Harvesting a Devil Fruit

This Devil Fruit looked like a banana to Julian—black, with a large patch of Devil Fruit patterns. Julian laughed. "So it really was you. I must have traded Momonosuke's lifespan for this critical hit."

Julian laughed. "I wonder what ability this Demon Fruit has." Without further thought, he packed it away inside his body. As for this fruit grove, Julian used his Earth-Earth Fruit ability, forming arms from the soil to pick the fruit. Then the earth turned into a five-hundred-meter mud cart, and Julian entered Fire Dragon Form to transport the fruit back to the ship.

Julian said, "Papayas are a good thing." Then he suddenly thought of Alice's figure. Did she even need papayas? Definitely not. Beatrice should eat a few more papayas, though. Marlena did not need them either. Julian said, "Why did I suddenly think of that?" He shook his head, feeling that he really should not be thinking like this. Was his Dao heart in turmoil again?

Julian entered Fire Dragon Form and flew back to the ship. He gave the order, "Logistics personnel, go ashore and transplant all these fruit trees into the open-air deck on the fourth floor." Julian then released all the fruit from the mud cart. The crew on the ship looked at Captain Julian's tremendous strength with worshipful expressions and said, "Captain, your strength truly is exceptional!"

Julian had the logistics personnel stationed on the ship transport all the fruit brought over into storage. Watching the logistics crew work swiftly and efficiently, he thought to himself, These crewmen are far more efficient than those slaves. He thought, Sure enough, paying wages is what brings out their work efficiency. He thought, Ten thousand Berries a month is already a very high salary in this world.

One broccoli cost fifty Berries, and one Chopper cost fifty Berries. Two hundred Choppers a month—who would not work hard for the Flame Dragon Pirates? Besides, the slave recruits who had just boarded the ship received ten thousand Berries and repeatedly said, "It's too much, really too much. We can't possibly spend it all."

Julian told the crew searching for dinosaur eggs and exploring the deserted island to work harder and bring back every useful resource. He planned to set sail again that evening and head toward Reverse Mountain. He estimated that they still had one-third of the journey left before entering the Grand Line.

Julian now felt that his strength had become formidable enough. He planned to enter the Grand Line himself and take Sky Island. He could not keep grinding low-level areas in the South Blue forever.

At the South Blue Naval Branch, Gilmi received another call. The Mud Dragon Pirates' captain, Julian, had emptied out yet another World Government member nation. Gilmi looked helpless. They could not defeat the enemy, and the other side had so many powerful Division Captains. There was simply nothing he could do but report it to Marine Headquarters again. Jimiel also reported the news to Marine Headquarters.

The scene shifted to Marine Headquarters. When Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong learned the news, he was furious. Mud Dragon Julian had emptied another kingdom. Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong roared with rage, "Mud Dragon brat! Don't let me catch you, or I'll punch your head apart!"

Still cursing, he replied to Major General Jimiel's message. Holding a Den Den Mushi, Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong said to Gilmi, "Lord Gorosei has already learned that the Flame Dragon Pirates have appeared in the South Blue. They will take action. Make sure the other pirates do not cause major chaos in the South Blue."

After saying that, Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong looked helpless as he complained, "That Mud Dragon Pirates crew has even upgraded into the Flame Dragon Pirates. We still don't know where they're headed."

Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong continued, "Flame Dragon Julian has become the only person on the Sea to eat two Devil Fruits. Lord Gorosei wants to know how he managed to eat two Devil Fruits, and they want me to send in an undercover agent."

Fleet Admiral Kong thought to himself, Lord Gorosei wants the Navy to arrange an undercover agent for him, preferably one who can dig up all of Julian's intelligence. He said to an orderly, "Go call Colonel Gion. I have a mission for her." The orderly saluted to show that he understood.

The orderly left to notify Colonel Gion. Before long, a young woman around twenty-three or twenty-four walked over. She was exceptionally beautiful, with a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth. Rather than detracting from her looks, it added a touch of captivating charm.

Gion had graduated from the Naval Elite Training Camp just last year. Since childhood, she had aspired to become a pirate nemesis. She was the adopted little sister of Marine Headquarters Staff Officer Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Vice Admiral Tsuru was extremely fond of little Gion. This young woman was also a swordsmanship prodigy, already highly capable, a genius of the elite training camp, and the goddess in the hearts of countless young men.

One of the future Marine Admiral candidates, Gion had only graduated a little over a year ago and was currently serving aboard Vice Admiral Tsuru's warship. The door to Fleet Admiral Kong's office opened, and a two-meter-tall beauty entered. "Fleet Admiral Kong, were you looking for me?"

Fleet Admiral Kong took out an intelligence report and handed it to Gion. He continued, "This Flame Dragon Julian seems to have already eaten two Devil Fruits. He is extremely powerful and extremely cunning. Now he has acquired a Devil Fruit comparable to a god-tier one, making him the only Dual Devil Fruit User on the Sea."

"The Flame Dragon Pirates also frequently steal from the treasure vaults of World Government member nations and commit every kind of evil." Fleet Admiral Kong finished in one breath, still looking extremely angry. Gion nodded, took the report, and began reading it.

Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong continued, "Not long ago, this Flame Dragon Julian even robbed Rear Admiral Gilmi of the South Blue Naval Branch, upgraded his pirate crew into the Flame Dragon Pirates, and got his hands on Marine Rokushiki. The South Blue has become a complete mess."

Gion replied, "What are your orders, Fleet Admiral? Do you need me to take action and eliminate this pirate?" Fleet Admiral Kong nodded and said, "His strength is already terrifying. You are not his match yet. At the very least, we would need to deploy an Admiral and launch a Buster Call to destroy the Flame Dragon Pirates. But right now, we need to guard against the Legendary Great Pirates in the New World. Garp is hunting Roger. We simply cannot spare the manpower."

Fleet Admiral Kong continued, "Lord Gorosei has ordered me to send a Navy undercover agent to uncover the Flame Dragon Pirates' secrets." He added, "And Julian is especially skilled at winning people over. The speed at which he develops his forces is truly terrifying."

Fleet Admiral Kong sighed and continued, "In just half a year, he has developed more than three thousand crewmen. He also has seven Devil Fruit users serving as senior officers, while his First Mate is a powerful Swordmaster. Flame Dragon Julian himself is a Logia Earth-Earth Fruit user. He can alter the environment on an island's surface at will. He is extremely cunning and decisive, and has killed more than a hundred people in an instant. Now that he has obtained the Marine Rokushiki manual, this pirate crew will develop even faster."

Fleet Admiral Kong continued, "Lord Gorosei has also requested that we obtain the method he uses to eat two Devil Fruits if possible." Steel Bone Kong added, "Lord Gorosei has ordered me to arrange for an undercover agent to board the Flame Dragon Pirates' ship and gather intelligence on their pirate crew."

Gion's face darkened. "Fleet Admiral Kong, Lord Gorosei wants me to go undercover, right? You didn't have to say so much. I'm willing to go."

Fleet Admiral Kong said, "Sorry for the trouble. I was worried you would not dare to go. Disguise yourself as a slave and join his pirate crew. Provide us with intelligence, especially his sailing coordinates. Once we have them, Marine Headquarters can directly surround and destroy the Flame Dragon Pirates."

Gion nodded. "Rest assured, Fleet Admiral. This is my first mission, and I guarantee I'll complete it." Fleet Admiral Kong said, "The Flame Dragon Pirates should be heading for Reverse Mountain. They are following the S-shaped route, specifically plundering the treasures and Devil Fruits of World Government member nations. Wait in the Philogina Kingdom in the South Blue. They should try to seize that nation by force."

Fleet Admiral Kong continued, "The World Government member nations in the South Blue have all been terrified by Flame Dragon Julian's raids." Gion nodded. "I guarantee I'll complete the mission." Steel Bone Kong said, "The Navy's phone has been ringing off the hook from calls by South Blue member nations, but we still cannot spare any experts to capture Flame Dragon Julian."

After Fleet Admiral Kong finished speaking, he sighed again and continued, "This position is becoming harder and harder to hold. Once Roger, the Legendary Great Pirate, is captured, I'll be promoted to General of the Three Armed Forces of the World Government. Sengoku will then take over as Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters. I hope he can change the Navy's passive situation."

Gion replied, "Fleet Admiral Kong, you truly are a great Marine." Fleet Admiral Kong continued, "Ah, this Sea can never stay calm. Today there is Roger, and more than a decade ago there was Rocks. There will be other pirate uprisings in the future as well. I'm old now. I'll have to leave what comes next to all of you. You must keep this Sea peaceful, or at least ensure stability for the people of most kingdoms. As for that small minority, there is truly nothing we can do."

Gion said with a solemn expression, "I am willing to go undercover in the Flame Dragon Pirates. I guarantee I'll complete the mission." She saluted Steel Bone Kong, then returned to her room in her Navy's justice cloak to prepare civilian clothes.

Fleet Admiral Kong had Gion use the Naval channel to ascend the Red Line, then descend from Mary Geoise atop the Red Line into the South Blue. This was a special privilege only high-ranking Marines had, and it required an application to the World Government.

Dr. Vegapunk was known as a genius scientist eight hundred years ahead of his era and was still working for the Navy. Since the World Government did not yet have Seastone, Vegapunk had not developed steamships with Seastone-coated hulls, leaving them unable to cross the Calm Belt.

Steel Bone Kong planned to finish off Flame Dragon Julian at the Sabaody Archipelago, the end of the Grand Line, and prevent Julian from entering the New World. Kong had already sensed Julian's immense ambition. What none of them expected was that Julian would not play by the rules at all—he would only go as far as Jaya Island before heading up to Sky Island.

This was also a fact. The Navy's higher-ups feared that Julian would spread Marine Rokushiki across the Sea. If that happened, what advantage would the Navy have over pirates? If everyone knew Marine Rokushiki, the Navy might not even be able to defeat pirates anymore. Everyone would be starting from the same point; there would be no point in playing. They might as well all go home and find their mothers.

When the other Division Captains returned with their teams, Julian immediately ordered the ship to set sail. He examined the Devil Fruit. It was a Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Archaeopteryx Form. Julian felt that the Archaeopteryx Form was a little stronger than ordinary Ancient Zoans.

In Archaeopteryx Form, its user could fly, and both arms could transform into wings. Julian wondered who he should give it to. Perhaps he should keep it for now. After all, there were not many animals that could fly.

Julian discovered that Archaeopteryx wings had three claws rather than the wings of modern birds. They were three-clawed wings with feathers attached behind them. Julian guessed they would definitely be suitable for close-quarters combat. Those wing-claws were also very long, giving it the appearance of a dinosaur bird.

Julian stored it in the safe for now. Leo's Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, ordinary-type Eagle Form, allowed him to enter Half-Beastman Form, with both hands taking the shape of eagle wings. He fought using his feet. Why not use the wings in battle? If the feathers got damaged, could he still keep flying? Did people think he was Little Marco, with his Bird-Bird Fruit Mythical Zoan Phoenix Form, whose hands were made of azure Phoenix flames? If Leo's wings were injured, he would turn into a flightless chicken.

That was why Julian encouraged Leo to practice Soru and Geppo more, then train Rankyaku. That way, his wings would basically never be injured. If he mastered Armament Haki, he would not need to worry about it. However, Leo's physique still had a long way to go, so he could only focus on Kicking Technique and firearm shooting for now.

Julian knew that one fist was limited, while a hundred fists were invincible. That was why he did not really follow the Elite Crew Member route, instead choosing the path of overwhelming numbers.

Julian could only hope Rose would develop medicine that could improve physical fitness. Rose had told Julian that the vines absorbing the Fire Dragon's heart possessed immense medicinal value and could improve physical fitness. Julian was waiting for Rose to fully develop the Medicine-Medicine Fruit ability and improve all the crewmen's physical condition.

Navigator Garud had already selected an island: Rockies Island, several hundred nautical miles ahead. Herbert used his Gale-Gale Fruit ability to accelerate the ship from behind. They still had roughly seven or eight days of sailing left.

Julian called Alice over. Among his wives, Alice was the strongest. Julian scooped her up in his arms and said, "The reason I didn't send you all out to explore this time is that time is tight." Alice had a forthright personality and said whatever was on her mind. "I know, Julian. You're looking for Devil Fruits." She added, "Did you not plan to find one for me?"

Julian said, "That Devil Fruit is a bald bird form. Do you want it?" Alice said with great disgust, "Ah, a bald bird?" She hurriedly waved her hands. "Then forget it." Alice continued, "Are there any other Devil Fruits? Like the one that lets you become a Flame Dragon?" Julian laughed. "There are only a few Devil Fruits like that in the entire world. It is the strongest Mythical Zoan among Zoan Devil Fruits."

Julian added, "I reckon those senile old men might have quite a few Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits." Alice said, "The World Government? We can't afford to provoke them." Julian said, "The destination of this voyage is Sky Island in the heavens. There are two Devil Fruits there, and one of them is particularly suited to you." Alice asked, "Really?"

Julian said, "I don't know whether we'll encounter the pirate crew called Sea Dragon on this voyage. If we do, I'll kill him for you and avenge my dear father-in-law."