Chapter 395: Dracule Mihawk

"So this is the Immortality Surgery," Daniel mused, his thoughts drifting to Law. "It seems the reason why people like Doflamingo and the Five Elders haven't acted against him yet is because they're waiting for him to awaken first."

Law's current freedom was an illusion—allowed only because powerful forces like Doflamingo and the World Government had plans for him. Doflamingo had hoped to reap the benefits of Law's power, but thanks to Luffy's intervention, his plans had been thwarted. Even the Five Elders might find themselves in a precarious situation as a result.

The Immortality Surgery was indeed a powerful ability, offering eternal life, but it was useless to Daniel since he had no intention of performing such a technique. And he knew Law likely wouldn't use it either, unless forced.

Aside from the Immortality Surgery, there was one aspect of the Op-Op Fruit's awakening that bothered Daniel, but its overall potential didn't disappoint him. After the fruit's awakening, the circular range limitation was gone. As long as something was within Daniel's range of perception, he could now use the Op-Op Fruit's abilities freely.

However, this newfound freedom came with a cost: the awakened fruit consumed significantly more stamina. While Daniel had enough endurance to use it effectively, Law, even if he awakened the fruit, would be limited in how much he could use it before exhausting himself.

In addition to this enhancement, the awakening gave Daniel another advantage—it greatly improved his analytical capabilities. This likely stemmed from his frequent use of the fruit for research. Before, Daniel needed advanced equipment to assist with his studies, but now, in necessary situations, his awakened Op-Op Fruit could function as a fully equipped laboratory. Of course, the energy consumption for this was also substantial.

"This will definitely allow me to catch people off guard." The range of the Op-Op Fruit's Room field was normally undetectable by most, but Observation Haki users could sense it. Law had exhausted himself trying to expand his Room to cover an entire city when facing Doflamingo, worried about being detected. But with the awakening, that weakness no longer existed.

"Scan ability... it's practically X-ray vision now." With the awakening, the scanning function of the Op-Op Fruit had also evolved. Where previously Daniel needed to use a tool, now he could simply wave his hand and see through objects, muscle tissue, bones—even walls.

"It's done." Daniel looked at the underground space he had just completed, a cavern the size of two football fields. Satisfied, he nodded. This underground base was his new headquarters in the Dark Continent, located deep beneath a mountain range. Using the Op-Op Fruit's powers, along with the Stretching Charm, he had shaped it into a habitable space, enhanced with weather-controlling spells for comfort.

Exploring the Dark Continent would be a long-term endeavor, and while Robin's treehouse was useful, it wasn't always convenient. This new base would serve as a permanent camp, and with it, Daniel could open a portal directly to the Dark Continent whenever needed.

"Stay safe here. I'll come back to check on you two later," Daniel said, bidding farewell to Ada and Robin. After spending some time with them, he left the Hunter x Hunter world and returned to the world of One Piece.

"Practicing medicine, I see?" Back at the base on the small island in the One Piece world, Esdeath, Akame, and Kurome were continuing their training, while Chelsea had shifted her focus to studying medicine. Given her background as a skilled assassin who frequently used poison, Chelsea's medical knowledge was advancing quickly.

Of course, her rapid progress was partly thanks to Daniel's resources. The Red Queen AI housed an enormous database of medical knowledge, and with the help of holographic systems, Chelsea's learning pace far exceeded that of any ordinary student.

"Alright, I imagine you're all getting a bit bored on this island. Since I'm here now, how about we take a break and go out for a bit of sightseeing?" Daniel offered.

"Sounds great!" Chelsea was the first to respond enthusiastically, followed by Kurome, who showed interest as well. Akame soon agreed, and after a brief pause, Esdeath nodded too.

Over time, the four women had developed a more comfortable dynamic. Initially, their relationships were somewhat strained due to their past enmities. Esdeath had a close bond with Kurome, and after the sisters reconciled, Akame and Kurome's relationship became inseparable. Chelsea was also close to Akame, leaving only Esdeath and Chelsea in a somewhat awkward middle ground. However, even they were getting along better as time passed.

"Where should we go?" the group asked after boarding Daniel's ship. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Daniel naturally had his own fleet, and even inherited Crocodile's former ship. But the vessel they were on now was one that Daniel had crafted himself using alchemy, a modernized ship outfitted with all the latest conveniences, including a Sea Prism Stone hull, which allowed for smooth travel even through the Calm Belt.

"How about Baratie, the floating restaurant? I've heard the food there is excellent." Daniel checked his map before deciding to head toward the East Blue and Baratie.

There were plenty of great places to visit along the first half of the Grand Line, such as Water 7. But due to its distance and some recent developments in the East Blue, Daniel figured it would be more interesting to head that way.

"I wonder how Nami's doing now that Arlong's gone. Without her, Luffy's journey would be significantly more difficult." Part of Daniel's reason for heading to the East Blue was the fact that Monkey D. Luffy had finally set sail. Daniel had been keeping tabs on the situation and learned that Luffy had left the village. Without the Arlong Pirates around, Nami's path had changed, and Daniel wondered if she would still join the Straw Hats.

Daniel had once considered inviting Nami to join his crew, but given how rarely he stayed in the One Piece world—and how infrequently he traveled by sea—he felt it would be a waste of her talents. Nami's dream of mapping the entire world required her to sail and explore. Without her, Luffy's crew would likely face far more challenges.

For instance, without Nami, it would have been impossible for the Straw Hats to reach Skypiea. Only someone of her caliber could have guided the Going Merry through the Knock Up Stream. Any other navigator would have led to the ship's destruction, and whether the crew survived would be up to chance.

Although Enel, the lightning god, had already been defeated, the journey to Skypiea still held crucial significance for the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Yes!" Akame's eyes lit up at the mention of good food, and with no objections from the others, the group set off for Baratie. To save time, Daniel opened a portal, bypassing a large portion of the journey.

Daniel had long heard of the famous Baratie restaurant but never had the chance to visit. Now, with company and the time to spare, it was the perfect opportunity.

"Chopper's dream of finding a cure for all diseases—maybe the Vanilla Herb would be the key to that." Reflecting on Luffy's crew, Daniel recalled Chopper's ambition. The Vanilla Herb, one of the Five Great Hopes he had obtained in the Dark Continent, might just fulfill that dream.

"This is like a five-star restaurant of the East Blue," Daniel remarked as they arrived at Baratie, just in time to see a group of well-dressed patrons disembarking from a nearby ship. Baratie's clientele wasn't made up of the average, penniless sailor. To make the journey and dine here, one needed to have both money and a certain sense of adventure.

The restaurant was particularly popular among couples looking for a romantic date on the sea—especially for those who didn't often set sail themselves.

Even among the many patrons, Daniel's group drew attention. After all, a man accompanied by four strikingly beautiful women was bound to attract envious stares. Many of the male diners shot jealous looks at Daniel.

One particular cook's eyes were practically ablaze with jealousy. Naturally, this cook was none other than the chivalrous Sanji.

"Don't come near my sister, you pervert!" Kurome snapped, glaring at Sanji as he tried to charm Akame and the others. Her words nearly turned Sanji into stone.

Since the sisters had reconciled, Kurome had become especially clingy toward Akame, rarely leaving her side.

But Sanji was nothing if not persistent. Even in the face of death, he wouldn't stop fawning over beautiful women. Before long, he had composed himself and was back to recommending Baratie's signature dishes, all free of charge for the four ladies, of course.

Daniel, on the other hand, received no such discount. Not that he cared—Sanji's free dishes were more than enough for the whole group.

"Luffy, that idiot. How are we supposed to get to Loguetown now?" Nami's voice carried over from another table, where she sat with Zoro and Usopp. It seemed that the early members of Luffy's crew had already gathered.

Daniel had noticed the Going Merry docked outside when they arrived, its distinctive figurehead making it easy to recognize.

Baratie's charm wasn't just in its food—it was also a place where civilians could dine alongside pirates without fear. In this world, pirates weren't just feared; many were admired, seen as symbols of freedom and adventure.

In the kitchen, a hulking chef with a scowl on his face muttered, "Sanji's giving out free

 meals again, captain."

"I'll cover their bill," Sanji replied coolly as he continued to cook. Though he gave out free food, he always paid for it himself.

"Stop wasting time with that nonsense and focus on cooking. The place is packed!" Zeff, Baratie's head chef and Sanji's mentor, barked at his crew while keeping a wary eye on Daniel's group.

While Zeff didn't recognize Daniel's companions, he certainly recognized Daniel himself. As a former pirate who had once ventured into the Grand Line, Zeff was well aware of the world's top players. Daniel, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had even made headlines when he was appointed.

"Why is he here? Hopefully, this won't lead to trouble." Zeff shook his head, then started shouting orders at his kitchen staff.

Back in the dining hall, Sanji continued flirting until a gunshot rang out. A ragged man with pale skin and a desperate look on his face stumbled into the restaurant, clutching a pistol.

"Things just got interesting," Esdeath said, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she watched the scene unfold.

"The Krieg Pirates... that means Mihawk is coming. I've never seen him in person before," Daniel remarked, paying little mind to the starving pirate but showing keen interest in Dracule Mihawk, one of the strongest swordsmen in the world.

Shortly after the pirate was thrown out by one of Baratie's brutish chefs, Sanji returned with a plate of fried rice, which he offered to the man despite the clear danger he posed.

"Not everyone is so quick to repay kindness," Daniel thought, turning his attention to Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, who were currently fighting over food.

"Working here for a year? And how do you plan to keep sailing?" Nami snapped, her forehead twitching with irritation at Luffy's carefree attitude. After breaking countless dishes in the kitchen, Luffy had been sentenced to a year of labor at the restaurant.

"One year? There's no way he'll last that long without wrecking the place," Daniel chuckled, amused by Zeff's judgment.

"Ha! This is hilarious," Zoro laughed, unfazed by Luffy's predicament.

"Then I guess that makes me the new captain," Usopp quipped, clearly unbothered.

"Why did I even board this ship?" Nami groaned, rubbing her forehead.

Nami had joined the Straw Hats largely due to Luffy's persistent recruitment. Though the Arlong Pirates were no longer a factor, Nami's reputation as a cat burglar still preceded her. Right now, she and Luffy were more like business partners, both with personal reasons for heading to the Grand Line.

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