“Devil Fruits aren’t even considered top-tier items?!”
Smoker’s brows tightened instantly, a deep crease forming between them as he clearly took issue with the Shop Owner’s calm and almost dismissive statement.
If Devil Fruits weren’t considered top-tier, then what in the vast oceans of the world could possibly qualify?
More importantly, the way this man spoke made one thing undeniable he truly possessed Devil Fruits in his inventory.
Smoker’s expression darkened slightly as a realization formed.
A stable, controlled source of Devil Fruits… that kind of resource would tempt even the Four Emperors of the New World.
It was not something that should exist so casually in a remote East Blue village.
“In that case,” Smoker said in a low voice, smoke curling from his lips, “Shop Owner, why would you set up something like this… a Jar Shop… in a place like the East Blue?”
That was the part he could not understand.
Was this man truly from the East Blue?
Or was he someone far more complicated who had simply chosen this place as a foothold?
Xia Wen merely shook his head slightly, his tone calm and indifferent.
“No reason.
Are you going to open jars or not?”
“I only have thirty left today.”
Smoker’s gaze shifted toward the neatly arranged jars behind the counter, his mouth twitching slightly at the sight.
He subconsciously reached for a cigar, only to pause when he felt Xia Wen’s gaze land on him.
After a brief hesitation, he simply held it in his mouth without lighting it.
Unlike reckless rookies, he understood the dangers of unknown Devil Fruit users and bizarre abilities.
On the Grand Line, strange powers were everywhere.
A careless decision could easily turn into a trap.
For example, he briefly considered the absurd possibility that agreeing to open a jar might somehow result in him being “sold” along with it, his body and will manipulated by the Shop Owner.
A ridiculous thought but in this world, not entirely impossible.
“Captain… should I try first?” Tashigi asked, adjusting her glasses as she stepped forward cautiously.
Smoker glanced sideways at her.
“100,000 Berries per jar.
Do you have that kind of money?”
“Uh… no.”
Tashigi froze, realizing she had not brought nearly enough funds.
Her mission briefing had only included investigation and escort duties regarding the Arlong Pirates there had been no mention of purchasing mysterious jars.
Smoker exhaled a small stream of smoke, his gaze shifting toward Captain Nezumi, who was nervously lingering at the back of the shop.
It was precisely for this reason he had been summoned.
“Captain Nezumi.”
“Y-yes!
I’m here!” Nezumi responded instantly, flinching.
“You haven’t opened any jars, have you?”
“Ah?!
No!
Not at all!”
“Good.
Then go open ten.”
Nezumi’s face instantly stiffened.
He clearly did not want to open jars in front of witnesses.
Whatever he might obtain was his private leverage something he did not want exposed.
But under Smoker’s cold gaze, refusal was not an option.
He forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace, stepped forward, and placed one million Berries on the counter.
“I-I’ll take ten jars.”
Xia Wen raised a hand casually.
Immediately, ten jars floated off the table and landed neatly in front of Nezumi without any visible mechanism or effort.
Smoker’s eyes sharpened.
He could not determine what kind of ability had been used to move them.
Nezumi took a deep breath, excitement and greed flashing briefly across his face.
“I’m opening them.”
“Crack!
Crack!
Crack!”
Three jars shattered in succession.
Smoker and Tashigi leaned forward slightly, observing closely.
But the contents only disappointed them.
“A biscuit… a cheap bottle of red wine… and a pig-themed hat?”
Tashigi pushed her glasses up, evaluating bluntly.
“Combined value… not even 10,000 Berries.”
Those words landed like a knife.
Nezumi’s expression twitched painfully.
He could no longer even maintain his forced smile.
He continued opening jars in frustration.
Five more shattered in rapid succession.
But the results remained unchanged.
Every item was ordinary cheap tools, random junk, and useless trinkets.
One jar even contained a stack of 10,000 Berries, which only deepened the irony.
Nezumi’s breathing grew unstable.
His hands trembled slightly.
He had spent 800,000 Berries… and received almost nothing of real value.
If not for the earlier confirmed Devil Fruit result from Nami, he would have believed this was nothing more than a scam.
“…This is basically robbery,” Tashigi muttered under her breath, her skepticism growing.
Smoker did not respond, but his eyes remained fixed on Xia Wen.
The Shop Owner’s expression never changed.
“What comes out of the jars is entirely dependent on luck.
I have no control over it.”
“If you’re lucky, one jar can yield a Devil Fruit.
If you’re unlucky, a hundred jars might only produce trash.”
Nezumi let out a hollow laugh.
“Haha… seems like my luck just isn’t good today.”
In desperation, he smashed open the final two jars.
On the tenth jar, a brilliant green light suddenly erupted.
“It’s out!
It’s out!”
Nezumi’s expression shifted instantly into excitement.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the glowing object with near-inhuman speed.
Smoker’s eyes narrowed sharply.
It was a strange, irregular fruit gray-green in color, covered in spiral patterns.
His cigar slipped from his mouth and fell unnoticed to the ground.
A Devil Fruit.
These jars… could actually produce Devil Fruits.
What kind of existence was this Shop Owner?
Tashigi’s voice came out slightly dazed.
“Captain… does this mean our mission is complete?”
“Hahahahaha!!!”
Nezumi clutched the fruit tightly, laughing triumphantly.
“I can finally become a noble Devil Fruit user!!!”
[Turtle SMILE: An artificial Devil Fruit.
Upon consumption, the user’s back is reinforced, gaining hardness comparable to steel.]
[Due to defects, transformation abilities are absent.
Side effects may occur: green hair growth, permanent hunched posture, unstable emotions.]
[Note: Once eaten, the effects are permanent for life.]
Xia Wen silently read the system’s appraisal, then frowned slightly in his mind.
“System… can I refuse this fruit?”
He had absolutely no interest in becoming some turtle-like existence.
Even if system absorption could eliminate side effects, this kind of low-grade artificial product would only clutter his reward pool.
[Ding!
Processing request…]
[Completed: Unwanted items or abilities can be stored in system space in original reward form.]
Xia Wen exhaled internally in relief.
“That’s good.”
Before he could say anything further
Nezumi, fearing the fruit might be taken away, immediately bit into it.
“Ugh!”
The taste was so foul that he nearly retched immediately, clutching his mouth and gagging violently.
But driven by greed, he forced himself to swallow it entirely.
Smoker silently retrieved a new cigar, lighting it without comment.
Moments later, Nezumi’s body began to change.
He could no longer stand upright properly, his posture bending awkwardly as an itch spread across his head.
Alarmed, he ripped off his hat and looked around frantically for a mirror.
Then Tashigi, struggling to maintain composure, tilted her head slightly and asked
“Captain Nezumi…”
“Why is the top of your head… pointed?”