"Behehehe..."
Trebol leaned closer and slapped Pete hard on the shoulder, bringing his face almost against the other man's ear. "Congratulations."
"Make good use of this power... in service to the Family."
"An ability this powerful should certainly be put to good use."
Pete stepped back half a pace without directly answering Trebol.
Just you wait-similar thoughts flashed through both their minds at once.
"Next, Oba."
The towering man put the second fruit into his mouth.
Several seconds of silence passed.
"No reaction?"
He spread his hands, but nothing appeared in his palms.
"If no changes means failure, then I have indeed failed."
The man with only eight fingers rubbed the short, graying beard on his chin.
"I suppose I won't be going out to sea to fish anymore."
Oba spoke calmly, but the burning gazes in the crowd behind him abruptly cooled.
Just as those few had said-whether one could gain power from an Artificial Devil Fruit ultimately came down to elusive luck.
If they failed, wouldn't all they gain be a body that feared water?
"I intend to resell mine."
Tesoro, third in line, took a fruit from the glass case.
"That should be all right, Lord Trebol?"
"Fufufu, of course~~"
A viscous laugh rolled out of Trebol's throat.
The Family had already settled this matter:
Having Tesoro consume a creation with such uncertain odds of success would be a waste.
With his talent, any real Devil Fruit could turn him into a formidable fighter. Why gamble on an imitation with such uncertain potential?
With the Donquixote name, why worry about finding a devil's gift in the future?
"Then it's my turn."
Fourth in line was the "Sea Swordsman."
Camille picked up the fruit and bit into it without hesitation.
Hiss-
The breath he exhaled abruptly turned into