Chapter 271

Wang Gong's treasure vault.

Lu En, filled with profound emotion, freely surveyed the countless treasures displayed on the wooden shelves around him.

A dazzling array of treasures.

So overwhelming they made one's eyes spin.

Multicolored lights flickered, revealing the opulence and rarity of these treasures.

Soon after,

Lu En spotted a peculiar fruit.

Its surface was covered in incomprehensibly intricate patterns…

One after another, these mystic patterns etched onto the fruit's exterior—originally just a banana-shaped fruit, yet now, with the mystic patterns and its deep purple, bizarre hue,

it radiated an aura of mystery and strangeness.

"Devil Fruit?"

Lu En's eyes flickered, and he slowly reached out, cradling the banana-shaped Devil Fruit in his palms.

The moment he saw it, he knew without doubt—it was a Devil Fruit!

Only Devil Fruits in this sea bore such intricate, arcane patterns.

As he held it in his palm, a chilling sensation spread through him, accompanied by an intensely mysterious aura, like a demon's whisper.

The devil's murmur…

Tempting Lu En to swallow the fruit.

"Every Devil Fruit hides a sea demon within."

Lu En's eyes narrowed slightly—he would not be swayed by the influence of the Devil Fruit in his hands.

After a preliminary inspection, he gently returned the fruit to its original place.

At present, he could not determine

what ability this Devil Fruit possessed.

But most likely…

it was either an Animal-type

or a Logia-type.

As for a Natural-type?

Even if King Rosed IV were as wealthy as he was, he would never casually leave a Natural-type Devil Fruit lying in this vast treasure vault for anyone to take.

Natural-type Devil Fruits are far too precious!

If Rosed IV truly possessed a Natural-type Devil Fruit, he would have eaten it himself long ago—how could he possibly be a king forced into submission by pirates?

In the first half of the Grand Line, a Natural-type Devil Fruit user meant invincibility!

Think about it.

How incredibly precious it must be!

"King Rosed IV is truly a king dripping with wealth…"

Glancing around, Lu En also spotted several famed excellent swords—among the most coveted blades for swordmasters, considered bone-deep weapons for top-tier swordsmen.

Above excellent swords come great swords, then supreme great swords.

But across this entire sea…

let alone supreme great swords, even great swords are rare, world-class treasures—impossible to find everywhere.

Moments later,

Lu En met Yu Luqi.

He asked: "Have you chosen?"

"Too hard to decide."

Yu Luqi shook his head.

The sheer number of treasures in the vault overwhelmed him; every single item tempted him, yet he had only one chance—leaving him torn and agonized.

Had it not been for Rosed IV's status as an allied nation, he would have gladly emptied the entire vault.

"Take whatever you like…"

"I've already made my choice."

Lu En casually pulled out a fruit covered in patterns, cradled it in his palm, and raised it high, clearly exposing it to Yu Luqi's gaze.

This was his chosen target this time!

"Is this…"

"The legendary Devil Fruit?"

Yu Luqi's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

After a pause,

he couldn't help asking: "You're not seriously thinking of eating it and becoming a Devil Fruit user, are you? Everyone knows Devil Fruit users can't touch water—they're all landlocked ducks."

Hearing this,

Lu En laughed: "Of course not. I just figured there was nothing here worth my attention, so I took a Devil Fruit instead. Don't you know? Devil Fruits are hard currency!"

"Any item can depreciate—but Devil Fruits never will. Taking this guarantees I won't lose."

"Isn't that perfect?"

"I wouldn't dare swallow a Devil Fruit whose ability I don't know. Besides, my own strength is already sufficient—I don't need a Devil Fruit, which might severely weaken my overall combat power."

"Only the weak…"

"rely on Devil Fruit power!"

"A real man relies on himself! On his own iron fist!"

With those words spoken.

Luchi nodded.

The value of a Devil Fruit is indeed extremely high!

Even the worst Devil Fruit...

If put up for auction, it would surely fetch a substantial price.

Tens of millions of Berries would be the starting bid.

If no better option presented itself, Luchi would gladly choose a Devil Fruit.

"Alright, take your time choosing. I'm leaving first."

Lu En, holding a Devil Fruit, stepped slowly out of the door of Kudeda Sect.

This Devil Fruit was the very one he had first seen—shaped like a banana, deep purple, its surface covered in intricate, mysterious patterns.

Though he did not know its ability...

But he assumed Rosed the Fourth, as a collector, must have heard something of it.

Otherwise,

the man would never have stored the Devil Fruit within the treasure vault.

Stepping out of the door of Kudeda Sect,

Rosed the Fourth immediately approached, and upon seeing the Devil Fruit in Lu En's hand, his lips twitched involuntarily.

His heart felt as if cut by knives,

Every part of it bled.

But words spoken are like water spilled—

Cannot be taken back.

Rosed the Fourth's entire soul was filled with grief.

This Devil Fruit had once cost him a tremendous price to acquire from another's hands.

Even among all the treasures in the vault, this Devil Fruit was one of the most precious items.

·········Seeking flowers·······

He never expected...

That this monster of only four years old, upon entering, would choose this very Devil Fruit!

This made Rosed the Fourth feel he had been robbed.

But soon,

He completely suppressed that emotion within him.

As king of an immensely wealthy kingdom, he would not, before Lu En, go back on his word.

It was merely one Devil Fruit...

Though it pained him deeply, he could still grit his teeth and accept it.

"All for the sake of befriending a once-in-a-century legendary genius—this is worth it!"

"If I can befriend him, a single Devil Fruit is pure profit!"

"Remember, this child before me, only four years old, is one of the most terrifying monsters in the entire sea!"

Rosed the Fourth comforted himself with these thoughts.

Huh!

He exhaled softly, turned to Lu En with a smile: "Mr. Lu En has excellent taste—you chose the only Devil Fruit in the treasure vault!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Lu En. It seems this Devil Fruit is destined for you."

"But may I ask—do you intend to become a Devil Fruit user?"

His eyes held a hint of inquiry.