Fruit Ability?

At the edge of Sisval Port, in the basement of a run-down tavern tucked away in a remote location, its sign nearly falling off.

Rain sat at a moldy wooden table, idly turning an empty wineglass in his hand. During his shopping trip, he had keenly noticed the "tail" on the street, following him for no apparent reason.

As a bounty hunter who had survived for three years in the West Blue, where gangs ran rampant, this level of surveillance naturally could not escape his notice. He also happened to need information about this strange island, so he simply led the other party to this secluded tavern.

Sitting across from him was a middle-aged man with an unshaven face and a blind left eye.

Unlike the citizens outside, who smiled every moment of every day, this man's face was filled with heavy exhaustion, pain, and intense hatred.

According to him, he was one of the few "Awakened" on the island who had been born insensitive to brainwave suggestions and thus escaped disaster. He was also Bal, the remnant leader of the former king's guard.

"That kick of yours was beautiful, outsider. But it also exposed the fact that you haven't been 'assimilated.'" Bal lowered his voice, a trace of hope shining in his remaining right eye. "You possess monstrous strength like that. Please, save this country!"

Rain did not respond. He merely looked at him coldly. "I'm just a passing bounty hunter. I may not have that ability. First, tell me about the man who controls this country."

Bal gritted his teeth and could only suppress his anxiety as he explained everything.

"That devil is named Odel, a pirate with a bounty as high as eighty-five million Beli." Bal's voice carried unconcealed fear. "I heard he once arrogantly ventured into the New World, the latter half of the Grand Line. But before long, he fled back to Paradise. A few months ago, he came to Siswal."

"We don't know what Devil Fruit he ate, but it's utterly sinister! He first controlled His Majesty the King, then used some unknown sound or drug to spread a bizarre Mental Plague across the entire country. He stripped the citizens of their ability to feel pain and sorrow, turning everyone into tireless puppets who could only smile."

Hearing this, a flicker of understanding passed through Rain's dark eyes.

So some unknown Devil Fruit ability had forcibly locked down their neural perception. No wonder those laborers whose legs had been smashed and guards whose breastbones had been shattered could still smile so "naturally."

"And that's not all. That madman seems to have suffered some severe mental trauma in the New World and came to believe some absurd legend." Bal clutched his head, recalling it in pain. "He often stood on the palace balcony and crazily shouted at the hundreds of thousands of smiling citizens below, who looked like walking corpses. He kept saying something like, 'The legendary man who brings laughter to the world is destined to become the Pirate King!'"

"That madman believes that as long as he forces everyone in the country to keep smiling, he can become that legendary figure and gain the power to rule the seas!"

"Pfft."

Rain, who had remained expressionless until then, unexpectedly laughed aloud the instant he heard that.

It was the heartfelt scorn of someone who had just heard an absurdly bad joke.

"What did you say? Manufacture fake smiles to become the Pirate King?"

Rain naturally knew what the Sun God Nika, the symbol of liberation and freedom, truly represented. That title represented the ultimate freedom that shattered every shackle.

A piece of trash who had been scared shitless by the great pirates of the New World and fled back to Paradise with his tail between his legs, trying to imitate the legendary Joy Boy with a childish game of forcibly creating fake smiles through Devil Fruit powers just because he had heard a few scraps about "laughter"?

This was not only the ultimate blasphemy against that ancient legend, but also the pitiful self-hypnosis of a weakling.

"Frightened out of his wits by that hellish New World, so he ran back to the beginner's village and wove himself a blissful dream filled with nothing but fake smiles?" Cold contempt showed in Rain's pure black eyes. "What a pathetic, disgusting stray dog."

Seeing Rain's disdainful attitude, Bal seemed to have grasped a lifeline. "Sir! Since you also find him despicable, then please act..."

"Phew..."

Rain sighed and rubbed his brow, somewhat troubled. As a transmigrator educated by modern civilization, the act of treating living people as machines that could not cry out in pain and wantonly trampling their mental limits truly made him feel sick and physically repulsed from the bottom of his heart.

He looked at Bal's single eye, filled with despair and hope, and his originally icy tone softened slightly.

"Turning people into marionettes that can only smile is indeed utterly disgusting. If it's convenient, I don't mind killing him." Rain shook his head and reluctantly returned to practical considerations. "But dealing with a madman with an eighty-five million Beli bounty, who has been to the New World and can control hundreds of thousands of citizens at any time, will probably require a long-term plan."

Knock, knock, knock.

Three steady, measured knocks suddenly came from outside the basement's concealed iron door.

Bal's face instantly turned pale as paper, and every muscle in his body stiffened. Why would anyone knock on a basement door in a place this remote?

"Looks like the prey came to us."

Rain sneered and casually kicked toward the heavy iron door with his right foot.

Bang!

The iron door was blasted open by an invisible, violent gust of air.

Outside stood two royal court envoys dressed in magnificent court attire. When they saw Bal in the basement, they showed neither surprise nor anger. Their lips still bore those perfect smiles that sent chills down one's spine.

"Honored powerful outsider, so you were here."

The lead envoy elegantly bowed to Rain, then made a gesture. Several smiling guards behind him immediately carried in a heavy redwood chest and set it beside Rain's feet.

With a click, the chest opened.

The dim basement was instantly illuminated by a dazzling golden light. Inside were neatly arranged gold bars and rare gemstones!

"Lord Odel greatly admires your 'heroic bearing' on the street. These treasures are Siswal's gift to you."

The envoy presented a gold-trimmed invitation with both hands, the smile on his face growing even brighter.

"Tonight, Lord Odel will hold a welcoming banquet of the highest standard for you at the Elysian Court. He deeply wishes to join forces with a warrior as powerful as you to pursue the great cause of 'laughter.' We hope you will honor us with your presence."

Bal hid in the corner and closed his eyes in despair. He knew that Odel had taken an interest in Rain's combat power and intended to use even stronger brainwave suggestions at the banquet to thoroughly brainwash and recruit this monster! Once Rain also became a smiling puppet, this country would truly have no hope left.

However, as Rain looked at that chest of treasure, there was no temptation-induced haze in his black eyes—only coldness and killing intent.

"I was just about to see what this great pirate is made of."

Rain extended his bandage-wrapped right hand, snatched the invitation from the envoy's grasp, and revealed a faint smile.

"Go back and tell your lord."

Rain turned around, his dark gray cloak cutting a cold arc through the gloomy basement.

"Tonight, I'll be there as promised."