Chapter 1613 In the world of One Piece, only exceptional cases can live to old age.

"Thirty years of lifespan"?!

Kaku's breath hitched, and the flush of ecstasy on his face faded instantly, replaced by an unexpected pallor.

Such an important decision in life, to exchange a third or even more of your future for this tempting Devil Fruit that radiates azure light?

As the fervor in his mind subsided, reason and instinct began to resurface, and Kaku fell into a deep silence.

My heart pounded heavily in my chest, each beat seeming to ask: Is it worth it?

His gaze almost unconsciously drifted to Lu Qi beside him. That's how people are; when faced with a major decision that could change the course of their lives, they always yearn to find answers from others, especially those they trust.

Even just a reassuring glance.

Lucci, however, was not looking at him at the moment. He was staring at the blue Mosasaurus Fruit on the counter. Few people have seen the Devil Fruit encyclopedia, and even an organization like CP9 may not have access to a complete list.

He doubted the authenticity of the fruit and whether the entire deal was an elaborate trap.

He sensed the plea for help in Kaku's eyes.

After a moment of silence, Lucci slowly turned his head to look at his comrade-in-arms. "Kaku, you have to make your own decision. This is an extremely important turning point in your life. You can't expect an outsider to be responsible for your life."

"If I choose for you, I'm afraid you'll regret it for the rest of your life..."

Before Kaku could even utter a word of help, the option that Kaku was trying to offer was abruptly cut off.

This is Lucci's way of forcing his comrades to confront their own desires and fears, and to bear the consequences of their choices alone. Weakness and dependence are deadly poisons on the path of pursuing power and survival.

Yes, Lucci is right, this is Kaku's own life.

Capone Becky, the godfather of the gang, couldn't help but give the young man a word of advice: "Kid, as someone who's been through it all, don't overestimate your lifespan."

"I've seen plenty of talented young people die just like that. Not everyone can live to old age. I've never seen a World Government agent live a long life!"

The mob boss made a rare, honest remark: Capone Becky has the blood of many young people on his hands.

Those young people may be talented and passionate, but they are too impulsive and reckless, or they may simply be unlucky.

Even with some skill, one can perish instantly due to a fatal mistake, a wrong judgment, or encountering an enemy that is simply insurmountable.

On this vast ocean, the future and lifespan are the most luxurious and the most fragile things.

In the world of One Piece, if you don't have enough power to retire before you do, then the word "retirement" is basically just fooling yourself.

Look at the members of Roger's Pirates. They can retire and live in seclusion because they are strong enough that even after retirement, they can remain in a position where no one dares to provoke them.

When the Celestial Dragons launched their post-incident reckoning, what became of those who had helped Roger but lacked the strength or background to back them up, such as Tom the fishman who built Roger's ship?

In a world where the strong prey on the weak, strength is the only true measure of success!

"If I haven't thought it through yet, my time is also very precious."

The shop owner wouldn't give the small fry much time to think. He picked up the two items from the counter and planned to put them back in the drawer behind him.

This action was like the last straw, instantly crushing all of Kaku's hesitation. An opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance—if he couldn't seize it, if he just watched it slip through his fingers...

He will regret it, he definitely will!

"I agree—!"

Kaku's voice boomed loudly in the quiet shop. He desperately wanted to become stronger; no one wants to be a burden for the rest of their life.

The shop owner stopped what he was doing and slowly turned his gaze back to Kaku. "Once you agree, there's no going back."

"If you want to get your lifespan back after it's taken away, you'll have to pay a much higher price!"

This is the final warning, and also a clarification of the rules.

Kaku nodded again with all his might, his eyes no longer showing any hesitation, only an intense thirst for power. He stared at the blue Mosasaurus Fruit in the shopkeeper's hand, as if it were his entire life.

"Let's begin the transaction now."

The shop owner said no more. The two options were placed back on the counter. He bent down and took out a brand new, transparent empty bottle from a hidden compartment under the counter.

The bottle was similar in size to the one that had contained the black gas, but it was empty. Under the dim yellow light, it reflected a faint glow. Everyone looked at the shopkeeper with suspicion, wondering what he was going to do with the empty bottle.

Just then, Kaku suddenly thought of a problem, a very real problem.

"Wait, after the giraffe fruit inside me was replaced, does it still belong to me?"

Without much thought, the shop owner replied directly: "It's just an ordinary Devil Fruit, not very valuable."

"If you sell me the giraffe fruit you got in exchange, it will only last for five years at most."

"If you want to exchange money, you can use the Berry, which is popular at sea, or gold. They are all reproducible external things."

It can buy five years of life!

Kaku's face lit up with joy. This was an unexpected surprise. Using a fruit that was about to be useless to him, or even just an ordinary one, to offset the cost of five years of his lifespan was simply too good to pass up.

Without much hesitation, Kaku immediately decided: "I will use the giraffe fruit to pay for five years of my lifespan."

The shop owner looked at him in silence for about a second, then he nodded slightly.

"Alright, then I'll only charge you twenty-five years of your lifespan. Consider it a discount for a young person like you. Let's make a good start today, so I'll accept a small loss..."

Suffering a loss? Looking at the shopkeeper's bland and indistinct face, and then at the excited Kaku, everyone felt a very strange feeling welling up in their hearts.

Ada wanted to say something more; the woman wanted to persuade her comrade not to make a decision on a whim.

When Allen noticed his sister's action, he grabbed her arm. Although he didn't say anything, he used his body to stop her. He told her not to meddle in this kind of thing.

If Lucci doesn't dare to take responsibility for Kaku's life, does Ada really think she can?

Given the nature of Lucci's relationship with Kaku, and considering that Ada and Kaku weren't even qualified to interrupt, Ada ultimately chose to swallow back what she wanted to say.

Women can live a long life because of their beauty, but men must rely on their strength to speak for themselves. Cavendish, a man who looks like a woman, also embarked on the path of becoming stronger.

When it really matters, you can't rely on those around you; Kaku can only rely on himself.