They couldn't understand why Caesar Clown had suddenly appeared here.
After all, Caesar rarely made a move unless absolutely necessary, and when he did, it was usually only against formidable opponents. For a moment, the crew members were stunned, filled with surprise, doubt, and curiosity at the sight of him.
Before they could even question him, Caesar, under the shocked gazes of the islanders and guards, placed a stack of blueprints on the table before the Bika Island Guard. The papers depicted a fruit with swirling patterns—a Devil Fruit.
In a calm, almost indifferent tone, he instructed:
"Distribute these blueprints to everyone on Bika Island."
"Follow the diagrams and find the Devil Fruit illustrated on them."
"Then, bring it to me."
His words carried no urgency, no threats—just an icy coldness, like water seeping into one's bones. Yet, in the ears of the guards, his voice was akin to a command from the depths of hell.
It was absolute. Undeniable.
A sense of overwhelming pressure settled over them. Their bodies reacted instinctively—there was no thought of resistance. No intention of fighting back.
The captain of the guard, his face pale and twitching, stretched out his trembling hand almost unconsciously. His fingers closed around the stack of papers, his grip unsteady, the sheets quivering in his grasp—just like his current state of mind.
Even now, his thoughts were in disarray. Not just blank—almost nonexistent.
Caesar, watching their reaction, remained silent for a moment. A thought crossed his mind.
Three days.
That was the time he had initially planned to give them.
But then, he reconsidered.
For years, no one had discovered the Goro Goro no Mi on Sky Island. That meant it was well hidden. It wouldn't be so simple to find.
He needed to extend their deadline.
His voice remained composed as he addressed the guards again:
"I will give you ten days to find this Devil Fruit."
"If I do not see it within ten days… I will erase this island completely."
Silence.
Cold sweat trickled down the guards' faces.
"You saw what I did just now. You should understand whether I am capable of carrying out my words."
A brutal reminder.
"And do not think about running away. That would be meaningless. My crew and I have a Kenbunshoku Haki network covering the entire island."
"If any of you attempt to flee or deceive me… I will know immediately."
"And when that happens, you won't even have the chance to regret it."
His last words were laced with a terrifying certainty.
Then, as if flipping a switch, Caesar's tone softened ever so slightly:
"My demand is not unreasonable. Simply bring me the Devil Fruit, and my crew and I will leave Bika Island unharmed."
It sounded reasonable—merciful even.
But the fear in the guards' eyes did not fade. They nodded frantically, not daring to object. Resistance was out of the question.
Because moments ago, they had seen something beyond comprehension.
Caesar Clown had split the White Sea with a single strike.
That was an act only a god could accomplish.
"Don't worry! We won't run away!"
"We'll find the Devil Fruit, I swear!"
"Yes, sir! We'll get it for you!"
Gripping the blueprints tightly, the guards immediately scattered across Bika Island.
They were unsteady. Their legs trembled. Some limped. Others staggered. A few even collapsed multiple times before managing to continue.
The reason was obvious.
They had been so terrified that their bodies had given out.
It was a miracle they hadn't collapsed entirely.
Their only thought now was to locate the fruit and rid themselves of this demon as soon as possible.
As the guards disappeared into the distance, the crew finally spoke up.
There was confusion in their eyes.
Because this behavior… this wasn't like Caesar.
Lily, looking uneasy, hesitated before asking, "Caesar, why did you suddenly seem like a completely different person? For a moment, I thought I didn't know you."
Regina frowned. "Yeah. You're not usually this ruthless. What's going on?"
Gnaly, his expression serious, added, "It was surprising to see you act so cold. You've never been like this before."
Even Eli, normally quiet, finally spoke. "We're not the kind of pirates who harm civilians, Caesar."
At their words, Caesar's lips curled into a slight smile.
Instantly, the oppressive aura around him vanished—like ice melting under the sun.
His usual demeanor returned.
"I happened to learn that the Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi is on Bika Island."
"That's why I came to Sky Island and sought out this place."
Then, his expression turned calculating.
"As for why I acted like that… I had to make sure none of them got the idea of stealing the fruit for themselves."
His voice was calm, but his meaning was clear.
"If they realized the fruit's value and tried to consume it before handing it over, it would be a huge loss."
"Fear was the only way to ensure their obedience."
His words clicked into place in the crew's minds.
They finally understood.
Caesar wasn't being cruel for no reason. He was ensuring their success.
After all, the Goro Goro no Mi was a legendary fruit.
If someone consumed it, they would be unstoppable in the skies.
Lily let out a small breath of relief.
Eli exhaled as well. He had been genuinely unsettled moments ago.
Caesar was right.
If someone else ate the fruit and lied about it, it would be wasted.
They couldn't afford that.
At that moment, Brad suddenly asked, "Caesar, is the Thunder Fruit really that powerful?"
It was an innocent question, but it made the crew pause.
Because while the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia existed, not everyone had memorized it.
And the Goro Goro no Mi had long become a legend. It hadn't been seen in the Blue Sea for centuries.
So, naturally, most of them weren't familiar with its abilities.
Caesar gave them a brief explanation.
And as they listened, their expressions changed from curiosity to astonishment.
The power of lightning. Speed that surpasses the human eye. An almost invincible Logia ability.
The realization hit them.
No wonder Caesar was willing to go this far.
Brad, blinking in awe, blurted out, "No wonder you scared them half to death. This fruit is insane!"
Regina nodded. "If it's that strong, then I understand why you're being so cautious."
Gnaly, however, suddenly looked thoughtful.
"Caesar… even though you cut through the White Sea earlier… you weren't using your full strength, were you?"
Caesar smirked slightly and shook his head.
"That was about half my strength."
Gnaly let out a slow breath, realization dawning in his eyes.
"I see… then the gap between us is still huge. I need to train harder."
Caesar chuckled. "There's no strongest. Only stronger."
Then, his expression grew serious once more.
[122] "Stay alert. Use Kenbunshoku Haki to monitor the island. Don't let anyone escape. That fruit is ours."
The crew nodded. They understood the stakes.
No one else would get their hands on the Goro Goro no Mi.
With that, they dispersed, each going their own way.
Meanwhile, Caesar returned to his quarters.
There were new ideas he wanted to test. His Kenbunshoku Haki had been evolving recently.
And he intended to push it even further.
[Bika Island. Once a city of gods. Now, a land of fear.]
The hunt for the Thunder Fruit had begun.
Subscribe to Patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters