Eli moved swiftly toward the Devil Fruits, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He could barely contain his excitement—eating a Devil Fruit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He turned to the man beside him and asked, "Captain Caesar, can you hand me a Devil Fruit?"
"Call me Caesar," the man corrected, his voice indifferent. "That's what everyone calls me."
After a brief pause, Caesar continued, "It's not a big deal if you want to eat one. Strengthening our crew is in our best interest."
"However, we have no idea what abilities these fruits contain. If you end up with a useless power, it could be a serious disadvantage."
"So, we have to wait until we find a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
Eli hesitated, then nodded in agreement. If he was going to take this gamble, he wanted to ensure he obtained a formidable ability.
Every person only gets one chance to eat a Devil Fruit. If he consumed one with a worthless ability and became a landlubber, the consequences would far outweigh the benefits.
Yet, there were eight Devil Fruits before him—an opportunity he was reluctant to pass up.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I know where we can find a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. It will allow us to identify the abilities of these fruits."
Caesar's expression changed instantly. "Oh? Where?" he asked, suddenly intrigued.
Eli took a deep breath before replying. "It's in my hometown—the next island over."
"My parents fled that island to avoid paying exorbitant tributes, but we were shipwrecked along the way. If I had a choice, I wouldn't go back."
He paused, then continued, "But if we want the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, there's no other way."
Caesar placed a reassuring hand on Eli's shoulder, offering silent encouragement.
But he had already made up his mind—they were going to the next island to retrieve the book.
---
Because some things must be faced. Only by obtaining the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and gaining strength could Eli hope to one day stand against the Celestial Dragons.
Otherwise, in this world ruled by them, history would only repeat itself.
"Enough talk," Caesar said, changing the subject. "How's the condition of our ship?"
Eli frowned. "There's no way to properly repair it. The hull is severely corroded, and while some planks can be replaced, the keel is in terrible shape. I doubt it can make it to the next island."
Caesar sighed. "Looks like we'll have to seize another ship for now. Then, we'll commission a new one at Water 7."
A few days later, the Caesar Pirates attacked and defeated a bounty-hunting crew.
Their reason? The bounty hunters' ship was the newest, largest, and most well-maintained vessel in the harbor.
The island's residents breathed a sigh of relief when the Caesar Pirates departed.
They had read the newspapers. They knew about the battle between Caesar and Vice Admiral Garp.
A fight of that caliber could devastate an entire island.
The townsfolk feared that if Caesar lingered, his presence might attract high-ranking Marines.
---
As their new ship sailed across the open sea, Caesar gazed at the horizon and asked, "Eli, where exactly is this Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in your hometown?"
"It's in the possession of an old noble family that has guarded it for generations. They have their own private guards, but against the Caesar Pirates, they won't stand a chance," Eli replied confidently.
"Good. As long as we secure the Encyclopedia, the possibilities for us will be endless," Caesar said, a smirk forming on his lips.
"As long as we avoid Marine Headquarters and Mary Geoise, there's nowhere in this world we can't go."
He couldn't wait to discover the abilities hidden within the eight Devil Fruits aboard his ship.
If any of them possessed top-tier powers, he wouldn't hesitate to claim one for himself.
After five days at sea, land finally appeared on the horizon.
Although still several kilometers away, Caesar could already see that the island was much larger and more developed than the previous one.
Its densely packed, towering buildings suggested a prosperous town.
As the ship drew closer, Caesar's eyes locked onto an old castle at the island's center.
"That's where the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia is kept?" he asked.
Eli's expression turned serious, and he nodded firmly. "Yes."
The entire crew had been briefed about the book's existence.
Knowing that they would soon learn the abilities of the eight Devil Fruits on board, anticipation buzzed among them.
Regina chimed in, "I heard there's a Devil Fruit called the Ope Ope no Mi—the Surgery Fruit. It once sold for five billion berries on the black market. Imagine if we had that one."
"Don't get your hopes up," another crewmate scoffed. "That fruit's probably been claimed ages ago."
"I just want a Logia-type fruit," another crew member mused. "Doesn't matter what ability it has. With Caesar leading the charge, I'd be unstoppable against enemies who lack Haki."
Hades shrugged. "I handle water combat. A Devil Fruit would just be a burden to me."
Brad frowned. "If you all get strong Devil Fruit abilities, will that make my power look useless?"
"But at the same time, if we all grow stronger, it makes the crew more powerful overall… Ugh, I'm conflicted!"
---
Chapter 106: The Encyclopedia and Another Devil Fruit Heist!
As the pirate ship approached the island, the crew realized something unusual.
They had assumed it was simply a wealthy, bustling settlement.
But up close, it became clear that the island was heavily fortified.
Armed guards patrolled its perimeter.
Young warriors practiced in open courtyards, their movements precise and disciplined.
More importantly, the island's architecture resembled a military fortress.
The houses were built tall with small windows—designed to withstand attacks.
Spiked barricades lined the coast, clearly meant to deter invaders.
Scattered throughout the town, stone walls created layers of defense.
Rather than an ordinary island, this looked like a stronghold prepared for war.
Caesar narrowed his eyes. "Eli, this is your hometown?"
"If it weren't for the lack of Marine presence, I'd think you brought me to a naval fortress."
"Didn't I tell you?" Eli replied. "The noble family here has ruled for generations. They don't trust anyone but themselves, so they built their own defenses."
Caesar nodded. "Makes sense. If they've been around for centuries, they've probably survived betrayals, coups, and all kinds of power struggles."
"Exactly," Eli muttered. "They've learned to rely on no one but themselves."
"But I thought your parents paid the Celestial Dragons' tribute, the 'Heavenly Gold'?" Caesar questioned.
"If they don't trust the World Government, why pay the tribute instead of using the money to strengthen their forces?"
Eli clenched his fists. "Because the noble family didn't pay it."
"They made us commoners pay, just so they could call on the Marines for protection if needed. For them, it's a win-win situation."
"Also, in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, the Marines are dominant. If they refused to pay tribute, the World Government would classify them as a lawless nation. That would bring nothing but trouble."
Caesar scoffed. "Hmph. That actually makes sense."
For the nobles, it was a strategic move—keep the Marines on standby without spending a single berry of their own.
But if they had gone to such lengths to secure themselves, their private army was likely formidable.
A grin spread across Caesar's face.
It had been too long since he had faced a worthy opponent.
The so-called 'pirates' in the East Blue had been a joke, falling to him with ease.
Now, however, he sensed an opportunity for an actual challenge.
As their ship approached the island, the town's guards spotted the pirate flag.
Alerted to the approaching threat, they rushed to the shoreline, taking defensive positions.
Even the young warriors abandoned their training, grabbing weapons and sprinting toward the docks.
Gliner, one of Caesar's officers, drew his rapier and smirked. "Caesar, do you want a war?"
Hades chuckled. "Brother Gliner, they're just ordinary guards. There's no need to get serious."
"They're only defending their homeland," Lily added.
Without another word, Caesar unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, the patrolling guards collapsed unconscious.
The approaching warriors foamed at the mouth and dropped mid-stride.
Caesar smirked. "No time to waste on small fries."
He grabbed Eli and took off into the air, heading straight for the noble's manor.
Their arrival had already caused an uproar.
Four massive, armored warriors stepped forward, gripping spears.
Each of them was over two meters tall, their bodies exuding raw strength.
Caesar grinned.
"Now this… looks interesting."
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