"Grandfather." Vikengam greeted him respectfully.
Within the entire Jaygarcia Family, only he, the designated "young master," was qualified to address Saint Saturn as "Grandfather."
"Viking, you're here." Saint Saturn nodded lightly at him, then gestured. "Have a seat. Try this Ximiao Red Tea newly presented from the North Blue. It tastes rather good. If it suits your palate, take some with you when you leave later."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Vikengam smiled. No longer maintaining that slightly distant respectfulness, he sat openly on the sofa opposite him and poured himself a cup of tea.
Saint Saturn did not rush to say anything. Only after watching Vikengam take a sip and reveal a contented expression did he smile and ask, "Well?"
"The fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth, with an endless aftertaste..." Vikengam said with a look of heartfelt admiration.
"Putting on airs. It's merely ordinary black tea, no different from what we have at home..." Saint Saturn said as he set down his teacup.
"Cough..." Vikengam awkwardly covered his lips with the back of his hand and coughed, then gave an embarrassed smile.
Saint Saturn seemed long accustomed to Vikengam acting this way, so he did not continue teasing him. No matter when or where, he always carried himself with majesty and solemnity before others. Only around Vikengam would he occasionally set aside a trace of that dignity. Ordinary people would never even have the chance to see the slightest smile from him, let alone witness him teasing someone as he had just now.
Vikengam had originally thought Saint Saturn would bring up Professor Clover, after all, that had been part of his training expedition to the lower world and was arranged by Saint Saturn himself.
Yet Saint Saturn seemed to have no extra interest in that matter at all. Instead, he asked, "You've heard about the matter that God's Knights are preparing, haven't you?"
"Yes. Ah Fu mentioned it to me on the way here," Vikengam replied with a nod.
"How is your Haki training progressing?" Saint Saturn asked again.
"Not bad. My Armament Haki has improved, and my Observation Haki has made some progress as well. It's just that I still have no clue or sign regarding Conqueror's Haki..." Vikengam said.
His talent was indeed quite good, but honestly, compared to those monsters out at sea, there was still a certain gap. Someone renowned for her natural gifts like Charlotte Linlin had already become a famous pirate by the age of eighteen. Her strength was far beyond what eighteen-year-old Vikengam could compare to now.
That was the difference between being talented and being a true monster.
Fortunately, Vikengam still had his cheat. Once his Sharingan had developed to a certain level, he was confident he would not be inferior to anyone.
"You need not be anxious about Conqueror's Haki. If you were born with it, you will master it sooner or later. If you do not have it, no amount of thought will be useful. For now, your efforts should still be focused on Armament Haki and Observation Haki," Saint Saturn instructed.
Though they bore the title of "War Gods," judging from the Five Elders' later performance, they could be called men who had failed to live up to their name. They possessed powerful Mythical Zoan abilities, and all three forms of Haki were formidable, but they held high positions and never entered battle. They had probably not fought anyone for decades, perhaps even centuries. In Vikengam's view, the few of them truly had worrying combat ability.
They had nothing but stats, no technique.
The key was that while their stats were strong, they were not absurdly strong, leaving them in an awkward middle ground.
Even so, given Saint Saturn's current state, teaching Vikengam was more than enough.
Thus, Vikengam immediately replied, "Understood. I will work hard to live up to your expectations, Grandfather."
"Mm." Saint Saturn nodded in satisfaction, then paused slightly before saying, "However, Armament Haki and Observation Haki require steady, painstaking practice. Only through diligent cultivation and daily refinement can one build a deep foundation. With the school trip approaching, I fear you will not have much room for growth in the short term..."
Vikengam nodded along without interrupting.
Sure enough, Saint Saturn shifted his tone. "Among the younger generation in their teens, you are indeed outstanding. Even Garling of the Figarland Family, who is held in high expectations, was far inferior to you at your age. The rest of those fools are not worth mentioning. But God's Knights will also participate in the upcoming school trip, and I will personally attend as well. You are simply far younger and less experienced than they are. If your performance is not outstanding enough, I will lose face too..."
"Rest assured, Grandfather. Even if Viking must stake his life on it, I will never allow your honor or the family's honor to be tarnished!" Vikengam declared at once.
Though he was already considering leaving Mary Geoise, he still had to spare the old man's feelings for the moment.
Saint Saturn was quite satisfied with Vikengam's attitude, but the gap in strength was clearly not something that could be overcome with a few words.
Saint Saturn glanced toward an ordinary small storage chest on a nearby table and said, "Open it and take a look."
Vikengam's heart stirred. He seemed to have guessed something, and his thoughts fluctuated slightly, but he showed none of it. He briskly opened the chest on the table.
Sure enough, just as he had guessed, there was a strange Devil Fruit inside. Its peel bore ripples resembling smooth fur, and its overall color was silver-white and frosty, as though it had truly been frozen. At the same time, the fruit had five stems, which was even rarer.
"A Devil Fruit?" Vikengam murmured, pretending to be somewhat surprised.
Come to think of it, he had read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. But there were too many bizarre things in it, so it was impossible to truly remember them all. He had only memorized some of the ones that interested him.
Thus, he could not tell what type it was or what ability it possessed.
It was even possible that this fruit had not been recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia at all. After all, the encyclopedia was not all-knowing.
"Do you recognize it?" Saint Saturn asked.
Vikengam shook his head. "No. I have absolutely no impression of it."
"Mm. After all, it has appeared only a handful of times in history. Its most famous appearance was also buried by us in the dust of history. It was never recorded in the encyclopedia, and only a very small number of people know of this ability," Saint Saturn explained, though he did not elaborate.
Just as Vikengam was about to ask what ability it was, Saint Saturn spoke first. "Eat it. With this ability to supplement your strength, perhaps you can shine even more brightly during this school trip..."
This sudden arrangement made Vikengam's heart sink.
Old man, I don't even know what ability it is, and you want me to eat it?
But he was silent for only an instant before immediately nodding. "Thank you, Grandfather. Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
As soon as the words fell, he bit into the Devil Fruit. A strange flavor instantly spread through his mouth. Not wanting to taste it at all, Vikengam bit and chewed twice more, then swallowed the entire Devil Fruit.
His clean and decisive response made Saint Saturn reveal an even more satisfied smile.
What a fine child. He had outstanding talent, worked very hard, possessed such decisiveness and determination, and most importantly, was obedient and well-behaved. Saint Saturn's efforts in nurturing him had not been wasted!
Meanwhile, as Vikengam felt the changes in his body, he could not help feeling somewhat emotional.
He had been planning how to become the user of the Azure Dragon ability, but now there was no need to consider it. The reason he had been so decisive was that he understood Saint Saturn's style of doing things very well. In this room, he had no right to refuse Saint Saturn's arrangements.
Hesitation only invited trouble. Rather than that, he might as well be ruthless.
Besides, given Saint Saturn's arrangements for him, this fruit could not possibly be bad. He would just treat it as a gift from his portable old grandpa!
As these thoughts churned through Vikengam's mind, his body began to change.
First, a frigid aura overflowed from his body. In the blink of an eye, the entire sitting room was covered and frozen by frost. Many of those expensive and luxurious furnishings would likely be ruined.
Only Saint Saturn and the sofa he was sitting on remained completely unaffected.
And clearly, Saint Saturn did not care at all about the destruction of those luxuries that could drive countless people mad. He continued watching Vikengam with a pleased expression.
Not only did the frigid aura suddenly erupt, but Vikengam's originally meticulously groomed, medium-length silver-white hair also rapidly grew down to his waist. The long hair moved without wind, spreading behind him in a wild and domineering display.
Vikengam's originally towering three-meter-twelve frame also gradually expanded. His already solid and muscular body suddenly became even more full of strength and wildness!
His already heroic face changed as well. This ability was clearly a Zoan, causing Vikengam's features to take on beastly traits. He resembled both tiger and leopard, possessing the majesty of a fierce tiger and the refined grace of a nimble leopard. His canines protruded like fangs, while a horn curved upward from the center of his brow, formed from frost-white ice crystal, adding another touch of ferocity.
At that moment, five thick tails swayed behind Vikengam. His entire body was covered in silver-white fur, every strand radiating frigid energy. He looked extraordinary, noble, and domineering!
Before Vikengam could say anything, Saint Saturn introduced it. "This ability of yours is an extremely rare Mythical Zoan. Its name is Frost-Sky Ice Beast, classified as a Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit."
Before you continue