Evidence?
Capone Bell froze for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the treasure inside the safe. It took him a few seconds to register what was happening.
"This won't do. Leaving evidence in a place like this is too risky—we need to secure it properly."
Yahn's voice was calm but firm. Without waiting for a reply, he looked around the room, quickly found a few suitcases, and knelt down in front of the open safe. He began carefully transferring each piece of evidence into the suitcases, pausing to ask casually:
"Mr. Capone, you don't mind if I collect evidence, do you?"
In the ruthless world of the underground, Capone Bell knew all too well that the weak had no right to resist. He lowered his head and answered obediently.
"Y-you're free to do as you please..."
Yahn nodded slightly. "Good. In that case, help me with this. And be careful—these are all vital pieces of evidence. If you damage or scratch even one... I'll have no choice but to consider it willful destruction of property and charge you with—"
He pushed up his slightly reflective glasses and continued in a flat tone, "—execution on the spot."
"...?!"
Capone Bell went pale.
A chill ran down his spine as the weight of those words hit him. Without hesitation, he dropped to a crouch and began helping Yahn transfer the valuables into the suitcases, his movements practiced and precise.
Soon enough, as each item was moved out of the safe, something unusual was revealed at the bottom—a strange-looking box, unlike anything else in the hoard.
Yahn narrowed his eyes, sensing that this box didn't belong with the rest. He gave a curt order to Capone.
"Open it."
Resigned to his fate, Capone Bell opened the box while muttering, "Inside… is a Devil Fruit."
As the lid creaked open, Yahn's eyes locked onto the contents: three Devil Fruits, neatly arranged.
Taking the box from Capone's hands, Yahn's expression turned serious.
In terms of value alone, those three fruits were worth more than all the other treasures in the safe combined. But to Yahn, they held a significance far beyond mere wealth.
"Your Capone Mafia Family's reach… is far greater than I imagined. These things are called 'the Grand Line's Hidden Treasures' for a reason. Yet you've managed to collect three?"
Capone's eyes flicked toward Yahn, noting the subtle spark of interest in his expression. Cautiously, he replied:
"In the West Blue, the underworld runs deep. It's difficult to gather Devil Fruits, yes, but not impossible…"
He hesitated, then added:
"If you're willing to spare me, my family will continue collecting Devil Fruits for you—whatever you desire."
Yahn glanced at him and chuckled. "You're mistaken about something. I'm not interested in Devil Fruits."
He paused, then added with a calm, chilling smile:
"What I like… is cutting fruit."
Capone Bell blinked, confused—until Yahn, in one fluid motion, pulled two of the Devil Fruits from the box and tossed them high into the air.
In a flash, his Zanpakutō was drawn.
"Sa—"
A simple, unadorned slash split both Devil Fruits—the so-called "Grand Line's hidden treasures"—cleanly in two.
"?!"
Capone Bell felt like the breath had been knocked out of him.
Even as a hardened mafia boss, he couldn't help but clutch his chest in pain at the sight. His voice trembled.
"Wasting such treasure... Even if they're just Zoan-types, each one is worth at least a hundred million Berries… And now… they're just gone…"
But Yahn wasn't listening.
His full attention was on his blade and the energy within his soul.
As the two Devil Fruits were destroyed, an invisible surge of energy was absorbed into the Zanpakutō. Slowly, that energy began to take shape within Yahn's spirit—forming a new mask.
So my intuition was correct. The method to awaken the Bankai of the Zanpakutō is by absorbing Devil Fruit energy. And it doesn't have to be through consumption—direct absorption via the blade works too.
With this realization, Yahn finally let out a long breath.
After all, Devil Fruits weren't exactly known for their pleasant taste.
The last time he was forced to eat one in front of Sengoku, he'd tried to drown the flavor in sugar. It still ended up tasting like sweetened garbage.
He'd nearly vomited on the spot—only to be silenced by Sengoku's slap.
Thankfully, it turned out his instincts were right. The blade could extract the energy directly, sparing him from having to eat another fruit ever again.
Otherwise, Yahn had seriously considered giving up on the entire concept. Especially since he could sense that each new Zanpakutō would require twice the energy of the last.
If eating Devil Fruits had been the only way, Yahn figured he'd either die of overconsumption—or worse, from the taste alone.
Now, with that confirmed, Yahn turned back to the box, ready to slice the final Devil Fruit: a Paramecia-type.
But just as his hand reached for it, he paused. There was something familiar about this one.
"…Wait, is this the Castle-Castle Fruit?"
Capone Bell, panicking at the possibility of Yahn destroying it, quickly blurted out:
"Yes! That's the Castle-Castle Fruit. Its ability turns the user's internal body into a fortress. They can store anything inside—including themselves—and everything shrinks upon entry. Once they exit the range, it returns to its original size."
He hesitated again, then added nervously:
"It's not a Zoan—it's a rare, special Paramecia."
Yahn thought for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Capone.
"…Your son. His name is Capone Bege, isn't it?"
Capone Bell's eyes went wide in shock, pupils contracting sharply.
He had never expected Yahn to know that.
As the founder of the Capone Mafia Family, Capone Bell had kept his wife and son hidden from the world. He knew the risks, and he had done everything possible to protect them.
And yet, the greatest secret of his life… had just been casually spoken aloud.
A thousand questions raced through his mind. But his body moved on instinct—he dropped to his knees before Yahn.
"Please, my lord. Spare my family. I'm willing to give up everything."