Returning to Shakky's side, neither she nor little Teach had any major injuries, but there were three unexpected visitors at the scene.
"Newgate, Linlin, Kaido, why are you here?"
York showed surprise, his eyes full of doubt.
If he remembered correctly, in the manga plot from his previous life, Charlotte Linlin should be around the treasure room now, snatching the Azure Dragon Fruit from Kuma and Ivankov.
Although in this life he had changed Ivankov and Kuma's action trajectories, it shouldn't affect Charlotte Linlin's movements too.
Butterfly effect or not, this wasn't it.
"Mamamama! York, you were fast enough!"
Charlotte Linlin didn't answer York's question but looked at Shakky and little Teach, smiling.
"This kid is Rocks' child?"
Whitebeard explained briefly.
"We noticed something seemed wrong with Rocks, so we came to check."
York curled his lips.
If you came for Rocks, go find Rocks! The fight over there is heating up, so why come here?
Kaido first glanced at Shakky and little Teach, then looked at York with burning eyes.
"York! Since you saved Shakky! Did you get the Devil Fruits too? Can you give me one?"
At these words, Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin, who had overlooked this point, perked up simultaneously, also looking at York intently.
Charlotte Linlin even spoke directly: "York! Did you get the Devil Fruits? What abilities? I want to prepare one for my child too!"
York smiled.
"So that's why you're here!"
"No, I mainly came for Rocks."
Whitebeard quibbled a bit.
Among the entire Rocks Pirates, apart from York, he probably acknowledged Captain Rocks the most.
Not because he agreed with Rocks' ideology, but because after spending so much time together, feelings developed, treating Rocks as friend and family.
Whitebeard wasn't wrong; his initial intent was indeed for Rocks.
Only after accidentally discovering Shakky and York did he temporarily shift targets to them.
York scanned left and right.
These three all wanted the Devil Fruits in his hands, but for now, there was no sign of them making a move.
With a slight pause, York took the sack containing the Devil Fruits from Shakky.
"I can give you the Devil Fruits! But these aren't free gifts!"
Opening the sack, York pulled out the Azure Dragon Fruit with fish-scale skin.
"Kaido! This is the Zoan · Fish-Fish Fruit · Mythical Model · Azure Dragon Form! It's the top-tier Mythical Zoan!!"
"If you want it, become my crew member!"
Kaido was stunned, recalling York's previous invitation.
York's philosophy boiled down to essentially the same as Rocks', differing only in methods of realization.
Kaido had suffered greatly from corrupt nobles and the World Government in his early years and had long wanted to wipe out that disgusting bunch.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to Hachinosu or joined the Rocks Pirates.
After brief thought, Kaido nodded.
"No problem!"
"But if your future actions violate what you told me back then, I'll leave your side!"
York smiled calmly, tossing the Azure Dragon Fruit to Kaido.
"Just watch! I'll do better than Rocks!!"
Kaido caught the fruit and, fearing someone might snatch it, stuffed it into his mouth immediately.
*Crunch! Gulp!*
Bitten and swallowed in less than a second.
Immediately after, Kaido's body underwent massive changes.
Dragon scales covered his surface, limbs turned to dragon claws, mouth protruded into a dragon muzzle, dragon horns grew on his forehead, and his massive body soared into the sky.
"Wulolo lololo!"
Joyful laughter echoed through the skies as the majestic Azure Dragon descended upon God Valley.
Kaido looked at his current form, and in excitement, opened his mouth to spew dragon breath toward Rocks' direction.
The surging fire pillar streaked across. The uniformed woman clashing with Rocks shifted her gaze slightly and dodged Kaido's dragon breath with a graceful sidestep.
*Rumble!!*
The dragon breath struck God Valley's towering mountain, instantly blasting a hundred-meter-wide cave.
York watched from afar, praising: "Not bad power! But just eaten the fruit; room for improvement."
"Wulolo lololo!!"
Amidst loud laughter, Kaido reverted to human form and proactively stood behind York.
From this moment, he was York's subordinate.
Of course, not yet a crew member.
Only after Rocks died and York formed a new pirate crew would that count.
Seeing Kaido who had just demonstrated his ability, envy flashed in Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin's eyes simultaneously.
Such a top-tier ability, and York gave it away just like that—truly generous.
Next, they also anticipated what fruit York would give them.
"Clarification first!" Before York took out the second fruit, Whitebeard spoke: "I'm not planning to become your crew member!"
"If we ultimately lose this battle and the Rocks Pirates disband, I plan to form my own pirate crew."
Charlotte Linlin nearby immediately agreed: "Me too!"
Hearing this, York wasn't surprised at all; he hadn't planned to invite anyone besides Kaido anyway.
So while pulling out the second Devil Fruit from the sack, he laughed: "Don't worry! I only need Kaido as crew!"
"After you get the Devil Fruits, you just owe me a favor!"
With that, York tossed the second Devil Fruit to Whitebeard.
"Zoan · Bird-Bird Fruit · Mythical Model · Phoenix Form!"
"If Newgate wants to form a new pirate crew, this fruit is perfect for your first mate!"
Whitebeard caught it, joy flashing in his eyes.
"Thanks, York. I owe you a favor!"
Then, York continued to pull out the third Devil Fruit.
"Linlin! The Devil Fruit you want is for Katakuri, right?"
Katakuri was exactly ten this year. Because his sister Charlotte Brûlée had her face slashed long by someone, he awakened Conqueror's Haki in rage and killed all the pirates bullying her.
Charlotte Linlin began focusing on this second son because of that.
"This is the Special Paramecia · Sticky-Sticky Fruit! Though Paramecia, it has the ability to freely alter the body like a Logia. It won't waste Katakuri's talents!"
York tossed the third Devil Fruit to Charlotte Linlin.
She caught it, joy flashing in her eyes too, but immediately after, her gaze shifted to the sack in York's hand.
"After distributing three fruits, that bag is still bulging; there must be quite a few top-tier Devil Fruits left?"
"So what if there are!"
York erupted with powerful Conqueror's Haki with a boom. Black-red lightning shattered rocks, demonstrating his utterly unshakeable will.
"These are what I snatched with my own ability! If you want to rob me, go ahead! Draw your blade and fight!!"
York's toughness made Charlotte Linlin's expression falter.
She had just asked casually, but this big reaction.
"Forget it. Currently among my children, only Katakuri is promising. Preparing a Devil Fruit for him is enough."
York sneered, adding: "Remember! You owe me a favor too!!"
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