Chapter 114

Title: Okame...

….

While Amon was busy making Vivi familiar with her powers, in Skypiea, something special was taking place.

"We got the news. Some small pirate crews have invaded Angel Island. They are currently hiding, seemingly preparing for a perfect time to attack."

Raki was explaining to the people in front of her.

In front of her, many people of different ages were sitting, all of them were Shandorian. They listened to her every word unconditionally.

"This time, I will send 5 teams. Each team will have only one person. Your jobs will be to gather as much information as possible about them." Raki stared at their faces. "I will say this once so listen carefully, DO NOT ENGAGE IN A FIGHT."

"That's not your job, you will only gather information. Am I clear?!"

""Yes!""

The people in front of her shouted in unison.

These are some teachings Raki learned from the different moons. After asking Amon's permission, she was now applying these to the promising Shandorian.

Raki pointed her finger forward. "Rai, Rey, Gigolo, Haruma. You four will do this raid."

Some people looked dejected that they weren't picked, some looked happy.

The four had a delighted expression that they were picked.

"And lastly…" Raki looked at a 4-year-old who clearly wasn't paying attention to her words.

He was thinking about how to get his hands on an automata, he wanted to dismantle them. Then learn the secrets of the universe!

"Karna, you will go too. Kid, if you fail, I will whip you for 5 hours."

After someone nudged Karna, he returned to reality. He grumped after hearing her, but he was forced to do as she asked. He was 4, but his mind was developed enough to think like an adult, though that didn't mean he was as mature as an adult .

He was still a kid who was stimulated using Amon's hypnotic powers a few days ago. Though his personality remained the same, he knew he was someone who would only serve Amon.

'Only serve Amon.' Because of this line, he hated being ordered around by anyone other than him, even if that is Raki who everyone else respects.

'I heard this girl, Raki, used to be looked down upon when she was young. People said she only grew where she was because brother Amon treated her like a sister.' Karna thought with his furrows knitted. 'Crazy woman. But all that is in the past now, she is strong. She cut those Vice-Admirals in half, the ones who were on the verge of beating Wyper. For that, people now respect her for herself.'

He didn't even think of dismantling her. He felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze. Because, unlike Amon, she didn't hide anything.

Then a sweet smile bloomed on Karna's face. "Yes, big sister. I will go."

People would have thought he was a natural actor, but in reality, he was someone who couldn't maintain his facade for long. People knew this kid was crazy, but they knew he wouldn't harm them. He saw them as his family.

It was true. Even though Karna had fantasies of dismantling people, even though he had this thought every time he looked at a person who was not his mother, father or sister, he still knew he couldn't touch a Shandorian. He was attached to them.

Soon after, he left along with the other 4, the other 4 were all adults. He was the only child, but nobody questioned anything. It's almost as if they knew the kid would be safe…

Would he really though?

«...★...»

Raki sat down on a chair while reading adult magazines and drinking lemon juice.

She was waiting for someone who she called just a while ago.

"Ahh, this girl is good."

The magazine was filled with Skypiea girls. This was how modern the Skypiea was, modeling was quite normal here. And this was something happening even before Amon came into power.

Raki scratched her cheeks. 'I have to say, Koin is on the level of models. I recall she had a daughter… hmmm. Interesting.'

While Raki started to laugh cheekily, trying to copy a young Amon, the person, or rather, the robot she was waiting for reached the place.

"Ma'am! Automata Shortmotor is here!!"

Raki glanced at him, Shortmotor, and put the book down on the table.

"You are here… I recall calling Ghost Motor, but whatever. As the leader of Motor Gang, you are more appropriate."

Raki didn't like Shortmotor. He was supposed to be a heinous existence who hated his creator, thus forming the Motor Gang.

At first, when they reached the moon 4 years ago, Amon let Motor punch him in the face sensing his anger. Amon found it interesting that a robot could feel emotions to that degree. So he let things proceed smoothly.

However, even after the punch, the Automata didn't subdue. But just when Raki threatened to stop Motor that time, he did after inspecting her body.

"Hehe, Ma'am ask me anything you want."

This was why Raki didn't like him. He was weird.

Just like how Amon had expected, Shortmotor was interesting. He could not only feel clear anger, but he could also feel enough emotions to be a pervert.

Raki snapped hearing him and seeing his smile.

"Shut up! Didn't I ask you to not smile like that?!"

She glared at him as Motor jumped back. He gulped his nonexistent saliva.

Raki sighed after a second.

"Listen, go after the kid named Karna. Protect him at all costs."

Shortmotor's eyes shined. 'Such a pure girl! Although she acts like a cold-hearted woman, she cares about that cheeky kid. As expected from my goddess!!'

"Yes, Godd-cough-Ma'am!"

While Raki glared at him, Motor turned around and flew like ironman. Amon did many experiments on his body since he was a special existence with multiple bodies. So even if one of his bodies gets destroyed or harmed, he would still be there.

He had 12 bodies. Each of them acted differently but in reality, all the bodies are connected using wireless technology. Even though 12 of them act like they are different people, they are actually the same being with a single mind commanding them.

This was because Shortmotor was an engineer. He experimented on his own body and when all the Automata were out of battery, he used his genius to charge himself using different techniques. He unknowingly used Haki, a special form of Haki which charged his battery. Being lonely, he created another Automata by himself.

However, he didn't have enough knowledge to make a 'brain' for the Automatas. So he used a wireless connection and controlled all the bodies by himself. He acted like 12 people by himself, trying to keep his mind away from breaking down due to the loneliness he felt.

Shortmotor, the leader of the Motor Gang, flew like Ironman and followed Karna from the air.

-

—

-

–Karna Pov–

"Hnnm…"

This is a construction area. I am currently hiding behind a boulder.

Big Brother Amon had decided to make Angel island bigger, so he ordered the engineers to add more Island clouds to the main island.

They were doing so, and many buildings were halfway done.

Today is a holiday, so no construction workers were working on the site. If I was those pirates, I would have come here seeing this as a chance.

And yes, after searching for a while. I found a pack of them.

'I don't have Observation Haki, or things would have been easier.'

Unlike sister Aisa, I'm not talented at it… I can use a bit of it, but it's too weak… for it being too weak, I suffer a lot.

Like right now–

"Caught you, kid!" Suddenly, a gruff voice entered my ears. And before I could turn back, my hands were restrained.

I only sensed this guy when he was 1 meter close to me. I really am not meant for fighting, huh…

"Kid, I sensed you a while ago. Haha!" The man looked at my head. I didn't have those hair-antennas like the Skypieans. "So you are a Shandian? From that island? Wow, looks like I caught a big fish."

The man prepared to walk towards his group along with me in his hands.

I didn't struggle, it was useless and meaningless. Because–

"Let go of Karna!"

A robotic voice came from behind me.

'Because I knew someone would come to save me, I'm precious.'

I laughed a little while the man who caught me flinched. I couldn't see which Robot it was since the man covered my eyes, but I ordered it.

"Attack him my automata slav–"

Bam!

Before I could finish though, I was hit with what I assume is a revolver in the head as I felt my head get wet.

"Shut up kid, a robot won't be enough to save you."

I was bleeding.

'Ugh, I never bled before. This thing hurts.'

I was suddenly frightened.

I was my family's precious child, they always protected me. So this was a new type of feeling for me.

The man who had me restrained laughed.

"Hahaha, a robot that can talk?" The man laughed again. "That's comparable to Germa 66!"

"Hand yourself over robot, or this Shandian kid will die."

Ugh. He knows about Germa 66. I guess he is someone formidable, or just a fanboy..?

Anyway, I feel scared. I didn't even test a human body, will I die here?

I almost peed my pants. And it was then….

"You…" The robotic voice started to sound more… natural?

No, it wasn't natural. It was gruff like an animal.

"You touched the wrong person…"

The voice got gruffer, it was as if a lion was talking human language.

The man's hands shook and were removed from my eyes. My eyes fell upon the robo-no.

It wasn't a robot. It was a living being, a… Lion? Or a Tiger?

"I, Shortmotor, the one with the Liger-Liger fruit will stop you from harming him. I won't disappoint my goddess."

The man holding me started to shake. It shouldn't be just because of the dangerous look of the creature alone. It must be something related to his Devil fruit.

""

Fwoosh!

The creature vanished from in front of me as I was covered in blood the next second. I was shocked, but I was able to get a grip and grasp the situation.

The man died. The robot, the humanoid Liger killed the man. His head was cut in half.

'A robot can become a humanoid creature with flesh and blood with a devil fruit?...'.

I was on the verge of…

'How interesting devil fruits are…'

Losing consciousness.

With that, my world went blank. I was too shocked because of the blood.

«...★...»

[–4 Year ago–]

After staying on the moon for a few days, Amon was having words with a few Automata, among them the Motor Gang was present.

"Ugh, it takes to the bad, creator. What was that thing anyway?"

Shortmotor had eaten a fruit given by Amon. It was a devil fruit.

Amon ignored his question. Rather, he asked his own question. "You don't feel any change?"

Amon asked. He knew that non-living creatures can use devil fruit powers too as shown many times throughout the series. But–

"Eh? No, I don't feel anything. Should there have been something?"

Shortmotor made a confused face.

Amon fed him the Blanket-Blanket fruit. A paramecia, but it didn't work.

'A Zoan would work, I'm sure.'

It was because the devil fruit used non-living creatures shown in the anime were all Zoan users.

'The theory goes like this. Zoan fruits have a body sealed in them, the body of a particular animal. When someone eats it, they get the ability to switch to that body. This way, even non-living beings can use Zoan fruit powers, they switch their non-living body with that other body. Though it's still a mystery how one can make a non-living being eat a fruit.'

And what about the fact that non-living beings can think after eating the fruit?

'There might be a sealed life form along with the sealed body. Or some kind of bullcrap, I don't wanna think too much.'

Amon then took a fruit and threw it towards Shortmotor.

"Eat this, this will work."

It was the fruit of Liger, the Ancient Zoan.

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