The Black Pearl sailed away from the Pirate Expo.
Having failed in their pursuit, the Five Elders and God's Knights could only report the truth to Mary Geoise.
When the truth came to light, everyone was stunned.
"They actually failed to kill that brat who inherited Rocks's will?"
The bald samurai Elder wished he could cut Shane down himself.
"More importantly, even Saint Garling lost his life. His family won't let this rest."
The long-bearded Elder also found it a great pity.
"Rocks left a successor to his will after all. Our plan to hunt him down back then wasn't wrong. We simply weren't ruthless enough."
So said the Elder with the upturned mustache.
"It doesn't matter. He has a Black Dragon Form ability, and that fruit isn't recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
"But from what we've seen, its abilities are merely complex and varied. It isn't that fruit."
"What we need to worry about now is how to minimize the impact of this incident."
The bushy-bearded Elder's tone was grave.
He felt Shane was a host Nika would welcome. Fortunately, he was already a Devil Fruit User.
"Not necessarily."
"He currently possesses multiple abilities. Unless his Black Dragon Form also has the Copy-Copy Fruit's ability, he could have a mutant physique, just like Rocks."
"From what we've seen, one of the abilities he frequently uses belongs to the Door-Door Fruit of former CP0 member Mendo."
"If he has a mutant physique, he could still become Nika. Of course, the chance is slim, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
The meeting room door was pushed open.
Covered in wounds, Saint Saturn walked in with a grim expression.
He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long time.
A long while later.
The