Chapter 60: The Admiral's Paradox — A Question of Hunger
The emerald glow of the Wano segment didn't fade entirely; instead, it curdled into a sickly, golden mist. The screen pulsed with a rhythmic, heartbeat-like thrum that made the ships in the harbor creak. Silence fell over the world, from the freezing cells of Impel Down to the bustling streets of Sabaody.
Suddenly, the mist cleared to reveal a massive, parchment-style scroll rolling down the screen. The text wasn't written in ink, but seemed to be carved out of light.
[THE RANKER'S TRIAL: ADMIRAL RYOKUGYU]
"Question: What is the primary source of Admiral Ryokugyu's 'Eternal Hunger'? Why does he choose to abstain from eating for years?"
A) His Devil Fruit requires a 'Clean Soul' to process nutrients.
B) He is a human-plant hybrid who only consumes the 'prejudice' and 'order' of the World Government.
C) He views eating as a 'hassle' because he can photosynthesize and drain the life-force of his enemies.
D) He is under a curse from the Gorosei to ensure his loyalty through starvation.
[RULES: The first three individuals to provide the correct rationale win 1 Gold System Coin. Incorrect answers will trigger the 'Polly-Morphic Curse'—for the next 24 hours, the speaker will be transformed into a helpless, squeaky rubber duck, unable to use Haki or Devil Fruits.]
The world erupted.
> [Buggy the Clown]: (Running through Level 2 of Impel Down, tripping over a Blugori) "A rubber duck?! Is this a joke?! I'm already a flashy legend, I don't need to be yellow and squeaky! But wait... 1 Gold Coin? If I get that, I can buy my way out of this hellhole! It's obviously B! He loves that World Government junk!"
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "VOHAHARARA! Look at that clown go! Hey, Buggy, if you turn into a duck, I'll make sure to find you and roast you for dinner! Sengoku, you old goat, you should know the answer to this. Your dog is the one who drafted the tree-man!"
> [Sengoku]: "Shut up, Xebec! I'm busy trying to keep the Navy from imploding! Sakazuki, answer the question! You're the one who seems so fond of his efficiency!"
> [Akainu]: "Hmph. It is not about his diet, it is about his conviction. However... the answer is clearly mechanical. Aramaki is a man of logic. C is the only answer that fits a soldier of his caliber. He doesn't waste time on human weaknesses."
> [Portgas D. Ace]: (In sea-prism chains, looking up at the sky from a Marine ship) "Eating is a hassle? That guy is a complete idiot. Meat is the best thing in the world! Anyone who chooses not to eat deserves to be a rubber duck. I'm staying out of this one... I have enough problems."
> [Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)]: "ZEHAHAHA! The Navy is getting weirder by the day! A man who eats life-force? That sounds like my kind of power! Hey, Whitebeard! Why don't you guess? I'd love to see a giant rubber duck with a mustache!"
> [Whitebeard]: "Gurarara... Teach, you're still a brat. I've seen many things, but a man who thinks prejudice is tasty is a new one. I'll wait for the 'genius' Vegapunk to speak before I risk my pride."
>
In the Sabaody clearing, Nami was sweating, holding her six coins like they were her own children.
"Don't any of you dare speak!" she hissed at her crew. Luffy was currently trying to eat his own sandal because of the directionless curse, and Zoro was staring at a ladybug with intense suspicion. "If you turn into rubber ducks, I'm leaving you here! We need to focus on Ace!"
Robin hummed thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the screen. "It's a trick question. Option B sounds like his philosophy, but Option C is the physical reality Vegapunk mentioned. If we guess wrong, we become defenseless right before the war starts."
Sanji puffed on his cigarette, looking disgusted. "A cook's worst nightmare. A man who refuses to eat. I don't care if he's an Admiral, I'll kick some flavor into him one day. But Sengoku seems very confident. Look at him typing in the chat..."
> [Sengoku]: "I have studied the Mori Mori no Mi records. The photosynthesis is a biological fact, but the 'drain' is his active combat method. I will lock in C. For the sake of the Navy's honor, I cannot let a pirate win this coin!"
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "Then I'll take C too, just to steal your prize, you golden coward! VOHAHARARA!"
> [Akainu]: "Confirming C. The logic is absolute."
>
The timer on the screen began to glow a deep, threatening red.
[TIMER: 00:59... 00:58...]
The atmosphere was electric. Buggy was reconsidering his answer, Blackbeard was laughing, and in the distance, the gates of Impel Down were beginning to groan as the "Greatest Mess in History" started to unfold.
📝 Note:
I am not earning anything from this novel. I am still writing just because of two or three regular readers. But it's also hurt when after that much hard work webnovel reject the contract. Anyway today I am going to publish a new book.
Football: The Last Kings' Legacy, Reclaiming the Golden Era.
Synopsis:
"They say the era of magic is dead. They say football has become a game of machines, data, and endless running. But they've forgotten how a single feint could stop time."
In the narrow, muddy lanes of Keraniganj, 20-year-old Rimon—a "Lazy Genius" from the English Department of Bangladesh University—has buried his dreams. After a soul-crushing betrayal at Shia Mosjid and the weight of a broken national football system, he plays only for himself.
Everything changes when he meets Mahima—a love so deep and obsessive that it becomes his only reason to fight.
Suddenly, a voice awakens. Not a robot, but a snarky, poetic "Eternal Commentator" guarding The Last Kings' Legacy. It's a repository of the "Lost Arts"—the vision of Messi, the drive of Ronaldo, the flair of Neymar, and the ghost-like precision of Ozil.
But the System has a condition: Pure Art over Metrics.
From the traffic jams of Dhaka to the grass of the Bernabéu, Rimon must navigate a world of corrupt officials, toxic rivals, and a brotherhood with his childhood friend. Side-by-side with real-world legends Rimon isn't just playing for a trophy—he's lifting 170 million people on his back to prove that the Golden Era isn't over. It's just waiting for a new King.
If you guys want to help or just interested in football related book then you can try it.