"Eat it!"
"Eat it!"
"Keep eating!"
The Celestial Dragons surrounding the stage began shouting excitedly, their voices echoing throughout the luxurious hall.
Everyone present knew that Devil Fruits were infamous for their horrible taste.
Otherwise, many of them would have simply eaten one themselves long ago.
The World Nobles possessed wealth beyond imagination, and obtaining a Devil Fruit was hardly impossible for people of their status.
What they disliked was the taste.
More importantly, once a person consumed a Devil Fruit, that person would permanently lose the ability to swim.
For people who had never experienced true hardship, even that consequence was enough to make them hesitate.
But for someone who had already fallen into an abyss with no apparent way out, such considerations became meaningless.
A person falling from a cliff would desperately grab whatever they could reach.
They would not care whether the rope was covered with thorns, nails, or splinters.
When death was already waiting below, pain became a secondary concern.
Hancock understood that perfectly.
She knew Saint Casrot had no intention of genuinely releasing them.
She knew there was probably another trap hidden behind his promise.
Yet she had no other choice.
Slowly, the black-haired girl reached toward the strange fruit.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Then she lifted it toward her mouth.
She carefully took her first bite.
The moment the flesh entered her mouth, an indescribably foul taste exploded across her tongue.
Her stomach immediately churned.
"What… is this?"
"It's disgusting…"
Hancock's face turned pale.
The taste was so terrible that she almost spat it out immediately.
But she clenched her teeth.
She forced herself to swallow.
Then she took another bite.
The second bite was no easier than the first.
Her stomach twisted violently.
She felt as though she were about to vomit.
Hancock desperately covered her mouth and throat, forcing herself to suppress the nausea.
She could barely breathe.
Yet she refused to spit it out.
Then something strange happened.
A peculiar sensation began spreading through her body.
The Devil Fruit's power was taking root within her.
It was not Haki.
It was not some form of physical energy.
It was the mysterious supernatural power bestowed upon the consumer by a Devil Fruit.
However, because Hancock's wrists and ankles were restrained with Seastone shackles, her already weakened body felt even heavier.
The Seastone suppressed the supernatural power of the Devil Fruit and weakened the strength of its user.
Hancock's body felt as though every remaining ounce of strength had been drained away.
What is this thing?
Why does it feel like this?
No…
I can't let Mary and Sanda eat it.
If I eat all of it myself…
Then they won't have to suffer.
Her sisters had already endured enough.
She would not allow them to experience this torment if she could prevent it.
Hancock opened her mouth again.
She took another large bite.
The Devil Fruit was slightly smaller than her head, yet she continued forcing it down despite the disgusting taste.
The Celestial Dragons watched with increasing excitement.
"Didn't you say Devil Fruits were the most disgusting things in the world?"
Saint Casrot stared at Hancock in disbelief.
This wasn't what he had expected.
He had wanted to watch her break.
He had wanted to see her surrender.
He wanted the Devil Fruit to become another instrument of despair.
But Hancock continued eating.
"Saint Casrot…"
One of the guards swallowed nervously.
"Devil Fruits really are among the most disgusting things in the world."
"But this girl…"
"This girl…"
The guard couldn't finish his sentence.
The other guards stared at Hancock in disbelief.
None of them had expected her to endure so much.
Her body had already been weakened by prolonged starvation.
She had spent an entire year imprisoned.
She was restrained with Seastone.
And yet she continued forcing the Devil Fruit down through sheer determination.
"Look!"
"She's still eating!"
The Celestial Dragons became increasingly excited.
"Faster!"
"Keep going!"
"Finish it!"
Bang!
Suddenly, the Devil Fruit slipped from Hancock's hands.
Nearly three quarters of it had already been consumed.
The strange fruit struck the floor and rolled away.
Hancock immediately covered her mouth.
Her body convulsed.
She collapsed sideways against the cage.
"Don't spit it out!"
"Just a little more!"
"Only a little more!"
The voices of the spectators reached her ears as though they were coming from a great distance.
Hancock's vision blurred.
"I…"
"I don't have any strength left…"
Her voice was barely audible.
"I don't even have enough strength to vomit…"
Her body trembled.
Her consciousness began slipping away.
Am I going to die?
For a brief moment, Hancock wondered whether this was the end.
She had tried so hard to survive.
She had tried to protect her sisters.
She had endured humiliation.
Pain.
Hunger.
Fear.
Despair.
And yet she still couldn't escape.
"Hancock!"
Victor suddenly spoke.
His expression had changed.
He stared at the black-haired girl lying on the floor.
There was something different in his eyes now.
"Casrot."
"Give her to me."
Casrot turned toward Victor.
"Victor?"
"When did you become interested in this sort of thing?"
He chuckled.
"But if that's what you want…"
"No problem."
Casrot glanced at his old friend.
He couldn't understand why Victor had suddenly shown interest in Hancock.
Perhaps Victor had simply spent too many years alone.
Perhaps he had finally decided to indulge himself.
Regardless of the reason, Victor was a fellow Celestial Dragon.
More importantly, he was a powerful figure within the World Government's financial administration.
Casrot had no reason to reject his request.
Victor ignored Casrot's teasing.
He walked toward Hancock and gently lifted her chin with one hand.
Although prolonged starvation had left Hancock dangerously thin, her natural beauty remained extraordinary.
Her face was pale.
Her cheeks had lost much of their fullness.
Yet her features remained remarkably beautiful.
Victor studied her silently.
The Devil Fruit's power had only recently awakened within her, so its effects were still far from fully developed.
Even so, Victor could already sense that something about her had changed.
"She's certainly beautiful."
"She would make an excellent…"
Victor paused.
His thoughts briefly drifted toward his daughter.
Someone like this could perhaps become a playmate for Saint Roselith Seraphina.
That thought remained unspoken.
"My lord…"
Hancock suddenly spoke.
Her weak voice immediately drew Victor's attention.
"Please…"
"Take my two younger sisters with you."
"If you are willing…"
"Please take all three of us."
Her small body suddenly straightened.
Hancock forced herself to stand.
She staggered toward a nearby table.
Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed a fruit knife.
She pressed its blade against her pale neck.
The Celestial Dragons immediately began laughing.
"What is she doing?"
"How foolish."
"She's threatening a World Noble?"
Hancock ignored them.
"My lord!"
"If possible…"
"I want to remain with my sisters."
She had misunderstood Victor's intentions.
She believed that this fat Celestial Dragon might be preparing to take her away as another possession.
But that didn't matter.
If leaving Saint Casrot's manor created even the smallest possibility of escape…
She would take it.
As long as Mary and Sanda were with her.
As long as the three sisters remained together, the future could be left to fate.
She didn't know what kind of person Victor truly was.
She didn't know whether he was cruel.
She didn't know whether he was pretending to be kind.
But she knew one thing.
She would not allow herself to be separated from her sisters.
If death was waiting for her…
Then she would face it alongside them.
"You ungrateful woman!"
Casrot's expression immediately became ugly.
"Do you realize what an honor it is for Saint Victor to show interest in you?"
"You dare threaten him?"
"You are nothing more than a slave I raised!"
"Don't disgrace yourself in front of my guest!"
Victor remained completely calm.
He did not even glance at Casrot.
Instead, he looked toward the two other girls inside the cage.
"Casrot."
"Do you still want these two?"
Casrot's expression changed.
He looked at Sandersonia.
Then at Marigold.
He hesitated.
They were certainly valuable.
But compared to Hancock, their value in his eyes had already diminished.
Besides, Victor had clearly taken an interest in them.
"Forget it."
"You can have them both."
Casrot waved his hand dismissively.
"They're yours."
"Consider it a gift."
He forced a smile.
"After all, they're already failed works."
"I can always acquire more."
Casrot had no idea what Victor truly intended.
Nor did he understand why Victor had suddenly chosen these three sisters.
He simply believed that giving them away might strengthen the relationship between them.
Victor was a fellow Celestial Dragon.
Their families had known one another for generations.
Perhaps their children could even become connected in the future.
Clatter!
The fruit knife slipped from Hancock's trembling fingers.
It struck the floor.
For the first time in a long while, Hancock felt something resembling relief.
Her legs finally gave out.
She collapsed.
Her consciousness faded.
She had succeeded.
At least for now…
She would not be separated from Mary and Sanda.
…
When Hancock opened her eyes again, she found herself lying inside a carriage.
Her wrists remained restrained by Seastone cuffs.
Her body felt weak.
Almost unbearably weak.
Across from her sat the Celestial Dragon who had taken her away from Saint Casrot's manor.
Victor.
He was smiling at her.
Despite Victor's enormous size, the carriage was surprisingly spacious.
Even several men of his build could probably have sat inside without making the carriage feel particularly cramped.
"Are you called Hancock?"
Victor studied the exhausted girl.
"Yes…"
"Saint…"
Hancock hesitated before correcting herself.
"Yes, my lord."
Her voice was weak.
Someone had apparently provided her with basic medical treatment.
At least enough to keep her alive.
However, years of captivity combined with prolonged hunger had left her body dangerously frail.
Victor reached into a basket and handed her some fruit.
"Eat."
"You need food."
Hancock stared at the fruit.
Her stomach immediately reacted.
She slowly accepted it.
She knew that if she refused food any longer, she might genuinely starve to death.
She took a small bite.
The fresh fruit was almost unbelievably delicious compared with the Devil Fruit she had been forced to consume.
Victor watched her quietly.
"I have a daughter."
"She's been looking rather gloomy lately."
"What do you think might be causing it?"
Hancock paused.
Victor's tone was unusually serious.
"Your daughter?"
"Yes."
Victor leaned back.
"I can usually understand the motives of other people."
"But when it comes to my daughter…"
"I've never been able to understand her completely."
Hancock continued eating slowly.
Her hands were still restrained by Seastone, making even simple movements difficult.
Victor looked toward her.
"She's around your age."
He gestured toward Hancock.
"Perhaps she's lonely."
"Children who spend too much time alone can become withdrawn."
"Maybe…"
Hancock answered cautiously.
"Maybe she needs someone her own age to talk to."
Victor's expression brightened slightly.
"Do you think so?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps you haven't been able to spend enough time with her."
Hancock carefully chose her words.
Could this man really be planning to make her some kind of companion for his daughter?
She didn't understand.
But she couldn't afford to offend him.
"Perhaps…"
Victor nodded thoughtfully.
"I always thought it was because she lacked someone her own age to play with."
He looked strangely serious when discussing his daughter.
Hancock quietly studied him.
There was something unusual about this Celestial Dragon.
He did not behave like Saint Casrot.
But Hancock knew better than to trust appearances.
She had already learned what happened to people who believed the words of World Nobles.
Ring!
Ring!
The carriage wheels continued turning.
Hancock lowered her head and continued eating.
She didn't know where Victor was taking her.
She didn't know whether the place ahead would be better or worse than Casrot's manor.
But she had one thing she desperately wanted.
Her sisters.
As long as Mary and Sanda were still alive…
She could endure anything.
After some time, the carriage finally slowed.
A voice came from outside.
"Saint Victor."
"We've arrived."
Victor tapped the floor lightly with his cane.
The carriage door opened.
A guard immediately stepped aside.
Hancock looked outside.
She couldn't see the destination clearly from inside the carriage.
"Come."
Victor stepped out.
Hancock remained seated for a moment.
Then another person approached the carriage.
The individual opened the door and leaned inside.
"Please come with me, Miss Hancock."
Hancock stared at the unfamiliar person.
She hesitated.
Then she slowly stepped out of the carriage.
Her legs trembled beneath her.
The Seastone cuffs weighed heavily against her wrists.
She took one step.
Then another.
And followed the stranger into the unknown.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[SYSTEM: Status Update]
[Devil Fruit: Successfully Consumed]
[Ability Type: Paramecia]
[Current Ability: Mero Mero no Mi]
[Synchronization: Extremely Low]
[User Condition: Severely Malnourished]
[Seastone Restraints: Active]
[Devil Fruit Power Output: Greatly Suppressed]
[Physical Condition: Critical]
[Haki Status: Dormant]
[Warning: The user's current physical condition prevents effective combat.]
[Warning: Do not mistake Devil Fruit awakening for immediate mastery of the ability.]
[Special Note: The user's survival instinct remains abnormally strong.]
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Hancock stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Mero Mero no Mi…
She didn't understand what the strange voice inside her mind meant.
But somewhere deep within her weakened body…
A mysterious power had awakened.
And one day…
That power would become one of the most feared abilities in the world.