But no one expected that the partner he found would be the fourth strongest on the ship!
For a moment, everyone found it hard to believe. But as they sensed the aura emanating from the newcomer, they couldn't deny its weight. A genuine smile spread across their faces.
"Hahahaha, Captain Caesar is overpraising me!"
"I'm just a blind man who happens to be stronger than most!"
Fujitora, who had been sitting silently for a while, finally responded. The crew's intense reactions made him stand up and say a few words.
His encounter with Caesar had been purely coincidental, so it was natural for everyone to be surprised by the sudden explanation.
For a moment, silence filled the room. No one knew how to continue the conversation.
If they understood the term Versailles-style humility, they would have laughed and crowned him the King of Humility on the spot.
"Smile, you don't have to be so modest!"
"Yeah! Since the captain said so, you must be a powerhouse of admiral-level strength. I'm glad to have you aboard!"
Arnold and Tony, seated next to Issho (Fujitora), noticed his reserved demeanor. With bright enthusiasm, they raised their glasses to him and downed their drinks.
Soon, after a brief period of interaction, everyone accepted that there was a new powerhouse aboard, ranking fourth in strength.
However, one person couldn't calm down—Brad.
An expression of disbelief was etched onto his face. How did my ranking on the ship suddenly drop?
He understood the reality that there's always someone stronger out there, but he struggled to accept it. He had trained relentlessly, so why did his growth seem so slow in comparison?
A deep sense of frustration and unwillingness filled his heart.
Of course, he had worked hard, but his Saber-Toothed Tiger Zoan had already set a ceiling for his growth.
Even if he managed to awaken his Devil Fruit, reaching the level of a top commander like King (Albert the Wildfire) was unlikely.
After all, talent and limits exist for a reason. Hard work alone wasn't enough to break through them.
Once the introductions were over, Caesar glanced around and spoke up.
"Now, it's your turn. Introduce yourselves!"
"My name is Douglas Bullet, fifteen years old! I will become as strong as the captain one day!"
Before Caesar could finish, Bullet—sitting across from Fujitora—lifted his chin and gave a brief introduction.
Fujitora was stunned for two seconds.
Though he couldn't see Bullet's face, he could feel the raw aggression and wild nature within his aura. It radiated an intense battle spirit!
But beneath that, he also sensed something deeper—a strong recognition of this crew and an unwavering resolve to protect them.
Moreover, Bullet's aura was comparable to the strongest person present, and there were even signs he could surpass them.
Even though Fujitora hadn't yet learned the names of all the top fighters on board, he quickly pieced it together—this monster of a boy was Bullet, and the other powerhouse must be the vice-captain, Gnali.
However, what truly shocked him was Bullet's age.
He's only fifteen?!
What kind of monster is this?!
Fujitora's heart was filled with disbelief, and for a brief moment, his expression froze.
One by one, the other crew members introduced themselves.
"My name is Hades, a merman!"
"I'm Fenrir, a warrior of the Mink Tribe!"
"I'm Gnali, the vice-captain!"
"Yo! I'm Yakexi, the ship's cook!"
"Yohohoho! I'm Brook, a musician—though I'm only bones now~!"
Listening to the introductions, Fujitora quickly realized something—there were not just humans aboard this ship.
The crew consisted of merfolk, Minks, and even... someone claiming to be just a skeleton?
Is there even a skeleton race in this world?
Fujitora found it unlikely, but in this era of bizarre abilities, it wasn't completely impossible.
As he continued to listen, he focused on the emotions radiating from everyone. He could sense genuine warmth and camaraderie—this wasn't just a crew, it was a family.
This realization made Fujitora trust Caesar even more. Perhaps the new world he spoke of wasn't just empty words.
As the introductions wrapped up, a group of children ran forward, scrambling to introduce themselves to Fujitora.
"Uncle, my name is Emily! Welcome to my dad's crew!"
A little girl with feline features, no older than a year, tried to stand tall. Her baby voice carried a serious tone, though she spoke with an adorable lisp.
"My name is Carlos!"
"I'm Lucius!"
Then, one of the children suddenly blurted out:
"Uncle, what happened to your eyes? Are you blind?"
A wave of awkwardness washed over the adults, and aside from Caesar, the parents frowned at their children.
However, they didn't stop them from asking—because, truthfully, they were curious too.
The scars on Fujitora's face weren't from birth. If he was truly this strong, how could someone like him suffer such an injury?
Fujitora chuckled, completely unbothered.
"Hahahaha! You kids are really something!"
Then, he answered with a warm smile.
"My eyes? I took them out myself."
Gasps filled the room.
The children were utterly confused. The adults were equally stunned—they hadn't expected this answer.
"You hurt yourself? But why?!"
"There's too much evil and suffering in this world. I didn't want to see it anymore, so I removed my own sight."
The children still didn't understand, their little faces full of confusion.
"That must've hurt a lot, Uncle!"
The adults, though they might not agree with his choice, now had a deeper respect for him.
"Hahaha, it doesn't hurt anymore. That was a long time ago," Fujitora reassured them.
At that moment, a pair of tiny, white wings sprouted behind Alice, a small girl among the children.
In an instant, she flew up to Fujitora, holding out her little hands as a brilliant holy light bloomed.
She gently placed her hands over his eyes.
A warm energy surged through Fujitora, enveloping his sightless world in something new—something comforting.
For the first time in years, he felt something akin to light.
But when Alice withdrew her hands, his blindness remained.
A look of disappointment crossed her face.
Tears welled up in her big eyes as she pouted and returned to Caesar's arms.
"It's okay, Alice. You did great!"
Caesar kissed her little cheek in reassurance, praising her effort.
Fujitora finally realized what had happened—she had tried to heal him with angelic powers.
"You did wonderfully, Alice!" Fujitora gently patted her head.
"Your ability made my eyes feel better than ever before. I saw something again, even if just for a moment."
Blind people don't see darkness. They see nothingness. Darkness is a color, but what he had was pure void.
For the first time, he truly wished he could see again.
But no one on this ship could restore his sight—at least, not yet.
---
The Days That Followed
The Caesar Pirates set sail once more, venturing into the vast seas.
Fujitora quickly adapted to his new life. Every day, he trained with Caesar, utilizing the force of gravity fields in their sparring sessions.
And as the days passed, the Marines took notice of something alarming—Caesar's crew had gained a new, incredibly powerful swordsman.
A blind man, radiating the presence of an admiral.
This development could not be ignored.
And thus, the wheels of fate turned once more.
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