[~1300 Words]
<<—⚡ ⚓ 💄 🍑🍷⚓⚡ — >>
Fortunately, James had Nojiko—a Divine Concubine capable of using the Slip-Slip Fruit to smooth away the pointed noses of the Tontatta Tribe, refining their features into something far more delicate.
Perhaps the existence of the Slip-Slip Fruit itself was meant to compensate for his regrets… and further enhance his indulgent desires.
"A-Are you done?" Mansherry asked hesitantly when she noticed James had stopped moving.
"Done."
"That's so strange… I thought it would hurt, but instead, it felt like a massage!"
"It was so comfortable~"
Mansherry's tiny face lit up with bliss, as though she were still savoring the pleasant sensation.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Suddenly, a deep, earth-shaking rumble echoed from outside.
Even the King's Plateau trembled under the force of it.
James quickly composed himself and turned to Violet.
"Violet, what's happening outside?"
"Let me check…"
Violet raised her hand to her eye and activated her Glare-Glare Fruit.
Her gaze swept across multiple locations before she answered,
"A group of winged warriors is fighting the Donquixote Family."
"The loud noise just now… that should be Pica."
"He's currently battling a Spinosaurus."
A Spinosaurus?
That must be Shura.
So the battle had already begun.
"And Doflamingo?" James asked.
"He's heading toward the SMILE Factory from the port," Violet replied.
James nodded slightly.
"Good. Then it's almost time."
"I still need to find Sugar."
He lowered his gaze toward the tiny princess in his hand.
"Mansherry… can you give me your Healing Fruit ability?"
"It will be of great help to me."
"With it, I can rescue the remaining members of the Tontatta Tribe."
Mansherry's eyes immediately lit up.
In truth, she had long wanted to be rid of this power.
It was precisely because of the Healing Fruit that she had been imprisoned and exploited by Doflamingo.
If James could take it—and use it to save her people—
Then she would gladly give it up.
After all, without the strength to protect a "treasure,"
That treasure would only invite greed, exploitation, and suffering.
"Really?"
"How should I cooperate?" she asked eagerly.
"It's simple," James replied calmly.
"I'll knock you unconscious."
"You just need to sleep for a while."
Violet's eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively covered her mouth.
He was going to take away a Devil Fruit ability?
Was this something she was even supposed to witness?
If she saw too much…
Would she be silenced?
"Oh… I see…"
Mansherry nodded gently.
"Then go ahead."
"But please be gentle… I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it otherwise…"
Before she could even finish her sentence—
Her body went limp.
She had already fallen into a peaceful sleep.
Her strength was simply too weak.
A light surge of James's Conqueror's Haki had been enough to knock her out instantly.
And just like that—
The Healing Fruit became his.
With such power in his hands…
Who would still need medical knowledge?
Even legendary doctors like Crocus—the former physician of the Pirate King—or the famed "Witch" Dr. Kureha would likely feel inferior in the face of such overwhelming healing ability.
This power could even regenerate lost limbs, though it required the cost of a person's lifespan.
As for regenerating from a mere drop of blood…
That would be absurd.
But perhaps not entirely impossible.
James even considered a future duel with Marco the Phoenix—
Just to see whose regenerative abilities were superior.
With a single thought, James extended strands of white lightning into Mansherry's small body and absorbed her Devil Fruit power without hesitation.
Within moments, a tingling, soothing sensation spread throughout his entire body.
It was an indescribable feeling—
Almost comparable to the feedback he received from his Divine Consorts during their most intimate moments within the Imperial Palace.
In places even he couldn't perceive, every hidden injury healed.
Old wounds, minor scars, even tiny bite marks from strange and unusual creatures—
All of them vanished completely.
At this moment…
James had reached his absolute peak condition.
Even if all his wives and concubines were to call out to him at once—
Softly whispering his name, urging him back to their bed—
He would feel no fear.
Perhaps…
This was the true confidence granted by the Healing Fruit.
"What an incredible feeling…"
James exhaled softly.
However, with a future Divine Concubine standing beside him, he restrained himself, maintaining his composure instead of breaking into his usual unrestrained laughter.
The enhancement provided by the Healing Fruit was far beyond a simple increase in strength.
Even though the Azure Dragon Fruit granted him immense power, defense, and recovery—
It still couldn't match the absurd vitality displayed under Nika's influence.
But now…
Even without the Azure Dragon's power—
The Healing Fruit alone was enough to make him nearly unkillable.
Like a cockroach that refused to die.
A being capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with monsters like Nika.
Violet, unable to perceive the white lightning, had no idea what had just happened.
She remained tense and uneasy.
James suppressed the excitement within him and gently placed Mansherry into his arms.
Then, stepping forward, he wrapped his arm around Violet's slender waist and spoke calmly,
"Let's go, Violet."
"We're heading to the Corrida Colosseum."
The moment his hand touched her waist, Violet's body trembled slightly.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she spoke in a low voice,
"How… exactly do you plan to deal with me?"
"Will you silence me after I've outlived my usefulness?"
James raised an eyebrow.
"Why would you think that?"
"Do you believe I would let you die?"
"Then…"
Violet hesitated before continuing.
"I know your secret."
"You're a multiple Devil Fruit user, aren't you?"
"I heard everything you said to Mansherry just now."
"You can even take other people's abilities…"
James's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Oh?"
"And then?"
Violet's voice trembled slightly.
"Everyone in the world knows that a person can only possess one Devil Fruit…"
"If I know your secret…"
"Won't you kill me to keep it hidden?"
James chuckled softly.
Her reasoning was sound.
Under normal circumstances, anyone who discovered such a secret would have to die.
But—
That only applied to the weak.
He had never tried to conceal his abilities.
Let those who coveted such power come for him.
If they lacked strength—
They would only be seeking their own deaths.
And those who did possess strength?
They were usually far too cautious to provoke someone like him.
After all, he had already used both the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Float-Float Fruit in front of Garp.
Someone like Garp, who had battled the Golden Lion many times, would certainly recognize it.
Yet the information had never been spread.
"Silencing someone is necessary," James said calmly.
"But that doesn't always mean killing them."
He leaned closer to Violet, his voice lowering into something softer—more intimate.
"Violet…"
"I am both God and Emperor of my Divine Kingdom."
"The ones fighting outside… they are all my subordinates."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Once your body and heart submit to me…"
"I will grant you the title of a Divine Concubine."
"Divine Kingdom…?"
"Become your… Divine Concubine…?"
Violet's voice trembled as her mind struggled to process his words.
<<—⚡ ⚓ 💄 🍑🍷⚓⚡ — >>