Paramecia, Copy-Copy Fruit

The miners and overseers beneath the mine were startled by the sudden explosion. They stopped working and looked toward the source of the sound in alarm and uncertainty.

"What happened?!"

"Something seems to have exploded up there!"

"Quick! Let's go take a look!"

By the time a large group of people hurried to the scene carrying mining lamps and tools, they found only a chaotic blast site, two corpses that still retained some warmth, charred wreckage, and several clearly arranged traps.

Meanwhile, in other corners of the island.

Kaku darted through the forest and the shadows of buildings, quickly rooting out two snipers trying to hide using the terrain. They did not even catch a clear glimpse of Kaku before their throats were pierced by sharp Finger Pistols, killing them on the spot.

Kalifa and Robin worked together seamlessly. One skillfully used Geppo and Rankyaku, while the other used the Flower-Flower Fruit to launch attacks from unimaginable angles. They quickly subdued an entire team of assassins attempting to infiltrate from the shoreline.

Stussy demonstrated the caliber of an outstanding agent school student, easily dealing with three assassins attempting to poison the water supply. It was clean and efficient, with no survivors left behind.

In just a few dozen minutes, after everyone conducted a carpet-style search and purge, every assassin hiding on Hadebein Island had been cleanly dealt with, except for one survivor deliberately left alive from a new group of assassins Stella encountered after leaving the mine.

These assassins might have had some reputation in the Underworld, but before powerful people who had mastered Rokushiki and Devil Fruit abilities, they were utterly insignificant.

Beneath the manor, inside a grim and freezing stone chamber.

This had originally been the Boom Family's torture chamber for punishing disobedient miners. Dawn had temporarily converted it into an interrogation room. Punishment and interrogation both required torture, so there was no real difference between them. The air still seemed to carry a faint scent of blood and despair.

The sole survivor—a muscular, scar-faced brute—was tightly bound spread-eagled against the cold wall by several thick Iron Chains. He bore numerous wounds and was barely breathing, but his eyes remained fierce.

Dawn arrived late, his golden hair still striking beneath the dim gas lamps. He glanced at the bound assassin, then looked at the gathered group.

"Did you get anything useful out of him?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

"His mouth is tough. A textbook desperado."

"Oh?"

Dawn raised an eyebrow and walked over to the burly assassin, studying him with interest.

The burly assassin spat a mouthful of bloody saliva and glared viciously at Dawn.

"Pah! Brat, kill me if you want! Don't think you'll get anything out of my—"

Before he could finish, Dawn's fists rained down on his abdomen, chest, and face.

"Puh! Oof! Aah!"

There was no interrogation technique whatsoever, just a wild flurry of fists venting frustration. The burly assassin was beaten black and blue, his already severe injuries worsening. Even his screams grew weak.

Everyone: "..."

Stella could not help rubbing her forehead. Kalifa adjusted her glasses, expressionless. Robin's gaze turned subtle. Stussy's lips twitched slightly, as though she was struggling not to laugh. Even Kaku could not help turning his head away.

This interrogation method... was simply unheard of. He did not even ask a question before launching into a beating. Was this an interrogation, or was he just planning to beat the man to death?

"Dawn."

Stella finally could not bear to watch any longer and spoke up.

"If you keep hitting him, he really is going to stop breathing. Why don't... you let me try?"

Dawn stopped in surprise and looked at Stella. In his impression, Stella was quite strong, but she did not seem like the type skilled in interrogation or torture.

Under Dawn and the others' puzzled gazes, Stella slowly walked up to the assassin, who was barely clinging to life. She made no threatening move and simply stood there quietly.

Then, nine phantom fox tails, pure and snow-white, silently unfurled behind her and swayed gently. At the same time, dreamy pink light shimmered in her captivating eyes.

The instant the assassin's gaze met that pink glow, his previously fierce and vigilant eyes turned hollow and dull, as though he had lost all sense of self.

Stella's voice became ethereal and seductive as it drifted softly through the room.

"Tell me everything you know. Who exactly accepted this bounty on Dawn?"

The assassin's lips moved a few times. Like someone speaking in his sleep, he revealed every piece of information he knew.

Including... the strongest among the assassins who had accepted the bounty—

A former Whitebeard Pirates crew member who had eaten the Copy-Copy Fruit: the Copy Man, Gamenio!

Only after the assassin spilled everything he knew like pouring out beans, exhausting his mind and falling completely unconscious, did Dawn look curiously at Stella as she withdrew her fox tails and the pink glow in her eyes.

"Stella, when did you master that move?"

He truly was surprised. In his memories of his past life, the Nine-Tailed Fox was indeed famous for its charm abilities. Yet Stella had previously displayed only transformation and Flame abilities, leading him to think that this world's Nine-Tailed Fox Model might not possess any mental influence.

A mischievous glint flashed through Stella's eyes. Like a little fox delighted by a successful prank, she smiled sweetly.

"Guess?"

Dawn's eye twitched slightly. Although Stella did not say it outright, he could roughly guess the reason.

Perhaps she had not possessed it before because Stella had never realized it, or because her ability had not yet developed to that stage.

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, he walked over to the unconscious assassin and cleanly snapped his neck, ending the poor man's suffering. He had never shown mercy to anyone who wanted his life.

Dawn looked around at everyone, his expression turning solemn.

"Everyone, we may be in for a hard fight next."

"The other assassin fodder is manageable, but Gamenio... is troublesome. In the worst-case scenario, we may have to face someone with Whitebeard's abilities!"

Dawn believed that as long as Gamenio was not an idiot, he had most likely copied Whitebeard's abilities. If Dawn himself had such a power while remaining aboard the Moby Dick, he would certainly have done the same.

"Whitebeard?!"

Upon hearing that name, everyone showed varying degrees of shock and apprehension. They all understood what that name represented. Anyone who did not completely ignore the newspapers would know its significance.

Seeing their expressions change so abruptly, Dawn knew their morale had been affected. Just as he was about to say something encouraging, inspiration suddenly struck him!

The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!

The book in his possession, compiled by scholars from Ohara's Tree of Knowledge over five thousand years, through the efforts of countless wise people across generations—the most comprehensive and authoritative Devil Fruit Encyclopedia imaginable!

It might contain detailed information about the Copy-Copy Fruit. Perhaps it even recorded that fruit's weakness, which could be used to boost morale.

Dawn took the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia out of his storage space. Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he rapidly and precisely flipped through its pages. The rustling of paper was especially clear in the silent interrogation room.

Before long, his movements stopped. His gaze settled on a page bearing an illustration of a fruit with strange spiral patterns, accompanied by extensive text.

[Devil Fruit: Paramecia · Copy-Copy Fruit]

[Ability Overview: The consumer can copy the abilities and appearance of other Devil Fruit users.]

[Ability Details:]

1. Copy Limit and Switching: Up to three different Devil Fruit abilities may be copied and stored simultaneously. Stored abilities can be replaced at any time.

However, only one ability may be used at a time. Two or more abilities cannot be used simultaneously.

2. Development Reset: Copied abilities begin with their development progress reset to zero. The user must develop the ability from scratch. Copies cannot inherit any development experience or techniques from the original owner.

3. Copy Conditions: Successful copying of a target's ability and appearance requires continuous, nonresistant physical contact with the target ability user for at least three minutes. This condition is extremely demanding and cannot be bypassed.

4. Limitations: Only Devil Fruit abilities and appearances can be copied. Haki mastery, physical strength, combat techniques, memories, personality, and any other attributes cannot be copied.

5. Awakening Effect: After awakening, copied abilities may potentially be developed to the awakened level. However, the copying conditions and switching limitations remain, and the awakened state of other abilities cannot be copied directly.

Dawn read every word carefully, and the great weight hanging over his heart finally eased by more than half. He let out a long breath, closed the encyclopedia, and returned it to his storage space.

He looked at everyone again, and this time, his trademark smile returned.

"There's no need to worry too much."

"Gamenio probably isn't as terrifying as we imagined."

He then clearly explained the information about the Copy-Copy Fruit from the encyclopedia and showed them the book.

Dawn believed Gamenio definitely had not developed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to any particularly high level. Otherwise, he would have become famous across the seas long ago. Why would he still be hanging around the assassin world?

As for how he had successfully copied it, the answer was simple. Given Whitebeard's habit of treating his crew as sons, maintaining contact for three minutes would not have been difficult. Everyone knew Whitebeard trusted his sons completely.

After reading the encyclopedia, the solemnity on everyone's faces visibly eased, and their confidence immediately surged.

TO BE CONTINUED