Chrollo's gaze swept across the group before finally settling on Feitan.
This ability was absolutely perfect for someone like Feitan, who regarded torture as a hobby!
Besides... flesh and blood. The one thing the Troupe wasn't lacking was flesh and blood!
The dungeon of the Black Whale was packed with people.
Although Chrollo had stolen their abilities, their Devil Fruits and Nen were still physically present within their bodies.
If they just spared a bit of flesh and blood for Feitan to carry around, he'd be set!
However...
Chrollo was still worried about one thing: the issue of Fruit compatibility.
There was a correspondence between Nen abilities and Devil Fruits—a theory Chrollo had researched early on.
But there are six categories of Nen: Enhancement, Emission, Manipulation, Transmutation, Conjuration, and Specialization.
And only three types of Devil Fruits: Logia, Paramecia, and Zoan.
Chrollo had always been afraid of ruining his members by feeding them the wrong thing, which was why he had stuck to the confirmed combination of giving Paramecia-type fruits to Enhancers.
But now, the three Enhancers—Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Phinks—already had fruit abilities.
Given their current physical stats, their bodies definitely wouldn't be able to handle multiple fruits.
"I have to run an experiment..."
In reality, Chrollo already had a hypothesis regarding the Munch-Munch Fruit's attributes.
Changing oneself by consuming objects clearly aligned with the characteristics of a Transmuter.
So, with a flip of his wrist, a purple fruit that looked like a pair of gaping human jaws appeared in his hand.
He looked at Feitan.
"I'm not sure if you can absorb it. Do you want to try?"
Feitan stared calmly at the Munch-Munch Fruit in Chrollo's hand and asked only one question:
"Is it strong?"
Chrollo nodded.
"In terms of effects and compatibility with you, it is extremely powerful."
A pleasurable arc curled up on Feitan's face.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
He took the fruit from Chrollo's hand without hesitation and swallowed it whole—
Chewing expressionlessly.
Chrollo didn't need to explain anything to him. Countless habits formed over time meant Feitan trusted Chrollo's judgment, no matter the situation.
And there was another point...
As a combat specialist of the Troupe, seeing Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Phinks all get stronger one after another...
His desire to become stronger could no longer be suppressed!
As a strong fighter, who would be willing to lag behind?
He wanted to increase his strength so that on the battlefield of top-tier fighters... he could be of use to Chrollo!
Chrollo watched nervously as he swallowed the entire Munch-Munch Fruit. "How does it feel?"
Feitan savored it carefully, then looked indifferent.
"Aside from tasting a bit disgusting, there's nothing special."
"Do you sense the ability instructions?"
Feitan closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt the instructions and usage of the Munch-Munch ability naturally surface in his mind.
He opened his eyes and nodded to Chrollo.
"Excellent."
"Familiarize yourself with the ability as soon as possible and develop the Fruit Awakening.
"The 'collections' in the dungeon have plenty of flesh and blood. Take a little from each of them, and also from Uvogin and the others.
"Experiment and see what abilities you can come up with. But exercise some restraint—don't kill the collections."
Feitan's lips curled up slightly, and he nodded.
Chrollo couldn't help but show joy on his face.
With this, the other members of the Troupe would have more choices for Fruit abilities.
As long as he analyzed the compatibility of the Fruit and matched it to their Nen category, they could absorb it!
Having finished with everyone else's business, Chrollo could finally get to his happiest moment: Stat Allocation and Shopping Time!
"I have some things to do. You guys carry on."
Without time to explain, Chrollo hurriedly summoned a door on the ground and instantly dived into the [Fourth-Dimensional Mansion], vanishing from sight.
Leaving the Troupe members looking at each other.
Bonney wore a suspicious expression.
"He was in a rush to go take a dump, wasn't he?"
Immediately, she felt four murderous glares appear behind her. The star of death was blinking wildly.
Four hand-chops descended.
BONK—
"Don't insult the Boss—"
Bonney clutched the four large bumps stacked on her head, squatting on the ground in pain, looking aggrieved.
Does no one in this group know how to cherish children?!!
---
"Zhahahahaha—"
An incredibly rampant laugh echoed through the empty Fourth-Dimensional Mansion.
Chrollo was laughing so hard he even let out a pirate laugh!
Although the opponents weren't strong, the harvest this time was bountiful!
Drum Island really was his lucky place!
Four Fruits plus one Nen ability brought him a total of 24 attribute points!
That was even more than what he got from hunting the Golden Lion!
Rich. He was filthy rich. He had never fought such a profitable battle!
Chrollo couldn't wait to flip open the attribute interface.
He distributed them evenly, six points to each stat. His final stats became:
[Name: Chrollo]
[Stats: Strength: 78 (A) / Agility: 78 (A) / Intelligence: 79 (A) / Stamina: 76 (A)]
[Awakened Nen Ability: Skill Hunter (Specialist · Evolved)]
[Aura Volume: 670,000 (Royal Guard Level)]
[Currently Held: Nen Abilities: 24 (Click to expand details)]
[Stolen Devil Fruit Abilities: 9 (Click to expand details)]
[Current Ability: Armament Haki (Intermediate+)]
Just a little more. After hunting a few more Fruits, his stats would reach around 80, bringing him numerically to the level of an Emperor's First Commander.
His stats were definitely ahead of the current pirate version update!
But what did the "+" sign behind "Intermediate" Armament Haki mean?
Chrollo didn't pay it much mind.
He turned his gaze to the Reputation interface.
[Detected that the team led by the player has defeated: Four Senior Agents of Baroque Works, King Wapol of the Drum Kingdom. Conditions met. Plunder ability triggered.]
[Mr. 3 Galdino (Bounty: 24 million), Miss Goldenweek Marianne (Bounty: 29 million), Mr. 5 Gem (Bounty: 10 million), Miss Valentine Mikita (Bounty: 7.5 million), King Wapol (Bounty: 15 million)]
[Current Total Bounty: 85.5 million Berries. Reputation Points Gained: 8,550]
"Uh—"
The light faded from Chrollo's expression, replaced by a shadow.
"Why is it so little?!!"
The combined reputation of these people didn't even reach 10,000!
He thought that since the Munch-Munch Fruit was so awesome, he'd get more reputation points. He overthought it...
Wapol was just too weak!
[Current Player Total Reputation: 77,950]
"Still more than 20,000 points away from the Door-Door Fruit—"
Chrollo looked at the [Thief's Point Shop] interface.
There were only 8 days left until the next shop refresh.
Whether he could gather these 20,000+ reputation points within eight days would be the key to securing the Door-Door Fruit!
He had finally rolled a Golden Legendary item; Chrollo didn't want to let it slip through his fingers!
A ruthless expression appeared on Chrollo's face.
"Crocodile—"
As long as he defeated Crocodile, destroyed Baroque Works, and ruined his conspiracy in Alabasta, his reputation points would definitely be enough!
At that very moment, in a desert far, far away.
Crocodile was holding a cup of tea, sipping it leisurely.
Just as he lifted the cup, he shuddered as if electrocuted and sneezed. The teacup fell to the ground—
"Strange..." Crocodile looked puzzled.
"Why do I have the feeling... that a falcon is watching me..."