One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

After leaving the Mermaid Café, Madam Shyarly took Vane and his crew to meet with King Neptune. Naturally, the king welcomed Vane warmly—after all, he would help save Princess Shirahoshi from danger.

As a reward, Vane made a simple request: a Devil Fruit.

Neptune agreed. As it happened, there were two Devil Fruits on Fish-Man Island. However, fish-men generally avoided consuming them. With their natural abilities and mastery of Fish-Man Karate, Devil Fruits were not only unnecessary but also dangerous—after all, living 10,000 meters under the sea meant constant exposure to seawater, rendering Devil Fruit powers useless.

To the residents of Fish-Man Island, the fruits were more a burden than a blessing. In the end, Neptune gifted both Devil Fruits to Vane.

Vane smiled to himself. Two Devil Fruits in exchange for dealing with Vander Decken IX? What a bargain. That clown wasn't worth much trouble anyway.

As night fell, Vane spotted Vander Decken IX. The man swaggered as he walked, bow-legged and utterly shameless. Despite being a wanted criminal, he moved around Fish-Man Island with no fear.

Technically, he wasn't allowed within the borders of Fish-Man Island. But having entered illegally, there was no expectation that he'd comply with any laws. And with his wanted status, even the Neptune Army couldn't officially pursue him without consequences.

While Vander Decken had some strength, he was nothing in front of Vane.

"Kalifa, capture him," Vane ordered, his tone casual. "Let Neptune and the others handle what's left. Just chop off the hand wearing the glove."

Kalifa's eyes lit up. Vane didn't often let her take action, so this felt like a rare sign of his trust in her.

Vander Decken IX wasn't a real challenge. Still, this was a perfect opportunity for Kalifa to hone her skills. She had been developing her Thunder Fruit abilities for some time now, and without combat experience, her progress would stagnate.

"My lord, I'll be back shortly!"

With a gleam in her eyes, Kalifa transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished.

Several hundred meters from thePalace, Vander Decken IX crouched behind a building, grinning lewdly. His ugly, rat-like face twisted with anticipation.

"Hey, Neptune… Let's scare your precious Shirahoshi again tonight," he sneered. "How long can you keep this up? Just marry her off to me already."

He held a small throwing knife in his right hand, aimed at the hard-shell tower where Shirahoshi was hidden. As long as the knife hit the tower, the intimidation was complete. He thrived on their fear and helplessness. As a Target-Target Fruit user, all he had to do was mark a target—Shirahoshi—and any thrown object would hone in on her location, regardless of distance.

Useful power, Vane would later think. Wasted on a pervert like him.

Just as Vander Decken was about to launch another knife, a flash of lightning struck from above.

Kalifa appeared mid-air, her body still crackling with electricity. A bolt of 10 million volts surged through Vander Decken IX, smoke rising from his body as he collapsed, twitching and spasming uncontrollably. His pitiful physique stood no chance against her power.

Kalifa calmly picked up the throwing knife, then raised her blade and—without hesitation—chopped off the hand wearing the glove.

According to Vane, that hand hadn't been washed in years. Kalifa had nearly gagged when she heard it.

Still, Vane had ordered: Just chop it off.

She obeyed—but left him alive. They still needed to hand him over to King Neptune.

The pain finally woke Vander Decken from his unconscious state. He howled in agony, rolling across the ground.

"Let me go! Let me go—!"

"We don't have any grudges!"

"Please…!"

He sobbed, begging for mercy. Blood poured from his severed wrist, soaking the ground beneath him.

At that moment, footsteps echoed across the plaza. Neptune arrived with his guards—and Vane was with them.

Vane had gotten what he came for: two Devil Fruits, in exchange for neutralizing a nuisance.

"Vander Decken!" Neptune shouted, fury in his voice. "We treated you with kindness. And this is how you repay us?"

There was no forgiveness in Neptune's eyes. This man had tormented his daughter Shirahoshi for years, forcing her to live in isolation inside a reinforced tower. The guards could never leave for more than a few minutes—otherwise, she'd be vulnerable to long-distance attacks from this lunatic. For years, she hadn't seen daylight, all because of him.

"King Neptune, I was wrong!" Vander Decken cried out, face pale from blood loss. "It's my fault! Please…"

"Take him away," Neptune said coldly.

He didn't even look at the man. His order was firm. The Neptune Army stepped forward, tying Vander Decken up and dragging him toward the dungeons.

"Stop the bleeding," Neptune added. "He doesn't deserve an easy death."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Neptune turned to Vane. "Thank you, Mr. Vane."

Now that Vander Decken had been captured, the king finally relaxed.

Vane gave a wry smile. "It'd be better to kill someone like that early on. Why let a mosquito buzz around when you can just swat it?"

Neptune clenched his fists. "I intend to execute him. Only then will the people of Fish-Man Island feel safe again."

A king may be kind—but that kindness must be used wisely.

Vane didn't press the issue. After all, this was Neptune's territory. He had already gained what he came for: two Devil Fruits.

Not a bad day's work.

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I won't even request for stones today, as usual just do your thing.

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