From Shiki's perspective, this wasn't just a simple matter of numbers—it was a direct assault on his legacy, a denial of his own hard-won strength.
Thinking of this, his fists clenched involuntarily at his sides, his knuckles cracking audibly in the tense silence.
Finally, his sharp gaze landed on the impossibly young man before him, the one they called Ron.
Despite the other's polite demeanor, the four-billion-Berry bounty number that was seared into his brain made it hard for him to believe anything he was seeing.
"Kid," Shiki questioned, his voice a low, skeptical growl, "are you really sure you're worth a four-billion-Berry bounty?"
Hearing such a strange question, Ron almost laughed.
He simply pointed a calm finger at the crumpled newspaper still clutched in Shiki's hand.
"Keep going," he said, his tone patient. "You haven't finished the article yet. Once you're done, you'll naturally understand whether I'm worth that price. And," he added, a confident smirk playing on his lips, "you'll also see why I sought you out for cooperation."
Shiki fell silent for a moment, his pride warring with his confusion, before he forced himself to continue reading.
As he went through the article word by word, the later contents left him increasingly shocked, his disbelief hardening into pure, stubborn denial.
His brows furrowed, his eyes filled with a furious confusion.
"This has to be fake! It's all lies!" he finally roared, slamming the paper down on the stone table.
"How can one person possess two Devil Fruit abilities at once?! Everyone knows eating two Devil Fruits would make you explode into dust!" He glared at them, his certainty absolute.
"And this nonsense here—Newgate is a triple Devil Fruit User?! Absolutely fake! I've known that old bastard for decades! Do you think I don't recognize his damn Tremor Fruit when I see it? Don't even try to fool me with this garbage!" His voice rose several decibels, clearly infuriated by what he saw as an outrageous, childish attempt to deceive him.
Seeing this, Ron just shook his head.
'Has the rudder lodged in his head affected his intelligence?'
'How can he not believe such clear facts, printed right there in black and white?'
If the man was this stubborn, then a more direct, undeniable approach would be necessary.
With that thought, Ron smiled faintly.
It seemed he'd have to give the Golden Lion a little demonstration.
He then lightly clapped his hands once, a sharp, clear sound that acted as a signal.
Jozu, who had been waiting patiently, instantly understood Ron's meaning.
He stepped forward with a keen awareness, positioning himself directly in front of the fuming Golden Lion.
Shiki eyed the big, diamond-skinned oaf but said nothing.
He wanted to see what pathetic tricks these young upstarts could possibly pull in front of a true legend.
"Seeing is believing," Shiki began, his voice dripping with condescension.
"If you really are a Dual-Fruit ability user—"
He never got to finish his sentence.
He gasped, as a strangled choking sound came out of his mouth, his eyes nearly bulging out of his skull.
He stared, dumbfounded and horrified at Jozu's right hand, momentarily rendered completely speechless.
Jozu's right arm slowly transformed, its surface shimmering and shifting into flawless, glittering diamond.
He then clenched his fist abruptly, and a spherical, crackling white aura—the unmistakable force field of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—appeared around it.
Then, he slammed his fist into the empty air.
BOOM!
Crack-crack-crack…
The very air in front of his fist shattered like glass.
Visible, white-rimmed fissures spread outward from the point of impact, creating a terrifying spiderweb in the fabric of space itself.
The all-too-familiar sight, the signature power of his greatest rival, nearly robbed the Golden Lion of his breath.
"Hiss!!!!" he finally managed, a sharp intake of air that was pure shock.
"That's… that's Newgate Tremor Fruit!!!" he shouted uncontrollably, his entire body going numb.
He had known Whitebeard for decades, had fought against that very power.
He was intimately familiar with its every detail.
And now, this seemingly unremarkable big oaf was undeniably, impossibly, wielding it.
Combined with his diamond ability, this was indisputable, world-shattering proof.
"So… it's actually true…"
Nearby, Doflamingo witnessed the scene, his mind roiling like a stormy sea.
He struggled to suppress the wild, manic excitement that was surging in his eyes.
What he had just seen had left him utterly stunned.
'This is the power of a Dual-Fruit user,' he thought, his heart pounding.
'Unbelievably strong!'
Not only that, but he had just observed the perfect fusion of an ultimate defense—the impenetrable Diamondization ability—with the terrifying, world-ending might of Whitebeard's Tremor Fruit.
This combination made its user a nigh-invincible fortress with devastatingly destructive attacks.
Such a pairing was seamless, so perfect that Doflamingo couldn't help but yearn for it with every fiber of his being.
This confirmed his theory.
If he could become a Dual-Fruit user, many of his previously insurmountable problems—Kaido, the other Emperors, the World Government itself—would be effortlessly resolved.
In his view, possessing two Devil Fruit abilities could vastly compensate for his own weaknesses.
Once achieved, he would hold an absolute advantage.
He could finally break free from the constraints and reliance on certain factions.
At this thought, Doflamingo's heartbeat quickened, his breathing growing ragged.
A light unlike any before flickered in his eyes—an infinite, burning thirst for power.
Right now, it was as if he could see a radiant, golden path to a new world unfurling right before him.
Jozu stood there, sweeping his gaze over the two legendary men who were completely awestruck by his display.
He couldn't help but feel a smug satisfaction.
'Heh. A couple of country bumpkins who've never seen the world', he thought, a wide grin hidden from view.
'Just a little demonstration of my power, and they're already this shocked, like little kids seeing a magic trick for the first time. If I showed off my third ability, these two would probably faint on the spot.'
Just as Jozu was about to do just that, a subtle glance from Ron stopped him.
He gave a slight nod without saying anything and silently stepped back behind his vice-captain.
When it came to negotiations, Jozu knew he wasn't skilled.
It was best to follow Ron arrangements.
If he accidentally said the wrong thing and ruined this, a single misplaced word might cost them tens of billions.
He could dig for gold his whole life and still never repay that.
Ron observed the two men, still reeling from the shock, and didn't rush to speak.
Instead, he waited silently for two full minutes.
During that time, the entire space seemed enveloped in a heavy, thoughtful atmosphere.
The Golden Lion finally snapped out of his daze, his eyes still lingering with a mixture of shock, disbelief, and a new, dawning emotion: hope.
If this was possible, if a man could truly wield two powers… could his own broken, aging body regain its vitality, just like Whitebeard's?
If that were truly possible, he might even be able to return to his peak, to the glorious days when he stood as an equal to Roger and Whitebeard.
This thought stirred an unprecedented surge of desperate, burning longing in Shiki's heart.
His pride, his arrogance, his fury—it all melted away, replaced by the simple, raw desire of an old lion wanting one last chance to truly roar.
"L-Little… cough… Vice-Captain Ron," he began, his voice hoarse and cracking, the change in his tone shocking even himself.
"Do you think… is there still a chance for this old man?"
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