Chapter 901: If I Collect All Devil Fruits, Won't There Be No Devil Fruit Users Left?
Chapter 901: If I Collect All Devil Fruits, Won’t There Be No Devil Fruit Users Left?
“Kuro, David actually got injured. Aren’t you going back to check on him?” Lida asked, munching on an apple as she lounged on the Golden Lion.
“Can’t the three of them handle a bunch of pirates?” Kuro replied, biting down on a cigar and exhaling a plume of smoke. “What kind of pirate would even manage that?”
David wasn’t weak to begin with. Even if he’d sustained injuries, that didn’t necessarily mean the pirate was formidable. It was likely an intense battle or stalemate. Kas’s defensive power was the kind that made your scalp tingle—ordinary people couldn’t hope to break through that white shield. He also had the Acceleration ability, and his will idealism amplified combat power through white energy. Wilbur’s gigantification ability further bolstered their strength, making David an effective vanguard.
To put it simply, they had offense, defense, and support. The only thing missing was healing. As long as they didn’t run into someone ancient, they’d be fine. If such an opponent appeared, backup should’ve arrived already.
“Is that true? That actually makes sense,” Lida said, recalling Kas charging forward with his twisted white energy-enhanced creatures. She shuddered at the memory—it had been terrifying even to her.
She rummaged through her bag again, pulling out a fruit. “Come to think of it, Kuro, it’s amazing that Kas actually has—”
“Don’t eat that!”
Kuro’s sudden shout startled Lida, making her drop the fruit. It wasn’t just any fruit from her bag—it was a Devil Fruit, entirely purple with a chain pattern etched across its surface. It rolled toward the door just as it opened, revealing Klah stepping in.
“Mr. Kuro, Kas and the others sent news,” Klah said, bending to pick up the Devil Fruit. “They’ve dealt with the pirate responsible for this incident, but they want to apologize for failing to meet your trust and expectations—uh…”
He adjusted his glasses, staring at the Devil Fruit in his hand. “A Devil Fruit?”
“This definitely looks like one,” Kuro muttered. “My apple…” Lida pouted.
“Tsk, how confusingly did we get this drop?” Kuro scratched his chin. “I haven’t taken out any Devil Fruit users recently.”
Lida’s ‘Strong Luck’ attribute had always been absurd. Normally, Devil Fruits only dropped after defeating their users, appearing in her shoulder bag. But the demon inside a deceased user had a chance to choose a nearby fruit, transforming it anew. However, this was rare, and Kuro hadn’t killed any users recently.
“Unless…” He paused. “Earlier, you said Kas eliminated someone and is apologizing to me? Who was it? Any details? Was it a Devil Fruit user?”
Klah nodded. “Yes. The report mentioned a user capable of assimilating thoughts via chains, forcibly altering minds and subjugating victims.”
He glanced at the Devil Fruit. “Wouldn’t this be that one then?”
“Forcefully changing thoughts?” Kuro frowned. “That’s dangerous. But how did it end up here? This is the East Blue, and the fight was in the New World.”
“Has her ‘Strong Luck’ gone this far?” Lida muttered.
“Whatever. Better it ends up in my hands than someone else’s,” Kuro shook his head. Devil Fruits in the Grand Line were threats once consumed. He feared the unknown users most.
“No way, no way,” he muttered. “No one actually thinks Devil Fruits in this vast world are limited to rubbery, stringy, sparkly ones, right? The Grand Line’s size means infinite possibilities. There could be abilities where a glare kills instantly—or worse, makes you pregnant.”
Humanity feared the unknown, and Kuro was no exception. Collecting dangerous Devil Fruits ensured they’d remain unused. One less eater meant one less threat.
Kuro even mused: if Lida’s luck was this good, maybe he could collect all Devil Fruits. Without Devil Fruit abilities, he’d face only unarmed combat techniques, swordsmanship, and Haki—things he understood and feared not at all.
But this was just a fantasy. The Grand Line had too many Devil Fruits to collect, and Lida’s bag wasn’t the Devil Fruit Tree itself. Even if it were 100% reliable, would he have to kill every user himself? That’d be putting the cart before the horse.
“Solved is solved,” he said. “No need for apologies. Let them do their jobs. Even the Navy isn’t perfect. Expecting them to never lose is unrealistic.”
“In any combat, you’ll always get your feet wet eventually. Once that happens, getting soaked is likely,” Kuro added. He’d seen it countless times in the East Blue and Grand Line. Punishing every failure would cripple the Navy’s morale.
“You’ve never failed,” Lida pointed out.
“Not the same!” Kuro snapped. “If I fail, I die. Look at their small-scale fights. Losing doesn’t matter much. If injured, retreat, recover, and continue. Since joining Headquarters, every real combat situation has been a life-or-death struggle. I can’t afford to fail. Besides, I’m not reckless. If I can’t win, I’ll just run.”
“Let’s head back to G-3,” he said, glancing at the Grand Line. “No need to watch the East Blue anymore. William should’ve proceeded to the Grand Line by now. Going back won’t be possible without paying a heavy price. Notify the Marine Branch near Reverse Mountain to watch closely. If Sam William tries to return, drive him back to the Grand Line by force.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
