I'm Not Interested in Devil Fruits

It would be somewhat peculiar for two and a half teenagers to look for a house to rent.

So Liam's stand is wearing a large cloak and a starry mask.'

He had the Stand tighten its entire body to maintain an "aggressive" stance, allowing it to interact with physical objects. Liam then draped the cloak over it and added a hood and mask, creating the appearance of a slightly taciturn oddball.

'This guy seems a bit introverted.' The real estate agent thought to himself. 

After the three entered, it was mostly the teenager who engaged in conversation with him. The supposed "adult" occasionally exchanged silent signals with the boy, as if negotiating without words... Could it be a mute person with a ruined appearance?

In no time, Liam settled on a standalone house with a courtyard on the outskirts of the City.

Liam had no idea how long he would stay here, so he only paid one year's rent.

Entering the slightly worn-out house with Robin, Liam took a look around. The conditions could be described as not luxurious, with dust visible everywhere.

Robin followed him through the house, which exuded a faint scent of age.

The real estate agent explained that the previous owner of the house, along with their entire family, tragically perished during a fishing trip to the harbor City when they were attacked by the Pigskin Pirate Crew along the coast.

The house had been vacant for quite some time.

Robin picked up a dirty sunflower-shaped plush toy from the sofa, reminiscing about her lost homeland, the island that disappeared under the Marine Buster Call.

"Hey, let's go!" Liam turned back, signaling her to follow. "If you're too far from me, the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit)'s abilities won't cover you."

He pointed to his face.

"In the house, you don't need to disguise yourself, right?" Robin remarked.

"You're right!" Liam agreed.

Excess "Meat Blocks" on Robin's face turned into scattered petals, emitting the familiar fragrance that lingered around her nose.

Although the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) changed hands, the faint floral scent remained unchanged.

"I wonder if there are any books here?" Robin's mood brightened slightly after a long time as she curiously began to search for a study or something similar.

"I'm going to the backyard. Be careful and don't casually go out with this face," Liam casually reminded before snapping his fingers and summoning the pitch-black armored Stand to accompany him.

Robin turned to see the cloaked figure's hood sliding down, the mask hovering in the position where a face should be, trailing behind Liam. Soon, the mask was gently placed on the table near the entrance.

"An invisible... armor-clad ghost knight?" Robin imagined a cute, distorted, colored pencil drawing of an armored knight.

...

"But how exactly should I train?" Standing on the central lawn of the courtyard, Liam pondered this question.

In the world of pirates, there didn't seem to be any martial arts manuals or the like... 'Rokushiki' could be considered a systematic practice method, but the problem was he didn't have a practice method! He exchanged glances with the pitch-black armored Stand.

Could it be that he had to rely on a crude method, just brute force muscle training?

Well, then let's do it!

Liam planned to do at least twenty sets of push-ups, one hundred pull-ups, two hundred squats, five hundred sit-ups, and then run fifty laps around the courtyard this afternoon...

However, 'B.I.B.' stood in front of him, pointing to the area around its bright eyes.

Then it actively moved towards Liam, enveloping him like an Iron Man suit.

"What's going on?" Liam was puzzled, but soon, through the bright eyes of 'B.I.B.,' he saw some scenes.

They were fragments of memories belonging to the original owner of the body, the former "Liam."

The scenes were very fragmented, showing "Liam's" mother, a woman named Lily.

It seemed that "he" was following Lily by the flowerbed beside the cabin, basking in the warm sunlight, doing some movements... Gymnastics, perhaps?

Liam found it quite intriguing. This set of "gymnastics" seemed to have been taught by the body's original owner's mother for regular physical exercise.

"Do you think this set of gymnastics might be effective, so you're suggesting I try it?" Liam asked.

The bright eyes of the pitch-black armored Stand flashed and replied, 'Yes...'

"Alright, since it doesn't look too complicated, let's give it a try!"

In the fragmented memories, the original owner's mother seemed to have used this set of exercises to play and frolic with "him."

However, considering it as a way to improve body coordination, it didn't seem bad.

Anyway, let's get started!

Liam took off the armor, standing side by side with the Stand, rubbing his hands. Ready... Go!

An hour later, Liam's muscles were twitching, and his body was drenched in sweat, as he sat exhausted in a chair, sipping hot milk tea prepared by Robin.

He pinched his fingers, using the fruit's ability to create flower petals, turning it into a floral milk tea.

Meanwhile, Robin observed a certain spot on the courtyard's grass where something was constantly moving, leaving a series of tracks.

In Liam's perspective, it was the pitch-black armored Stand diligently executing the exercise plan, circling the courtyard meticulously.

Liam pondered why this Iron Man-like entity could undergo training in a form resembling exercise.

It truly was an enigma.

In the evening, 'B.I.B.' successfully completed the entire exercise routine, its eyes gleaming as it looked at Liam.

Feeling a bit uneasy under its gaze, Liam raised his hand, signaling it to wait.

"How about we fill our stomachs first?" Liam turned to Robin.

In the dining room, Robin, disguised with the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) ability, felt that Liam didn't enjoy his meal as much as before, as if burdened by something.

Returning home at night, Liam put on a determined look, exclaiming to Robin with unwavering resolve, "Let's do this!!!"

That night, Robin heard the most pitiful sound she had ever heard...

...

The next morning.

Having slept soundly, Liam felt refreshed and full of spirit, declaring, "Today, I won't give up halfway!"

After an hour, Liam sat exhausted in a chair in the courtyard, sipping floral milk tea.

In the evening, Robin realized her mistake; the sound from yesterday was not even the most pitiful.

...

On the third day at noon, under the scorching sun, Liam ran, drenched in sweat.

"I can't go on..."

He crawled to the side, avoiding eye contact, refusing to watch the diligent 'B.I.B.' continue its meticulous exercises in the courtyard.

Sipping floral milk tea prepared by Robin, Liam sighed, "I've come back to life!"

In the afternoon, Liam reflected, "Liam, oh Liam, how could you be so decadent? Have you forgotten the dream of punching Shichibukai, and kicking Yonko? How can you lose to your own Stand? As the esteemed original self, oh, where can you hide your face?"

Two hours later, by the grassy table, Robin poured a cup of hot milk tea for Liam.

Liam cheered up, drinking while watching the pitch-black armored Stand continue its training quest meticulously, with a melancholic expression.

Since the beginning of the exercise, every night when he retrieved the Stand, he was committing a serious crime...

...

Days passed.

Simultaneously, through countless faxes Den Den Mushis, a news article born from the pen of a reporter at the West Blue News Branch circulated through the Southeast, North, West, and Grand Line Seas.

"The Ghost of Pirate King Roger Returns to the World?!"

"Those folks in West Blue have come across quite the extraordinary news!"

"We witnessed Roger being executed by the Marines; how could there be any ghost?"

"It's probably a prank by someone who worships that devil."

"Regardless, since it's a good piece of news, let's publish it! Well, but there's no need to occupy important pages..."

"But why don't we have this kind of news on our end?"

"Not everyone has the audacity to impersonate that man called Pirate King."

"That's true!"

In various corners of the world, editors and reporters from the world's largest newspapers, the World Economic News Agency, reviewed the influx of news articles, exchanging opinions rapidly.

Through faxed Den Den Mushis, the final page news was sent to printing presses worldwide.

Thousands of newspapers were rapidly printed, and with the help of hundreds of trained newsbirds, each equipped with a small bag and a sailor's hat, they queued up in an orderly manner to collect the new newspapers. One by one, they spread their wings and soared into the sky.

(End of this chapter)

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