Chapter 271: Are Devil Fruits Useful?
[Rumble rumble rumble.]
Forty-one black Heavy Motorcycles, led by a Special Motorcycle as large as a car, sped across the wilderness like lightning and thunder, carrying a group of Army Officers.
The strong wind blowing in their faces hit their bodies, blowing their Black Justice Coats straight out behind them in Mid-air.
Shiryu, Doberman, Onigumo, and others rode on the Motorcycles, leaning low, listening to the thunderous roar and the whistling of the strong wind pulling at their Clothing, and thinking that they were in Another World, couldn't help but feel Hot Blood surge in their hearts.
Although the Environment of this Otherworld was a bit too ordinary.
Not long after leaving the Star Gate Base Gate, they found many Construction Sites on both sides of the road. Some were cutting down Trees, some were transporting stone materials, and some were excavating the Ground. Judging from some of the already built Zones, it seemed they were constructing buildings of various sizes.
A few minutes later, everyone saw an extremely long Stone Wall appear in the distance that seemed to have no end, as if it was cutting the entire Ground in half.
Actually, what Shiryu and the others thought was not wrong.
The World Government had already decided to make the Ojika Peninsula the Headquarters Urban Area in the Kabaneri World, so they used this Stone Wall to enclose the entire Peninsula.
And named it the 'Wall of the World'. Above the nearly hundred-meter-high Steel City Gate was printed a huge World Government Emblem.
The meaning was that passing through this great wall was entering a new World, whether coming in or going out.
For this, more than three thousand Native Workers were directly mobilized, over a thousand Large-Scale Project Vehicles that were disassembled and then reassembled, as well as the Senior Architect Pica from the Construction Department!
In addition to this, on the City Wall were Army Soldiers holding Automatic Rifles, standing tall and proud at their posts. Beside them were rows of dark Large-Caliber Cannons, and beside the Cannons were planted World Government Flags.
The Heavy Motorcycle team, under the gaze of many Soldiers, grandly rushed out of the wide and flat City Gate.
"What is this?"
Just as everyone exited the somewhat dark Gate opening, their attention was immediately drawn to a large area of grey-black Ground not far away. The contrast in color between them and the yellowish-brown Ground beneath them was simply too great.
Onigumo, while driving his Motorcycle, said hesitantly, "It looks like Magma Rock? But there doesn't seem to be a volcano here..."
Hearing his reminder, Doberman and the others also noticed that the grey-black Rock Blocks were indeed covered in many pores and were also uneven and pitted, with holes of various sizes everywhere, as if a fierce battle had once taken place there.
"Less nonsense, keep your mouths shut while we're on the road!"
Just as they were discussing back and forth, Douglas Barrett, who was leading the way at the front, suddenly turned his head and glared angrily.
This made many people pause, not understanding why this person suddenly got angry, but someone immediately thought of something, and the corners of their mouths curled up meaningfully.
But fortunately, the Strength of this 'Ghost Shark' Vice Admiral was enough to keep them in check, so no one sought trouble by speaking up to mock him.
After leaving the inexplicable Magma Rock Zone, about ten minutes later, the team arrived at a very lively place.
Hundreds of large Trucks were parked in the Zones on both sides of the main road, seemingly waiting for something, and there were also many Army Soldiers guarding Various Places around.
When everyone followed Bullet to the parking spaces specifically for Motorcycles, a series of Whistle Sounds echoed throughout the entire Station.
A few minutes later, as a white Iron-Armored Train pulled into the Station, many Workers who had been waiting for a long time walked up and, working with the people on the Train Cars, lifted down large Boxes one by one and then together transported them onto the Trucks. When a Truck was full, it drove directly onto the main road.
Not long after, in front of Shiryu and the others, a long line formed by fully loaded Heavy Trucks appeared, heading towards the direction they had just come from with a great clamor of vehicles.
"This is Oshika Station. It is a Train Station recently built by the World Government. It has eight Railways leading to Various Places in Hinamoto, mainly used for Transporting Natural Resources, Manpower, Troops, and Equipment, and it is one of the main targets our Army must protect in this World!"
Douglas Barrett led them quickly towards the interior of the Station, while introducing the Situation here in a deep voice.
The Army Soldiers along the way, as soon as they saw so many 'Coat of Justice' surging in, all stopped in their tracks and gave the most standard military salute.
"Next, we will take a Train carrying people to the southernmost Kyushu, because only there in this Country are there still large numbers of Kabaneri World rampaging, and from time to time, some Natives hiding in the deep mountains and old forests, attempting to resist, attack us. You all be careful!"
Although most of the Joint Suppression Army were Massacred before, a portion still managed to escape alive.
They gathered a group of Conservative Faction members and, using Hinamoto's mountainous Environment, began to wage guerrilla warfare, and indeed caused quite a few small troubles.
Fortunately, with the large arrival of Cipher Pol Members, they took over the Mission of clearing out these mountain rats. It is said to be for the rookies who just graduated from Kona Island to practice.
Next.
The forty-one Officers transferred from the Marines sat on a normal Train with windows, modified after removing the Iron armor, quickly traveling across the land of the Otherworld Country along the long Railways.
During this process, they passed through Kurokawa Station, Sendai Station, and only stopped when they reached a place called Kongokaku, because the Train needed to replenish Freshwater, Food, and undergo maintenance.
"This is the Capital of this Country. The Leader is not called a King, but is referred to as a General. She's a yellow-haired girl not yet twenty years old. Next, you have five hours of free time. I will not wait for latecomers. At that time, roll yourselves back to the Homeland!"
Onigumo, Doberman, Shiryu, and others walked out of the Train Car, surveying this Station which clearly looked larger in Scale and more luxurious in decoration than Oshika Station.
"Yes!"
After hearing Bullet's words, they all straightened their chests and saluted, and then walked out of the Station in twos and threes with the Flow of People.
"Wow, not bad. Are those the Otherworlders? They look like they're not much different from us."
Because the Station's terrain was higher than the Urban Area, a Colonel could overlook the large areas of Wooden Houses and Wooden Buildings below and the dense Men, Women, Old and Young walking on the Streets.
"It's just that their Clothing looks a bit ancient, and their Height is quite short."
But after wandering for one or two hours, Shiryu and the others felt bored. Except for the ancient-looking Pavilions with green tiled roofs which gave them some novelty, there was really nothing else to see.
In terms of Food, they tasted some Grilled Chicken Skewers and Tamagoyaki and felt they were just average. After all, the Cafeteria at Marine Headquarters could provide all the Delicious Food from World Nations. No matter what you wanted to eat, they could make it fresh for you, the ingredient choices were also richer, and even the Meat of Sea Kings was served at the table.
However, the Citizens here, as well as the Gun-wielding Soldiers patrolling by, looked at them with respectful Gazes. Their appearance of awe and worship was not concealed in the slightest, even making people feel it was a bit exaggerated.
Because everyone in Kongokaku already understood that these people wearing Coats with the word Justice written on them belonged to the High-ranking Officers of the World Government, and it was said that each one of them possessed terrifying Strength capable of holding off a hundred!
Just as these forty-one Officers were walking around Inside the City casually, Yotsugawa Ayame Inside the Shogun Castle also received the News.
"Keep a close eye on them, don't let anyone have a Conflict with them!"
"Yes, General!"
As the Samurai who came to report retreated, this young, dignified, and beautiful new Female Shogun sat properly on the Shogun's Seat on the high platform and murmured thoughtfully, "Just how many more Military Officers like this do they have?"
Yotsugawa Ayame's feelings towards the World Government were complex.
She had long known that the latter was hauling away her Country's Gold, Copper Ore, Iron Mine, and Timber by the truckload, and also knew that large numbers of Opponents were being Slaughtered every day.
She even knew that the World Government was preparing to build Schools to teach the Writing of their World, and was also preparing to change the entire Country's Currency to Paper Money called 'Berry'.
And she herself had completely become a Puppet Shogun who could only govern by following orders.
But correspondingly, also because the World Government made the Kabaneri World completely disappear in most areas, they no longer had to constantly face the threat of death.
It also allowed many Stations, including Kongokaku, to start letting Citizens cultivate Farmland outside the Fortress. Everyone's Living Space immediately widened several times. Coupled with the various Living Supplies transported from time to time, it also made hot Rice and fragrant Meat appear on the dining tables of every household.
She had to admit, the lives of the Citizens had never been so happy.
"Do you think our Decision was right? How will our descendants view us in the future?"
Yotsugawa Ayame raised her beautiful eyes to look at Kurusu standing beside her. This former Samurai Guard of hers was now the Shogunate's Highest Military Officer and also her newlywed husband.
"Don't think too much. We simply cannot resist. Let future Matters be as they will." Kurusu, wearing a deep blue High-ranking Samurai Attire, lowered himself and put his arm around her Shoulder to comfort her.
"That's true."
Yotsugawa Ayame Shake Head, finally revealing a lovely smile, "I wonder how Ikoma, Hozumi, and Mekko are doing on Planet Sea~"
"They'll be fine. After all, they are 'Nue' among the Kabaneri. I believe they can live well no matter where they are." Kurusu Stand Up and said with emotion, "Actually, sometimes, I've also thought about becoming a Kabaneri."
"Why?"
"Because I am too weak. The current me simply doesn't have the Strength to Protect you." Kurusu gazed at Ayame affectionately.
In his Heart, he actually still held a certain degree of vigilance towards the World Government. And as a Samurai with exquisite Swordsmanship, after witnessing the Combat Power of those Army soldiers, he would definitely yearn for Stronger Strength.
At least, he hoped he could have the Ability, no matter what Matters occurred, to take Ayame and escape Kongokaku.
But reality was cruel. As people from the Kabaneri World, their Physique was inherently much weaker than that of Sea Star Person. There was simply no possibility of mastering Extraordinary Swordsmanship or Martial Arts.
Yotsugawa Ayame actually knew about these things as well, so she used her Identity as the General and specifically asked Senior Director O'Connor.
"I heard that in the Sea Star World, there's a Devil Fruit that can give people divine-like Strength just by eating it. That 'God of Sand' is a Devil Fruit User."
Hearing his wife's words, Kurusu looked at her in surprise, "There's such a magical thing? Then you mean..."
Yotsugawa Ayame smiled slightly.
"Mhm, I want to ask Senior Director O'Connor to see if I can get a Devil Fruit. I just don't know if this thing is useful for people from our World."