บท 92: Chapter 92: Shock Fruit's Trail

Chapter 92: Shock Fruit's Trail

"Alright, get out there and work hard! Aim to reach the rank of Marine Vice Admiral this year."

Chiba dismissed Koby with a confident nod.

"Yes, sir!" Koby saluted smartly before leaving the office.

After he left, Hina adjusted her glasses, her lips curving into a slight smile as she looked at Chiba with bright eyes. "Chiba, were you joking with Koby just now?"

"Do you think I was joking?" Chiba smiled, then gently took Hina's hand. "You've said I've been working hard, so why isn't there any sign of a baby yet?"

"It seems I haven't been working hard enough. Tonight, let's double our efforts."

Hina blushed prettily, feigning annoyance. "You're still so shameless."

Chiba grinned. "Come on, we're practically an old couple now. We should get serious about having a baby soon—my grandfather is eager to have a grandson."

Meanwhile, Koby left Chiba's office and found Helmeppo waiting for him. Noticing the spring in Koby's step and the documents in his hand, Helmeppo immediately walked over. "Koby, what's with the paperwork? What did Master Chiba want with you?"

Koby thought for a moment. Helmeppo was his close friend, so there was no need to hide it. "Master Chiba called me over. He specifically designed a new physical training method for me and asked me to work on it."

"What? Master Chiba actually created a training method just for you?" Helmeppo's eyes widened with jealousy as he sighed dramatically.

"Master Chiba really does favor you. He's always giving you the best training, the most medicines, the best elixirs… and now a special training method too! Why does he like you so much? I'm really jealous."

Helmeppo looked up with exaggerated sorrow. "Why couldn't I be blessed by Master Chiba like you?"

Koby chuckled and patted him on the back. "Alright, I didn't keep everything for myself, did I? I shared some of the medicine with you, and the pills too. Didn't I share those with you as well?"

Helmeppo laughed, draping an arm around Koby's shoulder. "I'm just teasing you! I envy you, sure, but I'm still proud of you. People envy me too, y'know. Not everyone gets to call themselves Chiba's direct subordinate."

"We're like brothers. I should tell you, Master Chiba really sees potential in you, Koby. Never do anything that would let him down."

Koby nodded, his face serious. "Of course. I would never betray Master Chiba, no matter what."

Helmeppo nodded in approval, then lowered his voice. "There's a rumor that Master Chiba doesn't want to be Marine Marshal. If Sengoku steps down, he might leave the Marines altogether. Koby, what would you do? Would you stay in the Marines, or would you follow Master Chiba?"

Koby was silent for a moment. Helmeppo, a little frustrated, nudged him. "Koby, did you hear me?"

Taking a deep breath, Koby answered firmly, "Of course I would follow Master Chiba."

Helmeppo laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "That's the Koby I know! By the way, did Master Chiba say anything else? Like, did he mention me?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh, what a disappointment."

"But… he did tell me to visit the fruit stands."

"Fruit stands? Does Master Chiba want fresh fruit? Let me take care of that! I'll deliver the fruit to Master Chiba, so I can show my loyalty."

"No, it's not about fruit. He wants me to check the stands to see if I can find the Shock Fruit."

Helmeppo's enthusiasm faded quickly. "Yeah… I think I'll pass. I'd rather use that time to train. Besides, it's not like Master Chiba asked me to go."

Then he muttered, "To be honest, Koby, Marines have already scoured every fruit stall around Marineford. If the Shock Fruit were really nearby, someone would've found it by now. It's probably a waste of time."

Koby's gaze grew firm. "Regardless, it was Master Chiba's order. I have to see it through."

Their conversation caught the attention of Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, who walked over with a smirk. "What are you two dreaming about?"

Koby and Helmeppo immediately snapped to attention and saluted. "Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel!"

"Alright, relax," Flying Squirrel chuckled. He'd watched these two grow from raw recruits into promising Marines with remarkable combat strength, thanks to Chiba's demanding training.

"Koby, I think Helmeppo's right. Marines everywhere have been combing through fruit stalls for months now, but the Shock Fruit still hasn't shown up. Even the stalls around Marineford have been searched a dozen times. If you're serious about rising in rank, you'd better spend more time training."

"A few Vice Admiral positions are now open, and you two have the strength to earn one if you work hard," he added.

Koby responded firmly, "Thank you, Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, for your concern, but this is Master Chiba's order, and I have to follow it."

Flying Squirrel sighed, shaking his head. "You're just wasting your time."

As he walked off, he muttered, "People are treating Chiba like a myth these days. If he could really find the Shock Fruit so easily, we would've found it by now."

Just then, Smoker walked over. "Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, that Chiba sent Koby to look for the Shock Fruit at the fruit stands again."

Smoker looked surprised. "The Marines have already searched every fruit shop around here. What does he think he'll find?"

"Are we talking about the Shock Fruit again?" Aokiji approached, looking tired. "Just hearing about it is giving me a headache."

Smoker laughed. "Still no luck with the search, huh?"

Aokiji rubbed his forehead. "I've been dragging Marines to fruit stalls all over the islands, through jungles, and even scouring fruit dumped in ditches, but nothing. This is ridiculous."

"Don't blame Marshal Sengoku. Everyone knows how powerful the Shock Fruit is. One hit and Marineford sank," Smoker said, looking around at the ruins. "No wonder he wants it under Marine control."

Aokiji sighed, gazing over the wreckage. "Shock Fruit… where is it?" Then, turning to Smoker, he added, "When I get back, let's have a drink."

"Good luck finding it," Smoker chuckled.

Aokiji waved as he walked off. "Get the drinks ready—I'll hold you to it!"

As soon as Aokiji left, Kizaru appeared, looking even more worn out. Flying Squirrel, now more comfortable talking to him, asked, "Mr. Kizaru, what's wrong?"

Kizaru rubbed his temples. "The old man told me to search again. Apparently, since I have the speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit, I should check every island within 100,000 nautical miles of Marineford."

Flying Squirrel shrugged. "That's because the Shock Fruit is too powerful, and you're the fastest among us, Mr. Kizaru."

Kizaru scoffed, "I think the old man has 'Shock Fruit Syndrome.' Even if we find it, it'll just go to the World Government. I won't get a bite of it myself."

He shot Flying Squirrel and Smoker a cold stare. "By the way, don't go repeating what I just said."

"No, sir!" they both replied quickly, a bead of sweat rolling down their foreheads.

Kizaru patted them on the shoulder. "Good. I'd hate to have to take care of you both."

With that, he walked off, muttering, "I'll take a nap, then maybe do a few laps. Who knows where that fruit is hiding?"

No sooner had he left than Akainu appeared, his expression cold. "That Kizaru is so lax—it's disgraceful."

"Good day, Admiral Sakazuki," Smoker and Flying Squirrel said in unison, standing at attention. Akainu's intensity was something neither of them dared to test.

"You two are just in time. You're coming with me to search for the Shock Fruit."

Smoker's face fell. He'd hoped to focus on training for the Vice Admiral selection, not run around on another fruit search. "Sir, I'm preparing for the Vice Admiral selection. Perhaps I could…"

"The selection isn't for a while yet. Half a month with me, and you'll be back with time to spare."

"But…"

Akainu's eyes flashed. "What's more important, your promotion, or ensuring the Shock Fruit doesn't fall into pirate hands?"

Smoker swallowed his objections, knowing it was futile. "Understood, Admiral Sakazuki. Where should we search?"

Akainu nodded approvingly. "Near Marineford."

Flying Squirrel hesitated. "Hasn't it already been searched several times, Admiral?"

Akainu gave him a hard look. "The Shock Fruit's appearance is random. Just because it hasn't appeared yet doesn't mean it won't. Got it?"

Flying Squirrel gave a sheepish nod. "Got it, sir."

"Good." Akainu's gaze shifted. "I heard you mention Chiba—what's going on?"

Flying Squirrel quickly explained how Chiba had sent Koby to search for the Shock Fruit at the fruit stands once again. Akainu sneered. "Absurd. The Marines have already turned the world upside down looking for that fruit. If he thinks sending Koby to check street markets will find it, he's fooling himself."

With a disdainful laugh, Akainu added, "If Koby manages to find the Shock Fruit, it'll be nothing short of a miracle."

Meanwhile, in the temporary office of the Marine Marshal, Sengoku sat, rubbing his temples. "This doesn't make sense. We've scoured the entire world, from pirates to Marines—someone should have found it by now."

"Could the Shock Fruit have been found and hidden?" he wondered aloud. "Impossible. If someone had the fruit, they wouldn't be able to resist eating it."

"Unless…" Sengoku mused, "they've already eaten it and are simply lying low."

Across the seas, Ace, now leading the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, was also searching for the Shock Fruit.

"We've scoured thousands of nautical miles with no sign of it," one crewmember reported.

"What about the Red-Haired Pirates? Or Kaido's and Big Mom's crews?" Ace asked.

"They're coming up empty too. No one has found anything."

Ace stared out over the water, frustration simmering. "Where could it have gone?"

---

A month passed with the Marines continuing large-scale searches, supplemented by countless small efforts. In the marshal's office, Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu were all present.

Sengoku coughed lightly, preparing to address them. "Aokiji, I need you to—"

Aokiji interrupted, waving his hands dismissively. "Marshal, forget it. If the Shock Fruit were still out there, we would have found it by now. Either someone's eaten it or hidden it extremely well."

Kizaru nodded in agreement. "We all know how powerful the Shock Fruit is, but we've been at this for two months, spending vast resources and exhausting our forces. Even the logistics division is strained, yet we're no closer to finding it."

Sengoku looked to Akainu, who, surprisingly, sighed. "It appears the Shock Fruit has been taken. For now, we'll have to wait for its new wielder to emerge, and then focus on bringing that individual into the Marines."

Sengoku could only sigh. "So be it."

Meanwhile, Koby had reached a significant milestone, having successfully trained to the first level of Chiba's extraordinary Whitebeard physique method. His body had become exceptionally flexible, his control over it so precise he could perform seemingly impossible movements, enhancing his swordsmanship and Haki greatly.

Elated, Koby was about to continue practicing when a sudden, inexplicable feeling struck him—a restless urge that made him abandon his routine.

Thinking back on Chiba's instructions, Koby decided to head to the main street.

After two months of restoration, the high street in Marineford had cleared, with vendors once again selling snacks and fruits. Koby made his way down the road, inspecting one fruit stand after another.

Then, as he approached a stall named "Ching Chong Fruit Stand," a sudden throb pulsed through his chest. His heart started to pound faster, an unfamiliar excitement stirring within him as he gazed at the stand's offerings.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.