Wano Country, Flower Capital.
Pleasure Quarter, a private room on the third floor.
Sephiroth lay on his side with his eyes half-closed, his head resting on Black Maria's lap as she knelt beside him.
The girl held a slender feather pick in her hand, gently twirling it inside his ear, producing a soft whooshing sound in his ear canal.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded from outside. Sephiroth slightly opened his eyes and raised his right hand, signaling Black Maria to stop cleaning his ears for the moment.
Only then did he call out toward the door:
"Come in!"
Camel, carrying an exquisite black wooden box in his arms, opened the door and hurried inside, kneeling before him.
"Did something happen in our territory for you to come looking for me?"
Sephiroth's head remained on Black Maria's thigh. Without getting up, he simply lay on his side and looked at his subordinate.
Though Camel was not particularly strong and was not the sharpest tool in the shed, he was fiercely loyal to him.
Over the past two or three months, the Miyamoto Family's territory and manpower had expanded considerably.
Thus, under Sephiroth's arrangements, Camel had gained control over five streets and become one of the Miyamoto Family's top leaders, overseeing more than four hundred men. His status within the family was quite high.
"Hehehe! Boss, didn't you previously order the brothers to search for strange fruits with spiral patterns on their skins?
After going to great lengths, I finally lived up to your expectations and found one..."
As he spoke, Camel opened the black wooden box, revealing a Devil Fruit shaped somewhat like an apple, jet-black all over and covered in spiral patterns.
Sephiroth gave a soft sound of surprise, lifted his head from Black Maria's lap, and sat upright.