Two hours later, a deep and thorough sense of satisfaction settled over Lancelot.
He lay back against the pillows, observing the woman beside him.
He truly couldn't deny it—Lina was a treasure.
Though she was clearly inexperienced in the art of fucking, she possessed an incredible, intuitive talent.
During their "battle," she had not only learned with astonishing speed but had begun to master the techniques, even innovating and developing new ones.
She was, in this specific field, a natural-born genius.
Lancelot found himself genuinely reluctant to let this particular asset go.
Lina, her breathing still catching, traced idle circles on Lancelot's chest with her fingertip.
Her expression, still flushed with exertion, was impossibly alluring as she whispered, "So, Lieutenant... am I worth a Devil Fruit?"
A slow, wolfish smirk spread across Lancelot's face. He leaned down, his voice a low growl.
"I'm not sure. Let me... test that again."
...
Another two hours passed.
By the time Lancelot was finally sated, Lina's face had gone pale, and she had long since passed out, submerged in the deep oblivion of pure exhaustion.
Only then did Lancelot, feeling thoroughly and completely satisfied, finally drift off to sleep.
By the first light of dawn, Lina still hadn't woken.
Lancelot observed her for a moment, a pale, delicate figure lost in the rumpled sheets.
He reached out and pinched her soft cheek lightly, a final, almost possessive gesture, before quietly rising and dressing.
When he returned to his own quarters at the Marine base, he was greeted by an insistent, incessant ringing.
Puru-puru-puru... Puru-puru-puru...
Lancelot paused in surprise.
He recognized the sound.
That was the special Den Den Mushi given to him by this body's father, a private, encrypted line used solely for the two of them to stay in touch.
His heart, which had been eagerly anticipating a way to fulfill his promise to Lina, now leaped with genuine joy.
He was counting on this man to get him a Devil Fruit.
He immediately pushed the door open, strode across the room, and snatched up the receiver.
Before Lancelot could even speak, the other end of the line erupted with a hearty, booming laugh.
"Good, good! Lancelot, my boy, you've really made me proud this time!"
The voice belonged to his father, Vice Admiral Burns.
But then, the jovial tone sharpened with a hint of suspicion.
"Though, I must ask... when exactly did you gain such strength? Don't tell me that pirates worth over ten million berries in the East Blue have suddenly become this pathetically weak?"
Hearing this, Lancelot's pupils constricted slightly.
He mentally cursed.
'As expected of someone who thrives in the political snake pit of the Holy Land—he's sharp enough to immediately pinpoint the key issue.'
He needed an excuse, and he needed it fast.
A fabricated story quickly formed in his mind, one that would appeal to his father's specific sensibilities.
"Father," Lancelot began, pitching his voice to sound slightly sheepish, slightly cunning.
"I was... pretending, before. I didn't want to stay in the Holy Land, and I certainly didn't want to be thrown into the meat grinder at Marine HQ."
"???"
The other end was clearly baffled, as Lancelot had expected.
In the eyes of most people, both the Holy Land and Marine HQ were coveted, powerful posts that everyone fought to get into.
Lancelot pressed his advantage, "Father, just think about it. That man Smoker will leave the East Blue sooner or later; he's too rebellious to stay in one place. When he does, this entire sea will fall into my hands, won't it? Just by skimming a little from every island, wouldn't I make one or two billion Berries a year? With that kind of private funding, arranging... 'donations'... to secure a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral rank... wouldn't that be a piece of cake?
"How long would it take to climb the ranks at Headquarters? And even if I did, how many dangers would I have to face? How many real monsters? So, I ask you, is there any place better than the East Blue? As long as I take Smoker's position, I'll have supreme status and power here. Plus, it's safe, it's incredibly lucrative, and it doesn't hinder my future promotions. It's... perfect!"
For a moment, there was complete silence from the Holy Land.
Then, Burns let out a low, slow chuckle that built into a full-blown laugh of appreciation.
"Lancelot... my boy... I had no idea. You're even more devious than I am! That... that actually makes a terrifying amount of sense!"
Any trace of doubt that had lingered in his father's heart seemed to evaporate, replaced by a new, profound sense of pride.
This was his son, a true chip off the old block.
"Kid, you've hit the jackpot twice," Burns said, his voice brimming with satisfaction.
"I pulled some serious strings for you. First, you've been promoted straight to Lieutenant Commander. Second, and more importantly, I got you a new position. You're now in the Marine Inspection Department."
"Inspector?" Lancelot asked, his mind racing.
"That's right. You are now one of only ten inspectors for the entire East Blue. You'll have your own independent warship. You can build your own team. And your authority? You have the power to 'oversee' all naval forces in this sea. If a base commander gets out of line, or, perhaps... isn't showing the proper respect to us... you have the authority to 'inspect' them. Do you understand, my boy? This is real power. Do well, and you'll be on the fast track. The position of Chief Inspector for the East Blue is still empty. Once you take that, you'll only be half a rank below Smoker himself."
"Talk about a double jackpot!" Lancelot couldn't contain his excitement.
This was freedom.
A ship, a crew, and the authority to move as he pleased.
"Hahaha..." Burns burst into laughter. "You underestimate your old man. After all I've done in the Holy Land, how can this little favor count as a 'double' jackpot? That was just standard procedure—one stroke of luck."
Lancelot paused, surprised.
"So... there's more?"
"I haven't been kissing boots in Mariejois for nothing all these years, son," Burns said, his voice dropping.
"I sent a... particular gift. One that pleased the Celestial Dragons very much. Their happiness granted me a long-held wish—to get you a Zoan-type Devil Fruit."
"Holy shit... talk about perfect timing!" Lancelot was overjoyed.
He now had the perfect way to truly bind Lina to him.
Curiosity got the better of him. "What kind of gift did you give to make the Celestial Dragons part with a Devil Fruit?"
"Don't worry about that," Burns said curtly. "Just know it took me a very long time to prepare, and it cost me a great deal. So, after you eat this Devil Fruit, you will strive to awaken its powers. That way, our family can finally produce a genuine Headquarters-level Vice Admiral."
Though Burns had attained the rank, his actual combat strength had always been a source of mockery.
It was a deep sore spot for him.
"By the way," Lancelot asked, "what kind of Zoan fruit is it?"
"An ordinary-Type," Burns replied. "White Tiger Fruit."
Lancelot's eyes widened in shock, and he exclaimed, "A Mythical Zoan?!"
Burns couldn't help rolling his eyes on the other end of the line.
"What are you thinking? It's an ordinary Zoan. You're dreaming about Mythicals? You really dare to imagine..."
"Sigh..." Burns let out a long breath. "Do you really think those ordinary Zoan fruits you hear about only cost one or two hundred million berries? With my status, buying a few wouldn't be a problem if I had the chance, would it?"
"Uh..." Lancelot admitted to himself that he had, in fact, thought exactly that.
Burns continued his explanation, "Those fruits you see at auction... those are Devil Fruits whose exact types can't be determined. We only know which category they belong to. In other words, you spend two hundred million to buy a fruit. After you eat it... it's all up to luck. With bad luck, it might be a Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit, or a Rat-Rat Fruit. With good luck, it could be a wolf or a leopard. But are you, my son, willing to gamble your one shot at power?"
Lancelot understood completely now.
This ordinary White Tiger Fruit was so expensive and rare precisely because its type was confirmed.
Moreover, among ordinary Zoan types, a tiger was absolutely top-tier.
Lancelot then tentatively asked, "Father... since you have the connections... can you help me get a few of those 'luck-based' Devil Fruits?"
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.
"You... you want to build your own forces? Your own crew?"
"Good. Good... GOOD!"
Without waiting for Lancelot to answer, Burns said the word three times in a row, his voice filled with a fierce pride.
"You're more ambitious than me... I love it! Listen, on Sabaody Archipelago, there are Devil Fruit auctions from time to time. I'll have my people keep an eye out. As long as the Celestial Dragons aren't bidding, I'll try to buy them all for you."
People with greater ambitions, Burns believed, had greater motivation.
He fully supported this.
He then added, "As for the White Tiger Fruit... I'll find a way to have it delivered to you within the week."
"Lancelot, are you there?"
Just then, a clear, female voice called out from outside his door.
It was Tashigi.
Burns heard it over the Den Den Mushi and laughed.
"A woman looking for you? You're doing well, kid! Keep it up... And try to give me a little grandson or granddaughter by next year. Hahaha..."
Click.
The call ended.