"A Devil Fruit?"
"Do you know what kind it was? Tell me, quick!"
When Roy heard that they had gone to Paradise in such a grand show of force to retrieve a Devil Fruit,
his heart skipped a beat. A fruit that even the Golden Lion considered so important had to possess a remarkable ability.
Seeing the young man's sudden excitement, the petty officer hurried to explain.
"When we set sail, the division commander seemed to mention it. He said it was some kind of mythical zoan... white tiger... something or other."
Roy took the Vivre Card from his hand and gave Bullet a look.
Bullet understood. He stepped forward and snapped the petty officer's neck, then looked at Roy.
"Haha, what incredible news!" Roy laughed happily, then said to Bullet, "Bullet, we've found a fruit for you. It's this mythical zoan."
At those words, a flicker of excitement crossed Bullet's face.
"Boss, is this White Tiger Fruit really that powerful?" Savi was happy that Bullet had found a suitable fruit, but he was still curious.
"Of course. Just look at Pea and you'll know how powerful mythical zoans are. Besides, this fruit is exceptionally good for offense."
"Great! Then let's set off now!"
Bullet stepped forward and ruffled Savi's hair. This little brother of his had been born in the same country as him and looked up to him,
and Bullet was deeply gratified that Savi was concerned about him.
At the same time, after spending so long with Roy and the others, he felt fortunate to have joined the team.
"All right, let's go!"
The group boarded the White Dove, all curious about the Vivre Card in Roy's hand.
Tesoro took the slip of paper from Roy and watched it slowly move in a certain direction across his palm.
"Boss, can we find that slave with this paper?"
"That's right. This paper is called a Vivre Card. It's resistant to fire and water, and it's made using its owner's fingernails as material. It can represent its owner's life force."
Roy took the piece of paper back and handed it to Stella.
"With this Vivre Card, it will guide us to wherever its owner is."
Roy stood at the bow, the sea breeze blowing his long golden hair behind him. The White Dove cut through the sea and sped away in the direction indicated by the Vivre Card.
"Mythical Zoan: White Tiger Fruit..."
Roy murmured under his breath, a determined glint flashing in his eyes.
His mind raced through what he knew from his previous life. There had never been any news of this fruit in the original story. Either it hadn't been mentioned yet, or the World Government had obtained it and suppressed the news.
Otherwise, with such a powerful fruit,
how had a slave stolen it from the Golden Lion and escaped unharmed to the first half of the Grand Line?
In any case, the value of a mythical zoan was worth changing his plans for, especially the white tiger, a symbol of slaughter and warfare. Its powers were bound to be formidable. If Bullet ate it, he would surely become a fighter on Kaido's level someday.
Though Bullet was just as before, starting his training as soon as he boarded the ship,
his tightly pressed lips and the occasional glance he cast at the Vivre Card made it clear he wasn't so calm inside.
Bullet had always believed that his own physique and Haki were what mattered most, but after meeting Roy and witnessing the wonders of Devil Fruits,
he had to admit that a top-tier Devil Fruit could indeed bring about a qualitative leap, especially since this was the Devil Fruit Roy had chosen for him.
"Big Brother Bullet, once you eat the White Tiger Fruit, will you be able to smash an island apart with one punch?"
Savi edged up beside Bullet, his face full of admiration. In his eyes, Bullet was already as powerful as a monster.
What would it be like if he obtained an even stronger fruit?
"Maybe. But Roy said it too, didn't he? No matter how strong a fruit's power is, it still depends on how much its user develops it and needs the user's own physique to support it."
"So, Little Savi, hurry up and train with me."
While Roy and the others were following the Vivre Card, a day's voyage away from them in the same waters,
a ship flying the World Government's flag was sailing toward the Holy Land Mary Geoise, protected by a warship with a dog's head on its bow.
Inside the World Government ship,
a Cipher Pol 0 agent in a white suit and a strange mask was carefully carrying a small treasure chest.
A Navy rear admiral stood across from him, his expression grave.
"There's no need for me to explain how important this fruit is. This mission came from the World Government. It must be delivered safely to the Holy Land."
"Understood. I'll report to Vice Admiral Garp."
With that, the rear admiral left the cabin and used Geppo to travel to the giant Dog-Head Warship behind them.
If Roy had seen him, he would certainly have recognized the rear admiral as Garp's adjutant, Bogard.
A day later, aboard the White Dove.
"Boss, the Vivre Card is moving faster, and its direction seems to have shifted a little!" Stella, who had been keeping watch over it, suddenly called out.
Roy hurried over and took the Vivre Card for a closer look. It was indeed pointing farther northeast than before.
"There are two possibilities. The first is that the target switched to a faster ship. The second is... he may have been taken aboard a faster ship, such as... a warship!"
"Boss, are you saying the World Government has gotten involved too?"
At Tesoro's question, Roy looked at the direction indicated by the Vivre Card in his hand.
"It's possible. A Mythical Zoan Fruit is enough to tempt any faction. Look, isn't that the direction of the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Roy said gravely, "Bullet, get ready. We may be in for a major fight very soon!"
"Just what I wanted!"
Seeing Bullet's excitement, Roy turned to look at the distant horizon, his gaze deep. "Change course and follow the Vivre Card! No matter what, we have to get our hands on this fruit!"
Half a day later,
Savi raised the alarm from the lookout on the mast. "Boss Roy, ships spotted ahead! A World Government ship, with a Dog-Head Warship following it!"
The atmosphere aboard the White Dove instantly grew tense.
Roy picked up the telescope. Through the lens, he could clearly see the flag of the World Government, but the enormous Dog-Head Warship beside it made his heart sink.
"Garp..."
"This is going to get interesting!" Roy muttered.
Bullet walked up beside him, his burly frame like an iron tower. He looked at the ships in the distance, his fists clenching involuntarily.
"Which way is the Vivre Card pointing?"
"Straight at the government ship!" Roy lowered the telescope.
Tesoro frowned. "The World Government got involved? Did that slave fall into their hands? Or... is the fruit already in their possession?"
"Very likely! But the biggest problem now is how to get the fruit out from under the protection of Garp, the 'Hero of the Navy,' and escape safely!"