Disappearing Dishes, the Mysterious Boy in the Mouse Hole
Arnold's assault rifle, crafted with cutting-edge materials, weighs nearly two tons, while his sniper rifle—towering almost as tall as a grown man—weighs close to three tons. Such absurd weights would be impossible for an ordinary person to wield, but Arnold, empowered by his immense physical strength, handles them with ease.
With his mastery of firearms, Arnold can use the assault rifle as a burst sniper rifle for medium-to-long-range combat unless dealing with ultra-long-range targets.
As for ammunition, Caesar personally oversaw the production, spending a considerable amount of time forging tens of thousands of specialized bullets—armor-piercing rounds, incendiary shells, and even ones imbued with unique properties.
Once the bullets were ready, Arnold took over, refining his combat techniques with relentless enthusiasm. Though most members of the crew had little experience with firearms, few could resist the allure of custom pistols designed to reflect their unique styles.
Caesar had not anticipated that these firearms would eventually become standard equipment for every member of the Caesar Pirates.
Half a Month Later
The Rex had been sailing across calm waters for two weeks, encountering neither hostile forces nor the Navy, save for occasional rough weather and turbulent waves.
Despite the lack of conflict, the crew had not been idle. Since receiving his new weapons, Arnold had been obsessed, spending every waking moment refining his marksmanship. In addition to ranged combat, Caesar personally trained Arnold in close-quarters gun-fighting techniques—wielding a short firearm alongside a blade, reminiscent of hybrid combat styles seen among elite warriors like Shanks' crew or Germa 66's soldiers. His progress was remarkable.
In just half a month, Arnold's sparring sessions against Regina shifted from frequent losses to near-even matchups. Victory was no longer solely in Regina's favor.
Now, Arnold could engage from a distance while maintaining solid defense in close combat, covering what had previously been his greatest weakness. As a result, his overall strength experienced a significant leap.
Meanwhile, the other crew members continued their own improvements:
Barrett's raw power surged, and he nearly bested Eli in combat multiple times.
Lily, persistently refining her cloud-generation ability, had significantly increased the density and stability of her weather-based constructs.
Brad and Hades enhanced their stamina through relentless battles.
Axi and Wei Na fine-tuned their fighting techniques.
Brook, in his duels with Gnali, sharpened his swordplay, demonstrating a greater level of mastery.
Regina, meanwhile, developed new tactics to counter long-range snipers.
As for Caesar, while it seemed like he wasn't actively training, he had, in fact, been honing his ability to micromanage the Rex's navigation solely with his mind while overseeing the crew's development—enhancing his mental control with near-superhuman precision.
Regardless, everyone had made notable progress in recent weeks.
An Unexpected Discovery
"Yo ho ho ho! Everyone! I think I see an island ahead!"
Brook's signature laughter rang through the ship as he pointed toward the horizon. Sure enough, a lush island covered in dense greenery came into view.
"Ah, it's been ages since we last saw land! I'm sick of staring at the endless sea every day!"
"Caesar! Let's dock and take a break! It's rare to find land, and I want to cook up a feast! Hahahaha!"
Yakexi, the ship's cook, voiced what everyone else was thinking. Constantly sailing between the sky and sea had become monotonous, and an island offered a welcome change. Even Caesar felt a sense of relief at the sight.
"Alright! Prepare for a feast on the island!"
With Caesar's approval, Yakexi let out an excited cheer, and the crew roared in agreement, eagerly making preparations for their shore leave.
Upon arrival, the Rex anchored in a small natural harbor. As soon as they stepped onto solid ground, the crew reveled in the sensation.
"It feels amazing to walk on land again!"
"The scent of trees and soil is way better than the salty sea breeze!"
The banquet preparations began in earnest. While Yakexi and Lily focused on cooking, the rest of the crew gathered fresh ingredients. Even Barrett, reluctant at first, was dragged along by Eli to collect fruits.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the feast neared completion, and everyone gathered around a roaring bonfire. Brook took out his violin and began playing Binks' Sake, filling the night with music and laughter.
But just as the celebrations reached their peak, Yakexi's furious voice cut through the air.
"What the hell?! Where's my food?!"
Everyone turned in surprise. Yakexi, visibly enraged, was staring at the now-empty plates.
"I spent hours cooking! Did someone steal and eat it all?!"
His suspicious gaze fell on Brad and Hades.
"Oi! Was it you two?!"
"Don't accuse us without proof! Sure, we eat a lot, but we wouldn't steal it!"
"Yeah! We've been singing with the others the whole time! Regina can vouch for us!"
Regina nodded. "They were sitting right next to me."
Hearing this, Caesar's sharp instincts told him something was off. He glanced around and noticed something peculiar—a small hole beneath a nearby rock, barely the size of a mouse hole.
At first, he dismissed it as a burrow for small creatures. But now, with the sudden disappearance of the food, he sensed something unnatural about it.
Activating Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), Caesar probed the hole. His eyes narrowed in surprise.
This was no ordinary burrow. Despite its tiny entrance, the space inside was much larger—big enough for a person to move freely. Even more bizarre, the tunnel extended deep into the earth.
Following the tunnel's path with his Haki, Caesar detected something at the far end—a small chamber. And inside, there was a person.
Retracting his Haki, Caesar turned to the crew. "There's someone in that hole."
"Huh?! How can a person fit in there?!"
"Could it be a Tontatta?!" someone speculated, referencing the dwarf-like race from Dressrosa.
Without answering, Caesar walked over to a nearby hill, gripping his black blade. With a single precise swing, he sliced off the top, revealing a hidden chamber inside.
Everyone crowded around, and there, in the dimly lit hollow, was a thin, malnourished young man.
On the ground before him sat the stolen food.
Joel Tony and the Expansion Fruit
The boy, startled by the sudden exposure, dropped his meal and tried to flee.
But before he could move, Caesar's telekinetic grip caught him, effortlessly pulling him from the chamber.
The moment he left the confined space, his body suddenly expanded—returning to the size of a normal human.
The crew exchanged shocked glances.
"I... I'm sorry!" the boy stammered, trembling. "I was starving! I haven't eaten real food in so long! Please don't kill me!"
The crew, however, was more intrigued than angry.
"Relax, kid. We're not gonna hurt you. But tell us—what are you, and how did you end up here?" Caesar asked. "Are you a Devil Fruit user? What power is this?"
Hesitantly, the boy introduced himself as Joel Tony, a fifteen-year-old who had been stranded on the island for three years after a shipwreck.
He had survived by eating a peculiar fruit—later realizing it was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Expansion Fruit.
His ability allowed him to expand interior spaces while maintaining their original external dimensions. This explained how he could fit inside a tiny burrow while having enough space to live inside.
Caesar's mind raced. This power... could be incredibly useful.
The crew, meanwhile, saw no reason to stay mad.
"Well, since you're here, join the banquet!" Eli laughed, raising a drink.
Tony hesitated. "But... I stole your food..."
Yakexi shrugged. "Eh, I'll cook more. Now sit down and eat!"
And just like that, the mysterious boy became part of the revelry.
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