Luffy chuckled inwardly. Regardless of what anyone said, he found Shanks to be an endlessly fascinating person. During their conversation, he genuinely felt happy.
"Shanks," Luffy said with a grin, "I admit my personality's changed. But hasn't the whole world changed too?"
The simple question was thrown back at Shanks, who found himself momentarily speechless. People change; it was inevitable. Though he preferred the old Luffy, Shanks reasoned that the most important thing here was the mystery of the Nika Fruit. As for everything else—well, as unsettling as it might be, he could let it slide for now.
Finally, Shanks spoke. "Alright, Luffy! You know why I'm here, don't you?"
Luffy noticed Shanks's expression turn serious, so he matched his tone and said, "It's about the… Rubber Fruit." He nearly slipped, barely catching himself. After all, there was no way Luffy would know the truth about the Nika Fruit—only Shanks and Rayleigh knew that secret. To everyone else, it was just the Rubber Fruit.
For a split second, Shanks hesitated, just long enough for Luffy to notice the pause—a half-second of doubt from the man known as the Red-Haired Emperor. Shanks, the descendant of the Celestial Dragons, was a calm and calculating figure, the kind of person who rarely, if ever, let his guard down.
Though it was only a fleeting moment, Luffy picked up on it. He saw Shanks's expression reveal a brief lapse, something out of place.
Just then, Luffy took a quick look at his Haki levels.
[Conqueror's Haki Level: 90/100]
Ever since Luffy had replicated countless fruits, his Conqueror's Haki had grown, now reaching an impressive ninety points. In that instant, a subtle transformation seemed to have taken place. Back when Shanks entered the cabin, Luffy had briefly attempted to tamper with Shanks's awareness. It was only for a split second, but he could sense Shanks's Conqueror's Haki at ninety-two points—a remarkable feat.
To avoid raising suspicion, Luffy hadn't pushed his Haki too far, managing just enough to momentarily divert Shanks's attention. He'd made himself almost invisible in the corner of the cabin. Even though it was just for a moment, it was enough.
Controlling someone else's awareness with Conqueror's Haki was difficult, to say the least. Reading or manipulating their thoughts was nearly impossible, even if they had a lower Haki level. Someone with eighty points in Conqueror's Haki could hardly be read without lengthy infiltration.
As for whether Shanks had actually suspected him during that half-second pause, Luffy wasn't sure. But he decided he didn't care. Suspicion? So be it. One day, everything would be laid out on the table anyway.
Shanks eventually said, "Yes, I came because of the Rubber Fruit. Luffy! Why did your fruit's power vanish? This kind of thing is almost unheard of in history. What did you do?"
Luffy watched Shanks carefully, hoping to catch any hints in his expression. But Shanks's face remained as unreadable as stone. If he wanted to keep something hidden, it would be almost impossible to pry it out. Luffy shrugged.
"No clue," he replied, arms wide. "I didn't do anything special. Just training, fighting monsters, eating, drinking, sleeping. Then it was suddenly gone. Honestly, I'm starting to think this fruit of yours might be a problem, Shanks. Where on earth did you find such a fruit? I can't believe it."
Shanks gave him an exasperated look. "Luffy! Let's not get sidetracked. If you didn't do anything, then why did it disappear? This just doesn't make sense."
Luffy chuckled. "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask, huh? I'd like to know myself. How about this, Shanks—you get me another fruit to eat. I'm having a hard time adjusting without a Devil Fruit. Fighting feels off."
Shanks sighed, visibly annoyed by Luffy's attitude. Rubbing his face, he shook his head. "Give me your hand."
Luffy blinked, confused. "What?"
"Just give me your hand," Shanks said, sounding exasperated. He grabbed Luffy's hand, holding it firmly between his own.
"Shanks," Luffy deadpanned, "are you… a perv?" Of course, he knew what Shanks was trying to do, but he couldn't resist poking fun.
Shanks shot him a dark look but said nothing, closing his eyes and focusing on sensing Luffy's condition through Conqueror's Haki.
Luffy nodded in understanding. In this world, only he had the Haki precision necessary for an in-depth, 360-degree examination. Other Haki users could sense to a degree, but their abilities didn't come close to Luffy's level of perception.
Shanks concentrated, trying to detect anything unusual. After a moment, he let go of Luffy's hand, a troubled look on his face. It was clear he'd come up empty-handed.
Luffy wasn't surprised in the slightest. The Nika Fruit had indeed vanished. No one would be able to find it—not even Shanks. While part of the Nika Fruit's essence still remained within Luffy, it was hidden deep, beyond the reach of anyone's Haki. Even Luffy himself could only perceive it because he could see it within his own body, where the Nika seed continued to glow and burn.
To anyone else, it was as if the Nika Fruit had disappeared entirely.
Luffy laughed. "So, Shanks, what do you think? Will I survive?" His tone was playful.
But Shanks simply shook his head and replied, "The fruit is truly gone."
"It's truly a miracle. Such a strange thing," Shanks murmured as he slowly stood up, casting a glance around the cabin. His gaze lingered on Luffy, filled with a hint of disappointment, mixed with a trace of confusion. He sighed softly, as if weighed down by an invisible burden, and then turned to leave the cabin.
Those present watched in silence as one of the world's mightiest warriors, left with an uncharacteristically solemn expression.
"Why?" Aimee wondered aloud. "Why does the he look so sad? It almost seems like he's on the verge of tears."
Lori echoed her curiosity. "Does he have some unresolved business with Lord Luffy? Could there be a deeper connection between them?"
The tall swordswoman nodded thoughtfully. "There's no denying the strength of his presence. And yet, it's incredible—Lord Luffy managed to affect him so deeply that he had to leave. Just think about that. How many people in the world could make him walk away?"
One of the archers chimed in, "He truly is incredible, isn't he? Our beloved Luffy-sama!"
"Luffy-sama, you're the best! Unbeatable, unrivaled!" they chorused, their admiration swelling as cheers filled the cabin.
Meanwhile, Shanks had made his way outside, where Rayleigh stood waiting. "Well, did you find what you were looking for?" Rayleigh asked, a hint of impatience in his tone. He was deeply concerned about Luffy's situation and, especially, the mysteries surrounding the Nika Fruit.
But if anyone was truly invested in the answer, it was Shanks. He'd once sacrificed an arm for the young Luffy, entrusting him with hopes and dreams he'd cherished for years. And now…
"It's hopeless," Shanks finally replied, shaking his head. "I've checked thoroughly. The Nika Fruit—it's gone." He let out a heavy sigh. "Who would've thought we'd see a day like this…"
A peculiar thought flitted through Shanks's mind—he recalled that moment earlier when Luffy almost said something like "Nika" but quickly corrected himself. Could it be that Luffy actually knew about the Nika Fruit? But Rayleigh couldn't have told him. Was it just a trick of his own imagination? Shanks wasn't sure, but something about Luffy felt… off, as if he were an entirely different person.
Rayleigh interrupted his train of thought. "Something else?"
Shanks paused, then dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Nothing. I was just thinking… Luffy sure lives freely, doesn't he? Enjoying life to the fullest." He glanced back briefly at the cabin before he turned toward the coast.
"Alright," he said, almost to himself. "For now, we'll watch and wait. Nothing's absolute. Who knows? Perhaps the Nika Fruit's disappearance will take a different turn. There's no such thing as certainty in this world." With that, Shanks began to leave, Rayleigh following behind him. Two of the world's mightiest men walked away, their expressions tinged with a quiet resignation that echoed the complexity of the situation.
Inside the cabin, Luffy used his Conqueror's Haki to sense their departure. Once he was sure they were gone, he let out a carefree laugh and got right back to reveling with his friends.
"Listen up, everyone!" Luffy called out, raising his voice above the buzz of the crowd. "My beloved crew! My family! Lift your glasses of red wine high and drink to your heart's content! From this day forward… I will lead you to greatness!"
The cheers that erupted were deafening.
"To Luffy-sama! The greatest, the unmatched!"
"We'll follow you forever!"
"You're our light!"
"You're the best in the world!"
The shouts of devotion echoed through the cabin, filling the space with an overwhelming energy. Luffy raised his own glass, laughing as his loyal followers continued to shout praises.
As Shanks finally boarded his ship and set a course back to the New World, he took out his Transponder Snail and spoke into it.
"Hello? Listen, I don't care what it takes. Find the Fruit."
~-------------------------
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