I, Kizaru, only came to the chat group after I became invincible

Chapter 433 Front Page News!

“No problem! I know a perfectly safe place!” Barton said excitedly.

Under Barton's arrangement, Frost Wald boarded the pirate ship. Although the ship was not large, it was well-equipped, and most importantly, it had a dedicated medical room.

“Boss, you look badly injured,” Barton said worriedly. “Who could have hurt you?”

“Admiral Kizaru,” Frost Wald replied briefly.

"Kizaru?!" Barton exclaimed in shock. "You fought a Marine Admiral?"

“Yes, and we lost,” Frost Wald admitted frankly. “But I will avenge this defeat.”

Barton was shocked, but he didn't ask any further questions. He knew his boss's character; once he decided to take revenge, he would definitely do it.

The ship sailed toward the North Sea, where Patton had maintained a secret base for many years.

During his voyage, Frost Wald began to learn in detail about the changes that had taken place on the sea over the years.

"The Four Emperors system?" He was intrigued by this new concept. "So, there are now four pirates on par with Whitebeard back then?"

“Yes, boss,” Barton explained in detail. “They are ‘Red-Haired’ Shanks, ‘Beasts’ Kaido, ‘Big Mom’ Charlotte Linlin, and ‘Whitebeard’ Edward Newgate.”

“Shanks,” Frost Wilder said thoughtfully. “That red-haired brat who came aboard Roger’s ship? I didn’t expect him to have grown to this level.”

"Boss, do you know Redhead?" Barton asked in surprise.

“I saw him a few times when I fought Roger back then,” Frost Wald recalled. “He was just a greenhorn then, and now he’s one of the Four Emperors.”

"Time flies," he remarked. "Thirty years have passed, and the sea is completely different."

"So, what's the boss's plan?" Barton asked cautiously.

“Let’s recover our strength first, then find more help,” Frost Wald said. “Kizaru is very strong; our current strength is not enough.”

"Should I contact the others?" Barton asked. "Many of those who followed us back then should still be alive."

“Yes, but be careful,” Frost Wald cautioned. “Thirty years is a long time; people change. Not everyone will be as loyal as you.”

Three days later, they arrived at a secluded island in the North Sea. This was the base that Patton had built over the years, hidden among glaciers, making it difficult for outsiders to find.

"Boss, this is my territory," Barton proudly announced. "There are over three hundred men on the island, all elites I've gathered over the years."

Frost Wald surveyed the base; although not large, it was very well-organized. Most importantly, it had comprehensive medical facilities and training grounds.

“Very good.” He nodded in satisfaction. “This is where I’ll recover.”

In the heart of the base, Barton prepared a special room for Frost Wald. The room contained various healing medicines and equipment, as well as a small training ground.

“Boss, you should get some rest,” Barton said. “Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”

For the next month, Frost Wald devoted himself entirely to healing and spiritual practice.

His first priority was to treat his injuries. The wounds inflicted by Kizaru's lightsaber were much harder to heal than ordinary wounds, requiring special methods to remove the residual light energy.

"Ice-Ice Fruit - Absolute Purification!"

He used extremely cold ice to freeze the light energy and then gradually removed it from his body. This process was very painful, but also very effective.

Two weeks later, the physical injuries had mostly healed. But more importantly, the psychological trauma had to be repaired.

"Losing to Kizaru...this fact made me realize my shortcomings." He pondered in the training ground. "Thirty years of seclusion have dulled my fighting edge."

He began to recall his battle with Roger. He had lost then, but it was a more meaningful defeat, because Roger was indeed far stronger than him. Kizaru, however, was different. His opponent's original strength wasn't much greater than his; he only gained the advantage through a breakthrough during the battle.

"If I could also maintain a breakthrough state in battle..."

He began to re-evaluate his abilities. The power of the Ice-Ice Fruit after its awakening was indeed formidable, but there was still room for further development.

Absolute zero. This is not the end, but the beginning.

Frost Wald began to explore the deeper capabilities of the Ice-Ice Fruit. Absolute zero is merely the ultimate physical state, but what if it could influence a more abstract level?
"Time, space, and even the concepts themselves."

He began experimenting with freezing to influence more abstract things. Not freezing matter, but freezing concepts.

After a week of trying, he finally made a breakthrough.

"Ice-Ice Fruit - Concept Frozen!"

He successfully froze the concept of "gravity" in the training ground, temporarily disabling gravity in that area. Although it only lasted for a few seconds, it was already a huge step forward.

"If we could freeze the concept of 'speed,'" he thought excitedly. "then Kizaru's light-speed movement would be completely ineffective!"

Developing this level of ability requires a great deal of time and effort, but Frost Walder has plenty of time. Revenge isn't urgent; as long as he can gain enough power, the wait is worthwhile.

Meanwhile, Patton was also contacting his old subordinates as instructed.

"Boss, I've made contact with 'Storm' Allen!" Barton reported excitedly. "He's currently in the first half of the Grand Line, and he was very excited to hear you're still alive!"

“Alan. That guy who controls the weather.” Frost Wald recalled his former subordinate. “His Logia-type abilities were very useful.”

"And then there's 'Viper' Vivian, now the underground queen of an island. Upon hearing your news, she offered all her support."

“Vivian, that woman skilled with poison.” Frost Wald nodded. “Her abilities are very useful against those brats.”

As he connected with more and more people, Frost Wald's confidence grew. Although thirty years had passed, those who had followed him back then remained loyal to him.

“Boss, there’s one more piece of news,” Barton said hesitantly. “Thor has been captured by the Navy and is currently imprisoned in Impel Down.”

"Thor's been arrested?" Frost Wald frowned. "When did this happen?"

"Ten years ago, he fought Admiral Aokiji in the New World. Although the fight ended in a draw, he was ultimately captured."

Frost Wald remained silent for a moment. Thor was one of his most capable assistants back then, possessing the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and his strength was close to that of an Admiral.

“Imperial City is a difficult place to conquer,” he thought. “But Thor’s power is crucial to the revenge plan.”

"Boss, you're not planning to attack Impel Down, are you?" Barton asked worriedly. "That's the most secure prison in the world!"

“Not an attack, but an infiltration.” A cold glint flashed in Frost Wald’s eyes. “My ice can freeze many things, including the prison’s defense system.” He began to formulate a more detailed plan. First, restore his strength, then regroup his old crew, next rescue Thor, and finally launch a revenge attack on Kizaru and the Straw Hat Pirates.

“This plan will take at least six months,” he estimated. “But if it succeeds, Kizaru will pay the price for his arrogance.”

During breaks from training, he also gathered information about the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Straw Hat Luffy, Rubber Man, bounty 15 billion Berries." He studied the collected information. "His crew includes swordsman Zoro, cook Sanji, and navigator Nami—each one possesses considerable strength."

“But they are ultimately just newcomers to the new world,” he sneered. “They are far inferior to us old monsters.”

Especially after he learned about the Straw Hat Pirates' recent adventures, he became even more convinced of his judgment.

"These kids are really naive to cooperate with the Navy," he scoffed. "But it's good this way; it proves Kizaru really cares about them."

Two months later, Frost Wald had largely recovered his strength, and was even stronger than before his injury. His newly developed concept of freezing ability gave him the means to counter Kizaru's light-speed attacks.

"Boss, Alan and Vivian have already set off and are expected to arrive within a month," Barton reported on the assembly. "In addition, seven former captains have expressed their willingness to join the revenge operation."

“Very good.” Frost Wald nodded with satisfaction. “With your men, we now have a force of nearly a thousand.”

"So when do we begin?" Barton asked.

“Wait a little longer,” Frost Wald said. “I need to go to Impel Down and rescue Thor first. With his lightning powers, our chances of winning will be much greater.”

"Imperial City boss, that's really too dangerous," Barton said worriedly.

"Danger?" Frost Wald sneered. "I am 'Ice Emperor' Frost Wald! A mere prison can't stop me!"

His eyes burned with the flames of revenge. Thirty years of seclusion had made him more cautious, but it had also deepened his resentment.

"Kizaru, Straw Hat Pirates, just you wait!" He clenched his fist, and the surrounding temperature instantly dropped by more than ten degrees. "I'll show you the price of humiliating a legendary pirate!"

The three days on Food Island were paradise for the Straw Hat Pirates. Luffy sampled at least twenty different dishes every day, Sanji learned new cooking techniques at the island's various restaurants, and the others found activities that interested them.

"The seafood here is amazing!" Sanji exclaimed, taking notes. "I've learned so many new techniques!"

"I also bought a lot of precious medicinal herbs!" Chopper excitedly sorted through his haul. "These are things that are hard to find elsewhere!"

Nami bought a lot of nautical supplies and daily necessities at the island's shops, Franky found some rare ship modification materials, and Usopp discovered new materials for making special ammunition.

"This resupply was a great success!" Nami exclaimed, looking at the fully loaded Thousand Sunny with satisfaction. "We can sail at sea for much longer now!"

On the morning of the fourth day, as they were preparing to leave Gourmet Island and continue their voyage, Borsalino returned.

“Oh, I’m back,” he said in his signature slow, leisurely tone.

"Borsalino!" Luffy rushed towards him excitedly. "You're back! How was your training?"

“Not bad,” Borsalino replied with a smile. “There has been some progress.”

Although his tone was calm, the perceptive Zoro immediately noticed the change.

"Your aura... has become much stronger." Zoro looked intently at Borsalino. "What exactly happened?"

“I had a spar with an old friend.” Borsalino didn’t elaborate. “But now’s not the time to talk about that; we should get going.”

"Where are we heading?" Nami asked.

“Let’s continue searching for clues to ONE PIECE,” Luffy said matter-of-factly. “Our goal is the Pirate King!”

And so, the Thousand Sunny left Gourmet Island and continued its voyage on the Grand Line.

Two days later, in the afternoon, just as everyone was enjoying the sunshine on the deck, Nami's Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.

“Brubrubru. Brubru”

"Huh? Who would contact us at this time?" Nami answered the phone, puzzled.

"Straw Hat Pirates! This is a reporter from the World Economic News Agency!" An excited female voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "What are your thoughts on the attack on Impel Down?"

"Imperial City has been attacked?" Everyone was stunned.

"When did this happen?" Robin immediately pressed.

"Just last night!" the reporter exclaimed excitedly. "A mysterious and powerful individual infiltrated Impel Down, rescued a notorious criminal, and escaped! The whole incident has caused a sensation worldwide!"

"A serious offender? Who is he?" Borsalino's expression turned serious.

"It's said to be Thor, the 'God of Thunder,' who was captured ten years ago! A super pirate with a bounty of 18 billion Berries!"

Upon hearing this name, Borsalino's expression visibly changed.

“Thor.” He frowned in thought. “I remember that name; he’s a troublesome fellow.”

"Who was that attacker?" Nami continued to ask.

"It's not clear yet, but judging from the traces left at the scene, it's likely an ice-type ability user. Many areas of Impel Down have been frozen."

Borsalino, an ice-type ability user, felt a sense of unease.

"Thank you for your answer! This will be the front page news tomorrow!" The reporter said before hanging up the phone.

A brief silence fell on the deck.

"Imperial City has been attacked. This is a major event," Franky exclaimed.

"Isn't that prison supposed to be impregnable?" Usopp asked nervously. "How did someone manage to infiltrate and rescue people?"

"It seems there are more powerful people in the world than we thought," Zoro said seriously.

"Could this be related to us?" Chopper asked worriedly.

"Probably not." Sanji lit a cigarette. "We haven't provoked any formidable enemies."

(End of this chapter)