I'm Not Interested in Devil Fruits

Chapter Head Serial・Big News 17: Aren't They Playing Well Together?

In the North Blue, at the Germa Kingdom, three one-year-old boys were crawling all over the place, bullying another one-year-old twin. Not far away, four-year-old Reiju noticed and turned back to inform their tall and imposing father, Judge, who was sitting at the end of the long table. Judge glanced coldly at the commotion and nonchalantly said a few words before returning to his newspaper. Reiju, surprised, quickly burst into giggles...

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"These characters…"

Hancock picked up the sheet of paper that had fallen from the book.

The paper was old, with visible fold marks and yellowing along the creases. The strange block-like symbols resembled the writing they had seen on a tree back on Rusukaina Island.

Hancock recalled it quickly because not long ago, Jolyne had asked her about this very topic.

The dark faceplate hovered between Hancock's face and the paper, memorizing the ancient text that had been sketched out.

It was clear this wasn't a direct copy of a Poneglyph, but rather someone's attempt to imitate the ancient script based on another sample.

However, B.I.B. could only recognize it as ancient writing and couldn't decipher its meaning.

The faceplate was obstructing Hancock's view, but it didn't bother her much. After all, it seemed the object could only be detected using Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki). As long as she didn't focus too hard on the Haki, it wouldn't interfere, and if she wasn't paying attention, she might even forget it was there.

Just as she was about to speak, a voice filled with amusement came from behind her: "Oh my, isn't this our little Kuja Princess, Your Highness Hancock?"

Though startled inside, Hancock maintained a calm and composed expression.

However, the portal created by her Shiro Shiro no Mi (Castle-Castle Fruit) ability at her collarbone instantly closed, leaving her skin smooth and flawless.

She focused her Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) and quickly scanned the area, but couldn't detect where the black shadowy faceplate had gone.

Quick reflexes... Hancock silently praised. Turning around, she saw the tall and graceful Snake Princess, just as she had suspected.

Snake Princess moved with graceful steps, her figure swaying as she approached, teasing, "What brings Your Highness to visit my humble palace and read books?"

"Princess should be your daughter. Stop calling me that!" Hancock pouted, putting the book back on the shelf.

"Princess?"

It should be Emperor, the next in line.

Snake Princess rested her hand on her waist and leaned forward, her breath warm and fragrant as she smiled, "I may not necessarily have a daughter, you know."

Her golden hair cascaded down, swaying in front of Hancock.

The allure Snake Princess exuded had no effect on Hancock. Snake Princess felt a little frustrated inside.

Curious, Hancock asked, "Isn't it true that on Kuja Island we only give birth to daughters?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Snake Princess's eyes. How could Hancock's first thought be about "gender differences"?

Straightening up, Snake Princess smiled casually, "Is that so? Perhaps."

It was clear that Snake Princess had no intention of continuing this topic with Hancock. Instead, she turned her attention to the bookshelves, her hand gently brushing through Hancock's hair. "If you wanted to read a book, you could've just asked me. Sneaking into the palace alone, if the guards had caught you, you might've been punished, you know."

Hancock replied matter-of-factly, "You wouldn't punish me."

Snake Princess crouched in front of her. At 1.5 meters tall, Hancock was at eye level with the Snake Princess when she squatted.

Gently stroking Hancock's soft cheek, Snake Princess whispered, "Hancock, you must understand that in this country, there are principles that even I must abide by."

Not fully understanding, Hancock held up the paper she was holding, her face innocent and curious as she asked, "These symbols, they're similar to the ones we saw on Rusukaina Island…"

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"The City Castle has closed," Robin noted, glancing at the portal that had swiftly shut.

Meanwhile, Liam continued to refine his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), sparring with the headless black armored Stand in front of him.

In the manga, Rayleigh had mentioned that the evolution of Haki Training could only occur in truly intense battles.

In Luffy's final showdown with Katakuri, he unlocked advanced Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), gaining the ability to see brief glimpses of the future.

Liam believed that "truly intense battles" meant being evenly matched with an opponent, where both sides could fully unleash their potential.

"Well, isn't that convenient?" 

He was perfectly matched with his Stand, making it the ideal opponent to train his Haki.

B.I.B.'s face was gone, and it fully utilized Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), tracking the movements of Liam's main body. Fortunately, all of Liam's attacks were entwined with Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), making it easier for B.I.B.'s Kenbunshoku Haki to clearly capture them.

Suddenly, the headless armor stopped.

Liam with his fist wrapped in Busoshoku Haki, stopped just short of its chest.

"What's wrong?"

B.I.B. made a few gestures in front of him.

Liam said, "Bro, you don't seriously think I understand sign language, right?"

B.I.B. froze.

"Speaking of which, what happens if I only recall a part of you?" Liam suddenly wondered. He immediately tested it, and when he retracted the headless armor back into his body, nothing happened. There was no familiar wave of exhaustion, nor did he gain any memories from B.I.B. while it was outside.

Liam released the dark armor once again. Through this action, he could roughly guess what his Stand was trying to ask. The headless armor waved its hand, indicating a negative response.

With their thoughts in sync, Liam also deduced what it was denying.

Just now, B.I.B. hadn't copied the current state of Liam's main body. The main body didn't receive its memories or experience, and B.I.B. didn't copy Liam's Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas Gas Fruit) abilities either. 

In other words, when recalling incomplete parts of the armor, it was as if nothing had been recalled at all. In fact, B.I.B. seemed to have a hidden trait: all of its parts would always remain "version consistent" and would default to the lower version. 

Recalling and then re-releasing one part wouldn't suddenly update the remaining parts' "version" or strength.

"I think I heard someone outside... Hancock should be fine, right?" Robin approached.

Without looking up, Liam said, "Why would she be in trouble? If you're that worried, why not call her and ask?"

Inside the closed-off Hancock-branded City Fortress, the two of them were completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Liam stomped on the floor of the Snake Den City Fortress and shouted, "Who owns this place? Hurry and come see me!"

Robin, confused, watched with a question mark practically floating over her head.

The floor suddenly surged, forming a white fluid that condensed into Hancock's shape. She asked, puzzled, "Giorno, who are you calling?"

Liam cleared his throat and shifted the conversation, "What's going on outside?"

Hancock quickly gave a brief explanation.

"You said the writing on that paper is..." Robin was shocked.

Liam, understanding now, looked at his Stand and said, "I get it now! You were trying to say you couldn't find a pen, huh?"

Inside the Shiro Shiro no Mi (Castle-Castle Fruit) user's City Fortress, finding paper and pens was no problem at all.

With a wave of her small hand, Hancock summoned white fluid, which condensed into... a piece of charcoal.

"And now? Are you saying it just needs one glance and can write those characters?" Hancock looked at the shadow beside Liam, skeptical. She had completely forgotten them herself.

With Hancock's line of sight, Robin finally realized where Liam's ghost was located. Soon after, she saw the piece of charcoal float into the air, as if held by an invisible hand, and start writing on the floor, stroke by stroke.

Hancock, surprised, said, "It really remembers..."

She was momentarily distracted, but quickly said, "Snake Princess noticed I'm distracted! I can't come back for now..."

Robin nodded and said, "Take care of things outside first."

Hancock winked at her, leaving Robin confused. Soon after, Hancock's clone dissolved into a puddle of white fluid and merged into the floor.

Liam casually tapped the ancient characters on the floor with his foot and asked, "Robin, it didn't write them wrong, did it?"

Robin tilted her head, took a few steps to stand in front of the writing, and recognized, "This character... it has the meaning of 'Coral'..."

(End Of Chapter)

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