Chapter 29: Dividing the Spoils

"Lion's Roar: Water Spout!"

Golden Lion Shiki extended his hand, transforming his palm into a claw. Under his manipulation, the sea surged, forming a massive lion's head made of water that lunged at the navy ships.

"What?"

"Help!"

"Damn it!"

Both the naval soldiers and Vice Admiral Quent Gunther were struck with terror as they witnessed the towering water column and the gigantic lion's head. Faced with such a formidable attack, neither Quent Gunther nor Vice Admiral Bill Robb held any hope of survival.

The enormous water lion moved swiftly, swallowing the fifty-meter warship in an instant.

"Gwahahaha!"

Golden Lion Shiki was immensely pleased with his handiwork. He returned to his ship, looking at the other three. "All taken care of."

The other three nodded in agreement. To them, dealing with two vice admirals was no big deal, especially when they weren't monsters like Garp or Sengoku.

"Let's take these two ships loaded with Heavenly Tribute and get out of here! The Navy will be here soon," advised Whitebeard Edward Newgate.

Golden Lion Shiki, puffing on his cigar, used his Devil Fruit power to lift the two ships filled with treasure and money into the air. The three ships floated, with Shiki emerging from the cargo hold of one of the tribute-laden vessels.

"Damn it! Who would have thought there were CP0 agents on board!" he spat, shaking blood off his sword.

The others said nothing in response. Shiki spun his cigar around in his mouth and looked at the three. "Aren't you curious about what's inside?"

Hearing Shiki's words, the initially uninterested trio perked up, their eyes now fixed on him.

"Guhahaha! What's inside that has you so excited?" asked Whitebeard, taking a swig of his drink.

Both Charlotte Linlin and Sharlot also looked at Shiki with curiosity.

"These two tribute ships carry more than just money; they hold treasures from the sea!" Shiki declared with a tempting tone.

"Devil Fruits!"

The trio was stunned.

"That's right, and not just one!"

Shiki's words left them in shock. Devil Fruits were not common commodities. In the five years since Sharlot's arrival in this world, he had only encountered one. Now, they had found four at once.

"Shiki, what exactly are you getting at?" asked Whitebeard, eyeing him suspiciously.

Charlotte Linlin and Sharlot also turned their gaze to Shiki.

"Don't you think handing these over to Rocks is a waste?" Shiki's voice was cold, smoke trailing from his nostrils.

Hearing this, everyone became tense, even Charlotte Linlin put down her cake.

"Ma-ma-ma-ma! Shiki, are you planning to betray Captain Rocks?" she asked, staring at him.

"Gwahahaha! Betray? No, never! Have you forgotten how I joined this crew? I never pledged my loyalty to Rocks. Why did we gather in the first place?" he retorted.

"Newgate, you joined to find family, right? Have you found them yet?" Shiki's question left Whitebeard silent.

He had joined the Rocks Pirates seeking protection and a family he could trust. But over the years, all he encountered were greedy and ambitious individuals, surrounded by endless killing. He recalled when Rocks ordered the massacre of over a thousand recruits, leaving less than eight hundred survivors. These memories stirred turmoil within Whitebeard.

"Linlin, weren't you looking for someone named Sister Carmelite? Have you found her yet?" Shiki turned to Charlotte Linlin.

"Sister! Sister!" Upon hearing the name, Charlotte Linlin's demeanor changed to that of a child, much to Shiki's exasperation. He then turned to the silent Sharlot.

"And you, Sharlot, do I need to explain why you joined?" Shiki asked.

Sharlot remained silent.

"So, will you swear loyalty to Rocks?" Shiki questioned them.

The three remained silent, their expressions grim. But Shiki laughed.

"Gwahahaha! Since we've decided, let's split these four Devil Fruits among us," he proposed, opening four wooden boxes to reveal the fruits: a white apple with radiant patterns, a red banana with strange markings, a white patterned pear, and a red-patterned black apple.

"Take your pick, and I'll take what's left," Shiki offered.

After a moment of contemplation, Whitebeard reached for the white-glowing fruit. "Guhahaha! I'll take this one!"

"Then I won't be polite either!" Charlotte Linlin chose the white-patterned pear.

Seeing them pick, Shiki looked at Sharlot. With a frown, Sharlot selected the red-patterned black apple. "I'll take this one."

He chose it because, from his past life's knowledge, he remembered that banana-shaped fruits were often Zoan types, which varied greatly. The red-patterned Devil Fruit seemed familiar, possibly seen in the anime, indicating it might not be weak.

"Gwahahaha! Then this one is mine!" Shiki claimed the last fruit.

Ignoring Shiki, the trio examined their fruits, unaware of their types. Shiki mentioned that Rocks had a Devil Fruit guidebook. They decided to check it out upon returning to Hachinosu. Their journey back took less than three days, only to find the island eerily quiet.

Upon inquiry, they learned that John had taken most of the pirates to attack two allied nations.

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(40 Advance chapters)