Chapter 82: The Eight Treasure Navy

Clack, clack, clack.

The steady footsteps reverberated across the empty square, resonating in the quiet.

Adrian, clad in a simple black suit, trailed behind the Eight Treasures guards, his posture rigid. He occasionally cast a curious gaze at the castle and pavilions, his demeanor calm as a still pond.

Upon reaching the mansion, a tall, robust guard gestured toward the door. "The Lord Cai is waiting for you inside."

"Thank you."

Adrian nodded, his words now sparse.

He ascended the stone steps into the mansion, finally laying eyes on the figure he had long heard of, the "Eight Treasures temporary pillar" and "Chinjao's son" – Cai Dou.

At first glance, the name was fitting.

His figure and face were both round and full, exuding an air of worldly wisdom, devoid of the typical arrogance of a pirate leader.

Adrian smiled at Cai Dou and greeted him politely, "Good morning, the temporary Head of the Eight Treasures."

Cai Dou gestured for Adrian to take a seat and signaled for the waiter to bring tea and snacks for them both.

"I wonder why White Ghost would come to my Kano Country again? You know, there are many people in Kano Country who want to give you a memorable lesson, especially the Two-Treasure Water Army."

In response to Cai Dou's question, Adrian just smiled lightly.

"I have never taken any other water army in Kano Country seriously besides the Eight Treasures Water Army, not to mention Two-Treasure's defeated leaders! I wonder if they have the courage to continue to bother me after changing two leaders in a row. If they do, I don't mind replacing them with a new leader."

In response to the White Ghost's words, Cai Dou could not help but narrow his eyes. He lowered his head, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of tea to cover his change in expression.

"So, he's here to cause trouble…"

"I knew this guy was a disaster…"

Adrian said bluntly, "Actually, I came to Kano Country for just one purpose, and that is to meet the twelfth pillar of your Navy, Chinjao!"

"You want to see my old man… cough cough, father?"

Cai Dou was stunned and almost choked on his tea. He immediately corrected himself.

Adrian nodded affirmatively.

Cai Dou nodded slightly, not giving a conclusion first, but said:

"I don't know why Lord White Ghost wants to see my father? As you know, my father has been in seclusion in the Jade Ice Bed at the extreme north of the Kano Country since he was defeated by Monkey D. Garp of the Marines. Except for the people of the Eight Treasures Navy, he has not seen outsiders for many years."

Adrian's eyes lit up slightly, and said: "In fact, I came here for this matter."

As early as when he first came to the Kano Country, Adrian had considered the power of Armament Haki that the Kano Country, especially the Eight Treasures Navy, possessed.

But at that time, his strength was still relatively weak, and the only thing he could rely on was the Ghost Fruit, which had not been upgraded to the current level. It was a completely stupid idea to rashly contact the Eight Treasures Navy and Chinjao!

But now it's different.

Successfully advanced to the Sword Hero level, mastering Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and even Ryūō Haki, while possessing two of the most top-notch Devil Fruit skills…

With such strength, even if he cannot defeat the real top players on the sea, but facing the cone-shaped Chinjao who has lost his spirit, at least, he can still fight!

Moreover, Adrian did not intend to force his way through.

"When I was still wandering the seas, I had heard the legend of the Jade Ice Bed of Kano Country. It is said that it contains an endless supply of gold and silver treasures."

The Jade Ice Bed is one of the unique sights of Kano Country.

Due to the cold climate all year round, a natural frozen continent has formed in the extreme north of Kano Country, with a hardness far exceeding ordinary steel.

No matter whether it is burned with fire, smashed with an axe, or bombarded with shells, it cannot break even a small gap in this frozen area.

To break it, all the strength must be concentrated in one point, and then an extremely powerful force must be injected into the ice bed, which may make it possible to open it.

Thanks to the unique conical shape of his head and his Armament Haki skills that can almost compete with the masters of the New World, this frozen continent has transformed from a useless place to the 'Jade Ice Bed' where the Eight Treasures Navy has stored its wealth for hundreds of years!

For decades, only the conical head of Chinjao has been able to pierce through and open this thick ice bed.

However, after being flattened by Garp's punch, the "No-Cone Dragon" could no longer get the treasure under the Jade Ice Bed.

Because Chinjao, who lost his "cone head", also lost the ability to open the Jade Ice Bed.

However, such a limitation does not exist for Adrian!

Let's not talk about how the ghostly body can completely ignore the thick ice layer that is like a natural moat for ordinary pirates.

Even just the manufactured ghosts can penetrate the jade ice bed.

Since it cannot be opened from the surface, it should be much easier to blast from the inside of the ice layer, right?

The mini-ghosts aren't powerful enough?

The Peacemaker should be about right, right?

And considering the usual image of the Eight Treasures Navy as an internal traitor…

Cough cough, Adrian has a great chance of completing this transaction!

After listening to Adrian's story about the Jade Ice Bed, Cai Dou finally confessed, "Lord White Ghost may have misunderstood. In fact, since my father was defeated by Garp, even the Eight Treasures Navy can no longer open the Jade Ice Bed."

Cai Dou didn't seem to feel anything wrong with his self-inflicted humiliation.

Adrian smiled slightly. "What if I say that I have a way to help your Navy lift the restriction on the jade ice bed and take out the huge amount of wealth inside?"

Cai Dou's eyebrows furrowed slightly. He knocked his teacup lightly on the table, making a somewhat harsh sound.

Cai Dou said, "Please don't joke, Lord White Ghost! My father has been living near the Jade Ice Bed for the past few years, thinking day and night about how to open it. Unfortunately, he has made no progress!"

This is a very normal reaction.

It's like a normal person who lost his house key, and then a stranger suddenly appeared and said he could help him open the door.

It's hard to believe that, and it would be considered a good temper if he didn't get angry or hit someone!

In the face of Cai Dou's disbelief, Adrian didn't explain too much. He just did a very simple experiment.

He entered the ghost state on his own, raised his hand, and swung it down.

His arm passed through the table directly, without any hindrance!

"This is... the power of a devil fruit!"

Cai Dou's eyes widened, and a certain possibility suddenly appeared in his mind.