
Some polished their weapons, others tidied their appearances. Even the usually laziest, sloppiest crew members perked up.
It had been years...
No one could remember the last time a Sea Emperor-level figure had visited the Moby Dick, especially on friendly terms.
They had to put their best foot forward - couldn't let the Old Man lose face!
"Gurararara! My silly sons, it's rare to see you all so excited!"
A deep laugh boomed from the center of the deck. Whitebeard sat on his specially made giant chair, downing an enormous glass of liquor in one gulp.
"Old Man!"
Marco approached, shaking his head helplessly. "What are you doing? That's for our guest! He's not even here yet and you're already drinking?"
This willful old man was impossible!
"Quit nagging!"
White beard's face reddened slightly before he huffed, "This is vintage stuff aged over a decade! I'm just checking for Xiano boy to see if it's gone bad, got a problem with that?"
He took another huge swig, then peeked warily at Marco from the corner of his eye, ready to defend his drink.
"..."
Vintage?
Since when does vintage liquor "go bad"?
A vein pulsed on Marco's forehead as he prepared to argue, when suddenly an excited shout came from the crow's nest:
"They're coming! Old Man! Marco! Look at three o'clock - it's Vista's ship! Heading straight for us!"
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