INIIDF-Chapter 42 The Tide of Time

So Liam and Shanks took control of the pirate ship.

Of course, there were a few reckless pirates who tried to ambush them. However, they were either knocked unconscious and foaming at the mouth by Shanks' seemegly accidental release of his Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), or they were intercepted and counterattacked by Liam's guardian spirit, who ensured that the would-be attackers faced dire consequences.

Most of the pirates, however, remained "obedient." These lower-level pirates were mostly former farmers, drifters, thugs, or even criminals who had left their homes in desperation within the past year. 

Some had been swayed by tales of the Pirate King or had been tricked into becoming pirates. This motley crew had no real loyalty or cohesion, so a change of captain wasn't much of a concern to them.

Their main concern was their uncertain future. Liam had mentioned taking their heads to the naval base to collect their bounties. While not all of them had bounties, and those that did weren't worth much, the fear of the unknown loomed large on their heads.

To them, Liam didn't seem like an ordinary kid. Who knew what was going on inside his head? The fact that he could supposedly make hearts explode with a touch... were these two even humans? The pirates looked nervously at the few bodies growing cold on the deck, fear growing in their hearts.

...

Liam strolled into the captain's quarters, tossed his backpack aside, pulled up a chair, and sat down with a satisfied sigh.

"I'm going to rest for a while. Wake me up when I'm done," He told 「B.I.B.」, who nodded. The green Den Den Mushi poked its head out of the backpack and nuzzled 『B.I.B.』's hand contentedly.

Shanks scanned the room, disappointed to find neither books nor a decent nautical chart.

"It's fascinating," Shanks remarked. "Even though it's your ghost ability, you're interacting with it like a friend."

"Is it so strange for someone to enjoy talking to themselves?" Liam replied lazily, sinking into the chair, feeling sleepy.

"True enough!" Shanks laughed and sat down nearby. "But don't worry. As long as I'm here, you're in no danger."

Liam smiled and nodded. "Alright then."

He beckoned to "B.I.B."

The green Den Den Mushi reluctantly watched as （B.I.B.） pulled a small chip from Liam's body and transformed it into a shadowy figure that merged back into Liam.

"Did that come from you...?" Shanks asked, noticing a faintly glowing white object that 『B.I.B.』 had removed.

As Shanks pondered, he noticed Liam's face contort slightly, as if in pain.

After a moment, a bead of sweat formed on Liam's forehead, and he exhaled a long breath of hot air.

Shanks noticed that Liam's skin had turned slightly red and it looked as if his body temperature was rising...

"Hey, what's wrong?" Shanks asked, grabbing Liam's arm in concern.

To his surprise, Shanks found that Liam's muscles were tense all over and it was as if he had just sprinted the length of two islands in the sunset, exhausted and sore.

"Didn't I tell you before? My mind and I are one and the same!" Liam relaxed a bit, quickly adjusting to the numbness and pain that engulfed his body. 

He spoke lazily, "All the strain it has to endure outside, and even its own 'fatigue' accumulation, eventually transfer to me when I remember it..."

Shanks shouted, "Although your Devil Fruit is quite strange and has many functions, isn't this side effect too much?"

"Side effect? No, I think it's perfect for training," Liam replied, feeling like he could just pass out and sleep forever, indulging in hearty meals and deep sleep, which would be more conducive to recovery. "I've always done it that way. It's like having another invisible body to train with, doubling the effectiveness!"

Shanks was speechless. "That's pretty reckless! You're still young; can your body take it?"

"If I don't see myself as a monster, how can I survive in this sea?" Liam whispered softly, already feeling sleepy.

Shanks chuckled slightly. "You seem quite insightful! What are your plans for the future? Will you become a pirate?"

"I don't know..." Liam perked up a bit despite his tiredness and thought before answering, "For the time being, I'll probably become a pirate hunter! Besides, I hope to run into that guy again... As for whether I'll become a pirate or not, although it's not impossible, I'll decide later. Anyway, regardless of my identity, I don't think I'll ever become an 'evil person'!"

"So you don't think all pirates are evil?" Shanks chuckled, "Then what do you consider evil?"

Liam was silent for a moment before replying, "Anyone who bullies or helps oppress ordinary civilians is evil, serves evil. That is why I will not join the Marines. I won't live under the command of any kingdom or island... It's just annoying!"

He yawned and muttered regretfully, "It's a pity I didn't pay more attention in the political class back then..."

Liam admitted that he didn't have the skills to lead a revolution, so he decided to turn a blind eye to politics!

But fortunately, in the not too distant future, there will be a man named Monkey D. Dragon who will put together a team to resist oppression...

"What about you, Shanks? You said you came to the West Blue to find someone..." Liam asked.

"Yeah!" Shanks looked up at the ceiling of the pirate ship's captain's quarters, stretched out his legs, and remembered, "Ever since I found out my hometown was in the West Blue, I've always wanted to come and see it. According to my former captain, my father, whom I've never seen since I was born, is buried somewhere on an island in my hometown...".

As he spoke, he heard the steady, deep breathing beside him and couldn't help but smile.

Liam's head was tilted to the side, a thread of saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth as he slept soundly, completely oblivious.

"To see yourself as a monster... Indeed, the men I met before were all like monsters!"

Shanks looked at Liam's sleeping face and silently wondered, "Double the effort and double the thanks for the trouble?

"Where will this interesting boy end up in the future?

"The Captain said that the New Age wave will really rise in 20 years, and when that happens, the whole world will be turned upside down, completing what our Captain and his generation couldn't... Liam, will you be part of that wave?"

And as for me... where will I be in that wave?

In the dimly lit Captain's quarters, Shanks' mind wandered.

Gradually, a sliver of dawn peeked through the window, casting a glow on the stubble on Shanks's chin.

...

In the morning, amidst the fearful stares of the pirate crew, Liam greedily devoured a large wave of food, patting his belly in satisfaction.

Then he summoned the pitch-black battle armor "B.I.B.".

As soon as the B.I.B. appeared, it pulled a white triangular piece out of its chest and implanted the Devil Fruit chip into itself.

Liam, accompanied by the pitch-black battle armor, arrived on the empty deck of the pirate ship. Side by side, they began their training.

The pirates trickled out, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight. They had never seen anyone so diligent and hard-working...

Meanwhile, Shanks stood in a corner, yawning, watching Liam's training on deck and the unseen pitch-black "ghost" doing the same exercises, almost rhythmically.

Liam lifted a wooden stump from the corner and transformed it into a wooden "hollow pipe" over a meter long, which he used as a staff.

.…..

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