"Oi, why is the World Government after you?"
The man looked up. His dirty face revealed a pair of dull, lifeless eyes, devoid of vitality, and his lips were cracked like dry earth.
Seeing this, Astrix brought over food and water and set them in front of him.
"Eat your fill first. We'll talk after."
Only those who had experienced hunger truly understood its torment.
Usually, even if he intended to kill someone, Astrix would let them eat first—at least ensuring they had one final meal.
Even with Seastone handcuffs binding his hands, the man devoured the food hungrily.
The sight reminded Astrix of his own past—when kind villagers would occasionally feed him before he joined the Roger Pirates.
One meal today, nothing tomorrow.
Back then, he had no table manners either.
In no time, the man finished two bowls of braised meat over rice.
"The chef on your ship is skilled."
"My name is Phoenix. I'm a doctor… and a Space Human who ate the Space-Space Fruit."
"The World Government seems to have found a way to recover Devil Fruits. I guess they want mine back—that's why they captured me."
A doctor? Space-Space Fruit?
Astrix remained calm on the surface, but his heart pounded.
Could it be the Ope-Ope no Mi—the one rumored to be worth five billion?
If it really were just an ordinary "Space-Space Fruit," the CP leader wouldn't have tried to kill Phoenix the moment Mihawk appeared.
The answer was obvious.
The World Government would rather kill him than let him fall into someone else's hands.
And his behavior didn't match his earlier appearance.
Someone who had lost the will to live wouldn't eat like that.
Only someone desperate to survive would devour food so frantically.
And his explanation…
Too clean. Too rehearsed.
There was almost no public information about users of the Ope-Ope no Mi besides Law.
That wasn't surprising.
A Devil Fruit capable of granting immortality would definitely have its records erased by the World Government.
After all—
it meant eternal life.
Still, even if Phoenix really was its user, Astrix doubted he could perform the Immortality Surgery yet.
Ten CP agents had been enough to capture him.
His strength was probably mediocre—possibly even weaker than Astrix himself.
"Master, may I ask your name?"
"Beelzebub Astrix."
"Master Astrix… where are you headed?"
Astrix smiled faintly.
"Don't ask where we're going. You're just a trophy I took from the World Government."
"Funny coincidence—I'm quite interested in the Space-Space Fruit as well. And even more coincidentally, I also know how to recover Devil Fruits."
The doctor froze.
His already pale face turned even whiter.
Even Mihawk, who was sipping his iced drink nearby, paused for a moment.
…This was getting more and more interesting.
The doctor gave a bitter smile, as if he had escaped a wolf's den only to walk into a tiger's mouth.
"Master Astrix… someone with kingly qualities like you knows about this too?"
"Relax, I'm joking."
Astrix patted his shoulder.
"From now on, you're in charge of cleaning the ship."
"Yes, Captain! I'll make sure everything is spotless."
After leaving port, they continued toward Jaya Island.
Even if the doctor really was the Ope-Ope no Mi user, Astrix had no intention of forcing anything—for now.
He was only fifteen.
Living forever at twenty sounded great.
Living forever at fifteen… not so much.
At the very least, he'd wait until he was fully grown.
Rather than wasting time here, it was better to reach Shandora as soon as possible and use the golden pillar to purchase the divine weapon, Musou Isshin.
What if that fool from Teyvat took it off the shelves?
Astrix had to consider the possibility—this might be his only chance.
Once missed, it would be gone forever.
…
World Economic Journal.
Morgans, president of the news agency, alternated between staring at a faxed photo and the Den Den Mushi.
"Do you have any clearer photos? This won't cause much of a stir."
The Den Den Mushi mimicked the caller's expression.
"Three million Berries, and I'll send you everything."
Morgans sneered.
"Three million? You've gone mad."
"Don't forget—he's a member of the Roger Pirates. Before I was knocked out by Conqueror's Haki, I took plenty of photos that could skyrocket your sales."
"Also, all ten CP agents are dead, and he took the target with him."
Morgans replied calmly, "You don't even know his surname."
"Does that matter? What about Roger's surname?"
"I don't publish fake news!" Morgans snapped. "He's just a cook from the Roger Pirates. Two million. Take it or leave it."
"Deal."
After receiving the high-resolution photos, Morgans burst into laughter.
"Big news! This is huge!"
He selected the perfect cover image—
Lightning splitting the sky, red-black Haki tearing through the horizon, Astrix holding a glowing blue blade.
Then a close-up—
snow-white hair, youthful face.
"Beelzebub Astrix… kingly potential, Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit, slaughtered World Government agents, abducted a mysterious figure… Yes, that works."
"What should his title be?"
Morgans paced back and forth.
"'Demon Heir' is already taken by Bullet… 'White Hair' sounds too weak…"
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit…"
"Thunder General?"
"No… Thunder God."
After finalizing the draft himself, Morgans declared:
"Tomorrow's issue will sell out!"
Before printing, he picked up another Den Den Mushi and contacted an old acquaintance—CP9 agent Ruki Ichijou.
"I've found Beelzebub's location. Three million Berries, and I'll send it over immediately."
The Den Den Mushi responded through gritted teeth:
"Is Hawkeye Mihawk still with him?"
Morgans paused.
"They're together? I haven't heard that."
"Good. Thanks."
…
Loguetown, East Blue.
When Ruki Ichijou received the news that Beelzebub Astrix had appeared in Alabasta, he froze in shock.
"What?!"
"You're a nobody with no Haki, no combat skills, and no Devil Fruit ability—a non-combatant! How did you even make it to the Grand Line?!"
"How dare you!"
Thinking about how he had wasted over a month wandering East Blue like a fool, his anger exploded.
"Beelzebub… you deserve to die!!!"
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