"How about it? Want to take a gamble?" Shakky said with a cheerful smile. "You might just obtain a powerful ability~"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Meiser rolled his eyes at her. "Forget it, I have no intention of turning myself into a landlubber."
Not to mention unknown Devil Fruit abilities, even known ones weren't something he planned to eat. After all... once consumed, he'd become vulnerable to Sea Stone!
"Not eating it?" Shakky pouted in disappointment. "What a shame. I thought I might get to see something interesting happen."
"Hey now, Shakky, is that really appropriate?" Meiser twitched his mouth in exasperation.
Shakky burst out laughing at his reaction. "Just teasing you, no need to be so serious."
After casually closing the box containing the Devil Fruit, she said, "Alright, let's get down to business. How do you plan to handle these three?"
"Let's keep them for now," Meiser replied. "If we can't find any good abilities... we'll see if anyone's willing to take the gamble. Though they'd become landlubbers, if they happen to get a powerful enough ability, it'd be a huge win!"
"Fine, we'll keep them then." Shakky nodded.
With that, she walked to the door and hung up a "Closed" sign. After completing this task, she returned to Meiser and picked up the three Devil Fruits they intended to sell.
"Come on, follow me to the basement. Let's retrieve the items first," Shakky said.
"Alright."
After tossing the four Devil Fruits into a burlap sack, Meiser followed Shakky toward the back, carrying the sack.
"Oh, by the way, Shakky," Meiser asked, "do Devil Fruits have their own consciousness?"
"Consciousness?" Shakky paused mid-step and glanced back at him with surprise. "Why do you ask?"
"Because my Sealing Scroll can't store Devil Fruits," Meiser explained.
Shakky thought for a moment before responding, "Your Sealing Scroll can only hold inanimate objects, right?"
"Yes."
"Then it seems that rumor is true."
"What rumor?"
"There's a legend on the seas that Devil Fruits possess consciousness," Shakky explained. "They say that within each Devil Fruit resides the consciousness of a demon!"
After a brief pause, she continued, "However, this theory usually comes from Zoan-type Devil Fruit Ability Users. It's rare to hear users of the other two types say such things."
"Zoan type..." Meiser glanced at the three boxes in Shakky's hands and stroked his chin. "But that doesn't add up. The Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit also has this characteristic."
"Then it just means that Devil Fruit ability also contains a demon's consciousness," Shakky said with a laugh. Beyond that, she couldn't think of any other possibility.
Meiser fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded and said, "You're right."
At that moment, scenes from his time in Impel Down surfaced in Meiser's mind.
"Speaking of which... I've encountered Zoan users who failed their Awakening."
"Oh?" Shakky immediately grew interested. "What were they like?"
"They seemed to have lost all human consciousness, turning into beasts that could only understand simple commands."
"Is that so."
Shakky thought for a moment before saying, "Then their consciousness... was probably defeated by the consciousness existing within the Zoan Devil Fruit ability."
"So only the animal's wild nature remained."
"Yes, that should be the case."
Meiser nodded, accepting Shakky's explanation.
Then, Meiser pointed at the snakeskin bag and said, "By the way, Sister Shakky... would you like to try your luck too?"
He was actually quite curious about whether Sister Shakky had eaten a Devil Fruit. After all... this woman wasn't much younger than Rayleigh.
Shakky clearly saw through Meiser's thoughts and rolled her eyes at him. "No thanks, big sister isn't interested."
Hearing this, Meiser scratched his head but didn't continue the topic.
Soon, the two arrived at the basement Shakky had mentioned.
Looking at the items in the basement, Meiser said curiously, "Sister Shakky, why do you have weapons here too?"
"Of course they're prepared for my subordinates."
As she spoke, Shakky subconsciously reached for a cigarette, but considering the weapons stored in the basement, she decisively put it away.
Then she continued, "Those guys risk their lives for me, so naturally I have to take responsibility for them."
As the boss, she had to do what needed to be done, or else she'd eventually lose their loyalty.
"What a responsible boss," Meiser laughed.
Shakky smiled at his comment, then pointed to an empty space in the distance. "Put the things over there."
"Okay."
This time Meiser didn't waste words. He immediately walked to the spot Shakky indicated and took out the items from the Scroll.
"This... this much?!"
Looking at the mountain of various items, Shakky's jaw dropped in shock.
Wasn't this a bit too exaggerated?
"It's alright," Meiser said. "How much are these worth?"
Shakky snapped out of her daze upon hearing Meiser's question, but instead of answering immediately, she quickly moved closer to examine the items.
Meiser didn't disturb her, instead finding a clean box to sit on while waiting quietly.
After a while, Shakky said, "I've estimated these items to be worth at least thirty billion Berries!"
"That valuable?" Meiser exclaimed in surprise.
He had thought these things might be worth ten or twenty billion at best, but thirty billion?
"Of course they're valuable! These are all high-quality items!"
As she spoke, Shakky casually picked up an item and said, "Look at this."
"This is called the Heart of Micollan, the national treasure of a kingdom that existed in the past!"
"The last time it appeared at an auction, it sold for nearly one billion at an astronomical price!"
"And this..."
Shakky picked up one valuable item after another, explaining them to Meiser, who listened with wide-eyed astonishment.
"So now you understand why I said these things are worth at least 30 billion Berries," Shakky said with a laugh. "If we put them up for auction, the price could go even higher."
"Yeah, I get it now."
"So... do you still plan to give me 30% of the profits, kid?" Shakky raised an eyebrow. "That's nearly 10 billion we're talking about."
"If you regret it, I can..."
"Don't say that, Sister Shakky," Meiser interrupted. "A promise is a promise - I won't go back on my word."
If he treated his promises so lightly, he wouldn't be Meiser anymore.
Shakky stared at Meiser for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Now I understand why that girl Hancock fell for you~"
"Oh?"
Meiser asked curiously, "Why's that?"
"You'll have to ask her yourself, hahaha!"
Seeing that Shakky had no intention of answering, Meiser shrugged. "Fine, I'll ask her myself."
After all, she was his wife - he wasn't worried about getting an answer.
Then, Meiser asked curiously, "Speaking of which... Sister Shakky, how did you and Uncle Rayleigh end up together?"
"Him..."
Shakky recalled memories from the past, a smile playing on her lips. "Probably because that guy's as dense as a block of wood."
Meiser: ???
Meiser looked at Shakky with complete confusion. What did she mean by "because he's a block of wood"?
Was Uncle Rayleigh really that dense?
That didn't sound right...
He distinctly remembered drinking with Uncle Rayleigh last time - the man had been boasting about his romantic exploits from back in the day.
"Don't look so skeptical," Shakky said. "When that guy first met me, he didn't show any normal male reaction at all~"
"This... what's wrong with that?" Meiser asked, puzzled.
He hadn't made a fool of himself when he first saw Hancock either.
Oh right, he'd actually punched her and sent her flying...
"Normally there's nothing wrong with that, but... what if the woman he was meeting was the World's Most Beautiful Woman at the time?"
Seeing Meiser's shocked expression, Shakky laughed. "Your sister here was someone who captivated an entire generation, you know!"
"Eh?"
"EH!!!"
"That really happened?!"
Looking at Shakky, Meiser's eyes filled with disbelief.
She was the previous generation's World's Most Beautiful Woman?
This was too shocking!
"No wonder... no wonder Uncle Rayleigh said those things to me before."
Recalling what Rayleigh had told him during their last drinking session, Meiser fell into deep thought.
So they really were the same?!
Both married to the empress of Kuja Island, both to the World's Most Beautiful Woman of their time, this...
"Of course."
Shakky nodded matter-of-factly. "Your sister's charm is beyond your imagination~"
"Even Roger, the so-called Pirate King, couldn't maintain his composure around me!"
Remembering how Roger used to act, Shakky couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain.
But when the image of Rayleigh surfaced in her mind, Shakky's lips unconsciously curved upward again.
Meiser fell silent for a moment before muttering, "So I've learned some rather incredible things."
"It's not that exaggerated," Shakky said. "It's just that the Pirate King wanted to pursue me, and I turned him down."
Meiser: ...
She's definitely bragging.
Shaking his head helplessly, Meiser asked, "If Rayleigh was as dense as a block of wood, how did you two end up together?"
"Did you chase after him?"
"You could say that."
Shakky thought for a moment before nodding. "It was pretty impossible to expect that guy to make the first move, so I had to take the initiative."
"The world's most beautiful woman who captivated an entire generation chasing after him..." Meiser stroked his chin. "No wonder Rayleigh acts so proud."
Recalling how Rayleigh boasted while drinking, Meiser couldn't help but smile.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Shakky immediately became interested. "What did he tell you?"
"He said he used to be the heartthrob who charmed thousands of girls, the dream lover of countless women..."
As Meiser recounted Rayleigh's tall tales, Shakky rolled her eyes repeatedly.
"Look how proud he is," Shakky said with a pout.
"Any man would be proud to marry a beauty like you, Shakky," Meiser laughed.
Flattered by his compliment, Shakky's lips curled upward unconsciously. "You're no different yourself."
"Isn't Hancock the world's most beautiful woman of this era too?"
"Well, that's true."
Meiser nodded, then placed his hands on his hips and laughed heartily. "So I'm plenty proud too!"
"Hahahaha!"
Watching Meiser's boisterous laughter, Shakky shook her head in amusement - they really were cut from the same cloth.
Then Shakky said, "But that guy does possess a unique charisma. Otherwise he wouldn't have attracted someone like me."
"Of course, the most important thing was... he saved my life!"
As if recalling certain memories, a sweet expression appeared on Shakky's face, making Meiser pause in surprise.
"He saved your life?"
Curiosity sparked in Meiser's eyes as he walked over to sit on a nearby crate, assuming an attentive listening posture.
"Tell me more."
Amused by his eager expression, Shakky didn't refuse. She walked over and sat on another crate.
"Then let me tell you about our past," Shakky said. "Consider it me reminiscing."
She then looked at Meiser and asked, "You're familiar with the name Rocks, right?"
"Yeah, I know it," Meiser nodded.
Many people had mentioned that name before, so he remembered the person well.
Hearing this, Shakky nodded and continued, "After I retired back then, your big sister here opened a tavern on Hachinosu Island where the Rocks Pirates were stationed."
"In those days... I had every pirate on that island wrapped around my finger~"
At this point, a faint smile appeared in Shakky's eyes, as if recalling the scenes of her own popularity back in the day.
"Weren't we talking about you and Rayleigh?" Meiser interjected. "Why are we discussing the Rocks Pirates now?"
Hearing this, Shakky immediately rolled her eyes at Meiser. "Are you going to listen or not, kid?"
"Ahem... Please continue."
Seeing Meiser settle down, Shakky went on, "And precisely because of that, I earned the title of the Pirate Jewel of Hachinosu Island."
"Pirate Jewel?!"
Meiser's eyes widened in shock upon hearing Shakky's words.
A person being called a jewel? Wasn't that a bit exaggerated?
But then, remembering that Shakky was the world's most beautiful woman of that era, Meiser found it understandable.
Well... that actually makes sense.
"Are you thinking it's a bit over the top?" Shakky asked. Meiser shook his head and replied, "No, as the world's most beautiful woman, it's entirely possible for pirates to regard you as a jewel."
Shakky laughed heartily at his response. "You really know how to sweet-talk, kid!"
"Hahaha."