Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Little People
Marinford, Aokiji's office.
"Doflamingo? That guy's identity is a bit questionable, and the means by which he became a Shichibukai are also unusual. But all of this was agreed to by Marijoa."
Aokiji spread his hands: "I don't want to care so much."
Dylan glanced around and said, "You've been promoted, General Kuzan."
Aokiji scratched his head and said helplessly, "There's nothing I can do. The Grand Line is not peaceful right now. By the way, have you finished what you wanted to do?"
"It's done."
Dylan held out his hand.
A ball of lightning gathered in his palm: "Go and get a fruit."
The moment he saw the lightning, Aokiji's lazy expression suddenly changed: "Thunder Fruit?"
This kind of natural fruit ranks among the top in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, and Aokiji recognized it in an instant.
"Yeah." Dylan nodded: "This is also my biggest goal in coming to the Grand Line."
"you·······"
Aokiji straightened up slightly from the backrest, but then collapsed again: "Just get it yourself, ah, natural style, I really envy you."
You are envious of shit! Aren't you also a natural fruit?
Although he thought so in his heart, Dylan still preferred the Thunder Fruit that he had been waiting for for a long time.
After all, lightning has the ability to fly and extremely high movement speed, and its lethality is also very strong.
In addition, tempering his body with lightning can also allow his body to continue to strengthen, so that he will not be completely suppressed by the sea and seastone like other ability users.
"You don't have anything else to do this time?" Aokiji slumped on the sofa in distress: "I don't have anyone who can help me here, and I have a lot of things to do myself. If you are free, can you do some tasks for me?"
What's your business? Is it to ride your bike to follow your little girl? Or to sunbathe on Cap's boat?
"Okay, but as a major, it's hard for me to speak up for you, right?"
A major came out to kill someone on behalf of a general? That's a bit unreasonable, isn't it?
"Military rank? Ah..." Aokiji scratched his hair. This was indeed a difficult thing to do. Although the navy based its decisions on background and strength, officers at the general and colonel level still had to focus on actual combat achievements.
Now is not the time after the Battle of Marineford a few years later, when the navy's top combat power has shrunk and special recruitment is being carried out all over the world.
"Got it!" Aokiji's eyes lit up, and he rummaged through the drawer and took out a bounty: "Go kill him, and I'll apply for a military rank for you."
Dylan took the reward warrant and took a look at it.
"Blood Hook" Rod, bounty - 550 million Baileys.
Hmm? Is there such a person?
"Where did this guy come from? Why haven't I heard of him before?"
"Yes... Oh, you are still young, it's normal that you haven't heard of it. He was a small figure in a terrible pirate group a long time ago."
A terrifying pirate group?
Little man! ?
Dylan stroked his chin and re-examined the photo on the wanted poster.
She looks to be in her 50s or 60s. At this age...
"Could it be the guy on Rocks' ship?"
"Ah, it's Rock..." Aokiji's eyes widened: "You know the Rocks Pirates? How old are you?"
Really! ?
If that's the case, then he is indeed a small person.
Compared to guys like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Kaido, and Linlin.
Golden Lion...this guy is still hiding in the sky and studying monsters. Should we kill him in advance?
Normally, these devil fruit ability users are locked up instead of killed, which can effectively limit the devil fruit abilities.
If the person with special abilities is killed as soon as he is caught, it will be like the Flame-Flame Fruit, where the previous owner was obtained by other pirates not long after his death.
This is a situation that neither the Navy nor the World Government wants to see.
If you want to know more about floating fruit...
Forget it, let's put it aside for now. I'll look for him when I have time. It won't be too late to kill him then.
After all, he is just a major now.
Well, just a major.
"Where is he?" Dylan pointed at the man with a brutal face on the wanted poster. This photo should have been taken recently. So the Navy should have known his whereabouts.
"The most recent tracking was in the Kingdom of Alabasta. You can go over there and take a look. If there is any new information, the headquarters will notify you using Den Den Mushi."
Alabasta? Isn't that crocodile there? Crocodile should have failed in his challenge to Whitebeard and is now preparing to find "Pluto".
"Then I'm leaving."
Dylan put the wanted poster in his pocket and left.
In the office, Aokiji took off his blindfold only after Dylan's footsteps disappeared.
"How did he know the location of the devil fruit? And Rocks?"
"What a hassle, forget it!"
······
The first half of Grand Line: "Brother Dafu, why haven't I heard of that guy named Rod before? Mom actually thinks so highly of him? She even asked me to come to Paradise to pick him up and take him to the World of Nations."
Charlotte Dave, with two balloon-like things on her shoulders, glanced at her brother beside her.
"Well... it's normal that you don't know. He's an old guy. He used to be a minion on mom's ship."
"On board the mother ship? The 'Queen Mother Anthem'? How come I have never heard of it?"
"Not here..."
Daifuku gazed at the "paradise" which was much calmer than the new world.
"It's a ship from a long time ago. In terms of strength alone... no one is stronger than them."
...
The Kingdom of Alabasta.
Rainy land.
Unlike other areas of Alabasta, the Rainland is just as its name suggests, moist and refreshing.
At the "Rain Banquet" Casino, the tall receptionist's eyes lit up when she saw the tall and handsome Dylan.
In addition to being tall and handsome, this man's attire, sword, and his aura clearly show that he is a wealthy man.
Several reception girls tried their best to show off their bodies to Dylan, hoping that the man in front of them would choose them to accompany him.
Feeling their burning gazes, Dylan paused slightly and then looked around.
"you."
Dylan raised his hand and pointed at one of the blondes.
The blonde was overjoyed, and walked over to Dylan and clamped his arms with the two things on her chest.
"Guest, what would you like to play?"
After saying that, he straightened his waist, making Dylan's arm feel a friction.
"Woohahahaha!!"
A burst of wild laughter came from the hall in the distance, and Dylan raised his eyebrows.
It is here as expected.
On the sea, the group most famous for its intelligence capabilities is of course the Big Mom Pirates, followed by Morganse and the CP organization.
However, naval intelligence is equally powerful and has a wider coverage.
Not long after Dylan left Marinford, detailed information about "Blood Hook" Rhodes was passed to him through the video worm.
This includes this guy's hobbies and behavioral characteristics.
Gambling addiction is one of them.
Back in Rocks, this guy lost his right hand because he was obsessed with gambling.
"I bet big!!!"
Rhodes, who had won a rare victory, laughed and threw chips on the table.
Seeing this, others followed suit.
"I'll bet on the small one."
An equally arrogant voice came from across the table.
Dylan held a cigarette between his lips and threw out a handful of chips. When he saw Rod looking at him, he blew out a puff of smoke provocatively.
"Hmm? Uwahahahaha, let's get started quickly then."
Rhodes licked his lips and said, "Let me show you that Uncle Rhodes' luck is always undefeated!"
Ten minutes later.
The people who were originally standing behind Rhodes had all disappeared, but the young man opposite him was now full of people standing behind him.
"Hey, are you out of money? It's really boring. When did Yuyan start entertaining even these poor guys?"
Does Dylan gamble? Of course not.
But it is easy to control the direction of the dice using a small electric current.
Just as Rhodes stood up and prepared to leave, he heard cheers from behind him.
The young man was throwing the chips in front of him around: "Come on, these are... all paid for by the uncle with the broken hand."
After saying that, the young man laughed and said, "Why don't you thank the uncle with the broken hand?"
The people around were stunned at first, and then burst into laughter: "Thank you, uncle with the broken hand!!"
Rhodes' body stiffened, and the dark armament color was about to cover the hook.
"No…No!"
Rhodes swallowed.
He had barely managed to evade the navy's pursuit and must not be discovered in such a place again. Back then, even a man like the captain might have been defeated by Garp.
Although Newgate and his men seemed powerful now, Rhode knew that if they were targeted by the Navy or the World Government, there would be no good results.
In the distance, Dylan threw chips into the air and placed a few of the largest denomination chips into the blonde's hand.
"This is a reward for you. I hope you won't be here next time I come."
Dylan stood up and stopped the blonde's attempt to follow.
"guest?"
The blonde girl looked at the white-haired young man who staggered out of the "Rain Banquet" door and was a little dazed for a moment.
What does it mean? Generally speaking, if a customer is satisfied with the escort's service, wouldn't he want her to serve him again next time?
When Dylan walked out of the door, the blonde's body shook slightly and she looked at the door with a complicated expression.
"What a gentle guest."
After saying that, the blonde clenched the chips in her hand tightly and raised her hand to adjust her collar.
...
Outside the Rainland City, Dylan stopped.
"Hey, that iron hook, you've been following me all the way, why don't you do anything?"
Rhodes walked out from behind the hill with a gloomy face: "Why did you deliberately lure me out?"
"Oh?" Dylan smiled at the vigilant Rod in the distance: "Ho~? You are quite cautious. Since you knew I was leading you out, why did you dare to follow me?"
"Woohohoho!"
Rhode licked his lips habitually. "If it was Sengoku or Garp... No, even if it was Aokiji or Sakaski, I would have run away long ago. But you..."
Armament Haki instantly covered the iron hook on his right hand: "I haven't heard of you, guy!"
"What a coincidence."
The black armament color instantly covered the Shura scabbard.
"I haven't heard of your name in the original version!"
······
"Brother Daifuku! Something bad has happened!!"
On the outskirts of Alabasta, a thin young man ran up to Charlotte Daifuku holding a small card between his fingertips.
"That guy's life card is burning! He's dying!"