thefictionvixens Chapter 66 The Demon Among Demons!
Chapter 66 The Demon Among Demons!
Chapter 66 The Demon Among Demons!
The sun in Alabasta is like molten gold.
The air distorted in the heatwave, and the tan buildings of the port area gleamed blindingly white under the blazing sun. Dust was whipped up by the dry wind, sticking to the eyelashes and mouths of passersby. Even the seagulls hid in the shadows of the sailboats, and only heat-resistant desert lizards scurried quickly across the scorching cobblestones.
As the Norton Pirates' officers stepped onto the dock using the gangplank, the wooden planks creaked under their feet. A wave of heat hit them, carrying the stench of sand and camel dung.
"It's so hot!"
Nami wrapped her hair in a headscarf, but her scalp still felt hot.
"It's a desert country, after all."
Zoro moved his left arm, which was wrapped in bandages, and sweat immediately soaked the gauze.
As assigned beforehand, the members quickly dispersed.
Zeff led the chefs from the floating restaurant straight to the market area on the west side of the port, scanning the dried meat and bags of grain hanging on the stalls as they walked.
"The flour must be the freshest, and the spices must be the most authentic," Zhepu told the chefs following behind him. "Desert dishes have their own way of being made; don't use the East China Sea methods."
Not far away, Funing led her team of boatmen toward the lumberyard on the east side of the dock.
Although she had changed into linen clothes that allowed her to move around easily, Funing still maintained the composure characteristic of aristocrats.
She held a list of materials she needed to purchase: teak, pine resin, canvas, and hemp rope.
"The damage caused by the hurricane is more severe than it appears."
Fu Ning told the foreman, "The keel may have developed minor cracks and needs to be reinforced. The timber in Alabasta is dried, so you need to choose timber that is old enough."
Sanosuke, accompanied by twenty well-disciplined pirates, began patrolling the port area. He was dressed in black ninja attire, his mask pulled down to his nose, revealing only his sharp eyes.
The pirates behind him wore swords at their waists, but the scabbards were wrapped with strips of cloth.
"Three people per group, patrolling designated areas."
Sanosuke's voice was low, but every pirate could hear it clearly.
"Crew looting is prohibited, as is harassing civilians and engaging in conflict with locals. Violators will be dealt with according to ship regulations."
The pirates nodded and dispersed.
As they walked by, the street vendors nervously lowered their heads, but soon realized that the pirates had simply walked by in silence without touching any of their goods, and they breathed a slight sigh of relief.
On the White Pearl, Clooney stood in the shaded cabin corridor, looking out the porthole at the bustling scene of the harbor.
From the lower deck came Walpo's grumbling; the former king was complaining about the lack of snacks.
"Jess, keep him quiet," Kro said to the officer guarding the bottom hatch.
"Yes," Jess—the former strategist of the Drum Kingdom—responded with a grimace. He was now one of the guards.
Kro walked back to the captain's cabin, where a map of Alabasta and intelligence documents were spread out on the table.
He sat down, picked up a quill pen, and began to write: "Landing day, noon, extremely high temperature. The port was relatively orderly, and no large-scale naval gathering was observed—"
When El and the Avenki warriors stepped onto the dock, they attracted a real crowd.
These tribal warriors from Granfort wore heavy deerskin coats, carried two-meter-long bone spears, and had white totem patterns painted on their faces, forming a stark contrast to the Alabasta residents around them who were wrapped in light white robes.
"Aren't those people hot dressed like that?"
A water vendor whispered to his companion.
"Look at their weapons, made of bone—"
The children were bold; several teenagers followed behind Ivanki's group, mimicking their gait. The boldest of them ran forward, trying to touch the bone spear on Al's back.
El stopped and looked down at the child. His eyes were sharp, but there was no malice in them.
The child took two steps back in fright, only to see El take out a small piece of dried meat from the leather pouch at his waist and hand it to him.
The child took it blankly, while El led the group onward.
"They... don't seem like bad people?" the child said, chewing on a piece of jerky.
El said to the warriors around him in the Aivenki language, "The people here are weak, don't frighten them."
The soldiers nodded.
They curiously observed everything around them: the earthen-yellow buildings, the street vendors hawking their wares, the camels pulling their goods, and the golden desert silhouette in the distance.
For these people who had lived their entire lives in the forest, all of this was incredibly new and amazing.
Chopper, carrying a small medical kit, stood in front of a herbal medicine shop with "Doctor Twenty".
Strings of dried herbs hung outside the shop. Dalton stood beside Chopper, followed by four Avenki warriors and three Ruhanna heads tied outside the shop.
Luhan’s enormous size attracted even more onlookers.
These giant deer, twice the size of ordinary reindeer, stood quietly, their dark brown fur gleaming in the sunlight. Some daring passersby tried to approach and touch them, but retreated upon seeing their sharp antlers and the faint outline of their fangs.
Chopper pointed at the list with his hoof and said to the herbal medicine shop owner, "Please, please give me these: cactus extract, desert mint, and hemostatic sea buckthorn powder—"
The shop owner looked at the talking blue-nosed reindeer, his hands trembling slightly, but he still skillfully packed the medicinal herbs.
Dalton paid the bill, using a brand-new bailey he had stolen from Bell Island.
"You—you're from the Norton Pirates?" the boss asked cautiously.
Dalton nodded: "Yes. We just want the medicine; we won't cause any trouble."
The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed a few more handfuls of herbs, stuffing them into his bag: "These are a free gift—injuries and infections in the desert are troublesome, so it doesn't hurt to have more on hand."
Chopper bowed gratefully, saying, "Th-thank you!"
The largest restaurant in the port area, "Desert Oasis," is a two-story stone building with a curtain of colorful glass beads hanging at the entrance, jingling in the hot wind.
It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was originally full of vendors, sailors and travelers, with noisy voices and the clatter of cutlery coming from inside.
When Norton walked in with Zoro, Buggy, Nami, Argin, Palu, Cabaji, Leigh the Lion, Mochi, the cat-men brothers, Django, and Ace's group, the guests who were eating instantly turned pale.
The clinking of knives and forks on plates echoed, followed by the sound of chairs being hurriedly pushed away.
In less than a minute, all the customers in the hall had fled, and even the owner was hiding behind the counter, trembling.
A child tripped and fell while being pulled by his mother to run outside, and started crying loudly.
Bucky went over to help him up, but the child saw his exaggerated red nose and body torn into pieces and cried even harder.
Bucky scratched his head awkwardly: "Am I really that scary?"
Norton walked to the largest round table in the center of the hall, where eight merchants had once sat, but now only an untouched roast lamb and wine remained. He pulled out the chair of honor and sat down, his leather boots stepping on the napkin that had fallen to the floor.
"Let's have a big meal! The journey must be tiring, everyone! Everything's on me!"
Sauron sat down to Norton's right, looked around the empty hall, and frowned. "It seems the guests have all been scared away."
Bucky sat opposite Zoro, arms crossed, trying to project an air of authority, but his red nose made the expression look somewhat comical: "There's nothing I can do about it! After all, we're the formidable Norton crew! Besides, my reputation is important too!"
Ah Jin leaned the iron rod against the table and impatiently tapped the surface with his knuckles: "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and bring the food!"
Nami sat to Norton's left, and as soon as she picked up the menu, she gasped, her fingers trembling, her voice filled with despair: "Damn it—"
You'd better eat less!
Ace had already sat down directly opposite Norton without any hesitation, picked up the menu and quickly flipped through it, grinning to reveal his white teeth: "Thanks, Norton! I'll treat you next time!"
Nami glared at him, gritting her teeth, "You should be thanking me!"
Zango pulled out his hypnotic ring from his pocket, stared at the spinning ring, and muttered to himself, "Hypnosis, hypnosis, you're a glutton who can eat a hundred bowls of rice in one sitting—"
Before he could finish speaking, his eyes turned into spirals, and he slumped onto the table, snoring loudly.
Palu patted his heavy breastplate, making a loud clanging sound, and said in a booming voice, "The invincible Iron Wall, Lord Palu! And when it comes to eating, you're invincible too! Bring on the food!"
The shop owner, who was hiding behind the counter, peeked out with half his head out; his face was deathly pale.
Norton nodded to him: "Boss! Bring out all the best dishes in your restaurant! And the wine too!"
"Yes, yes! Right away!"
The boss scrambled to the kitchen, yelling at the stunned chefs as he ran, "Quick! Cook! Bring out all the best meat!"
For the next two hours, the kitchen of "Desert Oasis" experienced its busiest lunchtime since its opening.
The fire in the oven never went out, and three chefs took turns turning the two whole lambs. Fragrant bubbles bubbled in the stew pot, and the flatbread quickly puffed up and turned golden brown on the hot plate.
The apprentices ran in and out, carrying barrels of wine and ale from the cellar.
Dishes were served one after another.
A whole roasted lamb, golden brown, sits in the center of the table; a single cut with a dagger reveals the tender, juicy meat beneath the crispy skin. Spiced stew sits in an earthenware pot, the meat tender and the broth rich and flavorful. Desert flatbreads are piled high, accompanied by honey and cheese. Various pickles and desserts fill the table's space.
Ace's appetite drew everyone's attention.
He single-handedly devoured half a roasted lamb, two thousand pancakes, and three pots of stewed meat, and while eating, he didn't forget to serve food to his fellow Spade Pirates members next to him.
Zoro and Gin started drinking contests, neither of them using glasses, just chugging straight from the bottle.
Halfway through the meal, Ace suddenly stood up, holding a wooden glass full of wine: "To the Grand Line!"
Norton also raised his glass: "To build a great kingdom!"
"Cheers!"
Everyone except for the sleeping Zango raised their glasses.
Two hours later, the mountain of food on the table had turned into a pile of empty plates and bones.
Ace patted his bulging belly contentedly and let out a loud burp. He stood up, twirled his orange cowboy hat in his hand, and put it on.
"Farewell, everyone! We're going to explore this island for a bit, and then we'll leave once the ship is repaired and the log pointer is full."
Norton put down his glass and looked at him: "You'll be mine sooner or later! Ace! When you're defeated, I'll personally go to Whitebeard for him!"
Ace laughed heartily, his eyes gleaming beneath his hat brim: "Don't say such ominous things! I will succeed! I will become the new emperor, stepping over Whitebeard's corpse! Surpassing the Pirate King!"
He waved goodbye and led the Spade Pirates out of the restaurant. The curtain swayed behind them, and the clinking of beads faded into the distance.
Nami watched their backs disappear around the street corner, then turned back to look at the mess on the table, finally unable to hold back her wailing: "My Beli 99!"
Just then, the restaurant door was pushed open again.
Two oddly dressed guys walked in.
A vulture wearing a crown, and an otter dressed in pink.
An unlucky duo!
The two animals walked straight to Norton's table.
Norton stared at them with great interest.
One of the sea spies took out a pen, wrote a few words in a notebook, and respectfully presented it to Norton.
"We are agents of Baroque Works. We are here on the orders of our boss to inquire about Admiral Norton's purpose."
The restaurant fell silent instantly.
Zoro stroked his chin: "Baroque Works?"
The other cadres also became alert.
Norton slowly wiped his mouth, then looked up at the ominous duo: "You're really well-informed..."
1
As expected of Crocodile, his control over this country has reached a terrifying level.
How long has it been since he landed on this island? The king probably doesn't even know he's arrived, but Crocodile is the first to know.
"Mr. 0 wants to know why you came to Alabasta." Umase turned a page and wrote another sentence.
Norton put down his napkin, leaned back in his chair, and his voice carried clearly throughout the hall.
"I came to this island to subdue that man who is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! Crocodile! He will be my first subordinate among the Seven Warlords! But he won't be the last! I will recruit the Seven Warlords and become the king above them all!"
The unlucky duo froze, and a few seconds later, their foreheads were covered in cold sweat.
"That 'king' refers to the World Government, right?!" Umase wrote.
Norton's lips curled into a smile: "Going against the World Government, isn't that interesting?"
The unlucky duo exchanged a glance, quickly bowed, and turned to leave the restaurant as if staying even a second longer would be dangerous.
Buggy was the first to jump up: "Hey! You just said that outright? That's a Shichibukai! Crocodile the Sand Crocodile! I heard he can create sandstorms in the desert and suck people dry!"
"He'd know even without me saying it." Norton stood up, the hem of his black cashmere coat sweeping across the back of the chair. "Let's go back to the ship. Crocodile's response will be here soon."
Nami, her hands trembling, pulled Berries from her purse as she paid the bill, her eyes brimming with tears.
The boss's hands were shaking as he counted the money; it was unclear whether it was from fear or because the deal was simply too big.
It was already 3 p.m. when the group walked out of the "desert oasis".
The sun was hanging low in the west, and the heat had lessened slightly, but the desert wind still blew, whipping up fine sand that stung my face.
Pedestrians on the street would avoid them from a distance.
A few daring ones hid at the alley entrance, peeking and whispering among themselves.
"That's silver-haired Norton—"
"I heard he even defeated the hero Garp! He's practically the new King of Evil!"
"That's right! Those great pirates are already demons, but this guy is even more terrifying than demons! He's a demon among demons! He's a demon king!"
"He just said he wanted to recruit Lord Crocodile? Is he crazy?"
Norton ignored the comments. He walked at the front of the group, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the hot wind.
Zoro walked half a step to his right, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword. Gin was on the left, his iron rod slung over his shoulder.
On the way back to the port, Nami was still feeling sorry for her Beli.
Buggy leaned closer: "Nami, don't be so stingy! It's your honor to treat me to a meal!"
"Get out of here!"
]