Chapter 194: The Patterned Fruit in the Sacrifice
In this decree, anyone who finds a fruit with a special pattern will receive a huge reward and can even directly become a noble of the kingdom. This made the entire Namakura Island boil with excitement. Countless citizens searched everywhere for the patterned fruit in the mountains and forests.
Kael had people investigate the noble family Kikuhime belonged to, paying close attention to Kikuhime and her guard, Toratsugu. This Toratsugu was the man who should have obtained the Mythical Zoan Nue form. Kikuhime, whom he loved, was to be married to Kura Prince. Unwilling to accept this, Toratsugu, in despair, would eventually accidentally obtain the Nue Mythical Zoan ability and immediately go to snatch Kikuhime back. The Straw Hats, who landed on Namakura Island, sided with Kura Prince and fought Toratsugu, eventually snatching Kikuhime back.
"Spartan, go keep an eye on that guard named Toratsugu."
Kael instructed Spartan, while also having everyone focus their search for the Devil Fruit in the territory where Kikuhime's family resided and in the areas where Toratsugu was active.
"Understood."
Spartan was now 100% obedient to Kael. If Kael told him to monitor this guard, he would monitor this guard. He felt that the opportunity for him to obtain the Devil Fruit chosen by His Majesty should lie with this yellow-haired guard. As everyone from the Goa Empire was dispatched, this guard, Toratsugu, also took this decree very seriously.
He knew that with his status, he was not qualified to marry Miss Kikuhime at all.
"If I find the patterned fruit that the King wants, I can become a noble of the kingdom and be worthy of Miss's status."
Toratsugu also joined the trend of searching for the patterned fruit. He yearned for this opportunity to become a noble. However, he was completely unaware that someone was watching him.
'His Majesty told me to keep an eye on him. Could the Devil Fruit be on him, or has he seen a Devil Fruit?'
Although Spartan was a little confused, he still trusted Kael's arrangements. The entire Namakura Island was searching for the patterned fruit. Every day, many strangely shaped fruits were transported to Kura Palace. But these bizarre fruits were not Devil Fruits. This greatly disappointed the citizens who found them. Some foolish citizens, with a sudden burst of inspiration, even drew patterns on the fruits themselves. As a result, these individuals became shriveled prisoners.
Soon, 5 days passed. The fruits found each day were not the patterned fruits the King wanted. This caused many citizens to lose their enthusiasm, and some even suspected that the King was fooling them. Many voices in the populace began to curse the King for being unjust.
Even the people of the Goa Empire felt a bit bored, feeling that searching for a Devil Fruit this way was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Kael was also a bit unsure, after all, that Mythical Zoan Nue form fruit would only be obtained by Toratsugu after Straw Hat Luffy set sail. This was awkward. This greatly affected Kael's image of 'divine foresight' and 'strategic planning'. However, fortunately, Kael had set a 1-week deadline for the search. This allowed everyone to continue to believe in Kael and tirelessly search for this unknown Devil Fruit.
Kael himself was enjoying himself in Kura Palace, playing mahjong with his women every day and keeping an eye on external intelligence.
The two children of the former pirate captain killed by his enemies had joined the Beasts Pirates and become Tobi Roppo! Ulti the Pachycephalosaurus and Page One the Spinosaurus successfully avenged their father, killing the despicable pirates who had attacked him. Ulti's latest bounty was 400,000,000 Berries, and Page One's bounty was 290,000,000 Berries! The Chameleon Pirates, an affiliated pirate crew, had withdrawn from the Whitebeard Pirates, suspected to have had a fierce conflict with the Squad Commanders. The captain of the Chameleon Pirates, a Paramecia-type Copy-Copy Fruit user, was one of the strongest captains in the Whitebeard Pirates fleet.
Kael looked at the newspapers and intelligence provided by Robin, gently tapping the table. Finding no clues after 5 days of searching on Namakura Island made Kael a bit helpless.
Doflamingo also called Kael, wanting to invite him to enter North Blue together and completely conquer those stubborn old-school underworld forces. The forces that survived in the chaotic North Blue were as strong as Kano Country and Wano Country in West Blue. If there were no strong individuals to suppress them, relying on a few cadres sent by the Donquixote Family and the Germa 66 brothers would indeed be somewhat insufficient.
"It is rumored that the captain of the Chameleon Pirates' ability can not only replicate others' appearances and steal their skills, but also replicate parts of Devil Fruit abilities." "He has shown unparalleled adaptability, and it seems to be an ultimate evolution of Mr. 2's Clone-Clone Fruit ability." "This greedy fellow wanted to copy Whitebeard's skills and abilities, but he was reprimanded and beaten by the Squad Commanders, so he angrily withdrew from the Whitebeard Pirates."
Robin continued to report the high-priced intelligence, feeling that Kael would be very interested in this Copy-Copy Fruit user. It was indeed a good ability. If Kael had the technology and ability to deprive Devil Fruit abilities, he would definitely hunt down this captain and put this copying ability under his own people's control.
At this time, in a noble mansion in Kura Kingdom, the guard Toratsugu overheard the family head and Miss Kikuhime discussing marrying Kikuhime to Kura Prince. This news made Toratsugu feel heartbroken and helpless. But he dared not object, as he was just a guard. Seeing that Miss Kikuhime did not object, Toratsugu felt even more powerless.
After the guard shift, Toratsugu returned to his residence feeling helpless. In despair, Toratsugu could only place his hope on that patterned fruit. He wanted to become a noble, and he searched even more frantically for the patterned fruit. He left no stone unturned, whether it was dangerous cliffs or deep mountains. He was unwilling to give up this only hope.
Just as he was completely desperate, he returned to his old family home to pay respects to his deceased parents, complaining to them like a child. As a result, on 3 plates of withered fruit offerings, he discovered a patterned fruit that had not shriveled. This sight filled him with joy. He never expected that the patterned fruit he had painstakingly searched for was actually among his parents' offerings. He didn't know why this happened; clearly, these fruits were just ordinary fruits initially and had no patterns. But this did not affect his excited mood.
"Father, Mother, this must be you blessing me from heaven!" "I will definitely marry Kikuhime and expand our family!"
Toratsugu knelt on the ground excitedly, his mouth full of remembrance and gratitude for his parents.
And Spartan, who had been following Toratsugu, never expected that this guard would actually obtain a Devil Fruit. And it was a Devil Fruit that delivered itself to him.
"Is this the Devil Fruit His Majesty prepared for me?"
Spartan unhesitatingly moved to snatch the Devil Fruit. In Toratsugu's eyes, this patterned fruit was an opportunity given by his parents to change his destiny. But in Spartan's eyes, this was clearly the Devil Fruit bestowed upon him by His Majesty.
After Toratsugu performed 3 kowtows and 9 prostrations, he immediately stood up, wanting to pick up the patterned fruit, but a blur flashed by, and the patterned fruit appeared in the hand of a stranger. This instantly made Toratsugu furious. This was his hope of marrying Miss Kikuhime! He would never allow anyone to take it away!
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