One Piece: Power-Power Fruit

Chapter 42 First Publication in the Newspaper

Chapter 42: First Publication in the Newspaper

In the lounge of the Freedom, the group chatted about the Sky Island for a while before returning to their respective rest areas. However, none of them slept a wink that quiet night.

After calming the white cat Mumu down, Mu Chong went alone to the deck of the Freedom, walked to the platform at the bow, and sat cross-legged.

In the clear sky, twinkling stars blinked, and a bright moon illuminated the entire coastline. The waves, ceaselessly crashing against the shore, created bursts of spray.

Sitting upright on the bow platform, Mu Chong closed his eyes, his breathing becoming increasingly even. Images of today's battle flashed through his mind; yes, he was reviewing the day's events—a habit he had always maintained.

"Devil Fruits are truly amazing things in this world; anyone who eats one will be granted a unique ability!"

After making a sigh, Mu Chong immersed himself in developing his Devil Fruit ability.

During the battle between Mu Chong and Bellamy over the Spring-Spring Fruit's power earlier today, the effects of Bellamy's ability clearly aided his development of his own Devil Fruit.

"Elasticity is also a manifestation of force. It is the rebound force generated by compressing an object, which in turn propels the target object to move. Wow! That sounds complicated!"

Mu Chong rubbed his temples, recalling the painful times he spent studying physics in his past life. His expression of helplessness deepened. What had he done to deserve this?

"To reach the floating island, we need to use the power of the towering ocean currents and then utilize buoyancy to continue ascending into the air to ensure safety. So, let's first explore the effects of gravity and buoyancy!"

Mu Chong gazed at the twinkling stars in the sky, his lips twitching slightly as he muttered to himself.

Then Mu Chong closed his eyes again, activating the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Power-Power Fruit. Rings of pale purple energy swirled around Mu Chong, appearing and disappearing continuously from top to bottom.

Suddenly, all the light rings abruptly converged on Mu Chong's body, disappearing into him in an instant. Then, a miraculous scene unfolded: Mu Chong's body, which had been sitting cross-legged, slowly floated up.

That's right, it floated up on its own without any support from any object.

"Hehehe, whether it's altering one's own gravity or adding upward buoyancy to one's body, it allows one to fly! Therefore, the Float-Float Fruit isn't so appealing after all! Hahaha!!"

Thinking of this, Mu Chong burst into laughter, his laughter carrying far and wide through the quiet night.

……

A ray of morning sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the harbor of Magic Valley, awakening the sleeping Freedom.

At the dining table in the ship's lounge, Mu Chong and his group were having breakfast. Notably, after a night's rest, Baku's injuries had mostly healed, and he was sitting on a stool eating. Slad, on the other hand, still had some bandages wrapped around his body and looked somewhat sullen.

"Oh? What's wrong, Slad?"

Noticing Slad's emotions, Mu Chong took a sip of juice and asked...

"Captain! You can't take me to the sky island! My injuries are completely fine, look, I've healed completely, there's no problem at all!"

After saying that, Slade punched his chest twice to prove he could do it.

"Hahaha! Who said I wasn't going to take you!"

Looking at Slade's antics, Mu Chong couldn't help but chuckle. This guy is handsome and can even act cute!

"Huh? Didn't the captain say that? Grandpa, you're lying."

I!!!"

Realizing what had happened, Slad turned to look at Skidek, utterly exasperated. It turned out the old man had lied to him.

"Hahaha!!!"

"Hahaha!!!"

Everyone burst into laughter at this, and breakfast ended amidst cheerful conversation.

"Schidek, Locas, and Baku, the three of you stay on the Liberty. Hill Bot and Slad are coming with me to find Montblanc Coulicai!"

"Meow!!!"

Mu Chong wiped his mouth and finished arranging the day's tasks. The white cat Mu Mu beside him, not hearing its name, quickly meowed.

"Hehe! Silly cat, of course you'll follow me!"

Mu Chong patted the cat's head and led the way out of the cabin lounge, followed closely by Slad and Hill Bot.

The port where the Freedom was docked was located on the east side of Jaya Island, near Mogu Town. According to Hill Bot, Montblanc Kulik was located on the west side of Jaya Island, so they needed to cross Mogu Town, and even traverse the entire island. Therefore, the group set off very early.

But as soon as Mu Chong and his companions stepped off the Liberty, they were blocked by several pirates carrying newspapers.

"Gentlemen, what are you trying to do?"

Hill Bot adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, quickly stepped in front of the group, and asked in a deep voice...

"Hero, we have no other intention than to deliver today's newspaper to you. Your information is in it!"

The man at the head of the group handed the newspaper to Hill Bot as he spoke, looking incredibly happy, as if he were doing something extraordinary.

"Oh? I've already submitted it so quickly? Thank you everyone!!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Chong was taken aback at first, then thanked the people who had come to deliver the newspapers.

"The chivalrous hero said thank you to me!!"

"The chivalrous hero also told me that!"

"Hahaha!!!"

The group shoved and jostled each other as they happily left the harbor; it seemed they'd have plenty of topics to talk about while drinking tonight.

"Captain! The newspaper!"

Hill Bot handed the newspaper to Mu Chong. It's worth noting that since Mu Chong formally accepted the three of them yesterday, he had acknowledged them as crew members of the Freedom, so the three of them now addressed Mu Chong as "Captain."

"Let's go, we'll see as we go!"

Mu Chong took the newspaper and said something, then curiously began to read it. The events of yesterday had already appeared in the newspaper overnight—truly remarkable speed!

Mu Chong and his group weren't the only ones to receive this morning report. Morgans, one of the emperors of the underworld, possessed an unparalleled ability to control the news in this world. He compiled the news overnight and sent it to all parts of the world early the next morning.

boom! !

"Damn it! Is this chivalrous hero going to war with our Don Quixote family? He disappeared for half a year, and the moment he reappeared, he injured two of us. This is unforgivable!"

Inside a luxurious palace sat several tall men, each dressed in a distinctive style, all staring grimly at their newspapers.

"Hehehe! Jorah was actually defeated? To be able to deal with the Art-Art Fruit ability, this hero is truly extraordinary!"

A man with a long, snotty nose, covered in what looked like mud-like clothing, and leaning on a cane said...

"Dover, leave it to me! Let me go and meet this so-called hero!"

At this moment, a man sitting at the head of the left, wearing a fur-brimmed hat, with two facial markings, and dressed like a native tribesman in a red cloak, suddenly stood up and said to the man in the main seat...

"Fufufufufu! A chivalrous hero? He's just a brat, go and warn him!"

As the man finished speaking, the entire luxurious palace fell silent once more. In his eyes, it seemed to be nothing more than a trivial matter.

However, the reappearance of the chivalrous hero attracted the attention of another force, or rather, forced them to pay attention.