One Piece: The Arm of Fate

Kaido left the New World.

And he's been spotted in Paradise?

Who is he coming for?

"..."

Shano held the newspaper with a subtle expression.

The answer seemed self-evident.

"Revenge for Hanafuda?"

Shano looked at the looming blue dragon in the dark clouds pictured in the article. "Or does he want to take me back?"

The two weren't mutually exclusive.

Kaido had always valued talent, especially those with powerful bodies.

If Kaido really came for him...

Then the most likely scenario was that Kaido would take out his mace, beat him up to vent his anger, and then forcibly take him back to Wano Country to try and recruit him.

Sending Yamato might've worked, Mr. Kaido.

But even if you come yourself—I won't go.

Shano folded the newspaper and tossed it onto the table. He never liked being beneath anyone.

"The sea is boundless."

Shano looked at the sky, a grin spreading across his face.

He opened his right hand and suddenly clenched it, his knuckles cracking sharply. "We'll meet again, Kaido!"

It had been a while since his last fight with Garp. If he could really run into Kaido and have an all-out brawl…

That would be just what he wanted.

...

Half an hour later.

The End arrived at the station. According to the earlier draw, half of the crew would take the train, and the other half would continue sailing on the ship.

Jack, with his 8.3-meter-tall frame, obviously couldn't fit in the sea train and stayed aboard the ship.

In addition to helping with chores, he spent all day in the training room, starting his physical and Haki training according to the plan Shano had laid out.

He had finally earned a spot beside Captain Shano—he wasn't about to hold the crew back.

Currently, only Nami and Robin on the ship didn't possess Haki, but they weren't combatants, so it didn't matter.

But Jack? He was here to fight. What else could he do?

He certainly wasn't going to transform into a mammoth and become an oversized emergency food supply...

...

The whistle blew long. Steam surged. The dark green steel giant slowly rolled down the track.

Was this what it felt like to be on a green train again after so many years?

Sunlight streamed through the glass, warming the train car. Shano leaned by the window with his chin resting in his hand, his thoughts leisurely drifting.

There were far more passengers on the train than he had expected. It quickly became packed.

If someone suddenly shouted "Close your legs, beer, melon seeds, mineral water!" it would truly feel like a green-skinned local line.

Woooo—!

The train began accelerating with a clatter. The sea breeze swept in from the half-open windows, rustling Shano's black hair.

He squinted into the distance. The horizon rose and fell beyond the glass, and a few seagulls flew by, quickly left behind.

"So fast."

Sitting next to him, Smoker puffed on two cigars and couldn't help but mutter,

"It's faster than a wind-powered speedboat at full speed, and much more stable. If only every island were connected like this."

"That'd require the end of this chaotic era first," Zhepu chuckled.

"One day, that will happen."

Shano replied with a smile.

He withdrew his gaze from the window and looked around.

Only then did he notice that more than half the passengers in the car were wearing elaborate masks.

"What's going on?" Smoker asked, also confused.

"It's the first day of the mask carnival!"

A train attendant in a fox mask rolled past with a cart and explained cheerfully:

"Dear guests, you're in luck! You've just arrived in time for the grandest mask carnival in Spring Queen City!"

"You'll stick out if you don't wear one!"

The attendant pulled out several exquisite masks from under the cart and eagerly began promoting them:

"Would you like to try some? We've got all kinds of designs—and even customization!"

Shano quickly raised a hand to wave him off.

He hated pushy salespeople the most since his past life.

But the attendant had a point. Everyone would be wearing masks. If they didn't, they'd attract too much attention.

Especially with Shano's face now plastered all over the newspaper headlines.

So, a moment later...

Each of the trio—and the wolf—wore an ordinary animal mask.

Awooo?

Ah Yin looked up in confusion. A wolf mask on me? Isn't that like taking off your pants to fart?

...

At dusk, the train pulled into the station of Spring Queen City.

Unlike the firework-laced Gourmet City, this one glowed magnificently in the twilight.

Towering Gothic structures, stained glass domes, glazed lanterns lining the streets, and the fireworks constantly blooming in the sky...

All reflected the city's indulgence and joy.

The moment they stepped off the train, Shano felt the carnival's magic.

The entire island was overflowing with revelers in masks—tens of thousands of visitors.

Retro feathers, creepy oni masks, butterfly masks studded with crystals... their outfits varied just as wildly.

On the streets, petals and ribbons rained from the sky, while masked dancers hugged, drank, sang, and laughed in waves of revelry.

Shano and the others, infected by the atmosphere, couldn't help but loosen up and smile.

"New arrivals? Welcome to the Mask Carnival!"

A scantily clad girl with a tray of drinks smiled, "The carnival lasts for three nights—free drinks city-wide! Enjoy the feast!"

"Thank you."

They smiled and accepted their glasses.

"Let's split up and look around."

Shano said, swirling his wine glass, his tone unusually light, "Enjoy yourselves. Meet back here at midnight."

"Yes, Boss."

By then, the End would have arrived, and the night-long carnival would still be going.

They'd play in the first half. Kuina and the others would arrive and enjoy the second.

Tomorrow morning, they'd depart for Water Seven—arriving before dark.

Perfect plan.

Speaking of which...

They could relax and vacation here in Spring Queen City. But once they got to Water Seven, they'd have real work to do.

It had been nearly three months since they first set sail.

The End had weathered countless storms. Since they were headed to the world's shipbuilding capital, it was time for a full inspection—and upgrades for the training room.

"Oh, and don't forget your flame-conversion thruster."

Shano glanced at Smoker. "It's been a while. How's the R&D going?"

"..."

Smoker's face turned red, the cigar smoke unable to hide his embarrassment.

"We tried a bunch of approaches, but they all failed. It's way harder than expected to get it working on a ship like the End."

He scratched his head and sighed:

"The closest we got, the thruster lasted three minutes before overheating and blowing up. If Nojiko hadn't frozen it on the spot, it might've blasted a hole through the stern."

"You're not even a professional shipwright. It's already amazing you got this far."

Shano laughed and patted his shoulder. "Once we get to Water Seven, we'll figure it out with the builders there."

"Yeah."

Smoker nodded. He thought the same.

After a bit of chatting, they split up at the street corner.

Shano took Ah Yin and walked down the northern road, watching street performers and pausing to admire the fireworks.

"Hm?"

His expression changed. He opened his system panel and checked the inventory radar.

At that moment, two flashing yellow dots appeared—nearly overlapping—within a 10-kilometer radius.

Two Devil Fruits. Moving.

They weren't there earlier. This meant someone had just brought them into the city.

Finding them in a crowd of over 100,000 would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

And if they were in the hands of normal civilians... well, he wasn't the type to rob innocents.

Let it go.

He closed the panel.

But just as he turned to buy snacks with Ah Yin, a sharp voice rang out behind him:

"Hey Gabra, the two Devil Fruits are still in your bag, right? You didn't lose them, right? Chirp!"

Huh?

Shano turned, stunned.

Behind him, three people stood out in the mask-filled crowd—because they weren't wearing any.

A green-haired, round-bellied man with long limbs—who looked like an owl—was zipping and unzipping his yellow zipper mouth as he chattered on.

"These two fruits were our only gain after failing the mission. We'll turn them in at Enies Lobby tomorrow to make up for the screw-up. Don't lose them, okay, chirp!"

"Shut it!" the middle-aged man next to him snapped. "Why are you yelling about classified missions in the street?! We were just escorting two officials. How did we get found out again?!"

"Because I accidentally let it slip again, chirp! When we were drinking at the dock, the bartender asked who those two were, and I told him everything at full volume, chirp!"

"What??!!!"

Gabra nearly passed out. He grabbed the owl-man's collar, roaring, "You again?! When are you going to learn to shut up?! You've got a zipper for a mouth—use it! We're government agents! We're supposed to keep secrets, you idiot!"

"But yelling like that isn't great either! That man walking a big dog has been staring at us, chirp!"

"They're just passersby. Ignore them," said the third man, who had been silent until now.

He was fat, with pale white hair and a thick layer of makeup on his face. Pulling out a short blade, he said solemnly:

"Since this failure was caused by our own mistake, I can no longer face the world. I shall commit seppuku to atone for our shame!"

"Kumadori..." The owl's eyes welled up.

Kumadori raised a hand to stop his tears, then gripped the short blade in the other, stabbing it toward his gut with all his might.

"Iron Body!"

With a loud clang, the blade bounced off his abdomen—he couldn't even pierce the skin.

"What a pity, I can't die... Yoyoi!"

"You're hopeless, too!!" Gabra's temple veins throbbed violently. What had he done to deserve teammates like these?!

Compared to this...

Lucci getting assigned to Water Seven with Kalifa as a boatman was practically paradise!

Just then, the stall owner shakily handed them their tamagoyaki. The three took their food and wandered into a nearby alley, still bickering.

Shano watched their retreating figures, and the corners of his mouth, hidden behind his mask, curled upward.

"A gift from the heavens, huh..."

Right into his lap.

Last time, he had to kill Wapol for the Snow-Snow Fruit. The Flame-Flame Fruit took forever to dig out of ruins.

And now?

He was like a little girl stealing candy from a shady uncle—he chuckled silently, ordered some tamagoyaki for Ah Yin, and then silently tailed the trio into the dim alley...

…

Deep in the alley, the CP9 trio sat by the wall, eating tamagoyaki without a care in the world.

"Hmph, not bad," Gabra chewed. "But it doesn't take the edge off failing the mission…"

"Don't dwell on it! We're used to it, right? So long as the mission isn't that important, we won't get kicked out. Tsk tsk tsk!" Owl said between mouthfuls.

"Hey Kumadori, mind sharing half of yours? I'm still hungry, tsk tsk tsk!"

"Life is short... eat all you can while you can… Yoyoi!" Kumadori muttered somberly but still split his portion.

They were happily munching away when suddenly a chill swept down their backs.

"Enjoying your meal?"

A soft voice came from behind. All three froze and turned their heads.

The black-haired youth wearing a plain white mask leaned lazily against the wall. Moonlight stretched his shadow along the alley floor.

"Hey, you guys recognize me?" the boy asked with a grin.

"Oh, it's the guy walking his dog earlier!" Owl blinked. "You want some tamagoyaki too? But I don't have enough to share, tsk tsk!"

"I'm not interested in that."

The mask really was handy—seemed like they didn't recognize him. Shano pointed at the bulging bag at Gabra's waist and smiled. "But I am interested in what's inside that."

"Oh no!" Owl reflexively zipped his mouth shut. "He heard us! Tsk tsk!"

"Too late to shut up now, idiot!!" Gabra was furious. "You're the reason he's here, squawking on the street like that!"

Tch!

He tossed aside his food and slowly rose, muscles flexing beneath his black gi. His eyes turned cold.

"Kid… didn't anyone tell you this sea's full of people you shouldn't mess with? You dare target us? Do you even know who we are—"

"I know, chirp!"

Owl shot up, raising his hand. "I'm CP9 secret agent Otonashi Owl! My Doriki is 600, the guy next to me is about 610, and that's Gabra—Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Wolf, Doriki 1900, and our strongest!"

"You might as well tell him what color my underwear is!!!"

Gabra roared, grabbing Owl's cheeks and shaking him violently. "Too detailed! Who does that?!"

And what do you mean 'just a little weaker than Lucci'?! I'll never acknowledge that guy as stronger than me!

Wait—Doriki?

Shano blinked.

He'd nearly forgotten that ancient stat even existed. No one used that system anymore—except these weirdos.

"No one cares about that crap but you guys," Shano rubbed his temples. "Alright, hand over the fruits quietly and you'll avoid a beating."

"Hmph… looks like you really don't understand CP9."

Gabra released Owl and turned to glare at Shano. "How can some backwater brat like you understand what the government's most secret division truly is?"

The words had barely left his mouth—

"Shave!"

His body vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Shano. His fingers were stiff and pointed like a blade, slicing toward Shano's back—

"Finger Gun!"

But before his strike could land, his wrist was caught.

Firmly. Unmovably.

What?!

Gabra's eyes shrank in shock.

CRACK!

A crisp pop echoed as his wrist snapped. Cold sweat poured from his forehead as pain lanced through his arm—but he clenched his teeth and retaliated, sweeping his leg like a whip—

Storm Leg: Wolf Fang!

A crescent-shaped blue blade roared forward… but it collapsed instantly upon contact with Shano.

This guy's not normal!

Gabra panicked and immediately activated his Zoan ability.

His body swelled, fur sprouting rapidly—about to become a towering werewolf—

Awoo!!

A sharp wolf's howl echoed through the alley!

Gabra's legs buckled. He crumpled to the ground.

His transformation halted. His body shrank, as if the wolf within him was terrified and refused to come out.

Shano paused.

Was that really necessary? You're the one who wanted tamagoyaki so bad!

He shot a glare toward the end of the alley. The once-majestic wolf king shrank back instantly and vanished from view.

"Gabra!!"

Owl and Kumadori shouted.

"Zha ba ba! You bastard!" Owl roared, splaying his fingers. "Check out this move I've trained since I was twelve—"

Boom!

Shano's figure flickered in front of him. A light kick sent Owl rolling back, eyes spinning.

"Damn it! Owl! Hang on—Life Return: Hair Bind!"

Kumadori screamed. His white hair grew rapidly, twisting into tendrils that lashed toward Shano.

But a moment later—

Shano's hair suddenly shot out in return, weaving together into a thick braid that snapped Kumadori's strands clean off.

"Yoyoi?!"

Kumadori touched his now-bald head in horror. "A monk…? You can use Life Return too?! How?!"

Shano ignored him and walked over to where Gabra had dropped the bag.

He crouched, untied the strap, and pulled it open.

Two strange-looking Devil Fruits tumbled out into his palm.