บท 6: CHAPTER 6

Tama picked up her bowl and drank in large gulps. Poor Tama hadn't eaten this happily since she was a child.

Alastor didn't stand on ceremony either; he sat down and started eating as well.

The two of them—one big and one small—quickly had their faces covered in oil from the food.

Suddenly, Tama pointed at Alastor and burst into laughter. "Brother, you got oil all over your nose!"

Alastor calmly wiped the oil off his nose, then quickly reached out and tickled Tama. "Daring to laugh at your brother, are you, little girl?"

Tama wriggled in his arms, tears of laughter streaming down her face. "It's so ticklish! Stop, brother, stop tickling me!"

They polished off the food while they played, and Tama patted her now-round belly. "I'm so full."

Alastor said, "Tama, I'll take you home."

The Kurii area wasn't safe these days, and Alastor couldn't let Tama go back alone.

Tama's home was in Amigasa Village, a place of deep poverty. The villagers were thin and sickly, and their eyes glowed with hunger at even the sight of a little food.

Some villagers laughed constantly, their laughter strange and unsettling. Even as their loved ones starved, they continued to laugh uncontrollably.

These unfortunate people were known as "Hilarious People"—those who had unknowingly eaten scraps from failed artificial devil fruits.

The success rate of artificial devil fruits was low; only one in ten people gained an actual ability. The other nine were left with only this strange, forced laughter.

This was why Alastor hadn't touched an artificial devil fruit in the past three years. He wasn't willing to gamble on a one-in-ten chance.

Moreover, the transformations caused by artificial devil fruits were often hideous—like Holdem, who had a lion's head growing out of his waist. Alastor felt uncomfortable just thinking about it.

"Master, I'm back!"

The voice of little Tama snapped Alastor out of his thoughts.

The door of the cabin before them opened, and an eccentric old man dressed in tengu attire stepped outside, saying, "Tama, where have you been? You worry this old man too much!"

Tama smiled. "I went to Bakura Town, Master, but don't worry—I had my brother to protect me."

This strange old man was Hitetsu Tenguyama, whose real identity was Kozuki Oden's father, Kozuki Sukiyaki. His expression darkened.

The "brother" Tama referred to… was Alastor, a captain of the Beast Pirates?

Kozuki Sukiyaki, driven to his current situation by Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido, harbored deep resentment toward everyone in the Beast Pirates. So, despite Alastor's help to Ayu, Sukiyaki never trusted him, suspecting he had ulterior motives.

Just as Sukiyaki didn't trust Alastor, Alastor had no respect for the Kozuki clan either. In his eyes, Kozuki Oden and his kin were worthless. In fact, he thought little of all three generations of the Kozuki family—including Momonosuke.

"Tama, your brother's leaving now," Alastor said as he turned to go.

"Goodbye, brother!" Tama waved, reluctant to part.

"Tama, come in quickly! That man is no friend," Kozuki Sukiyaki said, fully opening the door and tugging on Tama's sleeve to pull her inside.

Alastor initially ignored the remark, but as he turned away, something caught his eye.

"Is that…?"

Alastor paused, then turned around and walked back toward the cabin.

"You… what are you doing?" Kozuki Sukiyaki stammered, startled by Alastor's sudden movement.

"Brother?" Tama looked at him in confusion.

Alastor didn't respond but fixed his gaze on a sword hanging on the cabin wall.

The sword had a purple blade, a unique style, and seemed to radiate a strange aura. It was clearly no ordinary weapon.

Following Alastor's gaze, Sukiyaki realized that he was eyeing the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu—a treasured sword of his. His face went pale, and he gritted his teeth in anger.

"That sword is beyond your reach! Get out of here at once!"

Alastor merely smiled.

The grade sword Sandai Kitetsu—one of the twenty-one Great Grade Blades—was exactly the type of legendary sword he'd been seeking.

Alastor's smile made the hairs on Sukiyaki's neck stand on end, and he swallowed nervously.

"Tama, go to the back room to rest. I have something to discuss with your master."

He needed Tama out of the way—this wasn't something she should witness.

Tama, trusting Alastor as her big brother, hesitated but nodded, retreating to the back room.

Now, only Alastor and Kozuki Sukiyaki remained.

Sukiyaki clenched his fists. Though he was fearful, he couldn't let the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu fall into the hands of a Beast Pirate.

He spread his arms, blocking the entrance to the cabin, and shouted:

"Even if it costs me my life, I will never hand this sword over to you!"

Alastor raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.

He hadn't expected Kozuki Sukiyaki, who secluded himself in the deep mountains and forests to make dolls, to show such kindness.

Alastor smiled again and said slowly, "Don't wear such a death-defying expression; I won't kill you just because of Tama."

Upon hearing this, Kozuki Sukiyaki let out a sigh of relief. He had been genuinely scared and had mustered every ounce of courage he had.

"Then why don't you just leave?" he demanded.

Alastor's gaze shifted to the emaciated villagers of Amigasa Village not far away. He spoke meaningfully, "The people of Wano are truly suffering. They're exploited by Kurozumi Orochi every day. They must long for the return of the Kozuki Clan to restore order."

"What… what do you mean by that?"

Kozuki Sukiyaki's heart raced, a bad premonition creeping over him.

"What I mean is—" Alastor chuckled, "If the people of Wano knew that there are still members of the Kozuki Clan alive, and that their former leader is not dead, what do you think they would do?"

As soon as these words left Alastor's lips, Kozuki Sukiyaki trembled in fear, his eyes wide with dread as he looked at Alastor.

His body trembled, and he could barely stand.

The man before him actually knew his true identity. How is that possible? How could he know?

Moreover, if this person knew his true identity, why hadn't he reported it to Kurozumi Orochi?

Kozuki Sukiyaki was filled with doubts, but his overwhelming fear rendered him momentarily speechless.

Alastor's tone suddenly turned cold. "If you don't want to be torn to pieces by the angry people of Wano, then get out of the way!"

Kozuki Sukiyaki shuddered.

Yes, if his identity were exposed, and if the people of Wano discovered that he was still alive while allowing their country and its people to suffer, he couldn't even begin to imagine what they would think of him.

In the end, the distraught Kozuki Sukiyaki stepped aside.

He might be able to grit his teeth and fight for his life, but he couldn't bear the thought of being rejected by the people of Wano, nor could he face the guilt of tarnishing the Kozuki clan's reputation because of his existence.

Alastor glanced coldly at Kozuki Sukiyaki, then walked into the cabin and took down the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu from the wall.

As soon as the sword was in his hands, a chilling aura surged into Alastor's palm. It was indeed the legendary demon sword.

Alastor felt a surge of satisfaction as he left the cabin, the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu in hand.

Kozuki Sukiyaki watched him go, a mix of fear, disbelief, and hatred on his face, which ultimately morphed into a curse—similar to how he would tie up a doll and curse Kurozumi Orochi and the Beast Pirates.

"The grade sword Sandai Kitetsu is a true demon sword. Anyone who wields it will surely suffer misfortune, and you will pay an unimaginable price!" he thought bitterly to himself.

Unfortunately for him, Alastor didn't care about the consequences of misfortune at all; what mattered more to him was obtaining a good sword—a truly exceptional sword.

Alastor did not return to Bakura Town; instead, he ventured into a forest, eager to test out the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu.

Bang!

He drew the sword from its sheath, and the blade emitted a strange purple light in the sunlight.

"Interesting!"

Alastor licked his lips and swung the sword with force.

A burst of sword energy shot out, slicing through five or six large trees in front of him.

"This demon sword is incredibly powerful! I didn't even use much strength!"

Alastor was genuinely thrilled; the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu was even more formidable than he had anticipated.

Excited, he spent the next half day practicing his swordsmanship. By the end, he was fully familiar with how to wield Sandai Kitetsu.

During this time, he also sensed the faint evil spirit emanating from the sword.

Alastor wasn't afraid of this evil spirit; instead, he felt a sense of anticipation. If he could master this dark energy, his swordsmanship would reach new heights!

"Old friend, it's time for us to part ways."

With the grade sword Sandai Kitetsu secured at his waist, Alastor took out his original sword.

Although it was just an ordinary sword, after three years of use, he had formed a deep bond with it.

Alastor buried the saber in the ground, sighed, and then turned to leave.

"Master Alastor, you're finally back!"

"What's wrong?"

Alastor looked at his new follower, Billy, with indifference.

Billy hurriedly replied, "Master Jack's messenger has arrived and has been waiting for you for a long time!"

"Oh?"

Alastor's eyes narrowed. Had Jack come to question him about killing Holdem?

"Take me to meet the messenger," Alastor said calmly, unconcerned.

He had killed Holdem through a direct challenge, which was in line with the rules of the Beast Pirates. Even Jack would have no grounds for complaint.

Billy led the way, and it wasn't long before they encountered the messenger.

Before Alastor could speak, the envoy greeted him with a flattering expression and said, "This is Alastor sama. He's truly extraordinary! It's fortunate for us that Holdem met his end at your hands!"

Contrary to Alastor's expectations, Jack's envoy hadn't come to question him but to praise him.

"Does Master Jack have anything to say to his subordinates?" Alastor asked.

The envoy's demeanor became even more humble. "Master Jack greatly appreciates your strength and hopes you will thrive in Bakura Town. Whatever you decide to do, Master Jack will support you!"

Alastor smiled internally. Jack's approach aligned with Kaido's: he valued the strength of his subordinates.

With Jack's endorsement, Alastor no longer had to worry about his future. Even if he acted out of the ordinary, as long as he demonstrated enough strength, Jack would only grow more attentive, and Kaido would likely be pleased as well.

Alastor thanked the messenger, and after the envoy departed, he said to Billy, "Go and gather all the property Bakura Town has accumulated over the years."

"Yes, Master Alastor!"