So I got X Drake's undercover-agent script, huh?!
Storm, you bastard.
If you haven't eaten the Nika Fruit, how can you be a pirate, let alone become the Pirate King?!
Is it still too late to regret joining the Sword Unit?
Just as Storm hesitated over whether to speak.
Aokiji suddenly added another sentence.
"Of course, Storm, your current strength is still lacking."
Huh?
Storm swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.
Something big is coming, isn't it?
"To carry out this undercover operation, Headquarters will also provide a certain amount of assistance."
Aokiji continued.
"Have you heard the rumors related to this year—no, it's last year now.
"The rumors about last year's Rookie Training Camp?"
Related rumors?
Storm recalled for a moment, then immediately thought of something.
"Is Admiral Kuzan talking about the rumor that 'Training Camp Outstanding Graduates can receive a Devil Fruit as a reward'?"
Why had this message spread through this year's Rookie Training Camp?
Of course, it was because of the vicious incident that had happened three years ago!
Marineford Year 1515.
Edward Weevil, who called himself "Whitebeard the Second," brazenly attacked the Rookie Training Camp.
The entire Marine training camp suffered heavy casualties.
From the head instructor Zephyr onward, only three people throughout the entire camp survived the attack.
Even Zephyr himself had one of his arms severed by Edward Weevil.
After the attack broke out, Marine Headquarters was thrown into an uproar.
The Rookie Training Camp was even suspended for an entire year because of it.
It was not until last year that the Rookie Training Camp reopened.
At the time, this was done to eliminate the negative impact brought about by the vicious attack.
It was also meant to encourage the recruits to actively participate in this year's training-camp program.
Marine Headquarters not only stationed a large number of escort personnel in this year's camp.
It had also prepared extremely generous prizes for the graduates of this Rookie Training Camp.
According to unofficial reports, they even included the legendary treasure of the sea—the Devil Fruit!
Storm ultimately identified this news as "Fake News."
Because as a firsthand participant and Training Camp Outstanding Graduate of this year's Rookie Training Camp.
Storm had not seen a single Devil Fruit!
Not until he graduated from the Rookie Training Camp.
Never mind a Devil Fruit.
He had not even seen a Devil Fruit Peel!
But now, things seemed to have taken a turn?
"Yes, that's the news."
Aokiji nodded and spoke calmly.
"There really are Devil Fruits.
"They weren't prepared only for the 'Outstanding Graduates.' They were also prepared for 'Blade Unit Members.'"
Storm's heartbeat instantly skipped a beat.
He had been an "Outstanding Graduate" before, and now he was also a "Blade Unit Member"!
Could it be...
Storm gently rubbed the Demon Ring on his thumb a few times.
"Admiral Kuzan, are you saying... I can obtain a Devil Fruit right now?"
Aokiji directly responded to his expectation.
"That's right!"
The next moment.
Aokiji casually stretched out a hand, and three hard white Ice Balls emerged from beneath the desk.
Under the Ice Human's mental control.
The three Ice Balls floated over to Storm and circled his body like satellites.
"Devil Fruits are extremely rare and precious treasures. Even Headquarters doesn't have many in stock."
Aokiji controlled the three Ice Balls and spoke casually.
"Of these three Devil Fruits, two are Paramecia and one is Zoan. You can choose one to eat.
"This fruit is also your 'benefit' for joining the Sword Unit!"
If he had said there was such a recruit benefit earlier, why had he wasted so much time talking?!
Looking at the three Ice Balls circling him, Storm's eyes were as hungry as Big Mom's when her Hunger Pangs had erupted.
Through the hard icy shells, he could faintly see the Arabesque Swirl Pattern filled with profound mystery beneath them.
So this was a Devil Fruit!
The "Superpower Cheat" he had dreamed of obtaining as a child!
Aokiji manipulated the three Ice Balls back to his side, then let the ice melt.
As the icy-white shells peeled away, the three Devil Fruits finally revealed their true forms before Storm.
"Storm."
Aokiji smiled.
"Do you need me to introduce the names and general effects of these three Devil Fruits?"
"No."
Storm casually refused, his gaze still firmly locked onto the three Devil Fruits.
"I've read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
This was a book that sounded extremely precious but was actually not that rare.
At least in the Marine Headquarters archive, Storm had seen several copies.
At first, Storm had not understood it at all.
Based on the information he knew.
Across the entire sea, there were only two people who would carry the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia around to search for the Devil Fruit of their dreams.
And both of them were from the "Black" family—
Blackbeard Teach.
Black Leg Sanji.
Did everyone else not know to search for Devil Fruit abilities using the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia?
The cruel fact was—
The vast majority of people truly did not know that the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia existed.
Even among the Marines spread throughout the world.
There were still countless people who knew nothing about Devil Fruit-related information.
In this sea where the average person had dropped out before fetal education.
Knowledge was also a "treasure of the sea."
But at least Storm had read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
He knew the appearance and abilities of every Devil Fruit recorded within it by heart.
After all, he had quite a few "dream fruits" himself.
Things like the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], [Op-Op Fruit], [Glint-Glint Fruit], and [Azure Dragon Fruit]...
But unfortunately, all of these Devil Fruits already had owners.
The three Devil Fruits Aokiji had brought out now were not Storm's ideal fruits.
But that did not stop him from recognizing their "true names" at a glance—
The one on the left was the [Paramecia: Whip-Whip Fruit].
The one on the right was the [Paramecia: Clay Fruit].
The one in the middle was the [Zoan: Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Model: Allosaurus].
If Storm remembered correctly.
The powers of these three Devil Fruits would all eventually appear among the members of the Sword Unit!
Storm looked at the rough-skinned, dark-green [Allosaurus Fruit] Aokiji had placed in the center.
He could not help thinking of X Drake once again.
If Storm chose the [Allosaurus Fruit] at this moment.
Would he also receive X Drake's mission—to infiltrate the Beasts Pirates as an undercover agent?
What a shame...
Storm did not reject Devil Fruits.
But he also had some deeply ingrained biases.
For example, that infamous saying—
No one but a dog would eat the [Flame-Flame Fruit]!
There were simply too many people on the sea who played with fire.
Flame-based abilities were as widespread as the slaves on the Sabaody Archipelago.
And as the true owner of the [Flame-Flame Fruit], that person could not even outdo others at playing with fire...
No wonder he had "left the group"!
But if even a dog would not eat the [Flame-Flame Fruit].
Then ordinary and Ancient Zoans were practically enough to make even a dog shake its head.
When he had a choice.
Storm had not the slightest interest in the [Allosaurus Fruit].
However, his prolonged stare still drew Aokiji's attention.
Storm, this "half-native," viewed Devil Fruits very differently.
His attitude toward Devil Fruits differed greatly from that of the "locals" on the Blue Planet.
For example, Storm wanted nothing to do with the [Allosaurus Fruit].
But Aokiji believed the [Allosaurus Fruit] was the strongest of the three Devil Fruits he had brought out.
Who cared about "clay" or "whips"?
Ancient Zoans.
Close-quarters combat was the true path!
Aokiji picked up the Devil Fruit in the center and asked,
"Storm, is this [Allosaurus Fruit] the one you want?"
"No!"
Storm decisively refused.
"I'm thinking about the other two Paramecia fruits!"
Paramecia fruits had an enormous range between their upper and lower limits.
Take the [Tremor-Tremor Fruit] and the [Calm-Calm Fruit], for example.
The former could unleash world-destroying "Seaquakes," "Earthquakes," and "Air Quakes."
As for the latter, it was also invincible when it came to improving sleep quality... probably?
Storm recalled the information recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
[Paramecia: Whip-Whip Fruit].
The Devil Fruit User could command anything they lashed, including nonliving objects.
This was a "Super Slave Master Fruit"!
If the [Whip-Whip Fruit] fell into the hands of certain unscrupulous people.
Then... heh heh heh...
Storm cast those unhealthy thoughts out of his mind.
[Paramecia: Clay Fruit].
Its ability was to create and control clay, while the user could also transform into a Clay Person.
If one had to put it another way.
This was actually a "Special Paramecia Devil Fruit."
"I've decided!"
Storm pointed at the Devil Fruit whose milky-white skin concealed flesh layered upon itself like piled-up mud.
"I want the [Clay Fruit]!"
Seeing that Storm had made his final choice.
Aokiji did not offer any objections.
The extent to which a Devil Fruit's ability could ultimately be developed.
Ultimately, it still came down to the eater's own ability.
Some Devil Fruits had incredibly powerful abilities, yet their users made them look like clowns.
Others had weak abilities, yet clowns developed them into something unique.
At this moment, Aokiji chose to believe in Storm's talent!
Aokiji personally placed the [Clay Fruit] in Storm's hands.
"This Paramecia is yours, Vongola Storm!"
The moment the [Clay Fruit] was in his hands, Storm was moved to speak.
"Sir! I love the Marines so much! I love the Sword Unit so much!"
He'd barely enlisted, and they were already handing him a Devil Fruit.
The Sword Unit really did dare to give one away!
"Ah la la."
Aokiji chuckled.
"Just how much do you love it?"
Storm pondered for a moment, then launched straight into a recitation.
"Evil is coming. I shall keep watch from this day until my death.
"I shall seek neither fame nor fortune, nor strive for honor and glory.
"I shall faithfully perform my duty, and live and die by it.
"I am the blade in the darkness, the guardian of the sea.
"I am the shield that watches over justice, the drum that awakens the sleeping.
"I am the storm that sweeps away sin, the light that dawns at daybreak.
"I shall give my life and honor to the Sword Unit.
"As it is today, so shall it be every day."
It was a magnificent oath.
It nearly rekindled the "Burning Justice" that had lain frozen in Aokiji's heart for over a decade.
He clapped hard and praised him loudly.
"Excellent! You've got a lot of spirit!"
There was little information available about the [Clay Fruit], and it could have been either a Logia or a Paramecia.
Based on its combat performance in manga chapter 1080, This Book's [Setting] made this fruit a [Special Paramecia].
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