Such an absurd reason—only Sanji's thought process could come up with it.
Yet his stance was surprisingly firm.
Xiano watched with amusement, respecting Sanji's choice without any intention of interfering or persuading him.
After all, the poor rely on mutation, the rich rely on technology. This kid's potential was already sky-high, and if his Lineage Factor ever awakened in the future...
Zoro hesitated for a moment but ultimately gave up on selecting one as well.
With Tashigi's precedent, he was actually somewhat tempted by these Devil Fruits, but he was stubborn by nature...
If Kuina could become a world-renowned powerhouse through pure swordsmanship, then so could he!
"I'd like this one, sir."
Noah, captain of the 5th Division of the Combat Corps, spoke in a deep voice, pointing at the Pea Fruit.
"Oh?"
Xiano turned his gaze to Noah with slight surprise. "The Pea Fruit?"
Come to think of it, the Combat Corps currently had over ten divisions, and every division captain was no pushover.
For instance, the current captain of the 2nd Division was Law, the 3rd Division was led by X Drake, and the 4th Division by Barto...
As the young chieftain of the Konomi tribe, Noah had been capable of defeating Pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million Berries even as a teenager.
With such outstanding strength, he naturally had the qualifications to serve as a division captain.
The two hundred warriors under his command were also handpicked from his tribe, all proficient in Haki. During the Totto Land War, the 5th Division performed exceptionally, with Noah himself defeating multiple Charlotte Family Pirate executives in succession. He was currently wanted by Marine Headquarters for 323 million Berries.
"Yes, sir. This fruit suits me perfectly."
Noah grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth that contrasted sharply with his dark skin.
"Sir, you know I specialize in archery, slingshots, and all kinds of throwing weapons, but ammunition is always in short supply. The Pea Fruit will let me generate pea bullets anytime, anywhere. Combined with my throwing skills, it's a match made in heaven!"
"Now that you mention it, it does seem like a perfect fit. Take it."
Xiano nodded, then suddenly realized something.
Wait a minute.
Peas as bullets?
So that's how it's used?
Hmm... If developed along this path, wouldn't that make you...
"Thank you, sir!"
Unaware of Xiano's odd expression, Noah happily stood up and retrieved the Pea Fruit.
Straightforward by nature, he didn't bother waiting. Right then and there, he eagerly took a bite—only for his face to instantly scrunch up in disgust as he doubled over, gagging.
"Ugh, what the hell? This tastes even worse than the rumors said!"
It really was like eating shit!
Could anything possibly be this disgusting? Bepo and Tashigi twitched at the corners of their eyes, exchanging a knowing glance before silently agreeing to visit Zeff after the meeting to have the fruits processed.
If eating them raw was unbearable, maybe coating them in egg wash and breadcrumbs before deep-frying would do the trick?
Just then.
The Cotton Candy Fruit caught the eye of a middle-aged man named Raine from the Garrison Corps.
This Raine was once a captain at the Sabaody Marine base. Moved by the worldwide broadcast of the Curtain Closer, he immediately chose to defect, bringing his entire family to the New World.
A chubby and kind-hearted uncle, after stepping back from the front lines to join the Garrison Corps, he had been responsible for children's welfare, education, and related affairs within the territory.
As he put it:
If he could conjure cotton candy at will, he would surely be very popular with the kids. It would make his work more effective and bring more joy to the parentless children living in the welfare homes.
"What a gentle reason."
Xiano smiled and nodded in approval. "Mr. Raine, the Cotton Candy Fruit is yours then."
"Thank you, Lord Xiano!"
Raine bowed gratefully, his round face beaming with delight.
He could already picture himself surrounded by a crowd of chattering little ones, their eyes sparkling as they begged, "Uncle Raine, make another one, please!"
However...
Xiano glanced at Chopper drooling with infatuation nearby and realized that in the future, it might not just be human children pestering this man...
As the Devil Fruits were claimed one by one, the atmosphere in the meeting room grew livelier.
Though the officers from the Garrison Corps and Infrastructure Corps had also been invited, they had initially been somewhat reserved, feeling they should be tactful and refrain from speaking up too readily.
After all, Devil Fruits ought to be prioritized for headquarters or frontline fighters in the Combat Corps.
But seeing Lord Xiano unhesitatingly grant the fruit to Raine, they gradually grew bolder—
In Lord Xiano's eyes, civilian welfare seemed just as important as combat strength.
"My lord, I'd like the Butter Fruit."
A young engineer from the Infrastructure Corps raised his hand nervously:
"With it, our construction teams could save a lot on lubricants and sealing materials while also improving mechanical efficiency."
"If no one else wants it, my lord, may the Honey Fruit go to our agriculture department?"
Another officer chimed in eagerly. "With unlimited honey, we could not only provide food ingredients directly for everyone in the territory but also attract insects to aid pollination and develop confectionery industries. It's a win-win!"
Xiano granted each request.
Watching the increasingly enthusiastic discussions and seeing these officers racking their brains for the territory's development, he couldn't help but smile.
Indeed, having Bepo invite representatives from the other corps had been the right call.
Some seemingly "useless" fruits, scorned by the strong, could often yield unexpected value in the hands of professionals.
The Cigarette Fruit and Elephant-Elephant Fruit were eventually claimed by the Infrastructure Corps officers as well.
The former, needless to say, could be used to establish a tobacco trade, adding a steady income stream for the Curtain Closer.
As for the latter...
A burly man from the Infrastructure Corps's construction department stood up excitedly, thumping his chest:
"My lord, imagine—if someone in our corps could turn into an elephant, how much more efficient would material transport be? Especially for large stone and steel components that currently require slow, laborious crane work."
"Moreover, how flexible an elephant's trunk is! It can be used as a crane and even as a mixer!"
The burly man grew more enthusiastic as he spoke, gesturing animatedly. "When we build houses later, we can just have the trunk swirl around, and the cement mortar will be mixed—no need for a mixing truck!"
He shook his head and mimicked the motion so vividly that the conference room erupted in laughter.
Xiano was also amused and chuckled, granting the burly man permission to take the Elephant-Elephant Fruit.
With the last few fruits finding their owners, the meeting concluded successfully.
The officers bid farewell to Xiano and left in small groups, discussing how to maximize the use of their newly acquired abilities along the way.
Such warm and passionate people…
Xiano, alone, made his way to the second-floor railing, smiling as he held a cup of coffee. His gaze swept over his departing subordinates, surveying the vast territory that belonged to him.
After this distribution, the core strength of the Curtain Closers would rise another notch, and the construction and development of the territory would undoubtedly progress even more swiftly.
"As for you…"
Xiano pulled out the unassigned Rumble-Rumble Fruit from his pocket, narrowing his eyes slightly.
The candidate had already been decided.
All that remained was to wait for the final evolution.
The sacred maiden who soared through the skies—once she mastered the power of thunder, ascending to even greater heights—surely, she wouldn't disappoint, would she?
...
In the blink of an eye, another week passed.
The integration of the major territories finally reached its conclusion, and Xiano gradually freed himself from administrative duties, shifting his focus to training.
First, he spent some time fully mastering the Sky Dance Technique.
From then on, he could freely traverse the skies, even lounging at an altitude of ten thousand meters, resting his head on his arms and crossing his legs for a comfortable midday nap.
Next, he began using the Poneglyphs for physical conditioning.
There was more than one of these now.
BIGMOM's treasury had collected a total of seven—five rubbings and two originals, one of which was a red Road Poneglyph. The texture was quite satisfying.
After the war, Robin had become a shut-in, holed up day and night, translating and studying them without stepping outside.
Once she finished her research, Xiano would carry them away under her reluctant gaze, repurposing them as workout tools, rotating them daily for his training.
With the territory now vast and open, he could easily find a secluded clearing in the mountains, where he could unleash his fists and kicks without restraint, reveling in the exhilaration.
As for the historical truths inscribed on them, what kind of picture they might piece together…
Xiano had no interest whatsoever.
They were nothing more than ancient tales from eight hundred years ago. Rather than asking the stones, why not ask the people? After all, weren't there still beings alive from eight centuries ago?
Better to hone his fists to perfection!
Then, with a single punch or kick, he'd make that eight-hundred-year-old relic bleed and beg for mercy on his knees!
Wouldn't it be far more satisfying to force him to spill all the truths with his own mouth?
...
Unnoticed, time slipped into early June.
Under the scorching sun, in a secluded valley on Nut Island.
"Three hundred sets…"
Xiano, bare-chested with well-defined muscles, caught two Poneglyphs weighing dozens of tons each, one in each hand. The veins on his arms bulged like coiling dragons.
"Ha!"
With a low shout, two stone slabs shot into the sky like intercontinental missiles, vanishing into the clouds as mere black dots in an instant.
Xiano squinted upward, the scorching sunlight glinting off his sweat-beaded forehead. Suddenly, he grinned, the muscles in his legs tensing.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Xiano's legs exploded with force, the ground beneath him cracking and collapsing as he launched himself skyward with terrifying speed. In just a few leaps, he caught up to the Poneglyphs and soared above them.
Boom!
While the slabs were still ascending, he grinned savagely and drove both elbows down onto their surfaces.
"Get… down!"
The slabs plummeted faster than they had risen.
Yet, just a hundred meters from the ground, Xiano—already landed—caught them effortlessly, one in each arm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Poneglyphs were hurled skyward again and again, only to crash back down, over and over. Xiano's figure became a blur, streaking between heaven and earth across ten thousand meters.
On the distant shore, occasional ships belonging to the Curtain Closer passed by. Crew members gaped at the spectacle, exchanging stunned glances.
Was this the training regimen of a Sea Emperor?
It was so absurd it sent shivers down their spines...
Dawn broke, marking the passage of another full day and night.
"One thousand sets!"
With a roar, Xiano caught the slabs one last time and casually planted them into the nearby clearing, sending tremors like an earthquake through the ground.
"Haa—"
Exhaling a white breath that shot out over a dozen meters, he casually cracked his neck, producing a series of popping sounds.
"Damn, that felt good!"
Drenched in sweat, utterly exhilarated.
Glancing back at the Poneglyphs, he noticed fine cracks now spiderwebbing across their surfaces—clearly visible.
Still far from "destroying" them, but at least he'd reached the point of leaving marks on the indestructible Poneglyphs.
Grinning, Xiano strode toward the hot spring nestled in the northern valley.
This was the northern part of Nut Island, chosen as his training ground not just for its vast openness, but also for this natural hot spring.
The water was around sixty degrees Celsius.
For ordinary people, such scalding heat would be unbearable—a single dip of the toes would send them yelping and recoiling like a stuck pig.
But for someone with Xiano's physique, it was perfect.
He scooped a handful of water and splashed it over his face before sinking entirely into the spring, letting the searing heat soothe his exhausted muscles as he sighed in contentment.
A long while later.
Steam curled upward as Xiano leaned back against a large rock at the spring's edge, gazing at the gradually brightening sky.
"Yep, it's refreshed already."
His lips curled.
Though he seemed to be watching the dawn, he had actually pulled up the system panel to check June's trading market.
Nothing was more enjoyable than indulging in this month's shopping spree while soaking in the hot spring after an exhausting workout.
After last month's spending spree, he'd been left with only 10,600 Points, and the Charlotte Family had already been thoroughly squeezed dry. By all logic, he should have been broke.
But then...
Fate had delivered another fat sheep to his doorstep.
Xiano skimmed through the text log in the information stream.
[You have sacrificed Jinbei's yukata and obtained 2500 Points.]
[You have sacrificed Green Bull Aramaki's severed arm and obtained 5300 Points.]
These were the major contributions, while newly recruited executives like Barto and Drake chipped in with scattered amounts totaling 4500 Points. Combined, it all added up to 12,300 Points.
This sudden influx boosted the remaining Points balance to 22,900.
That should be enough—time to shop!
Xiano opened the trading market and glanced at the first item.
[Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon]
[Type: Weapon]
[Price: 1500 Points]
[Description: An ice sculpture from the Gintama world. The original was used by the Amanto to destroy the Tenshu and breach Edo Castle's gates. Its shape strongly resembles ***.]
[Seller's Note: Hey, can you really resist buying this? Can you?]
Huh?
In the hot spring bath, Xiano tilted his head in confusion. What was this? Why were there asterisks in the description?
Unable to recall, he clicked into the details page to check the image.
Immediately, he facepalmed, wearing the expression of an old man on the subway staring at his phone in disbelief.
"Resist buying it?" More like, who the hell would even buy this thing!
This is way too inappropriate for kids. Next!
...
[Flying Nimbus]
[Type: Vehicle]
[Price: 2000 Points]
[Description: Originating from the Dragon Ball World, created by Garin the Hermit. Only those with a pure heart can ride it. The cloud is golden yellow, capable of free flight and ignoring terrain limitations—summonable and dismissible at will.]
[Note: Goku kicked the bucket. I went through hell gathering the Dragon Balls to revive him, and now he won't even ride this thing. Figured no one else would want it, so might as well sell it.]
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