One-Punch Man in the One Piece World

51. Are you very famous?

Back in the banquet hall, Funing immediately sought out Norton.

"King! I have something to tell you!"

Amidst the envious glances of the women around her, Funing leaned close to Norton's ear and whispered about how the ship had been burned.

Norton raised an eyebrow slightly after hearing this.

Is this even possible?

Do all the beginner villages on the Grand Line have this kind of custom?

"I understand. Tell Sanosuke to stay put," Norton said softly to Funing.

Norton wasn't worried about what tricks the people in town might play; on the contrary, he found it added a bit of fun to the otherwise tedious journey.

Bring on any schemes or tricks you have.

"Okay!" Seeing Norton's calm demeanor, Funing also relaxed a bit.

At this moment, the townswomen who had been talking to her earlier came over.

"Miss Funing, what's wrong?"

"Do you need any help?"

"It's nothing, just a personal matter," Fu Ning replied with a polite smile, but her eyes had already distanced themselves from her.

Upon witnessing this scene, Mayor Polito's eyes flickered, as if he had realized something. He feigned drunkenness and left the banquet hall, at which point the bald girl immediately emerged from the darkness.

"Father! Those guys in the house have companions!"

The bald girl said, "I just overheard that woman's conversation with her companion; the plan to smuggle the ship has been exposed!"

Mayor Polito's face darkened: "I didn't expect they had a backup plan!"

"What do we do now? Should we subdue them?"

"No rush. Acting rashly will only expose more. Right now, they only know that the townspeople destroyed their boat, but they don't know we were behind it. Let's continue to pretend we know nothing! Tonight..." Mayor Polito revealed a sinister smile, "Quickly subdue those men! Control them, and lure their remaining companions to the island as well!"

Excitement lit up the bald girl's face: "That's fantastic, Father! That way our town can expand even more! And Berry will definitely be on their companion ship! They'll all be ours!"

Mayor Polito nodded: "No rush. Just don't give anything away. They're on guard, but they're definitely not sure yet! As long as we act convincingly enough, they won't suspect us for now."

"Understood, Father!" The bald girl nodded, then seemed to remember something, "By the way, Father, those Aivenki people seem to be quite active lately... Should we send people to keep watch around the area?"

Mayor Polito shook his head: "No need. When the 'snow disaster' comes, those Avenki people who have lost their shelter will naturally die in large numbers! There aren't many old 'insulated birch trees' left on the island. In a few decades... no, in a dozen years, those things will go extinct on their own!"

"Let's not talk about this. I'm going back inside now. If I disappear for too long, people might get suspicious."

After saying that, Mayor Polito returned to the banquet hall.

They happened to run into Crow, but fortunately, Mayor Polito had a strong heart and didn't blush or pant, showing no sign of anything amiss.

"I was just looking for you, Mayor," Chloe pushed up his glasses. "I'm thinking of taking a walk around the neighborhood. Is there anything I should be aware of?"

"Oh! Mr. Cloth, if I were you, I wouldn't leave town at night!" Mayor Polito said with a broad smile.

"Why?" Kro narrowed his eyes.

"Because the ferocious 'Ruhanna' lives in the nearby woods!"

Seemingly concerned that Kro might not be aware, Mayor Polito explained, "'Ruhanna' is a ferocious creature unique to 'Granfour.' It resembles a reindeer but is an omnivore! It is extremely aggressive!"

"It's just a reindeer, what's so scary about it?" Kro said dismissively.

"Don't underestimate 'Ruhanna'!"

Mayor Polito's tone became more serious. "Those are terrifying creatures, about the size of an elephant, yet as agile as a leopard! And, most importantly, the Ruhanna are herd animals!"

Upon hearing this, Kro became more serious. "Thanks, I'll be careful."

Mayor Polido was somewhat taken aback. "Even so, are you still going to leave town?"

"Yeah, it's nothing to be afraid of. I'm just going out for some fresh air; it's too stuffy in here," Chloe pushed up her glasses. "Don't look for me; I'll come back on my own."

After saying that, Kro left without looking back, heading towards the depths of the island north of the town.

Mayor Polito gave a low snort, a cold glint appearing between his brows.

At that moment, a bald young man wearing a deerskin coat, whose features were very similar to Polino, walked over.

"Father, should I deal with that guy? If I can get him out of the way and give him a chance to warn his companions..."

"Alright," Polino nodded. "Polino, you go and deal with that bespectacled guy! But don't kill him. From now on, we're all part of the town."

"Understood." The bald young man nodded.

The bald youth followed Kro out at a distance. Polino watched from the doorway for a while, then turned back into the banquet hall, his smile returning.

As night deepened, the banquet continued, and the room was brightly lit.

It wasn't until late at night that things gradually quieted down.

"These guys have finally fallen asleep!" The townspeople who were still awake gradually revealed their true colors.

The townspeople went to great lengths to get the men drunk.

"Red nose, white-haired woman, orange-haired woman, green-headed swordsman... and what about the silver-haired man and the man with glasses?"

"The bespectacled man just went out, and I've already sent Poli to deal with him," Mayor Polito said in a low voice. "And that silver-haired man, he just went to the restroom. By the time he comes back, we've already taken control of his partner. He can't handle this alone."

After saying that, Polino waved his hand wearily. "I'm a little tired. I'll go back and rest first. You guys can handle things here, right?"

"No problem!" The townspeople were eager to participate.

Meanwhile, outside the banquet hall, Norton had just washed his hands and came out of the restroom when he saw a boy waiting for him outside the door, looking very flustered.

Norton recognized him as one of the children who had been surrounding Bucky.

"What's wrong?" Norton asked with interest.

"Big brother! Run away quickly! Take Red Nose Big Brother with you!" the boy whispered, glancing back to see if anyone was there.

"Most of the people in this town used to be pirates! The reason they're so welcoming is because they want to steal your treasure and imprison you on this island, forcing you to become one of them!"

"Oh? You're from this town too, right? Why did you betray it?"

"Because my parents are both businessmen! Two years ago, we were forced to land on this island because our logger was damaged, and these people treated us so warmly! But when we wanted to leave, we found that the ship had been destroyed!"

"The mayor forced us to join the town, to become its members, and to cut down trees and hunt for him without asking for anything in return! My father was eaten by 'Ruhanna' because he went out hunting!"

At this point, the boy's voice was already trembling with suppressed sobs.

"I see..." Norton's expression showed that things were finally starting to get interesting. "Why are you telling me this? Do you need something from me?"

The boy nodded solemnly: "I hope you can take me and my mother with you!"

Norton smiled. "Then you might be disappointed. I had no intention of leaving at all."

The boy looked bewildered. This was completely different from what he had imagined.

"Didn't you hear me? Most of the town's residents are pirates!" the boy exclaimed, grabbing Norton's trouser leg excitedly.

"So what?" Norton leaned down, pulling off the scarf around his neck. "You think I'm scared? Do you even recognize my face?"

The boy looked up and met Norton's sculpted, handsome face.

"It is very handsome! But what's the use?" the boy said.

Norton was somewhat taken aback. "You don't recognize me?"

"I don't know you! Are you famous?" the boy asked back. Why was this man so strange?

"Haven't you read the newspaper?"

"There are no birds in the skies above this island at all, because the newsbirds can't get here due to the climate!" the boy replied.

Norton was speechless, casually draping his scarf over his shoulder. It seemed no one on this island knew him at all!

"This is truly unexpected..."

With that, Norton walked into the banquet hall.

"Where are you going! Stop!" The boy tried to grab Norton, but found that he couldn't hold him back at all and was being dragged closer and closer to the banquet hall.

The boy was on the verge of tears. Why wouldn't this person listen to advice! Isn't he afraid of being imprisoned by pirates?!

Just then—

"Bang--!!"

The wooden door shattered from the inside, sending fragments flying. Several figures screamed as they tumbled out, rolling several times on the cold street.

The boy was so frightened that he sat down on the ground with a thud.

"Finally awake?" Norton grinned.

...

...

the other side.

The townspeople who had destroyed the ship took a shortcut back to town and blocked Mayor Polito at the back gate of a wooden castle.

"Mayor! We've finally found you!" The leader gasped, his mask still on. "Something's wrong! There's fog on the shore... on the shore!"

Mayor Polito frowned: "Explain yourself."

"We burned the ship and were preparing to leave when suddenly a large cloud of gray fog rose from the sea!" another man interjected, his voice tense. "There are ship silhouettes in the fog, more than one! Judging from the outlines... it's a fleet!"

Polino's face slowly darkened.

"Are you sure you didn't see that wrong?"

"Absolutely true! That fog came on eerily, spreading out in the blink of an eye!" The leader wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "We were afraid of being discovered, so we quickly retreated. Mayor, those people who landed on the island... they're probably not simple characters!"

Polino was silent for a few seconds, his eyes flickering uncertainly in the shadows, then suddenly turned around, pushed open the back door and strode back, his steps hurried and heavy.

"Come on, come back with me!"

...

...

At the same time.

In the woods north of town, Chloe walked slowly along a path covered with fallen leaves, his footsteps light. He adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings—the shadows of trees, rocks, and the curves of grass rustling in the wind.

After walking for about ten minutes, Crowe stopped in a relatively open clearing in the woods.

"After following you for so long," Chloe said calmly, "aren't you tired?"

There was no response, only the rustling of the wind through the treetops.

Kro suddenly turned around, facing the direction he had come from: "Do I really have to ask you to come out?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the bushes on the left exploded open!

A bald, muscular figure shot out like a cannonball, carrying fallen leaves and broken branches, heading straight for Poluo's face! The speed was completely out of character for someone of his size, and he was there in the blink of an eye.

Boli clenched his right fist, his arm muscles bulging, and slammed it down with a dull thud!

However, the punch missed its mark!

Kro's figure blurred for a moment at the last moment, like a reflection in water being scattered by a pebble.

Boli slammed his fist into the ground, sending fallen leaves and dirt flying everywhere!

Boli was stunned.

How could this be? The target was clearly locked...

Before Boli could react, the next second, a cold touch pressed against the back of his neck.

Kro had appeared behind him without him noticing, his ten-bladed cat claws gleaming coldly in the moonlight, the blades firmly pressed against Poli's carotid artery.

"I've been waiting for you to make your move," Kro's voice whispered in Poli's ear. "I've been waiting for a long time."

Boli's body stiffened for a moment, then he suddenly tensed all his muscles!

Kro felt a strange resistance from the blade, like scratching on thick, wet cowhide—both rough and tough. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he increased the pressure in his hand.

"Clang—!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal rubbing together!

The Ten-Edged Cat Claws left a trail of sparks on Poli's neck, but didn't even break the skin.

Kro quickly took two steps back, his eyes behind his glasses widening slightly.

Boli slowly turned around, stretched his neck, and made a soft clicking sound. The moonlight shone on his bare arms, giving his skin an unnatural bronze sheen, as if covered with a very thin layer of metal.

"Can't cut me, right?" Poli grinned, a smug look on his face. "I practice the 'Diamond Body'! A secret technique passed down from the ancestors of the North Sea!"

"A Vajra Body?" Kro pushed up his glasses.

"That's right! That's a combat technique even stronger than the Navy's 'Iron Block'! A moving iron block!" Poli patted his chest, making a dull "thump thump" sound, like he was hitting solid metal.

"I see." The ten-bladed cat claws slowly crossed in front of him, and a bloodthirsty smile appeared on the corner of Kro's mouth. "No wonder that bald old man dared to let you come alone."

"Too late to realize now!" Poli twisted his wrist, crushing the fallen leaves beneath his feet. "Father said he won't kill you. But breaking a few bones... shouldn't be a problem."

Kro said no more, his figure suddenly blurred, and in the next instant he appeared to the left of Boli.

The ten-bladed cat claws drew several silver arcs, aiming straight for the ribs, waist, and joints.

Boli didn't even have time to turn around; he just instinctively tensed his muscles.

"Clang! Clang clang—!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal scraping rang out repeatedly as claw blades slashed across Boli's body, sparks flying, but leaving only a few shallow white marks.

"Useless!" Poli laughed. "When the Vajra Body is mastered to a high level, there are no blind spots! No matter how fast you are, if you can't break through the defense, it's useless—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Kro's figure had somehow gotten close to him, and his right cat paw suddenly lashed out from below at an extremely tricky angle!

The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

Poli's sinister smile froze on his face. He slowly lowered his head and looked down at his crotch, where three sharp claw blades were deeply embedded, with only the hilts of the blades sticking out.

Time seemed to stand still for a second.

"Uh...ah..."

Boli let out a hissing sound like air leaking from his throat, his face instantly turning from red to white, then from white to green, with worm-like blue veins popping out on his forehead, and the bronze luster of his Vajra Body fading at a visible speed, his skin returning to a pale flesh color.

"Aaaaaah!!!!"

With a piercing scream, Poli's legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees, his eyes wide and almost bulging, pupils dilated. His hands trembled as he tried to cover his wounds, yet dared not touch them.

Kro withdrew his cat paw expressionlessly.

Boli let out another inhuman scream, curled up into a ball, convulsed violently a few times in the pile of fallen leaves, and then remained completely still.

Kro looked down at the grime on his claws, his brow furrowing. He walked to a birch tree and rubbed his paws repeatedly on the rough bark until the blades regained their cold sheen.

"It seems your cultivation isn't quite up to par yet," Kro said calmly to Poli's corpse.