500 Million Bounty and the Idol Empress

Aboard the Jebec Sword, in the deck cabin.

Some stood while others sat, but everyone's eyes were fixed on the five Devil Fruits on the table.

"I've read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. These five... heh, they really are trash fruits."

Rocks took a swig from his bottle.

"It doesn't matter what fruits they are. They're just going to be used for brewing anyway." Golden Lion crossed one leg over the other, holding a wineglass as well.

Whitebeard asked curiously, "What fruits are they?"

Rocks immediately answered his question.

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.

"Huh? There's even a Paramecia?" Dimon said in surprise.

The four Zoan fruits were all zodiac animals. They didn't sound like anything special, but Paramecia fruits generally weren't complete garbage.

Rocks explained, "The Key-Key Fruit allows the user to transform their fingers into any kind of key, capable of opening every lock in the world."

"Thieves would like that one." Stussy shook her head.

Whitebeard said solemnly, "Now that we have the fruits, Dimon, how are you going to brew the wine?"

"It'll take some time. I'll let you know once it's brewed."

In truth, he could make it immediately, but to make brewing seem difficult, Dimon deliberately delayed things.

Hearing that, Rocks asked, "How long will it take?"

"Half a month."

"That fast... How do you brew it?" Charlotte Linlin was full of curiosity.

"That's a secret. Just wait for the drink."

After a pause, Dimon smiled. "Once you drink the Elixir of Immortality, you'll permanently remain in the condition you were in when you drank it. You'd better think carefully before drinking—I don't have any medicine for regrets here."

"Of course I should drink it while I'm young. I don't want to grow old." Stussy sounded delighted.

Even powerful women cared deeply about their appearance and youth.

Charlotte Linlin was not among them.

If she cared about her looks, she wouldn't stuff herself with sweets until she became a huge fat woman in the future.

A week later, everyone returned to Hachinosu Island.

All five Devil Fruits were handed over to Dimon. Rocks was a remarkably generous pirate—he didn't use those he doubted, and once he did, he trusted them completely.

He handed the fruits to Dimon without a worry, completely unafraid that Dimon would run off with the spoils.

Naturally, Dimon had no intention of running. He would still need the Rocks Pirates to continue collecting Devil Fruits for him.

He returned to the Elixir of Immortality Bar with the five Devil Fruits.

Though the bar had been closed for over half a month, it was still spotless. Orsea came by every day to clean it.

"Lord Dimon!"

When she saw Dimon return, Tide Sound Little Princess eagerly came forward to greet him.

"What's got you so happy?"

"I saw the newspaper, Lord Dimon! You captured Celestial Dragons—everyone on Hachinosu Island is talking about it now!"

Orsea suddenly remembered something. She quickly pulled out a newspaper from behind the bar and found a wanted poster inside.

"Lord Dimon, your wanted poster!"

I got a bounty, so why are you so happy?

Dimon couldn't help rolling his eyes at her. He took the wanted poster and looked it over, his expression becoming even more disdainful.

'Brewer' Dimon

Member of the Rocks Pirates

Utterly Heinous

Dead or Alive

Bounty: 500,000,000 Beli!

How many zeroes is that?

Before Dimon could count them, Orsea excitedly said, "It's 500 million Beli!"

500 million? What have I done to deserve such a high bounty? It's the same amount as Kaido's!

Dimon grumbled inwardly as he stared at his wanted poster. The more he looked at it, the stranger it seemed.

When was this photo taken?

It seemed to have been when they encountered the Celestial Dragons, as he walked past Garp... Half of Garp's figure could even be seen in the background of the mugshot.

"The photographer's got skills. I didn't even notice someone taking my picture." Dimon handed the wanted poster back to Orsea. "Throw it away."

"Ah? No, I want to put it up!"

"Whatever."

There was definitely something wrong with that bounty amount. Who got a 500 million bounty the first time they were wanted?

Dimon figured it was probably because he had snapped that female Celestial Dragon's arm, and they had privately retaliated by setting such a high bounty.

Orsea enthusiastically went to put up the wanted poster. As far as she was concerned, she was happy as long as the Celestial Dragons suffered.

Dimon ignored the girl, walked behind the bar, and sat down. He opened the box and took out the five Devil Fruits inside.

He picked up the Mouse-Mouse Fruit and silently willed himself to devour it.

In an instant, black smoke swirled around his palms, swallowing the Devil Fruit like a monster's gaping maw.

Once the fruit vanished, the black smoke sank into his palms.

At the same time, a system prompt appeared in Dimon's vision.

Devoured one Devil Fruit. Obtained 100 Demon Points.

Demon Points: 0 → 100

"At last, some income. I wonder whether a Devil Fruit devoured by me can still reincarnate?"

Dimon thought that if they could not reincarnate, it would mean Devil Fruits would become fewer and fewer.

Still, it was not too much of a problem. According to Vegapunk's research, Devil Fruits were born from humanity's wishes.

Perhaps new Devil Fruits would appear.

He continued devouring the other fruits, gaining 100 points from each one.

But when he devoured the Paramecia-type Key-Key Fruit, something different suddenly happened.

Devoured one Devil Fruit. Obtained 200 Demon Points.

Demon Points: 400 → 600

"Huh, so not every one gives 100. Is it because it's a Paramecia-type? Or is this fruit stronger, so it gives more points?"

Dimon wondered in surprise. If he got the chance in the future, he could try devouring special Devil Fruits such as Logia-types, Mythical Zoans, or Ancient Zoans.

"I have 600 points now. I can make six bottles of Elixir of Immortality..."

That was enough for twenty-four cups, and together with the three cups he had left from before, it meant he could create twenty-seven immortals.

He had never tried the devouring function before. Now that he had a surplus of Elixir of Immortality, it was time to try strengthening himself.

As for unlocking new demon abilities—

That required 1,000 Demon Points. His current savings were insufficient, so he set that aside for now.

"Next, I need to find targets to devour. I'll leave the Rocks Pirates alone for now."

As he pondered, Dimon made a bottle of Elixir of Immortality.

Demon Points: 600 → 500

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During those two weeks, Golden Lion visited the Elixir of Immortality Bar every day to ask about the brewing progress.

Dimon was getting a little tired of him. Every time, all he could do was reply, "Soon," or, "Soon."

Until half a month later, early one morning.

The bar had just opened when Golden Lion arrived immediately.

"Dimon, it's been half a month. Is the liquor ready?" he shouted loudly the moment he entered.

"Soon..."

Dimon gave him a helpless, perfunctory reply.

Hearing that, Golden Lion immediately said in disappointment, "It really is hard to get even one drink from you. Forget it, I'll go satisfy my cravings at Shakky's bar."

"Wait!" Dimon grabbed him. "Shakky's bar?"

"You didn't know?" Golden Lion said in surprise. "The bar run by the Idol Empress. Come to think of it, you two are in the same line of business."

"I know Shakky, the captain of the Kuja Pirates. Is it her?"

"That was two years ago. The Kuja Pirates have a different captain now."

Dimon really had not known. When he watched the anime, how could he have remembered the timeline that clearly?

He had certainly heard plenty about the Kuja Pirates.

There had been four generations of empresses in succession, and every one of them had been a famously beautiful woman.

The first-generation Empress, Gloriosa, was now a member of the Rocks Pirates.

The second-generation Empress, Shakky, was hailed as an idol of the seas, with fans all over the world.

The third-generation Empress, Tritoma, was the current Empress and captain of the Kuja Pirates.

The fourth-generation Empress, Boya Hancock, would become the world's most beautiful woman in the future. She had not yet been born.

"An idol?"

Dimon thought of the Great Oppression Era before the Great Pirate Era—a beauty captivating enough to enthrall every member of the Rocks Pirates.

He really wanted to see her for himself!

Just as he was thinking that, a tall woman appeared outside the bar.

"So this is the... Elixir of Immortality Bar that Rocks and the others mentioned?"

Dimon and Golden Lion, who had been talking, both looked over. In an instant, Golden Lion's heart bulged out in the shape of a heart.

"Shakky!"

Shakky smiled faintly and raised a hand in greeting. "Hello, everyone. I'm Shakky."

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author instead! It may have simply been renamed.