Chapter 91 - CHAPTER 91 - Strange Humans

"The prince of the Kingdom of Andia! Zodi." The crowd stirred slightly. Some dismissed it at first, but gradually, people began to rise from their seats and leave. "The Grand Line's powerful nation, possessing the strongest fortress... Who would have thought their prince would come to Frans Island?" Amid the murmurs, most people were quick to understand the situation. Though they felt some dissatisfaction with such domineering behavior, it wasn't worth causing trouble over. First, the visitor held an esteemed status—he was the sole heir of a powerful World Government-affiliated nation. Second, since someone else was footing the bill, it wasn't entirely unacceptable. "Not everyone needs to leave. You, you, you... and you. The tables I just pointed at—stay. I have some questions for you." Zodi extended his index finger, pointing at several tables, including the one where Rosen sat. Seeing this, Rosen couldn't be bothered to react. Let the prince do as he pleased—as long as it didn't disrupt his meal, he had no reason to interfere. However, the people at the other tables looked uneasy. They had heard of this unpredictable prince before—after all, the Kingdom of Andia wasn't that far away. What surprised them more was that the Shichibukai had also been singled out. The others exchanged glances—did Zodi not recognize the Shichibukai? Otherwise, this could easily be seen as provocation. Still, no one dared to object. Zodi had brought more than twenty royal guards, all of whom looked like seasoned warriors. Some were curious about Crocodile's reaction. However, Rosen remained indifferent, continuing to savor his food. His gaze briefly fell on the iron cage in the room. He didn't like what he saw, but it seemed to be a common sight in places like this, so he had no intention of interfering. "Your Highness, that person..." It was possible that Zodi didn't recognize Crocodile. In his world, perhaps only the World Nobles were untouchable. So to him, even a pirate—even a Shichibukai—was not worth paying much attention to. "What is it? Speak quickly." Zodi frowned impatiently and then sat down at an unused table. His royal guards stood behind him. Immediately, the waiter and the innkeeper brought out all the finest dishes and drinks the establishment had to offer, smiling obsequiously. Zodi glanced at the food, then drew his sword and swept it across the table, sending everything flying. "Don't bring this peasant slop to me again. If you do, I'll cut off your head." "Your Highness, this is already the best our inn has to offer..." Cold sweat poured from the innkeeper's face. Although he had some backing in the Marines, it was nothing compared to facing the heir of a renowned nation. The only thing he could do was serve this young master well. "So that's the limit of this backwater dump... I've heard that aside from Sea King Crab, Frans Island also has Azure Blue Shrimp. Bring me some of that." Zodi didn't bother hiding his look of disgust. No wonder the Celestial Dragons wore hoods—it was beneath them to speak with such lowly people. Once he became king, he would strive to elevate himself toward the status of a World Noble. "Y-yes, of course." The innkeeper nodded frantically. Azure Blue Shrimp were extremely dangerous creatures, with a high mortality rate among those who tried to catch them. That's why they were rarely served in restaurants. But right now, refusal was not an option. "So, that pirate... You're saying that man is a Shichibukai? Oh, so that's what a Shichibukai looks like. I thought they'd be giant beasts, dozens of meters tall! Hahaha!" Hearing his guard whisper to him, Zodi suddenly became interested. His gaze shifted to Rosen, openly scrutinizing him. "Your Highness, the king has warned that some people on the sea are best left alone." The guard had a bad feeling. Still, he had no choice but to offer a cautious reminder. Zodi had spent most of his life in the palace and didn't understand the true weight of the title "Shichibukai." But the guard did. The Shichibukai were ruthless individuals who had carved their names into history through bloodshed. If one of them decided to strike, they wouldn't care about someone's noble status. Rosen, overhearing the conversation, paused for a moment. Why was it so difficult to enjoy a quiet meal? And this prince—was he brainless? How could someone like this be chosen as an heir? Arguing with such an idiot would only lower his own intelligence. "Shut up. Remember your place." Zodi's expression darkened as he barked at his guard. The guard immediately fell silent. "Never mind. I'm hungry. First things first—hey, you, come here." Zodi beckoned to a wealthy merchant. The man hesitated briefly before stepping forward. "Good boy. I like obedient people." Zodi's anger vanished instantly, replaced by a pleasant expression. His ability to change moods so quickly was startling. "Your Highness, what can I do for you? I'll answer any question to the best of my ability." The merchant lowered his posture humbly. "It's nothing special. I heard there are many unusual creatures here, so I came to collect a few. Do you know where I can find more of them?" Zodi pointed at the girl in the iron cage. The merchant took a closer look but saw nothing unusual. She was just an ordinary girl. Keeping a girl locked in a cage like an animal wasn't common, but there were people with twisted tastes—especially those in power. Power often amplified the darker side of a person's nature, leading them to do things that seemed incomprehensible to ordinary people. "She's just a normal person, isn't she?" The merchant couldn't see anything special about her and could only respond accordingly. "Useless. You can't even tell?" Zodi drew his sword and suddenly plunged it into the girl's back. With a sickening sound, blood splattered. Most of the onlookers looked away in discomfort, except for the royal guards, who remained indifferent. Even Rosen and Nico Robin frowned slightly. "Raaagh!" The girl let out an animalistic roar, her body reacting violently to the pain. She suddenly stood up and began pounding on the cage with unnatural strength. Only then did everyone see it clearly— The girl had a delicate face, but her heels protruded with a row of sharp, blade-like bone spines, angled at forty-five degrees. There were three on each leg, extending from her heels to her knees. When she struck the cage, ten conical bone spikes, each about ten centimeters long, extended from her fingertips. Sparks flew as the bone claws clashed against the iron bars. Her face was filled with pain and hatred, proving she still had a human mind. "A monster from Lantis Island!" The merchant gasped and staggered back in horror. Who had brought one of these creatures here? They were known to be lethal. A similar creature had once landed on Sanitation Island, resulting in countless Marine and pirate deaths. "So you do know! Hurry up and tell me where to find more of them. Be a good boy, or I'll kill you... and your entire family." Zodi's eyes gleamed with a crazed light as he stared at the merchant. "Stop making noise! A pet must not bark at its master." As he spoke, Zodi ruthlessly stabbed the girl several more times, leaving fresh wounds across her body. (End of Chapter) ========================================================= DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).