One Piece Nine Tails - Chapter 288
“Related to the disappearance of the Tree of Knowledge?”
Shanks couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have more information? I can exchange something of equal value.”
Zehp replied coldly, “This is one of the World Government’s top secrets; how could I possibly know more?”
“The reason I’m telling you this is that the information you provided last time was very useful to me, and my information about the disappearance of Ohara wasn’t enough to balance the exchange.”
The Tree of Knowledge was an external alias for Ohara, but within the Twilight Hermits, they could say “Ohara” freely. They were just used to calling it the Tree of Knowledge in the outside world.
Zehp’s words made Shanks ponder. Last time, he had exchanged Moriah’s whereabouts for some information about Ohara from Mirror. In his view, the information exchanged was equivalent.
But now, the Mirror claimed it wasn’t enough…
How much benefit could Moriah’s whereabouts bring?
Shanks was curious but didn’t press further. Everyone understood the Twilight Hermits as a trading guild, a place to do business without probing too deeply into others’ information.
Information itself was a commodity.
The demon child was related to Ohara’s disappearance…
Should he attempt to snatch her from the Navy?
The term “demon child” intrigued Shanks because he knew Captain Roger was very concerned about demons. Shanks himself wanted to know more about them.
Captain Roger, such a strong man, had been tormented by a demon’s curse, ultimately leading to his death. Shanks didn’t want to follow the same fate; he wanted to know how to break the demon’s curse.
With this in mind, he asked Adam, “Mr. Adam, do you know anything about the Ohara incident?”
He added, “I can exchange information about the Four Souls Jewel shards for it.”
Four Souls Jewel shards?!
His words shocked the others. If there were a most precious treasure on the sea, the Four Souls Jewel shards would undoubtedly be one of the most valuable.
Why did Roger’s treasure drive the world crazy? Roger was rumored to have several shards of the Four Souls Jewel, supposedly hidden in Laugh Tale.
These jewels were more precious than Devil Fruits, which made people fear the sea. The Four Souls Jewel shards had no side effects and were pure power amplifiers.
Whenever news of a shard emerged, it led to intense conflicts, as no shard stayed with one owner for long before others came to claim it.
Because of this, the shards were rumored to be cursed, bringing misfortune to their holders.
But despite the negative attributes, the desire for the shards was almost pathological. Every faction coveted them.
And now, Shanks offered the whereabouts of a shard for information? Was he insane?!
While mysterious, the connection between the demon child and Ohara’s disappearance didn’t seem worth such a price.
Robin felt particularly frightened, sensing that Driver had marked her.
Adam remained calm in the tense and astonished atmosphere and said lightly, “You need not pay any price for this information. I can give it to you all for free.”
His response heightened the atmosphere of astonishment. Offering information about a Four Souls Jewel shard was absurd, but Adam seemed uninterested.
He could have gained information on a Four Souls Jewel shard but chose to give it freely. What was he thinking?
Ignoring the surprised reactions, Adam continued calmly, “Angels are the power of God, God’s senses. Just as the Four in the Right Seat of God each represent an angel, there are other angels besides those represented by the Right Seat.”
Angels?!
Why did the topic suddenly shift to angels?
Having preconceived notions about Robin being the demon child, no one expected Adam to mention angels, the antithesis of demons.
“Someone triggered the ‘Fallen Angel’ causing the Secret Angel to descend on Ohara, leading to its disappearance.”
Fallen Angel? What was that?
Secret Angel? Was it her power that caused Ohara’s disappearance?
Moreover, Adam mentioned someone triggered the Fallen Angel, meaning the Ohara incident was orchestrated. Who was this person?
What was their purpose for summoning an angel?
Could it be the so-called demon child?
Everyone had their speculations, but Adam remained silent, leaving their guesses unconfirmed.
For a moment, everyone fell silent. Adam’s few words revealed countless information, leaving their minds spinning.
Among them, Robin was the most shocked, surprised, and terrified. She never imagined that Ohara’s disappearance involved angels. She always thought her power had caused it, living in guilt and self-blame.
Adam’s words made her feel better and introduced new fears and uncertainties.
What was the connection between her power and the Secret Angel? Why was she the only one to leave Ohara? Could the disappeared people, her mother, Dr. Clover, and the giant Saul return?
She once believed mastering her power might bring them back, but now, with angels involved, could her power influence them?
This realization made Robin fearful and uneasy!
Fortunately, the place was shrouded in thick smoke, with most people still in shock. Otherwise, her unusual behavior and intense emotions would have drawn attention.
Robin thought her heart had grown cold over the years, but Adam’s words stirred her deeply.
In addition to Robin, Shanks was also puzzled. He suddenly asked, “Mr. Adam, what other angels are there?”
Adam shook his head. “That is not for you to know now.”
Shanks was disappointed but asked, “How many angels are there in total?”
Adam simply said, “Even among angels, there are differences.”
Shanks vaguely understood and didn’t press further. He could see Adam didn’t want to reveal more; as he said, it wasn’t knowledge for them now.
Shanks’s sudden questions stemmed from recalling the Eight Great Demons. When Roger was alive, they found a treasure box recording information about these demons, which Shanks still had.
The Eight Great Demons included the initial kings of earth, fire, water, and wind, followed by lords of causality, apocalypse, destruction, and redemption.
Adam’s mention of angels gave Shanks an illusion of him describing demons.
If angels corresponded with demons, there might be eight angels or eight most powerful ones among them.
Shanks felt confident in his guess.
He believed the method to break the demon’s curse was in the hands of the angels.
Fallen Angel…
Shanks pondered, who could have triggered the Fallen Angel?
Demons were in hell, wanting to reach the human world, while angels seemed forced to come to the human realm. So, where were angels usually?
Shanks had many questions, but Adam wouldn’t reveal more.
As Shanks’s thoughts swirled, Zehp spoke again, “Driver, you mentioned knowing the whereabouts of a Four Souls Jewel shard. Is that true?”
Shanks replied, “Of course. I would never lie in the Hermits.”
Zehp said, “What do you need? I hope to trade for the shard’s whereabouts.”
Zehp wanted a Four Souls Jewel shard. He regretted handing one to the World Government, which merely hoarded it as a collectible.
Given the chance, Zehp planned to steal the shards from the Five Elders.
And he wouldn’t miss this opportunity from Shanks.
Shanks asked, “What do you think matches the value of a Four Souls Jewel shard?”
Zehp frowned, “Kid, you only know the shard’s location, not possessing it.”
“I’m aware, but even that information is precious. Mirror, what do you think is fair?”
Devil Fruits were out. Zehp realized Driver wasn’t interested in them after their last exchange involving Moriah.
The driver seemed most intrigued by demons. Trading demon-related information might attract him.
With this in mind, Zehp said, “I have information on a great demon. Interested?”
A great demon?
Shanks considered and said, “It depends on the information.”
Zehp replied, “No problem. Mr. Adam, may I speak privately with Driver?”
Adam nodded, and the next moment, Zehp and Shanks seemed to enter a separate space.
In a void, only Zehp and Shanks remained.
Zehp began, “Over a decade ago, during the Jarlsburg incident, an ice-controlling great demon was severely injured in a battle with the demon lord Aatrox. He sealed himself in the ocean.”
The Jarlsburg incident was a well-known global event. The appearance of the first demon lord, Aatrox, brought great suffering. The World Government claimed Garp and Sengoku had fought him off, boosting the Navy’s reputation, though many realized it was a lie.
Aatrox’s strength was displayed during the Ed War. When many pirates united to defeat him, they were slaughtered, leaving the sea forever blood-red.
Could Garp and Sengoku alone have stopped him?
No way!
Shanks had been in Jarlsburg, but he didn’t understand much as a toddler. Roger’s crew arrived late after Aatrox had appeared.
He only knew bits from hearsay, was aware of an ice demon opposing Aatrox, and even collaborated with the Navy.
He survived?
Shanks was intrigued and asked, “This information can indeed be exchanged for my knowledge.”
Zehp smiled and continued, “The demon, named Scar, sealed himself in ice to heal fatal wounds. Over the years, he recovered thanks to his self-healing powers and recently emerged, though likely not at full strength.”
“He was last seen near the white town in the North Blue.”
White Town, Flevance?
Shanks considered and said, “This information is valuable to me.”
Then he added, “There’s a music kingdom called Elgia on the sea, holding a shard of the Four Souls Jewel. However, I don’t know its exact location. Rumors say a powerful great demon resides in Elgia!”
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