Luffy casually scanned the bookshelf, searching for something to pass the time. His fingers landed on a Devil Fruit encyclopedia, an item that was relatively common in their household but still held some value.
Meanwhile, Alpha, feeling restless, glanced around the room, her gaze flitting from one object to another as she tried to distract herself from her thoughts.
At that moment, Luffy strolled past her, still browsing through the collection of books in the office.
Alpha's sharp eyes immediately noticed something unusual—his trouser pockets bulged abnormally as if he were hiding something. Narrowing her eyes in curiosity, she asked,
"Hey, Luffy, what's that in your pocket?"
"My pocket?" Luffy blinked in confusion and instinctively reached down. When his fingers brushed against a long, solid object, his eyes widened in sudden realization.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about this."
With a casual motion, he pulled out the Devil Fruit wrapped in bag from his pocket. He placed it on the coffee table before sitting down beside Alpha and Gion, still holding the book in his hand.
Gion, who had been observing quietly, leaned in slightly, intrigued by the book Luffy had picked up.
Alpha, on the other hand, couldn't wait. She snatched the fruit off the table, swiftly pulling the fruit out to reveal what was inside. The moment she laid eyes on it, she gasped.
"A Devil Fruit! What kind of power does it have? Is this for me?!"
Her sudden outburst drew the attention of Violet, Kujaku, and Hiyori. Even Olivia, who had been diligently working behind her desk, paused and lifted her head.
However, unlike the others, Olivia only needed a brief glance at the gourd-shaped fruit before recognition flashed in her eyes. She had memorized the contents of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia long ago, and after a moment's thought, she identified it effortlessly.
Losing interest just as quickly, she sighed and returned to her work, her expression indifferent.
Violet and Kujaku also glanced at the fruit but didn't seem particularly excited.
For Hiyori, the fruit was something far beyond her reach, and she knew better than to indulge in unnecessary curiosity. Without giving it another thought, she simply resumed her essential work.
As for Violet and Kujaku, their indifference stemmed from familiarity.
After all, Devil Fruits were indeed rare, but in their household, where more than a dozen people had special abilities, they were no more remarkable than an exotic fruit from a foreign land.
Unless it was a particularly rare Logia-type or a mythical Zoan, neither of them had any interest in it.
The only ones who seemed truly intrigued were Gion and Alpha—the only two members of the family who had yet to consume a Devil Fruit.
For Alpha, in particular, this moment felt especially significant.
Lately, she had been feeling increasingly insecure about her abilities. Among their group, her combat strength ranked somewhere in the middle-lower tier.
She didn't even dare compare herself to the three strongest fighters—Gion, Hancock, and Yamato. Nor could she match the likes of Ain, Hina, or Kujaku.
Even Nami, who had recently mastered Armament Haki, had surpassed her in combat prowess.
This realization gnawed at Alpha.
She desperately needed a way to boost her strength. A powerful Devil Fruit might just be the key to closing the gap between her and the others.
She didn't expect to surpass Gion, Ain, or the stronger fighters. But at the very least, she wanted to be stronger than Nami. And, more importantly, she wanted to surpass her sister.
Although she and Kalifa had reconciled, their sibling rivalry never truly disappeared. Their entire lives had been filled with competition—both open and subtle.
Even now, Kalifa called her "big sister" in an affectionate tone, always appearing warm and close. But Alpha knew better.
The moment she surpassed Kalifa in strength, that so-called affection would quickly turn into frustration and jealousy.
And Alpha would love to see it.
She wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug expression off her sister's face and prove, once and for all, that she was superior.
If possible, she even wanted to pin Luffy down and make him acknowledge her strength!
"This is a thank-you gift from Ace and Sabo," Luffy explained. "They weren't sure what ability it holds, so let me check the guide first. If it has a good power, you and Gion can decide whether to eat it."
Alpha nodded eagerly but then turned to Gion, her expression instantly switching to one of exaggerated sweetness.
"Gion-sister~~" she cooed, dragging out her words in an almost sickeningly adorable tone.
The moment she spoke, everyone in the room shuddered. Goosebumps spread across their skin like a wave.
"Eugh—! That's disgusting!"
Kujaku visibly cringed, rubbing her arms as if trying to scrub away the uncomfortable sensation. Her face twisted in pure disgust.
Alpha completely ignored her and continued staring at Gion with hopeful, pleading eyes.
Gion, meanwhile, rubbed her ears, looking helpless. Even she felt physically uncomfortable from the overly saccharine tone.
Sighing, she relented, "Alright, if it's not a fruit that interests me, I'll let you have it. Right now, my focus is improving my swordsmanship."
"Swordsmanship and Devil Fruits aren't mutually exclusive," Luffy chimed in while flipping through the illustrated guide. "If this one turns out to be a mythical Zoan, you should definitely consider eating it."
Gion nodded slightly, though she didn't respond right away. However, something about the mention of mythical Zoan fruits triggered a memory.
"Speaking of mythical Zoans…" she mused aloud. "Didn't you mention that there was one somewhere? I've been so focused on searching for Pure Gold these past six months that I completely forgot about it.
"What was the name of that fruit? And what kind of ability does it have? If it's worth it, I'll retrieve it when I have time."
Luffy raised an eyebrow and tilted his head at her, surprised.
"You forgot? That's a mythical Zoan fruit we're talking about."
Gion chuckled, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Ha! No matter how powerful a mythical Zoan is, it's not as valuable as eternal youth."
Her words carried a tone of complete indifference toward the fruit.
But Luffy merely grinned. "Oh, really? Are you sure about that?"
He turned a page in the guide before continuing, "If I remember correctly, the fruit you're talking about is the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan—Vampire Form."
At those words, Gion's nonchalant expression shifted ever so slightly.
Luffy's smirk widened as he dropped the final detail.
"From what I've heard… this fruit's ability lets its user rejuvenate and remain young forever."
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