"It's very simple."
Vladimir smiled calmly, facing the Empress's gaze without flinching.
Although this girl was indeed very beautiful, someone like him, who had experienced the influence of the Earth era, would not be easily captivated by a woman's beauty.
"You should also be very clear that the most effective way to distinguish a Devil Fruit ability user is to throw them into the sea. Devil Fruit ability users can never swim in their lives. This is the price for obtaining power."
Hearing this, the corner of the Empress's eye twitched. This kind of common sense didn't need Vladimir to popularize it.
However, she also knew that these words were just a prelude, so she endured a few words of nonsense.
"But, you've also seen that my true form is a sea dragon. Not to mention fearing seawater, in the sea, I'm like a fish in water."
Vladimir spread his hands and chuckled, "So, this method of distinguishing doesn't work. Therefore, we have to change the method."
"Get to the point!"
"Don't be so impatient, little girl. You can't be a good Empress like this." Vladimir shook his head, criticizing the Empress.
"L-little girl...!"
The Empress widened her eyes, and anger was faintly visible between her eyebrows. Since she became Empress, this guy was the first to dare to talk to her like this.
"See, a few words have made you angry. That won't do. You have to have composure." Vladimir, saying with great seriousness, "You have to be able to remain calm even when Mount collapses before your eyes."
"You...!" The Empress's chest heaved with anger.
"Sister, calm down, calm down. This guy is still wearing the title of 'Guardian Deity,' so we can't fight in a place like this."
Marigold said with a wry smile, comforting her, and then glared at Vladimir, "You, if you say any more nonsense, I'll make you look good!"
"That was truly rude of me."
Vladimir smiled, calmly expressing his apology.
But in his heart, he couldn't help but secretly rejoice, just teasing the other party. The Empress's reaction was as he expected.
These three sisters all had a common secret. As long as they didn't touch the bottom line, they would have to temporarily admit that he was the "Guardian Deity."
"Hmph!"
Snorting coldly, after a while, the Empress calmed down, a pair of beautiful eyes with hidden anger, staring at Vladimir, without saying a word.
"Continue to speak, don't play tricks." Sandersonia, the second sister, said dissatisfied, "If we find out that you are a Devil Fruit ability user, but you are disguised as our Kuja's Guardian Deity, I will definitely teach you a good lesson!"
Hearing these words, Vladimir smiled slightly, "Then okay, let's continue the topic from earlier."
After a pause, he organized his words and said, "Besides fearing seawater, ability users have another obvious characteristic. Do you know?"
"What? Don't keep us in suspense."
"An ability user can only eat one Devil Fruit. If they eat a second one, they will explode and die." Vladimir raised his eyebrows, looking directly at the three, "You should know this, right?"
"Of course, the legend is that two demons will be born in the body, fighting each other, causing people to explode and die." Marigold nodded.
"Then it's simple. You take out a Devil Fruit, and I'll eat it in front of you."
Vladimir's eyes flashed, and he said firmly, "If I explode and die, then it means that I am an ability user, that I have deceived your Amazon Lily Island. You don't even need to do anything, I will die myself!"
"What did you say?"
The two sisters were shocked. Was this guy betting his life?
Even the Empress's eyes showed a hint of surprise. This sea dragon was really bold.
"Wait," suddenly, the Empress frowned and said, "If you eat it, then you won't be able to swim anymore. You are the Ocean Dragon, you can't swim. Are you... sure you want to do this?"
Hearing these words, Vladimir was slightly stunned, looking at the Empress with some surprise.
He didn't expect that this girl looked cold on the outside, but she also had a kind heart on the inside.
"Don't worry, I'm a 'god.' Devil Fruits are the power of demons. Even if I eat it, I won't become an ability user."
Vladimir said in a low voice, feeling a little sorry for these three sisters.
Hearing this, the two sisters all turned their questioning gazes to the Empress.
Taking a deep look at Vladimir, the Empress nodded silently, "Then it's up to you. I hope you're not deceiving us. If you explode and die later, I'll have people feed your minced meat to Bacura. It's a ferocious black panther that our emperors have raised for generations. It will definitely like the meat of a sea dragon."
At the end, a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"Marigold, there happens to be a Devil Fruit among the spoils we brought back this time. Go have someone bring it."
"Yes, Sister!"
Soon, a Devil Fruit in a box was placed in front of Vladimir.
Seeing the strange spiral pattern on the surface of the fruit, Vladimir couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
These spendthrift women, this thing was worth at least 100 million Berries, and they just took it out as a bet.
That's right, this was a bet.
Vladimir bet his life, and the Empress bet a fruit. Of course, it only looked like he was betting his life to others.
The reason why Vladimir was sure that what was on the ship was a Devil Fruit, and not other mysterious powers, was because, in the One Piece world, only Devil Fruits were more in line with it. At least the probability was very, very high.
"The thing is already given to you." The Empress returned to her usual arrogant posture, "I'll just watch you eat it. Tricks are useless."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Vladimir smiled playfully and immediately started without hesitation.
When the bitter, hard-to-swallow taste of the fruit invaded his taste buds, the emotionless voice of the Fantasy Gene sounded deep in his mind.
"Sensing Mysterious Power..."
"Activating absorption mode... absorbing... 1%... 50%... 100%, absorption complete!"
"Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the second transformation... Shadow Fiend!"
"Activating absorption mode... absorption complete!"
"Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the second transformation 'Shadow Fiend'!"
The voice of the Fantasy Gene in his mind seemed cold and without emotional fluctuations.
Vladimir stopped swallowing the Devil Fruit and closed his eyes to feel the changes in his body.
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