Chapter 72: A House Grows Quiet and Naturally Dull with Time

A ghost ship?
No...
It's the Flying Pirates!
After driving off several fishmen who had ambushed them in the deep sea, Chu Yi, well-versed in the original pirate tale, watched as a tattered ship suddenly emerged. The ragged sail bore the pirate emblem: a skull pierced by two swords. In that instant, Chu Yi dismissed the notion of a ghost ship, immediately recognizing the pirate vessel before him as belonging to the Flying Pirates!

But to say the Flying Pirates were famous...
Well, not really.
At least in Chu Yi's eyes, the Flying Pirates were virtually nonexistent.
They were a pirate crew that sailed the deep waters around Fishman Island. If Chu Yi remembered correctly, the current captain was likely a descendant of the original Vander Decken, possessing the Target-Target Fruit, and known as Vander Decken IX—the very man who became an immense nuisance for Princess Shirahoshi of Fishman Island.

In short, Vander Decken IX was a thoroughly detestable fellow.
When Princess Shirahoshi was six, Vander Decken IX witnessed her summon Sea Kings with her cries. Following his ancestor's will, he resolved to marry the princess and began relentlessly harassing her with the power of the Target-Target Fruit. This ordeal lasted for thirteen years—until the Straw Hat Pirates arrived on Fishman Island and, with their help, Shirahoshi finally found peace.

Of course, Vander Decken IX’s detestability wasn’t simply that he harassed the sweet-faced, stunning Princess Shirahoshi.
It was his vile character.
Vander Decken IX had little real ability. He relied solely on the devious powers of the Target-Target Fruit. Beyond a fierce possessiveness, his jealousy was so twisted that it turned him into a crazed pursuer. In his obsession with Shirahoshi, he wanted to possess her forever, forbidding her from any close contact with others.

For his selfish desires, he was even willing to ignore the tens of thousands of lives on Fishman Island, dreaming of its destruction.
Such madness, such depravity, was utterly contrary to Chu Yi’s “Path of the Asura.”
Therefore, in Chu Yi’s eyes, Vander Decken IX was no different from the Celestial Dragons, both deserving judgment.

As misfortune would have it...
Vander Decken IX had the bad luck to run into Chu Yi here.
Was there any need for hesitation?
Absolutely not!

However...
If Chu Yi wished to acquire another awakening material, he’d have to get closer to the Flying Pirates’ ship. Only then would the system issue the awakening quest for the Target-Target Fruit!

With this thought, Chu Yi ordered his shadow clone to pilot “Shinra Tensei” closer, already considering making the Target-Target Fruit his seventh awakening material.

Because, though the Target-Target Fruit seemed worthless, it was in fact quite useful.
Its user could snipe any target they locked onto with perfect accuracy.
Vander Decken IX would touch his intended victim with his hand, marking them, and then whatever object he threw with his other hand would unerringly strike that target, no matter the distance.

Imagine if Chu Yi mastered this power—he could have his shadow clone mark his chosen victim, and then...
That person would be forced to constantly guard against Chu Yi’s lethal attacks. Whether a wave-cleaving sword slash or any of his various fruit abilities, all could become terrifying long-range assassination weapons!

The Target-Target Fruit was far from useless.
It was only wasted in the original tale because Vander Decken IX was too weak to exploit its true potential.
In Chu Yi’s hands, however, this Paramecia Devil Fruit would shine brilliantly. That was precisely why he wanted it as his seventh awakening material!

Soon after...
As Chu Yi and his companions slowly approached the Flying Pirates, Tiger activated his Observation Haki to survey the enemy. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he fell into a strange silence.

At the same time, Chu Yi, preoccupied with thoughts of the awakening material, failed to notice Tiger’s reaction. Instead, it was Smoker and Lucci who first sensed something amiss from Tiger’s face. The ship of the Flying Pirates so closely resembled a ghost ship that, as Chu Yi ordered his shadow clone to approach, Lucci voiced a warning: “Hey, Asura, are you really planning to fight that ghost ship?”

“Yes.”
Chu Yi didn’t even turn his head, his gaze fixed on Vander Decken IX aboard the ship. “Lucci, do you have a problem with that?”

“Idiot, there are plenty of problems!”
Veins bulged on Smoker’s forehead as he growled, “Aside from your fishman friend, the rest of us are powerless in deep sea combat! Especially you and me—we’re both Devil Fruit users. Do you really think we can fight a pirate crew in these depths? Don’t joke around!”

“Look carefully! That ghost ship has clearly been sailing the deep for a long time. If anyone’s alive on board, they must be experts in underwater combat!”

“So, Asura... let’s just retreat!”

Retreat?
Impossible!
Smoker and Lucci were clearly rattled by the oppressive atmosphere of the deep sea. Chu Yi smiled casually, not the least bit concerned by their warnings.
Especially as, right then, Chu Yi heard the system’s voice in his mind—it had detected an awakening material and was preparing to issue a quest.

Given the circumstances, how could Chu Yi possibly retreat?
He wouldn’t even consider it!

But just as Chu Yi brimmed with confidence, listening for the system’s prompt, ready to accept the mission to collect the Target-Target Fruit awakening material—

Suddenly!

Something happened that none of them—Chu Yi, Smoker, or Lucci—could have expected!
Perhaps, having overheard Smoker and Lucci, Mihawk sensed a grave danger from the Flying Pirates ahead.
Or perhaps...
Mihawk actually believed Smoker and Lucci’s words, mistaking the Flying Pirates for a formidable foe!

So, just as Chu Yi was about to accept the system’s mission, Mihawk, gripping the broken sword resting casually on his knee, abruptly struck out with a single slash!

Boom!

The sword’s energy split the sea and cleaved the waves!
In an instant, Mihawk utterly destroyed the Flying Pirates’ ship. As the razor-sharp sword aura surged through the deep sea, every living creature aboard—including Vander Decken IX—was swept away and vanished without a trace in the maelstrom!

...

Awkward—excruciatingly awkward!

Chu Yi could only stare in disbelief as the awakening material he had so nearly obtained was lost, just like that, thanks to Mihawk!

He just stared blankly at Mihawk, at a loss for words.
As for Mihawk, who had just annihilated the Flying Pirates in a single blow, he too seemed momentarily stunned like Chu Yi. After a long silence, Mihawk suddenly recalled something, slowly turned his gaze to Chu Yi, and asked calmly, “Chu Yi, since you can guide us through the deep sea, you must be a Devil Fruit user, correct?”

...

Damn it, you’re only just realizing that?

Chu Yi had only been staring at Mihawk out of frustration at losing his awakening material.
Now, hearing Mihawk’s words, Chu Yi was left utterly speechless. After a long silence, he sighed in exasperation and muttered:

“Mihawk, you’re as obsessed with swordsmanship as an otaku is with his obsessions, but I never imagined...
You’re an airhead to the core, aren’t you?”