People are sailing and synthesize the devil fruit of phantom beast sp

Whitebeard saw that Roger still looked as young as ever, and a wave of irritation surged in his chest.

"Guys, bring me the wine!" he roared, unable to hide his frustration.

Damn it. He was not only old now but seriously ill—yet that bastard Roger, not only alive again, still looked youthful and even managed to hold his own against Kairos Flint.

How on earth was this even possible?

It was outrageous.

The crew quickly brought him a jug of sake. Whitebeard downed it in heavy gulps, trying to ease the burning in his chest. After a long pull, he slammed the jug down onto the table.

"Guys, continue looking for Devil Fruits. I want more of them—gather them all!" he bellowed.

He refused to fall behind Roger. If there was even a chance to recover from his condition, he had to take it. And the only path forward was through those mysterious crystals connected to Kairos Flint.

Marco and the others didn't fully understand what was going on in Whitebeard's mind. They exchanged helpless glances, shrugged, and silently left to resume their search for Devil Fruits.

Meanwhile…

Jinbei had finally arrived, carrying Roger's body on his back. He climbed aboard the Mythical Sky, exhausted.

His face was drawn and weary as he gently laid the oilcloth-covered body down on the deck.

"Lord Kairos, I've completed the task. I've brought back Roger's body," Jinbei said solemnly.

These past few days had been torturous. While he'd taken lives before, he had never dug up a grave—especially not that of the Pirate King. The moral weight and discomfort were immense.

Swimming across the ocean for days with a corpse on his back made him feel as if Roger might come back to life at any moment. The psychological pressure had been overwhelming.

"Well done. What kind of crystals do you want as a reward?" Kairos Flint asked, without even glancing at the bundle.

Of course, he wasn't about to unwrap the cloth. Roger had been dead for more than twenty years—whatever lay beneath that fabric, he had no desire to see. Besides, the whole affair made him feel somewhat awkward. It wasn't exactly tasteful to admire your own handiwork.

"Lord Kairos, do these crystals have selectable abilities?" Jinbei's eyes lit up in surprise.

He hadn't expected the crystals to have customizable power options. That was an unexpected bonus.

But now he was overwhelmed with choices.

"It's simple," Kairos said. "Aside from the types I told you before, you can choose to enhance swordsmanship, Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Rokushiki techniques, general physical conditioning, or even the unique martial arts talents I've previously bestowed."

Kairos listed the legendary-quality crystals he currently had in storage in one breath.

Jinbei's breath caught in his throat.

The sheer scale of Kairos's power was overwhelming. With these crystals, he could create an army of admiral-level combatants. The very thought was terrifying.

"This time, I'll make an exception and give you two," Kairos said casually. "You've earned it."

He had only intended to reward Jinbei with one crystal, but seeing the Fishman exhausted, sleep-deprived, with heavy dark circles and an emaciated frame, he decided to go the extra mile.

"Lord Kairos, then I would like one for physical strength and one for martial skill," Jinbei replied respectfully.

He had already decided: he would give both to Whitebeard.

Unfortunately, despite all the categories Kairos had mentioned, none included healing all diseases.

That was a minor disappointment—but not a surprise.

"Then take these two," Kairos said, flicking the crystals to Jinbei.

Jinbei caught them with a smile.

According to Whitebeard, a physical-strength crystal could help restore his stamina and possibly alleviate his condition. The martial arts crystal might give him a further edge in battle.

"Are you heading back, or staying with me? I'm heading to the summit battlefield," Kairos asked.

He glanced at Roger's bundled body. Wooden slats floated in mid-air, and with a wave of his hand, thick tree roots sprouted around the cloth, wrapping it tightly into a coffin. Soon, a dense covering of fragrant blossoms bloomed atop it, masking the stench of death.

"Lord Kairos, I'm sorry, but I need to see my father," Jinbei said apologetically.

"You're planning to give him those two crystals, aren't you?" Kairos asked plainly.

Jinbei winced. There was no point lying—Kairos saw through everything. He nodded.

He explained that Whitebeard's protection of Fishman Island had been pivotal. Without him, their home might have been destroyed long ago. This was his way of repaying that debt.

Kairos regarded him silently, then nodded with admiration.

Jinbei had a chivalrous heart and knew how to repay kindness. That was rare.

Most people would've kept both crystals to themselves and reached admiral-level power in one leap. But Jinbei chose loyalty over self-interest.

"This crystal won't help Whitebeard much," Kairos said at last. "You'd be better off keeping it."

He paused, then added, "Go back and tell Whitebeard: if he can find five Devil Fruits, I'll give him five hundred years of lifespan."

Jinbei froze.

"L-Lord Kairos… what did you say? Five Devil Fruits for five hundred years of life?" He sucked in a sharp breath.

Lifespan—true longevity—was a dream beyond reach. Many pursued immortality, but who had ever achieved it?

Human lives were capped at a hundred years. Even those who lived long never passed two hundred. And old age brought weakness and suffering.

But Kairos… he was offering five hundred years?

Could this really be true?

"Don't believe me?" Kairos smirked. "Do I look like someone who jokes about this?"

"No, no, Lord Kairos! I believe you completely!" Jinbei said excitedly. "I'll tell the old man right away!"

With that, he leapt from the ship and splashed into the sea, racing back with the news.