"You've really thought this through," Nami remarked with admiration.
Meiser had truly gone to great lengths to ensure they had enough time to grow stronger.
Hearing this, Meiser shrugged and said, "Revealing ourselves now wouldn't bring us any benefits, would it?"
"That's true."
If their identities were exposed here, the World Government might dispatch several Marine Admirals to hunt them down.
Therefore, Meiser's approach was absolutely correct.
"Even if they come, I'm not afraid," Luffy declared. "I'll knock every single one of them flying!"
Hearing Luffy's reassuring words, smiles spread across everyone's faces.
"Then we're counting on you, Captain Luffy!"
"Leave it to me!" Luffy grinned, flashing his teeth.
Meiser chuckled at this before turning to Nico Robin. "You mentioned earlier that you spent two years with the Revolutionaries, right?"
"Yes."
"How is Kuma doing now?" Meiser asked. "Did you see him?"
It had been two years since Ivankov took Kuma away, and they hadn't been in contact since. He was genuinely concerned about Kuma's current condition.
"I did see Kuma," Nico Robin replied. "But he still hasn't regained consciousness."
Meiser: ???
Hearing Nico Robin's words, Meiser immediately furrowed his brow. "It's been two years, and they still haven't cured Kuma?"
Was this what Ivankov meant by having a solution?
"Don't worry, let me explain," Nico Robin said. "According to Ivankov, Kuma is in a very unique state right now, so restoring his memories isn't an easy task."
"And then?" Meiser pressed, his brow still furrowed.
"So Lindbergh is currently trying another method to awaken Kuma," Nico Robin continued. "If this approach fails, they'll have no choice but to find a way to contact Vegapunk."
"Vegapunk..."
Although Meiser didn't know who this Lindbergh was, he was well aware of Vegapunk's identity.
Considering this, Meiser nodded and said, "Alright, I understand."
Now it was up to those two to see if they could restore Kuma's consciousness.
If they couldn't... he would have to try using Yin-Yang Release.
He wasn't certain if Yin-Yang Release would work on Kuma in his current state, but it was better than doing nothing.
"Why are you so concerned about Kuma?" Usopp asked curiously.
"Because he's our savior!" Meiser declared.
After saying this, Meiser proceeded to explain to everyone what had actually happened back then, helping Nami and the others understand how they had managed to escape so smoothly.
"So we were saved by Kuma?" Nami gasped, covering her mouth.
"Yes."
"In that case... he's the savior of our Straw Hat Pirates!" Usopp exclaimed, his eyes wide with realization.
"Strictly speaking, that's correct," Meiser nodded in agreement.
If it weren't for Kuma, the Straw Hat Pirates wouldn't have been able to leave Sabaody Archipelago without a single casualty, so Meiser remained deeply grateful to him.
Nico Robin showed a complicated expression upon hearing this. She truly hadn't expected things to be this way.
No wonder Meiser had asked that question...
"Meiser!"
Chopper said with tears streaming down his face, "Can Kuma be cured?"
"Definitely!" Meiser replied without hesitation.
Even if those two couldn't cure Kuma, he would exhaust every possible means to treat him.
After all... Kuma was their savior, the one who saved the Straw Hat Pirates!
"Hmm..."
At that moment, Luffy looked up and asked, "Where's that Shell Punk?"
"It's Vegapunk," Nami corrected.
"That doesn't matter," Luffy said. "I just want to know where that guy is."
"I don't know either," Nico Robin shook her head. "They didn't tell me where Vegapunk is."
Luffy frowned upon hearing this. Did that mean he couldn't help Kuma?
Noticing Luffy's reaction, Nico Robin added, "Luffy, Ivankov said they can handle this matter themselves, so they don't need our help."
When Luffy seemed about to say something more, Nico Robin continued, "However... if they really need assistance, they'll contact us."
"At that time... they might need Meiser's help."
Luffy fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I understand. Just make sure to tell us when the time comes."
Meiser also gave Nico Robin a confirming look, sharing the same sentiment as Luffy.
If needed, he wouldn't hesitate to help either.
"Good, I understand," Nico Robin said.
Meiser nodded, then turned to Usopp who was sitting nearby. "Usopp, come pick one."
Usopp: ???
Usopp, who had been lost in thought, was startled by the sudden address. "Pick what?"
"Devil Fruits, of course."
Meiser pointed at the Devil Fruits in Nami's hands. "What else would I be talking about?"
"De-Devil Fruits?"
Seeing Usopp's confused expression, Nami explained, "These Devil Fruits were specially obtained by Meiser for us, to help increase our strength."
Once the news of Meiser being alive gets exposed, the Straw Hat Pirates will face pursuit from the World Government.
Therefore... they must enhance their strength as much as possible!
After seeing Usopp's thoughtful expression, Meiser asked, "Want to eat one?"
"Though we don't know what abilities these three fruits possess, with enough luck, you might get a powerful Devil Fruit ability."
Even though Usopp is just a sniper, if he consumes a sufficiently powerful Devil Fruit, he could still become a formidable fighter!
"No, I won't eat it," Usopp shook his head.
"Just as I expected..."
Nami showed an "I knew it" expression. "You're also afraid of becoming unable to swim, right?"
She remembered Usopp once said swimming was one of the essential abilities for a warrior of the sea, so it was normal for him not to want to eat a Devil Fruit.
"That's not the reason I'm refusing to eat this Devil Fruit," Usopp shook his head.
"Then what is it?" Meiser asked, puzzled.
Could it be that this guy was afraid of getting a bad ability?
"Because I'm already a Devil Fruit Ability User," Usopp said, spreading his hands.
Meiser: ???
Meiser looked at Usopp with a face full of question marks. This guy was already a Devil Fruit Ability User?
Did he eat one during these two years of training?
If that's the case... this guy's luck is pretty good!
"I never expected you to have already eaten a Devil Fruit," Nami casually placed the Devil Fruit on the table, then looked at Usopp curiously. "What ability is it?"
"It should be the Doubling Fruit," Usopp said after thinking for a moment.
"That's right, it's the Doubling Fruit!" Chopper laughed. "Usopp said his ability can multiply the size of objects several times. He even said he'd help make my cotton candy bigger earlier~"
As if remembering something, Chopper started drooling again.
"Then couldn't you make meat bigger too?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
That way... he'd have endless meat to eat!
At this thought, Luffy became completely excited.
"Meat..."
Usopp thought for a moment, then said: "To be honest, I don't know because I haven't tried it yet."
So far he'd only tried enlarging inanimate objects, but whether meat could be enlarged was still unknown.
"So what can you enlarge?" Meiser asked curiously.
"Explosive pellets, stones, weapons - things like that," Usopp replied.
"You can enlarge inanimate objects," Meiser said, stroking his chin. "Then you should be able to enlarge meat too."
Meat itself isn't considered alive, so Usopp's ability should work...
Huh?
Wait... Usopp just said he can enlarge explosive pellets?
Does that mean he can enlarge cannonballs too?
At this thought, a look of surprise appeared in Meiser's eyes.
"If Usopp uses his ability on cannons... couldn't he blow up an entire island with one shot?
What kind of human-shaped walking Dark King is this?!"
"Really? That's great!" Luffy said excitedly. "Usopp, you have to help me make my meat super big!"
"Alright!"
Usopp gave Luffy a thumbs up. "Leave it to me!"
From now on, their pirate crew shouldn't lack for meat to eat!
"Rayleigh, do you think..."
"Yes, it's possible."
Rayleigh and Shakky, looking at each other, both showed shocked expressions in their eyes.
"Huh?"
Noticing their reactions, Usopp asked curiously: "Do you know about my Devil Fruit ability?"
Does that mean... his Devil Fruit ability is really famous?!
At this thought, excitement appeared in Usopp's eyes.
"We do know about it," Shakky said with a complicated expression.
"You're really quite lucky, kid," Rayleigh said with some emotion.
Who would have thought this incredibly powerful Devil Fruit would be eaten by a kid like Usopp?
This means... there will never be a sniper more powerful than him in this world!
"Is Usopp's ability famous?" Meiser asked curiously.
"Of course it is!"
Shakky took out the newspaper Meiser had just been reading and slapped it back on the table. "Remember that man named Byrnndi World we mentioned earlier?"
"You mean..."
As if realizing something, Meiser's eyes suddenly showed shock.
"That's right! The Devil Fruit Usopp ate is the very ability that man once possessed!" Shakky declared.
Hearing this, Meiser was completely stunned.
Usopp actually ate the Devil Fruit that belonged to a legend on par with Whitebeard?
What incredible luck did this kid stumble upon?
"What are you all talking about?"
Usopp looked at them in confusion, completely failing to grasp their meaning.
Meanwhile, Nico Robin showed a surprised expression and said, "Are you referring to Byrnndi World, the one with the title World Destroyer?!"
"Exactly, that's him!"
Nico Robin fell silent for a moment before smiling at Usopp. "Then Usopp's luck is truly remarkable."
With this Devil Fruit, Usopp would undoubtedly become an incredibly powerful fighter!
"Wait, could you stop speaking in riddles?" Usopp said, growing frantic.
If you're going to say something, just say it clearly!
Shakky chuckled and said, "Let me explain."
She then turned her gaze to Usopp. "The Devil Fruit you ate isn't called the Doubling Fruit at all—it's called the More-More Fruit!"
"And its previous owner was the fearsome pirate known as the World Destroyer, Byrnndi World—a man as renowned as one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard!"
Hearing Shakky's words, Usopp was utterly shocked.
"A... a pirate as famous as Whitebeard?!" Usopp swallowed hard. "Does that mean..."
As if imagining some possibility, Usopp's eyes began to shine.
"Exactly. The Devil Fruit you've eaten has that terrifying potential," Shakky confirmed.
If this kid develops it well enough, he could definitely become an immensely powerful pirate!
"Usopp's Devil Fruit ability is that incredible?!" Chopper and Luffy stared at Usopp with sparkling eyes. "So cool!"
Feeling their gazes, Usopp instinctively puffed out his chest, clearly relishing his friends' admiration.
At this moment, he, Captain Usopp, was overjoyed!
Ahahahaha!
Just then, Rayleigh spoke up. "This Devil Fruit ability has enormous potential. It can not only enlarge inanimate objects but also amplify your own strength and speed."
"So develop it well."
"It can even boost my own strength and speed?" Usopp said in surprise. "I had no idea."
He had always thought the ability only worked on objects, but it had this special effect too? It was truly unexpected.
Rayleigh looked somewhat surprised and asked, "How long have you eaten this Devil Fruit?"
Usopp thought for a moment and replied, "About a month."
"That's normal."
Developing a Devil Fruit Ability is inherently a slow process, so it was natural that Usopp hadn't discovered this secret yet.
Then, Rayleigh said, "But... since you know now, make sure to properly develop this ability."
"Alright, I understand!" Usopp nodded seriously.
From that day on, he would put all his effort into developing his Devil Fruit Ability, striving to become a stronger warrior of the sea as soon as possible!
As if imagining a certain scene, a smile gradually spread across Usopp's face.
Seeing Usopp's beaming expression, Meiser remarked with a sigh, "You really hit the jackpot, kid."
"Hey, that kind of luck isn't something you can envy."
Seeing Usopp's somewhat smug look, Meiser immediately rolled his eyes.
"What a character."
"Hahahaha."
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