Aboard the Chris.
"What's the Captain doing? Why's he still not back?"
Burgess squinted toward the distant town, but no sign of Chris.
"I'm curious too…" Doc Q coughed, his tone lazy and a bit eerie.
"Maybe… we're getting a new crewmate?"
Padong didn't bother with them. He was hopping around excitedly, waving a fishing rod.
"Let's go fishing! I'm gonna catch a huuuge one today!"
Betty took a drag from her cigarette and looked at Baccarat.
"Did Chris say when he's coming back?"
Baccarat gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her elegant smile radiating calm.
"Relax. He'll be back soon."
Right on cue, a familiar voice echoed across the deck:
"Raise the sails! Set course!"
With a blur, Chris appeared on the ship.
"Captain's back! Move it, guys!"
The ship slowly left port, heading into the open sea.
"Boss! You're back!"
Padong jumped onto Chris's shoulder—his favorite perch.
Burgess glanced around, a bit confused.
"Captain, no new crewmates?"
Doc Q sighed, disappointed.
"Guess the squad leader tournament will have to wait."
Chris said nothing, just nodded at Baccarat, then walked straight to the training room.
"Hey, what's that nod mean? Come on, Baccarat, spill the beans!"
Sweetheart Queen blinked curiously at her.
"Yeah yeah! Sis Baccarat, c'mon, tell us!"
Burgess leaned in, clearly intrigued.
Everyone turned toward Baccarat, dying to know.
"Seriously, you guys…"
She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.
"You all know what kind of man Chris is, right?"
"If I spill something I'm not supposed to… you think he'll let me off easy?"
"You're just trying to set me up and get me punished. Admit it!"
Doc Q gave everyone a sidelong glance, chuckling darkly.
"Captain doesn't mess around. Anyone who gets in his way… is done for."
Burgess shrugged, looking helpless.
"Forget it. I'm done prying. Don't wanna get caught in the blast."
Padong, still fishing from the rail, looked over innocently.
"What are you guys talking about? Boss is super nice. Not scary at all."
"What do you know?"
Betty shot him a cold look.
"Just focus on your fishing and stop blabbering."
Sweetheart Queen ran her fingers through her golden hair and smiled.
"Whatever~ I'm going to see Chris train."
"Let's go. Nothing better to do anyway."
Baccarat linked arms with her and the two strolled off, chatting and laughing.
In the training room, the three women walked in and spotted two items on the table.
A Devil Fruit, and a book.
Chris was upside down in a one-handed handstand, training his body without pause.
"Check it out. Identify the fruit."
He said without turning.
Betty's eyes widened as she looked at the book.
"That's... the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!"
Sweetheart Queen froze in disbelief.
"Wait—the one? I thought that thing was a myth!"
"I heard it was ultra-rare… didn't think it actually existed."
Baccarat picked it up, already guessing the truth.
It had to be from Vice Admiral Gion. There was no other explanation.
Five minutes later.
"There!"
Sweetheart Queen pointed excitedly at a fruit in the book.
"It's this one! Looks exactly the same!"
Betty compared the image with the real fruit and nodded.
"Perfect match. No doubt about it."
Baccarat raised her head and smiled warmly.
"Chris, this is a Paramecia-type—The Soundwave Fruit."
"According to the encyclopedia, the user can convert their roar into destructive soundwave blasts."
"The louder the roar, the stronger the blast."
Sweetheart Queen's eyes lit up.
"Wait a sec—that sounds perfect for Burgess!"
"He's got a huge voice. If he ate this, he'd be able to maximize its power!"
Chris's calm voice came from across the room.
"Take it to him. Let him decide for himself."
Baccarat nodded, smiling.
"I'll bring it to him."
Sweetheart Queen patted her on the shoulder with a grin.
"I'm coming too. I have to see what this fruit can do!"
Betty spoke quietly.
"Don't be so sure he'll eat it."
"Some people don't care about Devil Fruits. Not everyone wants to be a user."
Soon, the three women stepped onto the deck.
Burgess was lounging in a chair, soaking in the sun.
"Hey Burgess, luck's smiling on you today~"
Sweetheart Queen teased playfully.
Doc Q's expression changed the moment he saw the book in Baccarat's hand.
His tired, hollow face filled with shock.
"That's the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia…!!"
"The legend is real. Unbelievable…"
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T/N:
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