In Liam's mind, the image of the Weather Fruit lingered- as it was one of the entries in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia that B.I.B. had paused on for a fraction longer than usual during his rapid scan. The reason for this? Well, those who understood would understand.
Liam commented, "But when you're riding the wind, it really does look like you're using a Wind Fruit. Although, I have to admit, the encyclopedia doesn't list wind fruit among the logia types."
"It's just precise wind manipulation, nothing more," Dragon replied with a shake of his head.
"Manipulating the wind so finely that it envelops your body?" Liam mused. "And adjust its strength to reach a storm level? Otherwise, it wouldn't be enough to carry the weight of two people."
Dragon smiled. "Exactly. It's not that complicated. The simplest answers are usually the right ones."
"It's 'not' simple at all!" Liam nodded emphatically. He was referring to the skill involved. "But I guess with one or two practice sessions..." he trailed off thoughtfully.
The Snake Princess: "..."
Kuma: "..."
Noticing Liam's look, Dragon warned, "Don't get any ideas, boy.
"I was just wondering if I could make it rain snails," Liam said curiously.
"Snail rain? You mean Den Den Mushi rain?" The Snake Princess looked puzzled and glanced at Dragon. "Does that even count as weather?"
"If there were a large number of Den Den Mushi in my area of influence, I could use the wind to sweep them up and make it happen," Dragon said calmly. "Yes, it's possible, so there's no need to test it."
Liam explained, "When my ghost leaves my body, it replicates the Devil Fruit ability I had at the time."
The Snake Princess understood immediately, and Kuma smiled faintly as if his suspicions were confirmed. Dragon, however, remained calm and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
---
After bidding farewell to the Snake Princess, Dragon, and Kuma, Liam wandered toward Kuja City.
The leader Dragon's Weather Fruit...
West Army Commander Morley's Push-Push Fruit...
East Army Commander Belo Betty's Inspire Fruit...
Liam glanced back at Dragon's distant silhouette near the shore. 'The Revolutionary Army really has it all— timing, terrain, and unity. They're perfectly aligned for the future,' he thought to himself.
---
As the situation settled, Liam swapped to the Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas Gas Fruit) and leaped over the city walls into Kuja City. It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed sneaking in this way— it was just more convenient than having the Kuja guards open and close the main gate for him.
At Boa Hancock's residence, he found the three sisters and Robin, just as he expected.
"Give it back!" Hancock demanded, her beautiful face stern as she extended her hand toward Liam.
Liam glanced at her outstretched hand but ignored it. Instead, he reached out into the air with his right hand, which seamlessly merged into B.I.B.'s flame-patterned arm and smoothly retrieved the Medusa Mythical Zoan chip.
Robin couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Sandersonia, the youngest of the three sisters, gasped in shock. She had just seen Giorno seemingly plunge most of his right arm straight into her Nee San's chest. But—oh, wait—it looked like he was returning the Devil Fruit to her.
The sisters quickly pieced things together.
Curious, they scurried to the back of their Nee San, touching her smooth, unbroken back. Then, intrigued, they tried to poke the front, only to be glared at by Hancock, prompting them to awkwardly pull their hands back.
The two younger sisters exchanged a glance, their heads filled with questions. Like curious kittens, they circled the connection between Liam's arm and their Nee San's chest, their minds buzzing with 'Why? Why isn't she hurt? Why can he go directly in? Why...?'
Hancock extended a finger and jabbed Liam in the chest, trying to push him away. But Liam's arm was longer than hers.
He withdrew his hand, seeming distracted. "It's returned," he said simply before stepping outside.
Hancock rolled her eyes and casually slipped a green Den Den Mushi out of her pocket. She then called her two younger sisters and Jolyne, leading them out for a bit of fun.
---
That night, Liam wandered across a grassy field, gazing at the starry sky.
In the memories he had absorbed earlier when retrieving B.I.B. at Weatheria, he discovered something interesting.
Apparently, B.I.B. had found it intriguing enough to retain, so Liam carefully sifted through those memories and quickly identified the detail.
It was something B.I.B. had overheard during its time with Robin— an accidental eavesdrop on a conversation between Haredas and another elderly scientist nearby.
It seemed that the earlier discussion about Devil Fruits had led to more conversation. B.I.B. vaguely overheard Haredas talking about a trip he had made to the South Blue.
Specifically, he mentioned visiting a place called 'Magnifi Island' in search of someone suspected to be a Magnet-Magnet Fruit user. Unfortunately, his efforts had been in vain, and he returned disappointed.
'The Magnet-Magnet Fruit?' Liam mused. That must be Kid's Devil Fruit. Doing some quick mental math, he realized— well, actually, he didn't need to approximate— this was the exact time Luffy had just been born!
In that case, Kid would be about four years old now.
Which meant that the Magnet-Magnet Fruit user Haredas had sought couldn't have been Kid.
Sitting on the grass and enjoying a quiet moment (Amazon Lily Island had no wind to blow), Liam was simply cooling off when Boa Hancock's two younger sisters came running over in a panic.
"Something bad happened, Giorno!" Sandersonia exclaimed breathlessly. "Our Nee San is arguing with the Snake Princess in the palace!"
"Huh?" Liam was surprised. "The Snake Princess? Arguing?"
"Uh…" The two sisters exchanged a glance before clarifying.
"Well… it's more like our Nee San is throwing a tantrum," Marigold admitted.
"What's wrong?" Liam asked casually.
"It's Luffy," They whispered nervously. "Nee San says the Snake Princess threw him away on purpose... She's 'really' mad!"
'Luffy…' Liam fell silent for a moment.
---
"What kind of stupid rules are these?! He's already been born on the island— why does it even matter anymore?!"
Inside the palace, Hancock was fuming. Her anger was palpable as she stood in frustration, glancing toward the throne— only to find it empty.
Robin, standing nearby, gestured toward another corner of the room. The Snake Princess, draped in a lace-trimmed silk robe, was barefoot as she walked over to the window.
"Aren't you the Snake Princess? The Empress?" Hancock shouted as she followed her. "Don't you like Luffy?!"
The palace attendants remained quiet and respectful, not daring to look too closely or comment. Yet their expressions betrayed a hint of disapproval at Hancock's rude outburst.
The Snake Princess pushed open the window, then turned back, gently stroking the top of Hancock's head with tender affection.
"You think that because I'm the strongest person in this country, I can do whatever I want, don't you?" Her voice was soft. "You admire a Snake Princess, an Empress, who can act like that, don't you?" She curled her fingers and playfully tapped Hancock's straight, delicate nose.
"Who admires you?!" Hancock protested with a pout, though she didn't resist the intimate gesture— an implicit admission.
"But, Hancock," The Snake Princess continued, letting her fingertips trace along Hancock's flawless jawline. Her voice lowered. "It's not that I'm strong enough but still unable to do such things. It's that… I 'choose' not to."
"Why not?" Hancock frowned, tilting her head up to glare at her.
"Because Luffy shouldn't grow up on this island," The Snake Princess said softly. "And also, just because I'm the Empress doesn't mean I can break the laws of this nation. We must honor the ancestors who built this country on this island."
Hancock stared at her in confusion, her head swimming with questions. She opened her mouth to demand more answers, but the Snake Princess was done speaking. "You'll understand one day, Hancock," she said, cutting off further argument.
Robin stood silently nearby, watching the Snake Princess lean against the windowsill. She gently stroked Hancock's hair as she gazed out into the sky beyond.
There was no wind.
(End Of Chapter)
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