Whitebeard could probably beat Kaido several times over and capture him alive if they fought at the same age and same peak.
The ultimate power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was practically the natural counter to a monster like Kaido, whose defense was said to be the strongest in the world.
"It's just that time isn't on my side. I don't have the leisure to fully awaken this ability…"
Creed narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had a faint feeling that once the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was completely awakened, it wouldn't just be enough to kill Kaido—it might even become a trump card he could use against Imu in the future.
"Let's swing by Green Palm Island on the way back and relax for a bit."
Creed stretched lazily as he made the proposal.
"Okay."
Ain had no objections, but the moment she remembered what kind of place Green Palm Island was, her pretty face flushed crimson, making her even more stunning.
Green Palm Island was a famous resort in the New World. Not only did it boast beautiful scenery and hot springs, it was also a shopping paradise—so famous that even Celestial Dragons often came here on vacation.
At the same time, the island produced a unique "heart–shaped rose," and because of that, Green Palm Island was also a dream destination for countless couples—a holy land for romance.
Creed knew perfectly well what she was thinking. He reached out and gently took the hand that was nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, and pulled her into his arms.
"Mm…"
Suddenly being pulled so close and surrounded by Creed's scent, Ain felt a little overwhelmed. But she didn't resist. On the contrary, her heart was secretly overjoyed.
On this journey, she had spent an incredible amount of time at Creed's side. But because his light shone too brightly, she often felt as though he were always just out of reach.
Only now, with the two of them alone together like this, did that feeling finally vanish. Their hearts felt like they had drawn truly close for the first time.
When would all of this finally be over?
When would she be able to live a peaceful, uneventful life with the person she loved…
Just thinking about it made Ain's face burn even hotter.
She was nervous—but she was also full of anticipation.
"Right… Robin–nee seems to like him too. Every time she brings him up, her eyes light up…"
That thought popped into her head, and her mind suddenly grew even more tangled.
Honestly, the man standing behind her wasn't exactly calm either. Creed might be a monster on the battlefield, but in these matters, he was just as much of a rookie.
And Ain was so beautiful that there wasn't the slightest flaw to be found—calling her a perfect goddess wouldn't be an exaggeration.
The thought that he could hold a "goddess" like this in his arms and call her his… if Creed felt no excitement at all, that would be the real lie.
"I'll go take a bath first."
As Ain slipped off her boots and revealed those long, graceful legs, her voice dropped to the level of a mosquito buzz.
It was obvious—even without words—that she was telling him she was ready.
Creed nodded, but in secret, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) had already spread out ahead of him, covering the entire mountainside.
Before anything else, he needed to deal with a few "flies and mosquitoes" lurking in the shadows.
Most of the people who had secretly followed them had known when to back off. When Creed and Ain entered their private villa, they'd given up and pulled back.
But some annoying types were still trying to find ways to get closer and keep up their surveillance.
For example, in the villa right next door, two suspicious figures were quietly checking in at this very moment.
Those two had been tailing him for half a day. They had changed disguises several times along the way, but there was no way they could escape Creed's terrifying Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).
Before they could even open the door to their villa, an invisible wave of Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) came crashing down on them from nowhere. Both of them fainted on the spot, foaming at the mouth, their bodies losing all control—an absolutely miserable sight.
Even if their courage hadn't shattered completely, they'd probably be broken for life when they were rescued later.
A few more people suffered the same fate.
All of them were SSS–level experts in their own right—but in front of Creed's Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), they were as fragile as paper.
His Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) was no longer what it once had been. With killing intent and dragon might layered on top, it had already risen to peak SSSS–level. It was only a single step away from SSSS+–level Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki).
Because of that, it didn't matter if they were a hundred meters away or seven or eight miles out—if Creed deliberately targeted them, the results would be the same.
And with his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) reading hearts and intentions, there were almost no mistakes in his judgment. Anyone with malice toward him was simply knocked out first and sorted out later.
For a moment, the villa district fell into an eerie silence.
Then, soon after, it grew noisy and chaotic.
But that chaos was quickly suppressed.
Whoever managed this district clearly issued an order right away, locking everything down.
The guests in the villas around Creed were quietly relocated to other villas as well.
Obviously, this was a show of goodwill—they were clearing out a quiet space just for Creed and Ain.
Once all the stray cats and dogs were cleaned up, Creed finally had the mood to go bathe and soak in the hot springs.
Splash…
In the spacious backyard of the villa, hot spring water flowed in steaming streams. Mist rose into the air, and a small wooden tray floated on the surface of the pool, carrying wine the color of amber. Its rich aroma drifted outward, enough to make anyone tipsy.
Ain's face was burning with color, so bright and beautiful it could steal a man's soul.
Bathing together like this… it made her heart pound like crazy.
She craved this moment—but she was also a little afraid of the unknown.
Even though she still had a large bath towel wrapped around her, she felt like she was completely bare before Creed's eyes.
And she wasn't wrong. Creed had already "peeked" once with his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).
Ain's figure and her skin were almost too perfect—enough to make him lose his cool on the spot.
"Creed–nii, let me… wash your back."
The air between them felt dangerously heated, and Ain grew flustered. She hurriedly found an excuse to break the strange silence between them.
"Sure."
Creed didn't refuse and turned his back to her.
The next moment, a soft warmth pressed against him, along with a slippery, electric sensation that made his self–control teeter on the brink.
Ain's shy initiative toward the man she loved was like heavenly thunder striking dry tinder—once the spark caught, there was no stopping it.
Steam rose thicker and thicker above the hot spring. The surface of the pool rippled and surged, and the night quietly blurred into a haze of warmth and gentle waves.
…
The next day, the two of them finally left the villa, reluctant but satisfied, and started back down the mountain.
On the way, Ain muttered a little complaint—that Creed had been "a bit too much," and now it even hurt a little when she walked.
Of course, Creed had the perfect solution to this kind of "complaint."
He simply bent down, scooped her up into a princess carry, and walked on with her in his arms.
"Baka…"
Feeling his overbearing yet oh–so–sweet gesture, Ain could only bury her head into his chest, her face red as a tomato, letting him do as he pleased.
…
A day later, they finally returned to Whole Cake Island, putting Shiki and the others—who had been worried sick—completely at ease.
(End of Chapter)
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