"Yes, you are the hope of our family's rise!" Mage said with burning eyes.
"Uh? Where do you see that?" Lucifer scratched his head and asked.
Although he knew his performance over the past three years was decent, he hadn't yet reached the goal he had set, so he had been slow to share his thoughts with Mage—he didn't expect...
"In every aspect. Our family has not produced a decent strongman for hundreds of years.
It is our family's constitution that limits our chances of becoming strong.
But seeing you, I've found the opportunity for our family's rise, Lucifer!" Mage said with longing.
"I see..."
Hearing Mage's words, Lucifer understood.
Indeed, the family had no strong people for many years.
His own appearance was giving Mage new hope.
Although he had been training nonstop for three years, his body was truly limited.
Without the "Myriad Phenomena Celestial Star Technique," Lucifer couldn't have achieved his current level.
His achievements already amazed Mage.
One could imagine how difficult the Chris family's situation was.
"So, Father, what do you mean?"
Lucifer looked up at his not very tall or strong stepfather.
"I plan to... provide the conditions for the family's rise, supplementing your opportunity!" Mage said solemnly.
"Uh... I don't get it..."
Lucifer really didn't understand.
"Heh heh, alright, put simply: I plan to give you the Devil Fruit and the famous sword.
You've had your eyes on them for a long time, haven't you?" Mage said with a faint smile.
"Ha? How did you know, Father?"
Lucifer was surprised.
He had never shown desire for those two things; how did Mage find out?
"Heh heh, don't underestimate your father, boy.
Though you never said, you've been practicing swordsmanship in secret, haven't you?" Mage said with a smile.
"Uh, Father, how did you notice?"
Lucifer scratched his head.
"Calluses on your palm..." Mage pointed at Lucifer's sun-kissed hand.
"Uh... impressive, Father..."
Lucifer sincerely praised his stepdad for the first time.
He hadn't expected Mage to discover his training from such a small detail.
"Heh heh..."
Mage smiled ambiguously.
"Then, Father, what exactly do you mean by supplementing my opportunity?"
Lucifer pressed on.
"Well, you'll see when the time comes!"
Mage said.
"Let's go to the secret basement!"
"Alright!"
Lucifer's eyes immediately brightened upon hearing about the secret basement storing the Devil Fruit.
He happily followed Mage's steps closely.
This was the first time Lucifer truly followed his father seriously.
Chris D. Mage was a slender middle-aged man, about 1.7 meters tall.
In the pirate world, he was rather short.
At forty years old, still at his peak in a world full of strong people.
Strong people's prime age could reach sixty, you know.
But Mage, only forty, already had graying hair, and wrinkles were becoming clear on his face.
Yet Lucifer was somewhat puzzled.
Chris D.—from the surname, a typical Western name—however, their whole family had East Asian skin tone and features.
Black hair, black eyes, yellow skin.
Oops, at least now Lucifer had wheat-colored skin; years of training had changed him quite a bit.
Lucifer followed Mage step by step to the door of the secret basement.
He almost got beaten up once because of this room.
Thinking about coming here this time, Lucifer shook his head and smiled—fate was always so strange.
Mage took out a key and skillfully opened the basement door.
Although the two entered in a single-file line, the basement was small.
Small enough to only hold a tiny wooden table.
There were only two items on the table: a Devil Fruit on a tray and a famous sword on a rack—this was everything in the basement.
"Lucifer, this fruit..."
Mage picked up the earth-yellow Devil Fruit on the tray and pointed, saying,
"This is a Logia-type Devil Fruit rarely seen in today's world.
Its name is—the Earth Fruit!"
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T/N:
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