Inside the deckhouse of Rocks’ Fury, everyone’s attention was fixed on the five Devil Fruits lying on the table.
Some stood while others sat, but not a single person looked away.
“I’ve read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia before, and these five…” Rocks took a swig from the bottle in his hand.
“They’re all useless.” “It doesn’t matter what abilities they have.
They’re going to be used for brewing wine anyway.” Shiki sat with his legs crossed, holding a glass of liquor.
Whitebeard looked at Rocks curiously.
“What fruits are they?” Rocks immediately identified all five.
Zoan-type: Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit.
Zoan-type: Ox-Ox Fruit.
Zoan-type: Snake-Snake Fruit.
Zoan-type: Rat-Rat Fruit.
Paramecia-type: Key-Key Fruit.
“There’s actually a Paramecia among them?” Dæmon asked in surprise.
The four Zoan fruits represented ordinary animals from the traditional twelve-animal zodiac.
None of them sounded particularly powerful.
Paramecia fruits, however, usually possessed more unusual abilities.
“The Key-Key Fruit allows the user to transform their fingers into any kind of key,” Rocks explained.
“It can supposedly open every lock in the world.” “Thieves would love that ability,” Stussy remarked, shaking her head.
Whitebeard turned toward Dæmon.
“Now that we have the ingredients, how are you going to brew the wine?” “It will take some time.
I’ll inform all of you once it’s ready.” In reality, Dæmon could create the Elixir of Immortality immediately.
However, to make the brewing process appear difficult, he deliberately decided to delay it.
“How long will it take?” Rocks asked.
“About half a month.” “That fast?” Linlin looked at him curiously.
“How exactly do you brew it?” “That’s a trade secret.
Be patient, and you’ll eventually get your wine.” After a brief pause, Dæmon chuckled.
“Once you drink the Elixir of Immortality, your appearance will remain unchanged forever.
Think carefully before drinking it.
If you regret your decision later, I won’t be able to help you.” “Of course I’ll drink it while I’m still young,” Stussy declared excitedly.
“I have no intention of growing old.” Even the most powerful women cared greatly about their beauty and youth.
Charlotte Linlin was apparently an exception.
If she truly cared about her appearance, she would not have eaten so many sweets that she became enormous in the future.
…
One week later, the crew returned to Hachinosu.
Rocks entrusted all five Devil Fruits to Dæmon.
He lived by a simple principle: if he chose to use someone, he would place his trust in them.
If he could not trust them, he would not use them in the first place.
Therefore, he was not worried that Dæmon might disappear with the Devil Fruits.
Of course, Dæmon had no intention of running away.
He still needed the Rocks Pirates to collect more Devil Fruits for him.
After leaving the ship, Dæmon returned to the Immortal Tavern with the five fruits.
Although the tavern had been closed for more than half a month, the interior remained spotless.
Alfie had visited every day to clean it.
“Lord Dæmon!” The moment she saw him return, the young princess hurried over excitedly.
“What are you so happy about?” Dæmon asked.
“I read the newspaper!
Everyone on Hachinosu is talking about how you helped capture two Celestial Dragons!” As if suddenly remembering something, Alfie rushed behind the counter.
She picked up a newspaper and pulled out the wanted poster tucked inside.
“Lord Dæmon, look!
You have your own wanted poster!” Why are you so happy that I’m wanted?
Dæmon rolled his eyes before accepting it.
The longer he stared at the poster, the stranger his expression became.
[WANTED] [DEAD OR ALIVE] [“BREWER” Dæmon] [MEMBER OF THE ROCKS PIRATES] [BOUNTY: 500,000,000 BERRIES] Dæmon stared at the long string of zeros.
Before he could finish counting them, Alfie excitedly exclaimed, “It’s five hundred million Berries!” Five hundred million?
What did I do to deserve such a high first bounty?
It’s equal to Kaido’s!
Dæmon studied the photograph more closely and noticed something else was wrong.
When had anyone taken this picture?
After examining the background, he finally remembered.
The photograph had probably been taken while he was walking past Garp during the kidnapping.
Half of Garp’s body could still be seen behind him.
“The photographer is quite skilled.
I didn’t even notice anyone taking my picture.” Dæmon handed the poster back to Alfie.
“Throw it away.” “What?
No!
I want to hang it on the wall!” “Do whatever you want.” The bounty was clearly excessive.
Who received five hundred million Berries for their first wanted poster?
Dæmon suspected that Alexia’s family had secretly retaliated against him for breaking her wrist.
That would explain why the World Government had placed such an enormous bounty on his head.
Alfie eagerly went to hang the poster.
As far as she was concerned, anything that caused trouble for the Celestial Dragons was worth celebrating.
Dæmon ignored her and walked behind the counter.
After sitting down, he opened the chest containing the five Devil Fruits.
He picked up the Rat-Rat Fruit and silently activated his devouring ability.
Black smoke immediately swirled around his hands.
It formed something resembling a monster’s enormous mouth before swallowing the Devil Fruit whole.
Once the fruit disappeared, the black smoke sank back into his palms.
A system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Devil Fruit consumed.] [Obtained: 100 Demon Points.] [Demon Points: 0 → 100] “I’ve finally earned some points.” Dæmon looked at his empty hand.
“I wonder whether a Devil Fruit consumed by the system will be reincarnated somewhere else.” If it did not reappear, the number of Devil Fruits in the world would gradually decrease.
However, that was not a serious concern.
According to Vegapunk’s research, Devil Fruits were born from humanity’s desires and wishes.
Even if the existing fruits disappeared, perhaps entirely new ones would eventually emerge.
Dæmon continued devouring the remaining fruits.
Each of the ordinary Zoan fruits granted him another one hundred Demon Points.
However, when he consumed the Paramecia-type Key-Key Fruit, the system notification suddenly changed.
[Devil Fruit consumed.] [Obtained: 200 Demon Points.] [Demon Points: 400 → 600] “Hm?
So not every Devil Fruit is worth only one hundred points.” Dæmon considered the possibilities.
“Is it because the Key-Key Fruit is a Paramecia, or is it simply more valuable because of its ability?” If he obtained the opportunity, he would have to test special varieties such as Logia fruits, Ancient Zoans, and Mythical Zoans.
“I now have six hundred points—enough to create six bottles of the Elixir of Immortality.” Six bottles would provide twenty-four servings.
Combined with the three glasses remaining from the first bottle, Dæmon could create twenty-seven immortals.
He had yet to test his ability to devour an immortal.
Now that he possessed a surplus of wine, it was time to find a suitable target and strengthen himself.
As for unlocking a new Demon Skill, that required one thousand Demon Points.
He did not have enough, so he could only abandon that idea for now.
“The next step is finding someone suitable to devour.” Dæmon narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
“For now, I shouldn’t target anyone from the Rocks Pirates.” He raised one hand and activated his skill.
Black lightning crackled across his palm as dark energy gathered before him.
Moments later, it condensed into a new bottle of the Elixir of Immortality.
[Demon Points: 600 → 500] …
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During those two weeks, Shiki visited the Immortal Tavern every day to ask about the brewing progress.
His persistence gradually began testing Dæmon’s patience.
Each time the Golden Lion appeared, Dæmon could answer only with “Soon” or “It’s almost ready.” Early one morning, exactly half a month later, Shiki arrived the moment the tavern opened.
“Dæmon, half a month has passed!” he shouted as soon as he entered.
“Is the wine ready yet?” “Soon…” Dæmon gave him the same vague answer, his expression helpless.
Shiki’s shoulders slumped.
“It’s unbelievably difficult to get a drink from you.
Forget it.
I’ll visit Shakky’s bar and satisfy my craving there.” “Wait!” Dæmon immediately stopped him.
“Shakky’s bar?” Shiki looked at him in surprise.
“You don’t know about it?
It belongs to the woman known as the Idol Empress.
Since you’re both tavern owners, I assumed you would know her.” “I know Shakuyaku.
She was the captain of the Kuja Pirates.
Are we talking about the same person?” “That was two years ago,” Shiki explained.
“Someone else is leading the Kuja Pirates now.” Dæmon had never paid much attention to the exact timeline while watching the anime, so he had not realized that Shakky had already stepped down.
However, he knew a fair amount about the Kuja Pirates.
Four successive generations of their empresses were famous beauties.
The first was Gloriosa, who had since joined the Rocks Pirates.
The second was Shakuyaku—better known as Shakky—an idol of the seas with admirers across the world.
The third was Tritoma, the current Empress of Amazon Lily and captain of the Kuja Pirates.
The fourth would be Boa Hancock, the future most beautiful woman in the world, who had yet to be born.
An idol of the seas?
In this oppressive era before the Great Pirate Age, Shakky’s beauty was apparently famous enough to captivate even members of the Rocks Pirates.
Dæmon suddenly wanted to see her for himself.
Just then, a tall woman appeared outside the tavern.
“So this is the Immortal Tavern that Rocks and the others have been talking about?” Dæmon and Shiki both turned toward the entrance.
The moment Shiki saw her, his eyes transformed into hearts.
“Shakky!” The woman smiled and raised one hand in greeting.
“Hello.
I’m Shakuyaku, but everyone calls me Shakky.”