The two men were standing on the ship, just the two of them aboard.
Rayleigh began, "Shanks, weren't you planning to bring a skilled doctor with you recently? So, where is he?"
Shanks waved a hand dismissively. "Don't bring it up. The Devil Fruit situation… there's probably no solution. I've explained it all in detail, and he couldn't find a single way to help."
Shanks continued, "I just want to get to the bottom of what's really going on. By all logic, a Devil Fruit doesn't just disappear without reason. Something feels off."
Rayleigh nodded slightly. "We'll have to wait and see. If things can return to normal, all the better. If not…" He trailed off, and the two fell silent, not knowing what more to say. Then Rayleigh shifted the topic, "Alright, let's just focus on a thorough investigation. No more guessing. We'll reach land by tomorrow morning."
Shanks looked mildly surprised. "Tomorrow morning? The island doesn't feel that far away. Do we really need that long?"
Shanks was clearly aware of the distance—a remarkable display of his Haki. Rayleigh couldn't help but be impressed. "You're amazing, Shanks. Your mastery of Conqueror's Haki has reached an incredible level. But… this place is a unique sea region, right on the edge of the Calm Belt. Conventional distances don't apply here."
With that, they fell quiet, both standing pensively on the deck, lost in thought.
...
In the dead of night, a loud laugh from Luffy broke through the stillness, followed by a chorus of laughter from the women.
"Luffy-sama, you're incredible! It's a miracle! Even after we joined in, we still couldn't keep up," one of the women said breathlessly.
Another chimed in, "Luffy-sama! You trained with Lady Hancock for dozens of minutes with over three hundred frequency, and yet here you are, completely full of energy. It's unbelievable!"
"Luffy-sama!" someone else added, "Look, half of the sisters have already collapsed. Only a few of us are left standing, and even Lady Hancock has drifted off to sleep. But you—you're still brimming with energy!"
One woman pouted, "Luffy-sama! You said tonight it'd just be Lady Hancock and that girl in suspenders… But you ended up taking everyone!" She cut herself off as Luffy reached for her, his eyes mischievous.
"Why so many questions, huh? My plans unfold as I see fit, one step at a time. I don't follow some strict blueprint. Where's the fun in that?" He grinned, "You think my approach to spontaneity is alright, don't you?"
In the wooden cabin, sounds of laughter, shouts, and encouragement filled the air. People were jumping, kneeling, cheering—a lively scene of pure joy. This was a paradise, a place of beauty and harmony that everyone cherished deeply.
As morning dawned, the cabin was scattered with dozens of sleeping women. Even Lady Hancock barely managed to keep her eyes open. She noticed Luffy sitting calmly at the tea table, holding a golden cup and sipping tea with a book in his other hand.
Hancock approached him and said, "You didn't sleep all night?"
Luffy nodded, "Hancock, you need to understand—I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of sleep to bring you happiness. The joy you all showed last night, so pure and beautiful… it's something I'll cherish forever."
He offered her a cup of black coffee. "Here, Hancock, have some of this. It'll help wake you up."
Moved by his gesture, Hancock took the coffee, savoring the warmth. At first, the taste was pleasant, a faintly rich coffee flavor. But as she drank a few more sips, she noticed something strange.
"Luffy… did you add something to this? It tastes… odd."
Without looking up from his book, Luffy replied nonchalantly, "Just a bit of my own essence."
The simple statement left no room for misunderstanding, yet Hancock's mind reeled. "I… I don't understand. What do you mean by… 'essence'?"
Luffy explained, "Hancock, you know. I'd do anything to make you all happy. Not only can I make you feel joy, but I can help you live longer."
Still confused, Hancock looked at him, trying to piece together his meaning. Luffy chuckled, "You all always crave more when you're training, right? Competing, indulging—never getting enough, always wanting more."
Before he finished, realization dawned on Hancock, and she froze in shock.
"What?" she gasped, "You… how could you…?"
The disbelief was evident in her voice. "If that's the case… doesn't it drain you completely? You already give so much in your training… and now even in coffee? I… I don't know if I can handle this, Luffy…"
"You're such a wonderful person! I love you!" Hancock's eyes welled up with tears.
But Luffy waved her off. "It's nothing, Hancock. You know, I'm a good person. I'd do anything in the world for you all."
He comforted Hancock, calming her, assuring her there was no need for tears or deep emotions.
"Hm?" Hancock suddenly noticed something. She pointed off in the distance. "What… is that?"
Luffy looked in the direction she was indicating. A table loaded with fruit: grapes, bananas, apples, strawberries, and even watermelon—a vast, colorful array. But as they looked closer, they saw something strange. Those weren't just any fruits.
They were Devil Fruits.
Each fruit was covered in intricate, swirling patterns, countless tiny spirals winding across their surfaces. Hancock was shocked; such a quantity of Devil Fruits was unimaginable. Few in the world had ever seen something like this.
"What… what is all this?" Hancock asked, astonished.
Luffy nodded. "Just Devil Fruits, as you might've guessed."
"So many fruits… did you do the same thing as last time?" Hancock asked, still in shock.
Luffy confirmed it, leaving her speechless. Just last evening, Luffy had copied a single Devil Fruit—it was already a miracle. Who could've guessed that in the middle of the night, he'd go on to replicate several hundred more?
"Hancock, there are over a thousand fruits here, each with the same shooting ability," he explained, spreading his hands. "Of course, they're relatively simple types, nothing too rare. But… if we needed to arm an army, they'd certainly do the trick. What do you think?"
Hancock gazed at the man she adored, tears nearly spilling over. In that moment, Luffy seemed towering and majestic in her eyes, like a giant among men.
"You're truly a wonderful person. I knew I made the right choice," Hancock said, voice filled with sincerity. "I will love you forever. I will serve you for all my days, Luffy! You are my one and only."
Luffy could feel the depth of her devotion. He smiled and waved a hand. "Alright, now, why don't you lie down for a bit? You must be tired after last night. Let me give you a massage to help you recover."
He could tell that Hancock was unsteady on her feet—he might've been a bit too vigorous.
"Mhm!" Hancock nodded eagerly. To her, every word Luffy spoke was truth, justice, and righteousness. She lay down willingly, obediently.
Luffy sat beside her and began massaging her shoulders and back, carefully working out her sore muscles, giving her the strength to fully recover.
At that moment, the door creaked open.
A man stepped inside with red hair, a scar across one eye, and an imposing air that made anyone hesitate to challenge him.
"Hm?" It was Red-Haired Shanks. Rayleigh hadn't followed him in; he'd stayed outside, perhaps feeling that he might not be ready to face whatever he imagined lay inside.
Shanks looked around, bewildered. What exactly was going on in this cabin? Everywhere he looked, women were lying on the floor, fast asleep. Incredible.
He randomly tapped the forehead of one of the girls nearest to him, just a gentle touch to wake her.
"Hmm?" The woman blinked her eyes open, dazed. She'd been dreaming, dreaming of training with Luffy-sama on a new technique. And now… she felt a soft touch, like a cool breeze brushing her forehead, and she awoke.
This young woman was Lori, her large eyes blinking in confusion as she took in the sight of the man in front of her. She said, "I… I feel like I've seen you somewhere before…"
She couldn't quite place him, but there was something familiar. Shanks gave a small smile and asked, "Where's Luffy?"
Lori's eyes widened. She suddenly remembered—the man in front of her was just like the one in the pictures.
"Shanks!" she cried, loud enough to wake several of her sleeping sisters.
"You're an Emperor! What are you doing here?" Lori was utterly alarmed, fearing that an Emperor had come to invade.
Shanks said, "Don't worry, no need for alarm. I'm just looking for Luffy. That's all."
He stood slowly, scanning the cabin. The newly woken girls rubbed their eyes, dazed and uncertain. To be honest, who wouldn't be awestruck by one of the Emperors? None of them had ever encountered anyone like him. Even their Empress was likely not his equal.
Then, one of the girls, realizing the situation, recalled Luffy-sama. To them, Luffy-sama was invincible. They couldn't help it; they all hurried to find their beloved Luffy-sama.
They looked around the cabin, and when they spotted his figure, they finally felt at ease.
~-------------------------
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