One Piece: A Warlord's Path-Chapter 693: Dimitri and Mina’s Deduction

"Razalo, of the Dark Tribunal... According to Cavendish, this man is a Devil Fruit user. His power seems to allow him to turn brick, stone, the ground, and even steel into something like soft mud!"

"For instance, if he softens a structural support of a high-rise building, the whole thing collapses. Or he softens the ground; if someone steps into it while sprinting, they lose their balance and trip. He can even turn swords into something as limp as a piece of cloth!"

Dimitri muttered to himself before relaying the intel Cavendish had gathered to Mina.

During the earlier clash between Cavendish and Razalo, the former had briefly transformed into Hakuba. With swordsmanship and speed twice as powerful as Cavendish’s, Hakuba had momentarily suppressed the enemy.

However, Razalo used his unknown ability to soften the ground, causing Hakuba to lose his footing and take a heavy fall. The impact snapped Cavendish back to his senses, preventing Hakuba from finishing off or further suppressing Razalo.

"That kind of power... the Ripple-Ripple Fruit? No! That ’fashionable native’ from the Donquixote Family is still alive. It can’t be that fruit, which means it’s a similar ability." Hearing Dimitri’s description, Mina’s brow furrowed slightly as she fell into deep thought.

She had studied the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia meticulously. Many Paramecia-type fruits possessed similar properties. For example, the Muscle-Muscle Fruit and the Enhance-Enhance Fruit; both belonged to the superhuman class and granted the ability to vastly enhance the human physique. However, the Muscle-Muscle Fruit only enhanced musculature, whereas the Enhance-Enhance Fruit could bolster internal organs, nerves, speed, and various other attributes. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Then there were the Twinkle-Twinkle (Diamond) Fruit and the Crystal-Crystal Fruit. One a body-modification type, the other a creation type. One turns the user into diamond, while the other produces crystals. If one were to coat themselves in colorless crystal, it would be impossible to identify without careful inspection or physical contact.

At this thought, Mina recalled a specific ability.

"If I’m not mistaken, it should be the Paramecia-type Soft-Soft Fruit," Mina said, though her tone held a hint of uncertainty.

"The Soft-Soft Fruit? Such a power exists?!" Dimitri looked astonished, his eyes betraying a strange, fleeting look of disbelief.

Mina shot Dimitri a sharp, exasperated glare, her voice dripping with disdain. "Delete whatever filthy thoughts are running through that brain of yours."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Dimitri choked on his own breath and turned away, coughing several times to hide his embarrassment.

"Hmph. The Soft-Soft Fruit grants the power to soften any non-living object other than the user themselves. If the user is strong enough, they can even soften diamonds!"

Mina snorted and continued in a low voice, "However, the fundamental nature of the softened object remains unchanged. Even if it becomes as pliable as modeling clay, steel is still steel. In terms of pure utility, it is indeed very similar to the Ripple-Ripple Fruit held by that trendy fellow, Diamante."

"Well then, if there’s a Soft-Soft Fruit, is there a Hard-Hard Fruit?" Dimitri asked suddenly, a thought occurring to him.

"When did your head get so filled with this nonsense?" Mina’s eye twitched; she was momentarily speechless.

"Uh—"

Dimitri froze, quickly realizing how his question sounded. He hurriedly explained, "I didn’t mean it like that! I’m asking a serious question!"

"Is that so?"

Mina looked at him with skepticism. However, considering Dimitri’s generally decent character, she chose not to press the matter further.

"As it happens, there is indeed a Hard-Hard Fruit."

"It is the polar opposite of the Soft-Soft Fruit. From wood and stone to steel and alloys, the stronger the user’s ability, the higher the hardness they can bestow. If the user is capable enough, it isn’t impossible to make their own flesh as hard as diamond."

Mina spoke flatly, "The ability is similar to Angus Abel’s Steel-Steel Fruit, except the Hard-Hard Fruit lacks the high-heat properties of the Steel-Steel Fruit, and the Steel-Steel Fruit cannot harden non-living objects like the Hard-Hard Fruit can." [1]

"I see!"

Dimitri nodded as if a realization had struck him.

"What? Did you figure something out?" Mina asked curiously.

"I think I’ve guessed Mondos Bank’s ability. There’s an eighty percent chance it’s the Paramecia-type Hard-Hard Fruit." Dimitri narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin.

His guess wasn’t random; it was based on Bank’s performance during their battle.

"The Soft-Soft Fruit and the Hard-Hard Fruit... The Church of the Night actually got their hands on both opposing abilities. Tsk, how interesting," Mina said, a brow arching in intrigue.

"Mondos Bank’s body is as hard as a block of iron. Ordinary attacks are useless; even Vito’s claws couldn’t break his skin, leaving nothing but a few white marks," Dimitri said. "Furthermore, I suspect the blade in that guy’s hand has been hardened by his ability. He took a direct strike from my sword, yet his edge didn’t even have a chip."

"Based on that, there is a very high probability it’s the Hard-Hard Fruit," Mina agreed. Such characteristics were a perfect match for the fruit’s description.

"So, you mentioned discovering something ’interesting.’ What was it?" Dimitri asked again. "When you arrived, you brought several casualties and bodies. They were all members of the Elite Strike Team. Were you discovered by the Church and ambushed?"

At this, Mina’s expression turned cold. "Six months ago, the Church of the Night was unremarkable. Yet in just half a year, their power has surged, and they’ve planted moles all over Valanfort. There is a powerful faction backing them from the shadows!"

"Who?" Dimitri asked, startled.

Could there be a third player hidden in the Kingdom of Bivins, alongside the Revolutionary Army and the Chris Pirates?

"The World Government! Or more specifically, CP0. Or perhaps... the Celestial Dragons!" Mina’s tone was solemn, a faint red glint appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"The Celestial Dragons... the ones behind that organization!" Dimitri’s brow furrowed as he immediately grasped the identity of the mastermind.

"I was spotted by CP0, so they staged an assassination attempt on me. Fortunately, they didn’t succeed," Mina said, her irritation evident. "I lost four people and have five wounded, yet we didn’t manage to take down a single one of them."

"It can’t be helped. The warriors of our Elite Strike Team are mass-produced; their individual strength doesn’t even rival CP9, let alone CP0," Dimitri offered as consolation.

He paused before asking, "So, what’s the next move?"

"Valanfort has been taken by the Church. This news will reach the Revolutionary Army soon," Mina said gravely. "We must carve out a path to support Sriya and the others. This isn’t just about the Chris Pirates’ reputation; it’s an opportunity to strike at both the Revolutionary Army and that organization!"

"I understand, but our forces are too thin. This ’safe zone’ at the harbor is only a temporary alliance. By tomorrow morning, half the ships here will have vanished. Not everyone is willing to trade blows with a bunch of religious fanatics," Dimitri said grimly.

"I know that."

Mina smiled slightly. "But don’t forget, the Kingdom of Bivins isn’t just a kingdom that sells saltpeter and steel. It deals in the arms trade under the table. The cannons sold by this country in the Underworld are famous. Many pirate crews come here specifically to buy them."

"And the location for those deals... is right here!"

"Those pirates won’t be willing to leave without their cannons. After all, the Church’s uprising has completely ruined their business!"

[1] There is a non-canon Devil Fruit also called Hard-Hard Fruit or Kachi Kachi no Mi. In this fic, it is called Steel-Steel Fruit as I forgot there is such a fruit when I was translating it. And I’m glad I did, since using the official translation would’ve been confusing here for two devil fruit with the same name.