Sengoku: "I choose... what??"
Just as Sengoku was about to answer, he read the instructions carefully on the screen.
Immediately, he froze...
Losing a year of lifespan for answering wrong within 5 seconds? This punishment was terrifying, especially for someone who had already lived a long life!
No one knew exactly how much time they had left... If someone only had a year left and they answered incorrectly, wouldn't that be the end for them?!
Sengoku was still hoping for Trafalgar Law to perform the Perennial Youth Operation on him someday. Dying prematurely because of a wrong answer would be a cruel twist of fate.
Kuzan: "So now there's a punishment mechanism..."
Borsalino: "Looks like we can't be so carefree with our answers anymore..."
Rocks D. Xebec: "What's there to worry about? This punishment is for the living! Us dead folks have nothing to fear! Shiki, Roger, this is our chance, let's answer fast!"
Gol D. Roger: "You idiot, I've already read the question!!"
Shiki: "Hahaha!! You old fool! Trying to trick me and Roger? We're not falling for it!"
Though the deceased wouldn't lose their lifespan, answering incorrectly within 5 seconds would cost them five quiz attempts. Considering how valuable the rewards were, missing out on five consecutive rounds was worse than death for them.
Monkey D. Luffy: "Losing one year of lifespan? That's nothing!"
Monkey D. Garp: "..."
Sengoku: "..."
Tsuru: "..."
Roronoa Zoro: "Luffy, be a little more normal."
Nami: "Sorry, everyone, our captain got loose again. I'll take him away now..."
With everyone chatting, the 5-second protection window quickly expired~
Clearly, no one wanted to rush their answers this time.
Rocks D. Xebec: "A! This kid isn't like Luffy—he's clearly a potential non-Devil Fruit user!"
Sengoku: "A! Judging from the current situation, Luffy wouldn't have had a chance to come across the Rubber-Rubber Fruit."
Edward Newgate: "E! C and D are too far-fetched. B and E seem the most plausible, so I'm going with E."
Eustass Kid: "B! Option B suits Straw Hat's style!"
Trafalgar Law: "E! The crazier it sounds, the more it fits Straw Hat!"
Shiki: "A! It has to be A!"
Charlotte Linlin: "A!"
Charlotte Linlin: "Huh? You fool Shiki! You stole my answer!"
Shiki: "Hahaha!! Linlin, you're too slow!"
Sakazuki: "E."
Donquixote Doflamingo: "Looks like the correct answer's been picked already. I'll pass for now—no need to waste my chance."
...
Several people in the chat room made their choices, while others opted not to answer at all.
After all, answering wrong twice in a row would result in being banned from participating in two future rounds—a consequence no one wanted to face lightly.
Since some felt the correct answer had already been chosen, they decided not to risk an incorrect guess.
[Countdown to answer submission...]
[10]
[9]
[8]
...
As the countdown ticked on the big screen, Shanks frowned.
Option C seemed absurd and reckless to most people, but the more Shanks thought about it, the more it felt like the correct answer.
Back then, when he accidentally brought the Rubber-Rubber Fruit to Windmill Village, it somehow ended up being eaten by Luffy. It almost felt as if the Rubber-Rubber Fruit had chosen Luffy...
As the countdown reached zero, the frozen image on the big screen resumed playing.
[Shanks had refused to teach Luffy the method for training Conqueror's Haki.]
[In his mind, the Observation Haki and Armament Haki training he just taught Luffy was already enough of a challenge for the young boy.]
[If he were to go as far as teaching Conqueror's Haki training, it would only add confusion for this innocent and inexperienced kid.]
[Besides, the chances of someone awakening Conqueror's Haki were one in millions, and the boy standing in front of him didn't seem like the type who would possess the aura of a king...]
["Thank you, Uncle!"]
[Luffy didn't mind and gratefully thanked Shanks again.]
[Even though Shanks didn't teach him about Conqueror's Haki, Luffy felt that Shanks had already shared a lot of valuable knowledge. He was deeply appreciative!]
But just as Luffy and Shanks were preparing to part ways, something unexpected happened.
[A wooden box near Lucky Roux suddenly tipped over.]
[A purple Devil Fruit with strange patterns rolled across the table and landed directly at Luffy's feet...]
Rocks D. Xebec: "What the hell?! The Devil Fruit rolled over to him on its own? Is this for real?!"
Gol D. Roger: "Could it actually be C?"
Edward Newgate: "Looks like I chose wrong too. We really need to think more carefully before answering."
Tsuru: "I think someone chose C right before the countdown ended. I didn't catch who it was though."
Shiki: "It was Shanks! But how did you guess correctly? You lived through this, didn't you?!"
Shanks: "If I knew the right answer, do you think I would've taken so long to decide? I just went with my gut."
Sengoku: "Enough with the arguing! The brat hasn't even eaten it yet, so calm down!"
At this point, it seemed like the most likely answers were A or C, but no one could be sure until the truth was revealed.
[Everyone was stunned as they watched the Rubber-Rubber Fruit roll to Luffy's feet.]
[The Red-Haired Pirates all turned to look at Lucky Roux, who had been in charge of keeping the Devil Fruit.]
["My bad, someone must've knocked the box over," Lucky Roux said with a sheepish grin as he walked over to Luffy, bending down to pick up the Devil Fruit.]
Rocks D. Xebec: "Good job! Nice save!"
Shiki: "Hahaha! Captain, we might actually get resurrected now!"
Rocks D. Xebec: "Shut up! The first thing I'm gonna do when I come back is take you out!"
Shiki: "Hahaha! You wish!"
Tsuru: "Sengoku, looks like you're getting a reward."
Sengoku: "Yeah, but so are Rocks and Shiki. Let's hope they don't get resurrected."
Rocks D. Xebec: "Stop jinxing it!"
Shiki: "Stop jinxing with your... well, you know!"
Meanwhile, Shanks stared at the Devil Fruit that Lucky Roux picked up, deep in thought.
["Goodbye, Uncle." Luffy said once more before walking toward the door.]
[On the other side, Lucky Roux attempted to put the Rubber-Rubber Fruit back into the wooden box. But, whether due to too much drinking or carelessness, he knocked the fruit off the table again.]
[Bang bang bang bang bang...]
[The fruit rolled straight back to Luffy's feet.]
Luffy stared down at the strange purple fruit, confused.
The people watching the scene unfold were just as baffled.
This Devil Fruit… was way too eager to be eaten!