"Are you sure, Teacher Reggie?"
Aaron stared at Reggie in shock when he heard him speak.
Of course Aaron had dreamed about the Snow-Snow Fruit — as Doflamingo had said, whoever gained it would gain tremendous power for revenge, quickly become a prominent piece in the coming storm, and might even break free of the board to become a player in their own right.
But it was only a fantasy. Natural-type Devil Fruits were priceless; no matter how generous Akio might be, he wouldn't simply hand one over.
Among the five chief officers of the Akio Crew, Reggie, Getra, and Jim had no Devil Fruit powers. That's why Akio had requested three fruits from Doflamingo — likely to give to those three.
Of all of them, Reggie was by far the most likely recipient of the Snow-Snow Fruit.
Aaron had just heard from Doflamingo that Reggie once bore the title "Ice Swordmaster." That suggested he had once been a swordsman with freezing powers. Aaron had sparred with Reggie for some time at the sword school, so he'd never heard of Reggie possessing such an ability now.
Nicknames are rarely given without reason. If Reggie had been called the Ice Swordmaster, there must have been truth to it — only later, for some unknown reason, he'd lost that power.
So it wasn't just age and decline that had weakened Reggie.
Although the Snow-Snow Fruit wasn't exactly the Ice Fruit, it was tied to ice-like abilities. If Reggie ate it, he might regain some of his former strength — perhaps even more.
It was all just so sudden.
Aaron never expected to hear Reggie say the Snow-Snow Fruit would be given to him — and that it was Akio's decision. He couldn't believe the captain valued him so highly.
"Of course it's true. That's the captain's decision." Reggie saw Aaron's stunned expression and nodded solemnly.
At the same time, memories of a conversation with Akio from days earlier drifted through his mind, and a sigh escaped him.
Five days earlier — at the Akio Crew's headquarters, in Akio's private office.
Reggie had just heard the news that Akio had acquired the Snow-Snow Fruit. When Akio revealed whom he'd chosen to eat it, Reggie had been shocked. "You chose Aaron? Why would you give the Snow-Snow Fruit to him? Even if I don't want it, you could give it to Getra or Jim — they haven't eaten Devil Fruits."
As a pure swordsman, Reggie believed Devil Fruits hampered pursuit of stronger swordsmanship; even a natural-type fruit would be something he'd refuse.
Akio answered with a sigh. "Them? Hmph. Giving the Snow-Snow Fruit to those two would be a waste. Neither of them has the ability to lead the Akio Crew forward into the New Era. They've grown too comfortable over the years; they've lost the fire they had when they were young. Their best is what they are now.
"You and I are old. You know my condition — who knows how many years I have left?
"After I forced my hand to defeat that rock giant and that martial artist, after doing Gilbert that favor and to intimidate Dars a bit, the wound left on my heart has been acting up again lately.
"The Akio Crew is something you and I built with our own hands. After so many years it means something to us — it's our home, the home of two old fools. I don't want this house to collapse. Getting old makes you sentimental, I guess.
"And you know the captain's temperament. If something happens to us and we can't reliably fund his research, do you know what will become of the country? You do. Drum Kingdom is our homeland. Even though I'm a pirate, I don't want it to be ravaged like other nations.
"So we must find a successor quickly — someone who can hold the Akio Crew together and maintain balance. Aaron — I see potential in the boy."
Akio's words were followed by a coughing fit; his face went pale and he clutched his chest, coughing up blood.
Reggie pulled a bottle of medicine from the desk drawer and handed Akio a pill. After swallowing it, Akio's color returned and the weakness vanished.
"He's alive again — not easy. Luckily the homeland's doctors are excellent, or I'd have been dead years ago," Akio managed with a bitter smile as he pressed his hand to his chest.
Years ago at the Sea Battle, he'd been struck down by "Dark King" Rayleigh, his heart injured, then fallen into the sea and suffered further trauma. Reggie had risked his life to save him; because Akio was still in his prime his vitality was tenacious and he'd survived to return to Drum to recuperate. The kingdom's advanced medical care had kept him alive, but the heart wound was irreversible. He could no longer endure long, brutal fights. If a battle dragged on, his heart could give out.
That's why Akio rarely acted in the last decade; when he did, it was always brief. Reggie and others handled most problems. Had that not been the case, Akio would have settled a certain blood-wolf Dars long ago — with the temper he'd had as an airship pirate, he wouldn't have tolerated that man's behavior.
"But does giving the Snow-Snow Fruit to Aaron make him fit to shoulder such a burden?" Reggie pressed once Akio steadied. "He's still a brat. He hasn't even learned Armament Haki. He's scheming and ambitious — not one of us."
"If he had no ambition, I wouldn't choose him," Akio replied. "Whether he's 'one of us' doesn't matter. We're remnants of the old era. If things go as I expect, he'll be a leader of the new era — he has his own will. How could he be 'one of us'?
"But don't worry — you and I both know how strong the captain is. As long as he lives, he won't dare act against us.
"Because he's an ambitious brat is exactly why I'll give him the Snow-Snow Fruit. It's better to save someone in need than to add to someone already flourishing.
"From how he treats his subordinates, he's not stingy and he knows how to repay favors — you, who taught him, should know that best.
"So I believe: give the Snow-Snow Fruit to him, and whatever happens in the future, he'll leave the Akio Crew and us old men some face.
"He's clever and slick; he'll survive the New Era. With the talent he's shown, even without the Snow-Snow Fruit he could rise — just give him time, you can't deny that."
Akio lit a cigar and took a long drag, then picked up the pill bottle from the table, tossed it in his hand, and smiled at Reggie.
When Reggie gave a reluctant nod, Akio's smile vanished and his face turned grim and fierce.
He crushed the bottle with one hand and, excited, said, "Finally — that kid will never become Navy or World Government. The mark on his back will ensure he and the Marines are at each other's throats forever. I want him to teach those high-and-mighty bastards in the sky a lesson — make them fall, fall to their deaths! Ruhahahaha—"
His laughter brimmed with hatred.
---
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
For early access to advanced chapters visit my P@treon:
P@treon/ Dexy3
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!