One Piece: Groudon the Beasts

Chapter 23 Artificial Fruit? Let me try!
Ghost Island, third-floor banquet hall.

Kaido sat at the head of the table, flanked by the three great calamities, with dozens of real fighters below him; their menacing aura was suffocating.

Even if the four emperors were to arrive in person, they would have to think twice before acting in such a situation.

"Gulu gulu~~"

Kaido was drinking heavily when suddenly tears streamed down his face. He covered his face and cried harder and harder until he was sobbing uncontrollably, his tears spraying everywhere.

"Wow, Hanafuda!"

"How did you get killed?!"

"Didn't you promise to collect Zoan-type Devil Fruits for me?!"

"Ugh, it's all your fault for being too weak!"

Kaido cried and then suddenly flew into a rage.

"Those two brats!"

On the table in front of him were two wanted posters.

Fire Fist Ace.

There's also "Heavenly Demon" Doflamingo.

These two are the ones who killed Hanafuda!

Kaido glared angrily, his eyes bloodshot.

The man who killed him wants to take over his weapons business? There's no such thing as a free lunch. If he doesn't do something, where will he put his face as one of the Four Emperors?

"Bring that guy to me right now!"

"understand!"

At this moment, Goode and the Donquixote Family had arrived outside the banquet hall. Upon hearing Kaido's roar, a sinister smile crept onto his lips.

"Everyone, please go in."

"."

Ming took a deep breath.

It's impossible not to be nervous when facing Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, but he must remain calm and project enough presence.

The moment he killed the Hanafuda, he had no way out!
"Fuchu, let's go!"

Ming smiled and led his officers into the banquet hall.

The next moment, dozens of fierce gazes were fixed on him, and he felt a chill run down his spine as if he had entered a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

They're all monsters!

Doflamingo stepped forward alone to face Kaido directly.

"Doflamingo pays his respects to Mr. Kaido!"

"Hmm, you've got some nerve."

Kaido stared at Doflamingo, his killing intent palpable.

"You should know what will happen to the person who killed me, right?"

"of course I know!"

Ming remained calm and composed, and his condition improved.

“Mr. Kaido, I understand the rules.”

"Without a gift of sufficient value, how can I dare to do business with you?"

"Bring the stuff up!"

Upon hearing the order, the cadres immediately stepped forward with the treasure chests, opened them, and displayed the treasures inside to everyone.

"Devil Fruit?"

The officers of the Beasts were taken aback.

Each treasure chest contains a special fruit with spiral patterns on its surface, a characteristic of Devil Fruits.

As a crew of four powerful individuals, they don't care much about Devil Fruits, but there are ten Devil Fruits in front of them!
Kaido's eyes changed.

Ming shrugged and smiled broadly.

"Fufufu, these fruits are not true Devil Fruits in the real sense, but artificial Devil Fruits called SMLIE. Eating one gives you a certain chance of gaining wild power!"

"Although its effects are not as good as the original Devil Fruit, the most terrifying thing about SMLIE is that it can be mass-produced!"

"I've heard that Mr. Kaido wants to build the strongest army of Devil Fruit users. With Smlie, that wish can be fulfilled!"

SMLIE artificial Devil Fruit!
"Clap!"

Doflamingo clapped his hands, and his men immediately carried a cage forward. Inside was a strange creature with the upper body of a human and the legs of an elephant.

It's like a combination of a wild beast and a human.

"Oh!"

The elephant-legged man kicked the cage, twisting and deforming the steel bars. His powerful kick ignited the interest of many who were actually fighting.

Kaido's breathing became heavier, and only a few words remained in his mind.

Artificial Devil Fruits!
Mass production!

An army of ability users!
If the other party wasn't lying to him, then Hanafuda's death wasn't a problem at all, and the arms trade could be handed over to the other party to manage.

His biggest dream is to build the world's strongest legion and wage an unprecedented war!
"Furfur!"

Ming was all smiles.

Seeing Kaido's reaction, he knew he had it in the bag this time; Smlie's value was enough to make Kaido agree to any of his demands.

However, there is still one more step to be taken.

Doflamingo picked up a Smlie Fruit.

"Fufu, do you want to try it and see how it goes?"

Inspection process!

Such an important transaction naturally requires verification of SMLE's effectiveness, and in-person inspection is the best way to do so. The crowd began to stir.

The strong disdain this, while those who lack talent but are truly skilled in combat will never let go of any opportunity to improve themselves.

"Heavenly Demon, you said that there's a certain probability of gaining power by eating this thing. What will happen if you fail?"

"Furfur!"

Doflamingo's smile was eccentric: "The success rate of gaining power by consuming Smlie is only one in ten, and the consequence of failure is just like its name suggests: your expression will be nothing but a smile!"

"."

His only expression is a smile?

The two men exchanged a glance and grinned.

Losing one's expression is hardly a big risk; in the Beast Pirates, strength is the measure of everything.

The fighters looked at Kaido, waiting for their leader to speak.

"Hmm, very good!"

Kaido laughed loudly and suddenly stood up.

"Who will be the first!"

"I!"

Amidst the surprised gazes of the officers, Goode immediately walked to the center of the hall and snatched Smlie from Ming's hands.

The real fighters weren't in a hurry.

Someone was overjoyed to be the first guinea pig, and there were ten fruits to choose from later; there was no time to fight over them later.

"Good?"

Kaido frowned.

He has decided to focus on nurturing Goode, and if the opportunity arises in the future, he will find a real Devil Fruit for Goode.

The three calamities' eyes also changed.

Especially Ember.

Quinn, never one to shy away from a good opportunity, taunted, "Mwahahaha, you stupid Jhin, I never thought you'd misjudge someone."

"Shut up, you piece of trash Quinn."

Jin stared intently at Goode, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

Since the battle at the hot spring resort, he had high hopes for Good's potential, but if Good were to eat an artificial Devil Fruit, it would undoubtedly be tantamount to ruining his future.

Only the weak, lacking talent, seek shortcuts to become strong.

"Good!"

Runti's eyes widened, trying to stop her.

The success rate is only one in ten, and you'll turn into a comical monster; if you fail, you'll become a laughing idiot.

It's not a good deal at all!

The girl grabbed her younger brother beside her and shook him vigorously: "Xiao Pei, you have to think of a way to stop Goode!"

"My island is thick and pine-like."

Pagevan was dizzy from the shaking.

At this moment, Goode, holding the fruit, calmly asked Kaido, "Boss Kaido, may I eat it?"

"Okay, sure!"

Kaido did not stop him.

If you want to eat, then eat!

He wanted to see what surprises Goode would bring him.

"Thank you, Boss Kaido!"

Goode smiled slightly, and under everyone's watchful eyes, opened his blood-red maw and swallowed the fruit in his hand in one gulp.

"Gulu!"

The round, plump fruit slid down my throat and into my stomach.

I actually ate it!

Everyone stared wide-eyed, waiting for the changes to come: would they become monsters and gain power, or become laughing fools?
Goode licked his lips.

Inside him, Groudon was clinging to Smlie and biting her desperately, his face contorted in a grimace, seemingly because of the terrible taste.

"Pooh!"

The little guy stuck out his tongue as he ate, and once he finished all the fruit, he immediately sent a signal to Goode with an eagerness he had never shown since he was born.

"Wow! (More evolution needed!!!)"

Is this little guy evolving?!
We have to give it our all!

Inside the hall, Goode suppressed his smile, looked down at himself in confusion, and then tried to make various expressions.

"No change at all!"

Good sighed in disappointment, then turned to face Doflamingo with a serious expression and questioned, "Mr. Doflamingo, has your Devil Fruit gone bad?"

"what?!"

Ming was stunned.

Has the fruit spoiled?

Impossible, these fruits were all just cultivated.

and many more.

Doflamingo subconsciously glanced at Kaido, and when he saw Kaido's increasingly gloomy expression, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Mr. Kaido, let me explain!

(End of this chapter)