Stored inside was the Devil Fruit he had obtained three years ago.
A Paramecia—the Warp Fruit.
In the original story, it had been the Devil Fruit ability of Van Augur, the Blackbeard Pirates' sniper.
It could be said to be a Devil Fruit perfectly suited for a sniper.
But in Austin's hands, it would naturally be far more than just a sniper-supporting fruit.
When his strength could no longer improve, Austin might consider eating this space-related Devil Fruit.
Once he developed it to the point of awakening, it might bring him plenty of surprises. For example, warping all of an enemy's attacks thousands of miles away; rapidly teleporting to achieve a "Kamui Phasing" effect and become immune to all attacks; casually warping Devil Fruit users into the sea...
Even the Paw-Paw Fruit could repel pain and travel the entire world. Why couldn't the Warp Fruit do the same?
In Austin's view, Mythical Zoan Types might indeed be powerful, but Paramecias were no weaker, especially those involving conceptual abilities.
As for why he wasn't eating it now...
Austin was waiting.
Because he was worried about a certain possibility: whether Devil Fruit users would be rejected by the Final Island before the right time came.
In the original story, Buggy had suddenly developed a high fever for no apparent reason on the eve of landing on the island, causing him to miss the Great Treasure.
Yet no one else had shown the same symptoms.
The greatest difference between Buggy and everyone else was that Buggy was a Chop-Chop Fruit user.
So Austin didn't dare gamble. The fruit wasn't going anywhere anyway, and waiting another two years made no difference to him.
Besides, during those two years, he could focus properly on improving his Haki. After all, Teacher Kaido had said, "Only Haki transcends all."
Austin naturally wouldn't put the cart before the horse and turn himself into some glass cannon whose Devil Fruit ability looked incredible, only to collapse the moment he encountered Haki infusion.
Was Kid impressive?
His awakened electromagnetic cannon had severely wounded a Four Emperor with ease, and one blast could wipe out fleets in swathes.
But his Haki couldn't keep up. Shanks used Future Sight, caught the slightest opening in his wind-up, and one Divine Departure cut him down like he was walking a dog.
Three billion, slaughtered as easily as a chicken.
So no matter what, Austin would never abandon his Haki training.
He wanted to forge the world's toughest Armament Haki, Future Sight that could see farther than anyone else's, and Conqueror's Haki inferior to no one.
And sailing with the Roger Pirates was currently the fastest way for him to improve his Haki. In a sense, he was copying Shanks's path to greatness...
Knock, knock...
As Austin was lost in thought, someone knocked on the door.
"Uncle Bitam?"
A strange crimson gleam flashed in Austin's eyes, and an image of a fat man standing outside his door instantly appeared before him.
After putting on his pants, Austin opened the door. Sure enough, it was his sniper instructor.
Bitam, the Roger Pirates' sniper.
"Austin, you're still awake?"
Bitam held a long, rod-shaped object wrapped in bandages and casually patted Austin's shoulder.
Austin nodded and invited him inside to sit.
"This is...?"
"I'm here to congratulate you, Austin. Not just anyone has the potential for Conqueror's Haki."
Bitam smiled warmly and directly handed him the object.
It had to be said that, as Austin's teacher, Bitam had been extremely conscientious. He had diligently taught Austin more advanced uses of Observation Haki and sniping techniques, fully deserving to be called Austin's teacher.
Austin took the object, and the moment it touched his hands, he knew what it was.
It was a rifle.
And quite a heavy one...
Austin unwound the bandages layer by layer, revealing a glossy black sniper rifle beneath. Its design was especially handsome, and both the barrel and scope were made from exceptional materials.
This material was really good...
It was all fucking Seastone!
Holy shit...
Austin didn't know what to say. He had originally planned to become a Devil Fruit user who could fight, tank hits, and still play sniper. What was he supposed to do now?
Were teleportation and sniper rifles mutually exclusive?
"Uh... it really is a fine gun!"
Seeing Bitam's expectant little eyes, Austin naturally couldn't bear to say anything dissatisfied.
At worst, he could keep it wrapped in bandages when he used it later.
Besides, it truly was an excellent gun. Any sniper accustomed to firearms could tell the moment he held it that hitting targets several thousand meters away would be no problem.
If the bullets were coated in Armament Haki or a Devil Fruit ability, then theoretically, it could shoot even farther.
"Ha ha ha ha! Of course it is! I spent a fortune on this thing back then. It's just that I've grown used to my old partner, so I never switched. You're getting lucky, brat!"
Bitam laughed heartily, clearly delighted that such a fine gun had found such a fine owner.
Because Austin deserved it.
There were already few snipers with Conqueror's Haki, and after all these years, Austin was the only promising one to emerge. His future was limitless.
Bitam didn't have Conqueror's Haki, so he was destined never to become one of the World's Strongest as a sniper. But Austin had that hope.
So this was also an investment in the sniping profession!
"I originally wanted to give it to you tomorrow, but I saw that Shanks was still awake, so I figured you probably weren't asleep either. That's why I came over tonight."
Hearing Bitam's words, Austin, who had been fiddling with his new weapon, paused. He raised an eyebrow and asked curiously,
"What is that guy Shanks going crazy over in the middle of the night?"
"Probably because of you."
Seeing Austin's confusion, Bitam smiled. "After seeing someone his age casually defeat an enemy ship's officer, Shanks was probably a little stimulated."
Then he burst into laughter.
As a child Captain Roger had raised since he was young, Shanks possessed extraordinary talent and had been regarded by Roger as the future inheritor of his will.
And Austin was Bitam's disciple.
Now Austin > Shanks.
In a sense, didn't that mean Bitam > Roger?
"Looks like Shanks has the heart of a strong man too."
That was actually normal. When he had first boarded the ship, Shanks, who had already been given the straw hat by Roger, possessed the beginnings of a mindset that looked down upon the world. He had even been entrusted with the hope of becoming the "King of the Next Generation."
Austin's appearance had undoubtedly placed a ceiling over this boy who had been invincible among his peers.
Shanks, who had traveled with the Roger Pirates since childhood, was actually inferior to Austin, who had grown up in a small town. It was like a gifted young master being unable to defeat a grassroots child of destiny.
Didn't that mean Captain Roger's will shouldn't be inherited by him, and the straw hat shouldn't belong to him either?
Shanks couldn't accept it.
Even though Austin had never deliberately targeted him, the gap between them still made Shanks instinctively compare himself to Austin, hoping that one day he could once again become the MVP among the three little ones.
After Austin unleashed his Conqueror's Haki during the day, Shanks started pushing himself ruthlessly that very night.
"Keep it up, Austin. If you let your guard down, you'll be surpassed."
Austin didn't actually feel much pressure from Bitam's words.
After all, he had never intended to inherit anyone's will or become the Pirate King.
His desire to see what One Piece actually was came purely from nostalgia and curiosity.
If he really wanted to become the Pirate King, wouldn't that be easy? Once Roger died, he could take the Eternal Pointer to Laugh Tale, revisit the place, and announce that he had found the Great Treasure.
But he did genuinely value strength.
He couldn't exactly want to have some fun or show off in the future, only to be forced to run away whenever Shanks got in his way. That guy was famous for meddling in other people's business.
Shanks might have some clout with others.
But before him and Buggy,
He didn't have a single hair.
Before you continue