Chapter 272

"King Rosed has misunderstood—I have no intention of becoming a Power User. Even a Logia Devil Fruit holds no appeal for me."

"I merely happened to take an interest in this particular Devil Fruit, nothing more."

Lu En smiled.

"I see."

King Rosed IV began introducing to Lu En, "Mr. Lu En may not know, but this Devil Fruit is the Paramecia: Baku Baku no Mi."

"Back then, to acquire this Devil Fruit, I paid no less than one hundred million Berries."

"But since it has now come into Mr. Lu En's possession, it means this Devil Fruit was always meant for you."

With that said.

Lu En raised his eyebrows slightly, gazing at the Devil Fruit in his hand with a peculiar expression.

Baku Baku no Mi?

If he remembered correctly,

this Devil Fruit was apparently the future...

one of the abilities possessed by a subordinate of Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

It allows the user to cause any part of their body to explode.

Even a single hair, or even a breath blown out, can explode.

Furthermore,

this Devil Fruit possesses another incredible ability.

That is...

it can nullify any explosive attack!

Any explosive damage is absorbed and neutralized by the user who consumed this Devil Fruit.

"Not bad."

Lu En smiled warmly at the Baku Baku no Mi in his hands.

This time, the harvest was substantial.

Selecting the Paramecia: Baku Baku no Mi from the treasure vault was entirely beyond Lu En's expectations.

This Devil Fruit isn't particularly strong, by itself.

But to call it weak would be equally untrue.

Half a quarter-hour later.

As Lu En and King Rosed IV chatted idly,

Lucci emerged from the treasure vault.

In his hands he held a sword, seemingly of great value, its exterior golden, unmistakably forged from rare and unique materials.

Even if Lucci never used the sword, he felt its worth must be extremely high.

Precisely because of this,

he had chosen this sword.

"This!"

King Rosed IV's mouth twitched again.

His heart bled,

What a loss!

This sword was one of the most precious items in the vault.

"Ryōkaitō: Mimitsu Ryōding!"

King Rosed IV sighed helplessly.

He had originally paid seventy million Berries to acquire this sword.

Though its value paled beside the Paramecia Devil Fruit Lu En had just chosen,

the Ryōkaitō was still an extremely valuable item.

If Lucci had taken this sword, King Rosed IV wouldn't have been this pained.

The problem was...

Who the hell is Lucci?!

If not for Lu En's sake, Lucci wouldn't even have had the qualifications to enter the vault.

Now look what's happened.

Not only did Lucci enter the vault, but he picked out one of the most precious swords—the Ryōkaitō!

No wonder King Rosed IV was so heartbroken.

Giving this Ryōkaitō to Lucci was like putting a crown on a beggar!

But no matter how much King Rosed IV ached, he would not go back on his word.

Lucci was dispatched by the World Government...

Even as king of a member nation, he dared not provoke such an elite officer.

"Gentlemen, since you have both selected your treasures,"

"would you care to join me for a banquet?"

"As the saviors of the Rosed Kingdom, I wish to host a banquet in your honor, summoning all the nobility of Rosed Kingdom to attend."

"Let them solemnly recognize the two supreme geniuses who rescued our Rosed Kingdom from dire peril today!"

King Rosed IV thought for a moment and quickly proposed.

He placed particular emphasis on seeking Lu En's opinion.

And Lu Qi?

Go stand wherever it's cool.

"That won't be necessary."

Lu En chose to refuse.

He had no time to waste any further on these nobles of the Rosed Kingdom.

With that time…

He might as well throw it all into training.

"This matter is settled; the two of us should not trouble the King of Rosed any further."

"We'll take our leave here."

Lu En waved his hand, about to leave.

"Let me see the two of you off."

Rosed IV hurriedly stepped forward to send them off.

During the process of seeing Lu En and Lu Qi off, he kept engaging Lu En in conversation, trying to draw their relationship closer.

Finally—

The moment of departure arrived.

Rosed IV finally showed his hand, took a deep breath, and with a face full of solemnity invited Lu En: "Mr. Lu En, I wonder if you'd be interested in joining our Rosed Kingdom?"

"I promise…"

"I can offer you the position of Captain of the King's Personal Guard."

"This position, whether in status or rank, is in no way inferior to any of the kingdom's noble ministers. Moreover, you'll command thirty thousand soldiers of the kingdom!"

"If the gentleman chooses to join, I can also promise that every year, I'll give Mr. Lu En a very substantial sum of Berries."

"What does Mr. Lu En think?"

His purpose was obvious.

He wanted to win Lu En over, to have Lu En join the Rosed Kingdom.

After all.

A once-in-a-generation prodigy who, at only four years old, already possessed such terrifying combat power—even a blind man could see just how powerful that person would grow in the future.

If they could tie down such a monster to the Rosed Kingdom ahead of time, then the Rosed Kingdom of the future—no matter how wealthy, no matter how strong its economic system—would never again attract the covetous gaze of pirates.

All because…