章 93: Cutting Off The Hu Task And Recruiting Members Of The Protagonist Group
Kensuke took a deep breath, contemplating the gravity of the situation. Finally, he spoke, "Alright, I trust you. Just promise me you'll take good care of these two children."
Arias nodded, signaling for Hiyori and Kuina to each pick up a child. He then approached Zoro and examined his injuries.
"Damn, these wounds would have killed a grown man," Arias muttered, impressed by Zoro's resilience. "But this kid's still breathing steadily. What kind of monstrous physique is this?"
Using the Op-Op Fruit's abilities, Arias carefully cleaned Zoro's wounds, reconnected his broken bones, and laid him on a stretcher provided by the villagers. After ensuring Zoro's body was relaxed, he used the Gomono Technique to control the stretcher, guiding it towards the Daybreak.
As they sailed away, Arias pondered the message he had received from the system: "Avenging Nami and recruiting her will alter the future world line."
The system then offered a mission: "Intercept all of Luffy's future crew members before he does. You must not kill or force them, but win their genuine loyalty. If successful, you can choose two of the Eight Magic Skills. The mission is time-limited to three years."
"If you refuse, you'll still receive a reward: [Ruyi Jin]."
Sitting on the bow, feeling the wind on his face, Arias weighed his options. This was the first time the system had proactively given him a mission. Usually, it only distributed rewards based on the extent to which he altered the future world line.
"Intercepting Luffy's crew members in advance shouldn't be too hard," Arias thought. "I already have Zoro, and Nami is practically on board. It won't take much to convince her."
He thought of the others: Sanji was still on the Orbit cruise ship, Usopp in Syrup Village, Franky in Water 7, Chopper on Drum Island, and Brook in the Florian Triangle. The only one who might be hard to locate was Robin, currently wandering in West Blue.
"The reward for completing this mission would be two of the Eight Magic Skills," Arias mused, going through his existing abilities.
He had already mastered [Bone Scraper], [Liuku Immortal Thief], [Five Directions Revealed], [Earthly Immortal], [Divine Machine Hundred Refiners], [Great Compassionate Hand], [Ghost Shadow Walk], [Tai Chi], [Phantom Body Barrier], [Bajiquan], [Origin of Qi Ti], and [Ju Ling Dispatch General].
Among these, [Earth Walking Immortal], [Ghost Shadow Walk], and [Illusion Body Barrier] were his go-to techniques for getting into and out of trouble. Combined with the Op-Op Fruit's space manipulation abilities, he was practically unstoppable.
The [Liuku Immortal Thief] allowed him to rapidly grow stronger and neutralized any Devil Fruit's negative effects, while [Wufang Jieyi] bolstered his natural power and defense, making his body nearly invincible.
[Great Compassionate Hand], [Tai Chi], and [Bajiquan] were essential for close-quarters combat, and his skill with [Shen Ji Bai] allowed him to craft the Xiang, Wudou Guy, the Supreme Sharp Sword, and transform the Daybreak.
If he completed the mission, he could choose two more of the Eight Magic Skills, including [Fenghou Qimen], which he would need to build a self-cultivation furnace.
After careful consideration, Arias decided to accept the mission. "First step, find Robin," he thought.
Not long after, Nami and Nojiko awoke, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Carina, who had been tidying up, noticed they were awake and brought them out to meet Arias.
"Thank you," the two girls said gratefully, bowing their heads.
Arias accepted their thanks with a nod, then asked, "Do you want to kill Marine's Colonel Nezumi?"
Nami's eyes blazed with fury. "Yes! Because of him, my mother was killed by pirates! I'll never forgive him!"
Nojiko quickly covered Nami's mouth, trying to be cautious. Though they were grateful to Arias for saving them, they knew nothing about him. How could they talk so carelessly about killing a Marine officer?
Arias continued, "You realize killing a Marine colonel means becoming an enemy of the Marines. Are you ready to pay that price?"
Nami broke free from Nojiko's grasp, her voice unwavering. "I don't care about the price. I'll do anything to avenge my mother!"
Arias smiled, satisfied with her resolve. "Good. That's the spirit I expect from someone in the protagonist's crew. From now on, you'll follow me, and I'll teach you how to stand against the World Government."
He called over Yamato. "You'll be their chief instructor," he said, handing Nami and Nojiko into her care.
Yamato beamed. With Carina, Nojiko, Nami as her students, and Kuina and Zoro practicing under her guidance, she was more than happy to take on the role of mentor. Even Hiyori often sought her advice on fighting techniques.
Later, inside the cabin, Hancock leaned against Arias, her voice soft. "You seem to have a soft spot for children, Arias."
Traveling with him, she had noticed that Arias often took in children wherever they went, from Kozuki Hiyori in Wano, to Carina, Kuina, Zoro, Nojiko, and Nami in East Blue. Even Yamato, the oldest among them, was only sixteen.
The once quiet Daybreak had grown lively with the sounds of children training on the deck every day.
Arias looked into Hancock's eyes and explained, "What we're trying to achieve, Hancock, can't be done by just the two of us. We need strong allies, but most of the powerful figures on the seas have their own ambitions. They can be useful but never truly trusted. These children, however, are different. They're still young, and we have the chance to mold them into our most loyal comrades."
He paused, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "And with the right training, these kids will one day become legends that will shake the world."
Hancock smiled warmly. "I trust you, Arias. Whatever you decide to do, I'll support you."
With the chart spread out before them, Arias plotted their next course: Syrup Village. But before they could set sail, they encountered another pirate crew.
Led by Hiyori and Kuina, the children fought bravely, dispatching the pirates with ease.
Hiyori approached Arias, holding a severed head. "This small-time pirate had a bounty of 16 million!"
Arias was surprised when he saw the head. "Jango? The leader of the Black Cat Pirates met his end like this?"
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