Chapter 389: Rumble-Rumble Fruit
But Charlotte, standing atop the platform, heard everything.
Temple? What temple?
In a flash, Charlotte appeared before the village chief.
"Old man! What temple was he talking about?" Charlotte asked, locking eyes with the chief.
"L-Lord… the temple is… where we villagers of Bika hold our rituals…" the chief stammered, clearly terrified.
"And have you searched this temple yet?"
Charlotte's tone turned sharp.
"N-No! But there's no way it's in there… No one goes there except for ceremonies!" the chief tried to explain, sweat pouring down his face.
But Charlotte could see through the man's eyes—the disdain, the arrogance.
Just like how certain people in his past life used to look at others—like they were superior.
Charlotte turned to the middle-aged man who had spoken earlier.
"You. Do you know where the temple is?"
"Y-Yes, sir!" the man gulped and nodded frantically.
Boom!
Without hesitation, Charlotte crushed the village chief's skull with one punch.
He turned toward the other man, voice cold: "Take me there. Or end up like him."
The man nearly wet himself.
"Hurry."
Charlotte's voice was low and commanding.
"Y-Yes, sir!" the man said, immediately turning to lead the way.
Esdeath glanced at the corpse on the ground, unimpressed. She followed after Charlotte.
Kaiser clicked his tongue in mock amusement. "Tsk, tsk… Guess that's what happens when you ask for it."
He trailed behind Esdeath.
A large group followed Charlotte to the temple.
The moment Charlotte laid eyes on it, he froze.
The structure's shape looked eerily familiar—just like Enel's Ark Maxim from the anime.
It's here.
He shoved the guide aside and stepped into the temple.
Along the way, he listened to the man's explanation of the temple's history, gaining a decent understanding.
At the center stood a birdman deity statue, wings spread wide.
Charlotte had no interest in the birdman. He circled the statue, gaze locked on the offering tray in the birdman's hand.
There it was:
A golden yellow Devil Fruit, shaped like a durian, covered in lightning-like patterns.
Charlotte smiled.
"Three days of searching… and it was right here."
He appeared atop the statue in a blink, snatching the fruit.
Then his gaze fell on the box in the statue's other hand.
Charlotte took it too.
If I'm right… this should be the blueprint for the flying ship—Ark Maxim.
He opened the box.
Just as he thought—a pile of blueprints.
He couldn't understand the language, but the sketches matched the structure of the temple exactly.
Jackpot.
Charlotte chuckled, clutching the blueprints and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He gave the temple a once-over with his Observation Haki to make sure nothing else was hidden.
Once satisfied, he stepped out of the temple.
---
"Dad! You found it?"
Kaiser spotted the fruit and the chest in Charlotte's hands.
Charlotte nodded and raised the fruit. "Found it. The most powerful Logia-type: the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
From the moment he had transmigrated to this world, Charlotte had dreamed of getting his hands on this fruit.
Now that it was finally his, a long-standing wish had come true.
"Let's go. We're done here."
He gave the order to retreat.
Barrett fired a signal flare into the sky.
The crew regrouped and prepared to leave Bika.
Charlotte took one last glance at the island.
He wondered if it would still meet its canon fate—destroyed by Enel in the future.
At that moment, young Enel lay unconscious, having been out cold for three days straight.
---
After departing Bika, Charlotte returned to the captain's cabin, sitting at his desk and examining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Swallow-Swallow Fruit.
He had originally set out to find suitable Devil Fruits for Tesla and Kaiser, and now that he had them, it was time to deliver.
Charlotte stepped out and made his way to the ship's lower deck.
---
"Tesla!"
In a lab deep within the ship, Tesla was learning from the scientists aboard.
Charlotte smiled at the sight of his son's focus.
"Dad? What are you doing down here?" Tesla asked, surprised.
"Haha! I came bearing a gift. Take a look and see if you like it."
Charlotte held out the golden fruit—it was unmistakably the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Tesla's eyes widened.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
"That's right," Charlotte said with a grin. "You once told me that there wasn't a Devil Fruit that suited you. Well, I told you I'd find one. I think this one's perfect. Whether it's for your scientific research or your strength—it will take you far."
He placed the fruit in Tesla's hands.
Tesla looked down, stunned.
He knew his father had been searching for the fruit—but he never expected it was for him.
His eyes welled up.
"Dad…"
"Haha! Touched, aren't you? That's good. I'm your father—if I don't look out for you, who will? Go on, eat it. Show me what the strongest Logia looks like."
Charlotte patted him on the shoulder.
Tesla nodded hard. "But I can't eat it here… If I lose control, all the equipment could fry."
He glanced at the rows of delicate instruments nearby.
"Good point. Go call Caesar Clown too. I've got something for him as well."
"On it!"
Tesla ran off to the lab next door.
---
Inside, Caesar Clown was hunched over a table, immersed in his experiments, his hair a wild mess. He hadn't bathed in days.
"Professor Caesar, my dad's looking for you," Tesla whispered.
Yes—Professor.
When Tesla first got interested in science, it was Caesar Clown who took him under his wing. Calling him "Teacher" wasn't wrong.
"Hm?"
Caesar looked up slowly, blinking at Tesla.
---
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