The news that Ancient Zoans had effectively evolved into Mythical Zoans sent Fuzzy Fe, Ulti, and the rest into raptures.
They'd always known Zoan fruits varied wildly in power — the gap between types was as wide as the ocean — and Mythical Zoans were rarer than hen's teeth. There were only a handful of famous Mythical Zoan users in the seas.
Right now, Kaido's crew possessed two such powers: Kaido's own Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical: Azure Dragon, and Yamato's Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical: Ogerin (?) form. (Yamato's form in the original is the Okuchi no Makami / dog deity — keep as Yamato's Mythical Dog form.) And now Kaido had just declared that, thanks to the Oni-Class Mutant Cells, five of the Tobi Roppo had approached Mythical tier.
If that news spread, the whole ocean would tremble.
Page One, however, felt like a thunderclap had struck him.
He'd eaten only a Tiger-class Mutant Cell — he'd leapt forward and briefly rivaled Jack, but he hadn't reached Mythical level. Watching others surpass him stung.
He kicked himself inwardly. Why had he eaten that Tiger-cell so early?
Kaido, finishing his praise for the Tobi Roppo, turned to Luo Xing and unexpectedly sighed.
"Son-in-law, I want to reward you. I've already given you my daughter and half my treasures… How about this — I'll make you a general of Wano!"
Luo Xing's heart jolted.
A general of Wano? That was the very post Kaido had once planned for Yamato — this cheap father-in-law really was treating him like family.
But Luo Xing wasn't interested in titles. He was an inventor. He wanted to build the strongest Beasts Pirates from the workshop, make his father-in-law unbeatable, then conquer the world from the shadows.
"Father-in-law, these are just what your son-in-law should do," he said modestly, patting his chubby little fund chest.
Kaido clapped him on the shoulder, eyes wet with drama.
"If only Yamato were more like you."
His moment of sentiment passed quickly; Kaido was greed and ambition in motion. He asked the question he cared about most.
"How many of these high-grade cells can you make?"
Luo Xing didn't hesitate.
"As many as before. The bottleneck isn't production — it's that very few people can survive the side effects."
Kaido's brows knitted. It was true. Tiger-class cells had only been survivable for Gifters; Oni-class required someone of Tobi Roppo strength. True Mythical upgrades would demand even rarer bodies.
Kaido could only think of two solutions: hunt for more Devil Fruits to raise the pool of candidates, or buy more SMILEs from Joker in the underworld.
Luo Xing read his father-in-law's thoughts and smiled inwardly. He already had a plan.
"I have an idea," he said.
Kaido's grin split.
"Spill it!"
"I invented a training chamber that increases gravity and speeds up training," Luo Xing began.
"But to build a proper Gravity Chamber costs tens of millions—maybe hundreds of millions of berries. My pockets are shallow…"
Kaido waved a massive hand.
"So what? When in doubt, steal!"
Page One perked up immediately.
"Boss Kaido, give me the job! I'll bring back enough money for the Lord Consort!"
Kaido laughed and assigned the raiding mission to Page One. His sister Ulti insisted on coming along — how could she leave her brother to sail alone? — and Kaido agreed.
They dispersed. Luo Xing didn't return to the lab; he wanted to go home and hold the wife he hadn't seen for days.
Just as he was leaving, Page One approached him furtively.
"Lord Consort… is it impossible for me to eat another Mutant Cell?" he asked, hopeful and nervous.
Luo Xing raised an eyebrow. He could see how the Tobi Roppo's sudden evolution had rattled the young man.
"If you want to die, you could try," Luo Xing said bluntly.
Page One went pale, crestfallen. Luo Xing couldn't leave him like that — after all, the kid was about to go steal for him. He clapped Page One on the shoulder and made a promise he didn't entirely mean to keep.
"Do the mission well. I'll try to invent something that can upgrade you to Mythical level."
Page One's joy was instant and excessive — he nearly prostrated himself in thanks.
Luo Xing watched him go and shook his head with a smirk. "Silly kid."
Home — Luo Xing & Yamato
He returned home to Yamato, who barreled into his arms the moment he stepped through the door.
"Husband! You're back!"
Luo Xing hugged the tall beauty tight and, with a teasing whisper near her earlobe, said:
"Yamato, your Observation Haki has gotten stronger — you sensed me from so far away."
Yamato giggled.
"Because you're my husband!"
They lingered in affectionate silence for a moment. As they relaxed, Yamato clung to his arm more than usual. Luo Xing noticed — she seemed extra clingy today.
He straightened, pretending sternness.
"Yamato, are you hiding something from me?"
She blushed, coquettish and coy.
"Oh, you can always sense everything. I… I do have one request."
"Tell me," Luo Xing said, feeling his heart lighten.
Yamato batted her eyes and said in a voice full of pleading,
"Could you… give me a Mutant Cell?"
She blinked up at him with watery, imploring eyes.
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