Five Devil Fruits lay there, thick with whorled patterns, oversized mockeries of ordinary fruit.
Ding. Detected anomalous energy. Collect it?
"Absorb," Rakuya murmured.
Light washed over the fruits.
Ding. Four Zoan-type Devil Fruits collected, 3,200 points awarded.
Ding. One Paramecia-type Devil Fruit collected, 900 points awarded.
Total: 4,100 points.
Rakuya nodded and glanced at his points panel. Balance: 4,600.
A prickle ran down his spine. Someone was sneaking through Ryugu Palace, closing fast. He slipped on the featureless black mask in one smooth motion. No need to let a stranger see his face.
The presence halted outside the door, hesitating like a thief.
"Who is it?" Rakuya called, voice cool. Neptune flinched. He had sensed no one and the sudden bark startled him.
"I will count to three. If you do not come in, live with the consequences." Rakuya fixed his gaze on the doors, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Three heartbeats. No one entered.
Rakuya's fist flashed.
Boom.
The great doors blew inward. A figure tumbled out of the dust, choking.
"Cough, cough!"
Rakuya's eyes stayed icy. "Who are you, and why are you skulking around my palace?"
The intruder looked to be about twenty, a lean young man. From the way he had barely slipped Rakuya's feint, his speed was no joke. The sort of pirate who excelled at fleeing or hunting.
"Who are you?" the man shot back, anger flaring at the unfriendly reception.
"Who am I? That is my question. You crept in here alone. What are you plotting?"
"Heh." The young man smirked. "I am Ufole, of the New World alliance that can stand toe to toe with Whitebeard's crew. Even Roger and Whitebeard prefer not to cross us. Be smart and take me to Lord Flowing Cloud."
A laugh broke out of Rakuya before he could stop it. Boasting an alliance could rival Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger? Did this kid have any idea where he stood?
Still, the latter claim piqued his interest.
"And why do you want Flowing Cloud?" Rakuya asked, teasing. "He is very busy."
"Mind your tongue!" Ufole exploded, as if Rakuya had just blasphemed. "How dare you speak Lord Flowing Cloud's name so casually. Do you have a death wish?"
Rakuya lifted an eyebrow. Another Flowing Cloud zealot.
"Forget whether I live or die. Why do you seek him?" For once he was curious. Anyone else would already be a smear on the tiles.
"Hmph." Chin raised, Ufole looked down his nose at Rakuya and Neptune. "Lord Flowing Cloud toppled the World Government singlehandedly, crushed the Five Elders, and chained the Celestial Dragons to be beaten day after day on Fish-Man Island. His deeds are a new epic, heights we will never reach. My admiration is like a river without end, like a great flood that cannot be stopped."
"Enough." Rakuya cut him off with a wince. Praise like that made even his cheeks feel hot.
"Keep it simple. Why do you want to see him? He is busy with matters of state. If this is petty, he will not waste a breath on a kid."
"Hmph." Ufole squared his shoulders. "Take me to Lord Flowing Cloud. I will take him as my master."
The glow in his eyes made the worship plain.
"Leave. He will not see you, and he will not take you as a disciple." Rakuya flicked his hand, as if shooing a fly. Take a disciple? Only fools volunteered for that headache.
"Damn you. You have not even taken me to him. On what basis do you say he will not accept me?" Ufole's eyes went bloodshot. He sprang forward. "If you will not lead me, I will grab you and make you."
Rakuya smiled pleasantly. Ufole was fast, almost Soru-fast, but compared to a Sea Sovereign at max level he was crawling.
In a blink Ufole reached him, palm snatching down.
"If you will not take me, forgive my rudeness."
Confidence lit his face.
Rakuya sighed, slid a fist out, and tapped Ufole's palm.
Ufole twisted at the waist with sharp instincts, barely slipping past, then raked for Rakuya's back.
"Not bad," Rakuya said, genuinely surprised. His right hand lifted. Repulsion surged, gravity followed.
The two forces locked over Ufole like a press, pinning him midair.
"Damn it," the youth gritted, eyes going wide. "What power is this?"
Rakuya rose and looked him over. "Get out. For the sake of your worship of Flowing Cloud, I will not kill you. He will not take you."
"On what grounds? Only Flowing Cloud decides that. Who are you to speak for him?"
"On what grounds?" Rakuya's laugh was soft and cold. "I am Flowing Cloud. Now tell me why I should."
The words hit like a hammer. Ufole's whole body shuddered and went still, eyes blown wide in disbelief.
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