One Piece Nine Tails - Chapter 249

“What?!”

At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Kong was surprised by the report from Admiral A Xing.

Speaking to A Xing, who was at a non-World Government affiliated country on the northern border via a Den Den Mushi, Kong said, “Find his trail. Use the fact that he took Rosinante as a lead, but don’t alert him!”

The mention of “tens of thousands of years” made Kong extremely cautious.

The World Government had always been searching for other Devil Hunters. If Makima had said that, more Devil Hunters would have been released from the Shikon Jewel, not just her.

After all, many devils had emerged recently, but only one Devil Hunter was a bit odd.

Humans and devils have different lifespans. Humans live about a hundred years, giants about three hundred, but devils seem to live forever. Many devils of varying strengths have appeared worldwide, indicating that devils have long lifespans.

However, the Devil Hunter community shouldn’t be limited to just Makima.

Moreover, having only one person on the frontline for so long is bound to raise suspicion.

But if another Devil Hunter appeared, it would be perfect.

At least they now had a lead.

Kong didn’t report directly to the Five Elders, as the information still needed clarification. He needed to verify its authenticity first.

…

Meanwhile, A Xing and Tsuru had already started following Water Behind.

They didn’t directly confront him but watched his movements. However, it was clear that their tracking didn’t escape Water Behind’s notice.

Water Behind walked to a wooden house by the seaside, far from the nearest town. Unless necessary, people in this era preferred not to live by the sea due to frequent pirate raids.

He took Rosinante inside the wooden house and came out shortly after.

He looked in one direction and began walking.

“Did he find us?” A Xing said awkwardly from behind a tree.

After all, tracking someone was never a good thing, especially when it seemed they had been discovered.

Water Behind was heading straight for them.

“…” Tsuru said nothing, but Water Behind was getting closer.

In the next moment, a figure suddenly appeared before them.

A Xing and Tsuru’s eyes widened!

They hadn’t noticed how Water Behind had arrived! Even without using Haki to avoid detection, the speed was astonishing!

“You…” Tsuru began to ask, but Water Behind spoke calmly, “Who are you two?”

Doesn’t even recognise us? More and more like an ancient Devil Hunter, Tsuru thought. She and A Xing were well-known figures.

“Vice Admiral Tsuru.”

“Admiral A Xing.”

They introduced themselves gently since they didn’t intend to oppose Water Behind.

“Marines…” Water Behind frowned, thinking deeply. “You are the military of this world’s government.”

“Yes, we are,” A Xing explained. “We came to protect the Donquixote family, but we seem to have arrived too late. Only Rosinante remains, and you took him.”

After a pause, A Xing asked, “Can you tell us who you are?”

“Water Behind.”

Water briefly introduced himself, then added, “Since you came to protect Rosinante, take him.”

“Oh? I thought you were planning to adopt him,” Tsuru said in surprise.

Water replied, “I have my own matters to attend to.”

“… Like what?” A Xing asked. “We overheard you mention ‘tens of thousands of years’ earlier. May I ask, are you a Devil Hunter?”

“…” Water Behind’s expression finally changed slightly, showing some surprise. He shook his head and said, “I am not a Devil Hunter but a saint.”

A saint?

Both were puzzled until Water Behind continued, “I am both a saint and a member of God’s Right Seat.”

Saint? God’s Right Seat?

A new organisation had appeared. A Xing asked, “Do you know about the Eight Great Devils? The eight Devil Lords?”

Water Behind frowned, “Eight Great Devils? No, I have only heard of the Four Great Kings.”

“?! Are they also devils?” Tsuru asked, her eyes widening.

“The four strongest devils, at the pinnacle of all devils, each controlling the powers of earth, fire, water, and wind. The only ones who can rival them are the members of God’s Right Seat.”

Tsuru took a deep breath.

Water Behind’s description matched the Eight Great Devils perfectly. Both were at the pinnacle of all devils, but Water Behind only knew of four. Makima and the events at Jartsburg indicated there were eight Devil Lords.

Could it be because of different eras?

No, Tsuru remembered something from the intel.

Shi Tian Lai entered the Demon Realm later and supported the Demon Realm’s rift before becoming a Devil Lord.

Aatrox had a similar story, becoming a Devil Lord later. According to Shajie, he was the seventh Devil Lord.

If Devil Lords had predecessors and successors, dividing the demon era into stages…

Water Behind’s era might have been the first, with only four Devil Lords, each controlling an element.

Later, four more Devil Lords emerged, closing the rift like Shi Tian Lai or conquering Aatrox, recognised as Devil Lords by all demons.

Finally, the era where all eight Devil Lords existed…

This suggests that Water Behind might be even older than Makima. But if he was from the first era, why does he appear now?

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