A dozen days later, Vir arrived at Tutu Island. Seeing this familiar small island, he felt a surge of emotions.
This was the first island he landed on in the Grand Line, and he had nearly lost his life here. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever return after this visit. With his current strength, he could easily head straight to Fish-Man Island and establish himself in the New World.
But Vir had no ambition for domination; he preferred to enjoy the journey’s scenery.
Before he even set foot on the island, he saw Ferdinand and Catarina waiting for him at the dock, along with a large group of their subordinates.
Vir didn’t expect Ferdinand to have organized a small welcome ceremony for him.
Vir felt a bit speechless as he disembarked. He grabbed Ferdinand and started walking away from the dock.
“Hey, Vir, this is a welcome ceremony I meticulously planned. At least experience it,” Ferdinand said with a smile, though it was unclear how genuine it was.
“I haven’t forgotten what I promised you. Let’s skip the formalities and go see the rare metal. I’m quite eager,” Vir said, ignoring Ferdinand’s words. He had learned not to take everything Ferdinand said at face value.
As they walked inland, Catarina spoke up, something she rarely did.
“I heard you were planning to sell me? What a terrible man,” Catarina’s voice was still raspy, but it was not as harsh as the first time he heard it, suggesting she had undergone some treatment.
“Hey, where did you hear that? Your brother, right? We just had some business disagreements. I never said I would sell you. Let’s not talk about this and go see the rare metal,” Vir replied, trying to sound calm and change the subject. He hadn’t expected Catarina to find out about his offhand comment.
Vir stared intently at Ferdinand, as if saying, “You betrayed me again.”
“Stop glaring. I was right by the Den Den Mushi when you said it. Vir, what’s up with your personality? Sometimes you’re insanely crazy,” Catarina said, looking directly at Vir, unfazed by his strength.
Vir felt a bit embarrassed when he realized Catarina had overheard the conversation. But her next words made him stop in his tracks, feeling his heartbeat slow.
From Catarina’s words, Vir sensed sincerity. He turned to face her, trying to find any hint of deception on her face. But all he saw was sincerity.
Ferdinand, terrified by his sister’s words, broke out in a cold sweat. His sister was usually quite good, but sometimes she was a bit naive. Although she appeared cold and gave off an icy beauty vibe, her childhood experiences had made it hard for her to express emotions.
If Ferdinand’s childhood had turned him into a vile person, Catarina remained like an angel.
Vir pondered for a moment and then spoke:
“I guess it’s because I was bound by some things for too long. When those bindings broke, I unleashed the demon within me. And when I did, I became a killer. Eventually, I found that killing didn’t bother me anymore. I didn’t feel guilty, nor did I get the thrill people talk about. I just enjoy fighting. As for being crazy? I feel quite normal. What do you think, Ferdinand?” Vir answered Catarina’s question earnestly, moved by her sincerity.
Ferdinand didn’t respond, feeling utterly bewildered by the unexpected conversation. Vir, talking about life with his sister? He was completely lost.
Catarina seemed confused too, looking at Vir in surprise. She opened her mouth but didn’t continue the conversation.
The three of them walked in silence to Ferdinand’s castle and headed straight to a secret room.
For the first time, Vir felt the extent of Ferdinand’s wealth. The money wasn’t counted in bundles or boxes but in piles. Rare treasures abounded, including two Zoan-type Devil Fruits. Clearly, Ferdinand had been hoarding them.
Vir was amazed but didn’t covet these items. What he wanted most was the rare metal.
In the innermost part of the room, Vir saw no rare metal, just a red stone that Ferdinand indicated was the rare metal.
Vir was taken aback, initially thinking Ferdinand was playing a trick on him. But realizing it was unlikely, he asked what was special about it.
“This stone was salvaged from the deep sea, not just any deep sea, but beneath Fish-Man Island. The water pressure there is unimaginable. This metal has been compressed under such pressure for countless years.
“This alone doesn’t make it too valuable. The remarkable part is, I tried to smelt it and failed, even with the best equipment. I also tried cutting it, again unsuccessfully. Later, I had it appraised. This unique metal is highly suitable for making weapons, and those weapons might have special properties,” Ferdinand explained, clearly confident in the value of the rare metal.
Hearing this, Vir became interested. He picked up the red stone, feeling its weight and texture, and realized it wasn’t just a stone but metal yet to be extracted.
To test its hardness, he picked up a nearby sword and slowly drew it.
As Vir unsheathed the sword, both Ferdinand and Catarina felt a shiver, as if the sword could kill them at any moment.
For the first time, Ferdinand fully understood that Vir was now beyond his ability to challenge. Simply picking up a sword, without even aiming at them, exuded an aura of lethal threat. If Vir had his dual swords, would Ferdinand even be able to stand?
Catarina’s feelings were even more complex. Two years ago, their strengths weren’t far apart, but now they were on different levels. She clenched her fists, vowing to become stronger so this detestable person could never threaten her brother again, and so he could never say he’d sell her.
Vir had no idea about the siblings’ thoughts. He was focused entirely on the rare metal.
With a swift, powerful slash, the air seemed to wail as his sword, charged with Haki and lightning, struck the metal.
A loud clang echoed, and the room shook, forcing the siblings back a few steps from the shockwave.
Vir remained unaffected, confirming that Ferdinand hadn’t lied. This rare metal was indeed exceptional, just from its hardness alone.
What kind of weapons would be forged from this rare metal?
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