"Ding! Host promoted two ranks at once."
"Ding! Rank Reward: Conqueror's Haki. Claim now?"
"Ding! Rank Reward: Six Random Rokushiki Derivative Techniques. Claim now?"
"Ding! Rank Reward: One Devil Fruit Self-Selection Card. Claim now?"
'HOLY FUCKING FUCK'
Lancelot thought, his mind reeling from the sheer magnitude of the rewards.
Two promotions directly gave three separate, high-tier rewards? That was truly, unbelievably awesome.
Lancelot didn't hesitate for a single second.
"Claim! Claim all!"
"Claim successful. Host has successfully awakened Conqueror's Haki."
A sudden, overwhelming pressure emanated from Lancelot, causing Lina, who was standing nearby, to momentarily stagger, her eyes wide with shock.
Lancelot quickly reigned it in, the initial burst fading.
"Claim successful. Randomly distributing six Rokushiki derivative techniques..."
"Ding! Obtained: Tekkai Kenpo, Tekkai 'Utsugi', Tekkai Sai, Tekkai Go, Rokushiki Ogi 'Rokuogan', Rankyaku 'Shigure'."
"Ding! Successfully claimed one Devil Fruit Self-Selection Card!"
"Ding! Generating options... Obtained: Logia - Kumo Kumo no Mi (Cloud-Cloud Fruit), Paramecia - Oto Oto no Mi (Sound Wave Fruit), Zoan - Mythical Zoan - Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Kyusō Kinryū (Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon). Host may choose any one among them."
'Ah... this...'
Lancelot was utterly stunned.
His eyes were completely fixed, mesmerized, on the third option: Mythical Zoan-Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon.
All the other options—the potentially powerful Cloud-Cloud Logia, the versatile Sound Wave Paramecia—were tossed aside without a second thought.
They simply paled in comparison.
Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit was already overwhelmingly, world-shatteringly powerful.
A Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon!
How could a mere Cloud-Cloud Fruit possibly compare?
In the face of this Devil Fruit, Lancelot felt that perhaps only the most destructive Logia type, Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit, could barely stand shoulder to shoulder with it in terms of raw potential.
Thus, as soon as Lancelot regained his composure, shaking off the awe, he immediately declared to the system.
"Choose the Mythical Zoan-Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon!"
"Ding! Successfully claimed. The fruit is now stored in the system inventory. New character panel generated."
Host: Lancelot
Military Rank: Rear Admiral
Talent: Superhuman Physique
Bloodline Factor: Whale Shark Fishman
Sword Soul: Dual Blades Burns, Demon Slash Asura
Sword Styles: One Sword Style, Two Sword Style, Three Sword Style
Sword Techniques: [Includes all previous techniques]
Rank: Sword Master
Martial Arts: Vice Admiral Level [Rokushiki - Mastered]
Rokushiki Derived Techniques: Tekkai Kenpo, Tekkai 'Utsugi', Tekkai Sai, Tekkai Go, Rokuogan, Rankyaku 'Shigure'
Speed: Vice Admiral Level
Body: Vice Admiral Level
Sword Technique: Vice Admiral Level
Conqueror's Haki: Beginner
Armament Haki: Basic (+Advanced Application)
Observation Haki: Basic
Devil Fruit: [Stored] Zoan - Mythical Zoan - Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon
Comprehensive Strength: Vice Admiral
'Incredible... absolutely incredible!'
Lancelot thought, analyzing the massive jump in his stats.
Even without consuming the Dragon Fruit yet, just the mastery of Rokushiki derivatives and the awakening of Conqueror's Haki had directly elevated his base physical parameters—his Doriki, speed, and physique—to the solid Vice Admiral level.
Back when he fought Mr. 1, he had already realized his biggest shortcoming: his raw physical power, while superhuman, still couldn't quite match up to true top-tier fighters who relied on brute strength or powerful Zoan forms.
After all, in terms of pure, unaugmented strength, he had struggled somewhat even against Mr. 1's steel body.
But now it was perfect.
The refined Rokushiki techniques, especially the Tekkai enhancements and the devastating Rokuogan, directly compensated for that weakness, officially placing him among the ranks of powerful fighters.
Although there was still a significant gap compared to the Emperors and Admirals, he now possessed all the qualities a true powerhouse should have.
He wouldn't even fear facing ordinary Shichibukai anymore.
"Hey... kid, are you listening to me?" Burns's irritated voice came through the Den Den Mushi again, snapping Lancelot's attention back to their conversation.
Lancelot quickly composed himself.
"I'm listening... What is it, old man?"
Burns's expression turned serious. "It's a good thing you've taken the position of East Blue Governor-General, but... I'm afraid some people, our rivals, might be scheming for the vacant Chief Inspector position."
Lancelot raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Move Gin's name up the list for consideration, then."
Burns furrowed his brow and shook his head.
"I'm afraid it would be a wasted effort. Those guys definitely won't miss this opportunity to install their own puppet."
Lancelot smiled, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes.
"Just move Gin's name up. Whether it succeeds or not doesn't matter. After all, they dug that huge three billion Berry pit earlier. If they want to fight for this Chief Inspector position, they'll have to fill that pit themselves first, paying the tribute for this year."
He chuckled darkly. "Besides, even if they really do manage to fill it, so what? Aren't there plenty of powerful pirates in the East Blue?"
"Huh?" Burns was momentarily stunned, then caught his son's meaning and chuckled as well.
"True, three billion is a massive pit. It's uncertain whether they can fill it on such short notice. But if they really do manage... are you thinking of playing dirty? Setting up their new appointee?"
Lancelot scoffed.
"Dirty? What do you mean by dirty? Where in this world are there no pirates? Although the East Blue is the weakest sea, it's also the hometown of the marine hero Garp, and the birthplace of the Pirate King. Is it really so strange for a stronger, more ambitious pirate to emerge there? Perhaps one who wants to make a name for himself by taking the Chief Inspector's head?"
Burns pondered for a moment, stroking his chin.
"If we're going to do this... it has to be done cleanly. Without leaving any evidence linking it back to us. You and your direct subordinates absolutely cannot make a move. But besides them... do you have anyone around you who's both capable... and trustworthy enough for such a task?"
Lancelot smiled again. "Don't worry, old man. I already have the perfect candidate in mind. If it weren't for the suddenness of this three billion Berry matter, this guy would probably already be stirring up trouble in the East Blue."
He thought of Crocodile, stewing in Alabasta, furious at the Vice Admirals who had cost him his best agents.
Oh yes, Crocodile would be very interested in taking out their new East Blue pawn.
"As long as you know what you're doing," Burns said, satisfied. "Also, remember, the three billion you need to deliver this time... still has to be sent over. That part of the deal is unchanged."
"I understand," Lancelot replied smoothly.
"After all, the Celestial Dragons are famously unreasonable. Moreover... think about it. I've only been the East Blue Governor-General for just over ten days, yet I'm already delivering the full three billion directly to the Celestial Dragons. Wouldn't it then seem... more reasonable... for my successor, the new Chief Inspector, to scrape together another three billion for the Celestial Dragons within the next two months?"
"Tsk tsk..."
Finally, both Lancelot and Burns, father and son, exchanged sinister, knowing smiles over the Den Den Mushi.
They were turning their rivals' scheme back against them.
Then Lancelot added, a new thought occurring to him.
"Old man, if I do 'lose' the position of East Blue Governor-General this time due to this... 'unfortunate' pirate incident... then propose to the Celestial Dragons that they give us Cactus Island, where Whiskey Peak is located, as compensation."
"Cactus Island?" Burns fell into deep thought. After a long while, he said.
"That's the first island when entering the Grand Line from the Four Seas. Its location is too strategically important. I'm afraid we couldn't hold it... Besides, we don't have any valid reason to occupy it."
Lancelot's smile widened. "That's why I want to cooperate with the Celestial Dragons. We establish a 'Four Seas Exchange' there... in the name of the Celestial Dragons."
"Four Seas Exchange? What do you mean?" Burns looked puzzled.
Lancelot explained his grand design.
"It means that if someone on the Grand Line wants specialty products from one of the Four Seas—North Blue wine, West Blue textiles, South Blue technology, East Blue delicacies—they can post a purchase request with the Four Seas Exchange on Cactus Island. The Exchange would then procure those items from the Four Seas... and vice versa. Merchants wanting to sell Grand Line goods to the Four Seas would go through us."
"This way," Lancelot concluded, his eyes gleaming, "merchants from both the Four Seas and the Grand Line could avoid the dangers of sea travel through Paradise and Reverse Mountain. As for us... we could collect some hefty 'transportation fees' and, of course, enjoy a bit of the price differential. All under the protection, and for the benefit, of the Celestial Dragons themselves"