"Eli, there are seven possible routes from here to the New World. Which one should we take?" Filina asked on the deck of the Silver Dragon, holding a map she had carefully drawn based on Kurokas's explanations.
"You're our navigator, so the choice is yours," Eli said with a warm smile.
Filina grinned, clearly excited. "Hehe, then it's settled! Dotai, full port! Let's set course for Whiskey Mountain Town!"
Eli wasn't surprised. Judging by all factors, this was the optimal route, and the Eternal Compass could help them explore new territories along the way.
As the ship sailed toward Whiskey Mountain Town, Eli checked on Cree's progress in training. Under Big Pan's guidance, the boy had shown impressive talent. He had begun to master two techniques from the Navy's Rokushiki: Tekkai and Soru.
Tekkai laid the groundwork for future mastery of Armament Haki, while Soru increased Cree's agility and survivability.
Watching Cree, who immediately resumed training after finishing chores on the ship, Eli felt a sense of satisfaction. Opportunities were rare, and not everyone appreciated them. Cree, however, was clearly the kind of person who did.
Eli considered whether to let Cree eat a Devil Fruit so soon. He had hesitated before, worried that the boy might rely too heavily on supernatural power and neglect physical training. After all, people like Ace and Yanhong, naturally gifted Devil Fruit users, had left their Haki development in disarray. But now, he saw that Cree was disciplined.
"I'll talk to him tonight," Eli decided.
He wandered over to the orchard to check on the sprouting Devil Fruit seeds. One had yet to bud, perhaps fated to remain untouchable for now, but another, meant to strengthen the body, showed promising growth. That was excellent news.
Picking a few ripe oranges, Eli returned to his lounge chair. Relaxing under the sun, his natural musicality emerged, and he hummed a tune to himself:
"The bitter sand, stinging across my face…"
A blade suddenly appeared out of nowhere, pressing sharply against Eli's throat, abruptly halting his song.
Reiku silently withdrew her hand from a gesture of movement. Chiyo resumed kneading dough with her rolling pin. Simon readjusted his telescope, Dotai took the helm with renewed focus, Big Pan prepared the fishing lines again, and Filina removed the cloud-shaped hair accessory from her ear, visibly relieved. Only Cree continued training undisturbed.
"Fiona, that's going too far," Eli scolded.
From the second floor, Fiona summoned the blade back, her voice flat and emotionless. "Hmph. Sing another note and I'll have Reiku poison you, leaving you mute."
Eli frowned, but a hint of amusement remained. "Hmph. You just don't appreciate fine singing," he muttered, and then returned to his oranges, lying back with a sigh of quiet self-pity for his unrecognized talents.
Later that evening, after dinner, Eli called Cree over.
"How have you been enjoying life on the ship?" Eli asked gently.
"Great! Everyone's been so kind," Cree replied with an earnest smile.
"Good. The reason I called you here tonight is about the Devil Fruit. I have quite a few, and you can choose one if you want," Eli said, smiling.
"What? A Devil Fruit? Captain, you mean one of the legendary treasures of the sea?" Cree's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had heard of Devil Fruits before; Captain Hoshino of Maple Leaf Village had one, but that was after surviving near-death trials. Now, Eli was telling him there were multiple fruits to choose from. Could it really be that one could pick? He was astonished.
"Don't overreact. Devil Fruits aren't rare to me. Let me first explain the abilities of each fruit, then you can choose the one that suits you best." Eli gestured for Cree to calm himself and retrieved the fruits from storage.
Cree froze in awe. Eight fruits of varying shapes and colors sat before him. He wanted to ask, "Captain, are you running a Devil Fruit wholesale business?"
Eli ignored the question and began explaining.
"These three are standard Zoan-type fruits: the White Ape, the Honeybee, and the Zebra."
"These three are Paramecia-type fruits: the Floating Fruit, the Bubble Fruit, and the Third one you'll see."
"This one is a Ancient Zoan, taking the form of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. It's rare among Zoan types."
"And finally, this is the rarest and most powerful Logia-type fruit: the Magma Fruit."
"Once you eat a Devil Fruit, you will lose the ability to swim and will be vulnerable to sea water and Seastone. Think carefully before choosing," Eli warned, then sat back to wait for Cree's decision.
Cree hesitated only briefly. A mix of excitement and humility filled his face. "Captain, I want to eat a Devil Fruit, but I haven't contributed much yet. I feel undeserving of such a precious treasure."
Eli laughed. "Don't worry. Every crew member gets one choice. It's not just for you. You've trained hard, and I trust your judgment."
After Eli's encouragement, Cree chose the Bubble Fruit, a Paramecia-type, instead of the more powerful Magma Fruit or the Ancient Zoan. Eli respected the boy's decision; the choice of a Devil Fruit was deeply personal, and he would never force it.
Watching Cree playfully conjure bubbles, Eli leaned in with advice. "Cree, Paramecia powers rely heavily on imagination. Experiment with your bubbles' properties. But don't forget your physical training. Strength of body is the foundation of all power."
Eli's tone was serious. He would not allow Cree to neglect training in favor of Devil Fruit power.
"I understand, Captain. Big Pan has already taught me well. I'll keep training hard," Cree replied earnestly.
Satisfied, Eli stood. "Let's head out. Let's show everyone your Devil Fruit abilities."
"Yes, Captain!" Cree's excitement was palpable. He finally had a Devil Fruit power and could fight alongside the crew.
Meanwhile, in Whiskey Mountain Town, a quiet courtyard held six shadowed figures, each seated with precision.
"Captain, according to the surveillance Den-Den Mushi, Eli and his group have crossed the Reverse Mountain into the Grand Line. They're heading this way. Estimated arrival: three days," reported a sharply dressed man wearing glasses.
"Damn it! They finally arrived! We've been waiting for over two months!" complained a large man with a massive sword, his irritation clear.
"Calm down, Eri. The target has arrived. Your patience is about to pay off. Thank you for your vigilance, Toshihide Sakikawa," the team leader said, acknowledging the report.
"No problem, Captain. It's my duty," Toshihide replied with respect, careful not to overstep.
"Now, let's discuss our strategy," the captain began.
Silence fell over the group. Who could take on Eli Winters? This was a man capable of defeating vice-captains and even Navy admirals. They were just a small CP0 elite unit. Any direct fight was suicidal.
Seeing their hesitation, the captain frowned but reassured them. "We know they are strong, but we have the advantage of secrecy. Our mission is to kidnap a crew member covertly. With careful planning, it is possible."
Eri scoffed. "Captain, Eli's too strong. Going in with just us is a death sentence."
A small, quiet man finally spoke. "We can't fight head-on. We must set a trap."
The captain's eyes lit up. "A trap? Explain."
"We don't need to act ourselves. The town's bounty hunters will do the work. We can pay them to attend a banquet when Eli arrives. We slip a drug into their drinks, and success is guaranteed," the small man explained, his tone cold.
Eri sneered. "Luke, don't be naive. Eli's crew has a Devil Fruit user. What drug could affect her?"
Luke simply smiled. "Then it won't be poison. It will be a tonic."
"What kind of tonic could put them down?" someone asked skeptically.
"Ah, this is a rare tonic from my hometown. It replenishes the body, but anyone who drinks it will sleep for three full days and nights. Even if you cut off their head, they won't wake until it wears off," Luke said proudly.
The group groaned, incredulous, but they understood the gravity of Luke's tonic.
"Daris, you handle communication with the town mayor," the captain instructed a delicately dressed man in black lace.
"Hmph. You men always make me run errands," Daris muttered teasingly but obeyed, knowing CP0 protocol left no room for complaint.
"Damn it, I want to kill him," Eri growled in frustration.
"Eri, jealous much? The mayor couldn't take his eyes off Daris today," Luke teased.
"Shut up! You're disgusting!" Eri snapped.
"Get ready, everyone," the captain commanded.
After the team dispersed, the captain pulled out a red remote, a bloodthirsty smile spreading across his face.
"This bomb could destroy an entire nation. Let's see how many of Eli Winters' companions survive," he whispered, laughter rising darkly into the night.
"Kehehehe!"
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