Was this really a marine warship rest cabin?
Could it be that Zephyr-sensei sent a warship to pick them up?
Or was the Dressrosa situation already resolved, so they had time to send someone? Did everything already end?
With doubts in her heart, Ain straightened her messy clothes, took a deep breath, calmed down, opened the door, and, upon seeing the pristine corridor, confirmed her guess.
This was indeed a marine warship, and one that only officers above the Vice-Admiral rank were qualified to use.
But it didn't seem like it was Zephyr-sensei's warship!
As someone who constantly followed Zephyr, she was very familiar with their ship.
Also, after leaving Marine Headquarters, the headquarters cut off their supply lines.
Therefore, regarding this type of small warship... They only had one.
Where was Ian?
With doubt, Ain walked down the corridor and went up to the deck.
When she stepped onto the deck, the soft moonlight fell upon her.
Did she sleep the whole day?
Just as Ain was lost in thought…
"Yo, finally awake?"
A lazy voice came.
"Rebellious marine, Ain."
Ain quickly looked toward the ship railing. Someone was lying there lazily under the moonlight.
Her pupils shrank sharply.
"Admiral… Kizaru?!"
"Yo... Good evening, Captain Ain."
Borsalino lifted the hand behind his head and waved casually. "You don't seem very happy to see me? Worried about that guy who carried you and ran across the sea? Young people nowadays…"
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head, mouth twisted in his odd way.
"They are quite romantic, huh?"
Ain stared speechlessly at him, when…
"Ain! You're awake!"
Ain: "...?!"
Hearing that voice, Ain completely ignored Borsalino.
She turned and saw Ian on the other side of the deck, safe and unharmed.
Relieved, she smiled and called out: "Ian!"
Just then, another voice spoke from the side.
"What, you didn't see me? I'm hurt. After all, I'm kind of your lifesaver!"
A new figure appeared.
Seeing the man sticking his tongue out, Ain blinked in surprise.
"Mr. Vegapunk?"
Wait, why was Vegapunk here, too?
"We met on the sea."
Seeing Ain's confusion, Ian explained: "They were heading back to Punk Hazard. Since it was on the way, I just hitchhiked a ride."
"What a fortunate coincidence!"
Vegapunk laughed, hands behind his back.
"But why was he carrying you again?"
Ain: "..."
"Well, at least you're not injured. I thought you were hurt again, but you were just sleeping very soundly."
As Vegapunk teased her, Borsalino, who was lounging nearby, whistled and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Maybe that guy's arms are very comfortable like cool sunshine how fascinating!"
"Borsalino, don't tease young people."
Vegapunk looked at Ain's red face and continued, still smiling: "So the weapon you had me build last time was that for him? You really picked the perfect owner. Too bad…"
Although his words implied disappointment, his tone had no regret.
"I originally planned to use the condition of having a weapon specially made for him in exchange for his blood!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Vegapunk, I—"
"It's fine. It's a bit disappointing, but forget it. It's the same for researching others."
Vegapunk waved it off, then suddenly remembered something and took out a Devil Fruit from who-knows-where.
"I offered this Devil Fruit for our previous deal instead. Do you want it? Eh? Ian, what's wrong with your expression?"
"No, nothing!"
After all, compared to Ace getting the Flame-Flame Fruit… Ian felt even more complicated emotions.
They could still run into this?!
Could it be that the Return-Return Fruit really chose Ain?
"Devil Fruits consciously choose their own host?"
Hearing Ian muttering this, Vegapunk, who was holding the Return-Return Fruit, showed a surprised expression, as if he didn't understand why this kid was talking about such a thing, but still replied with a grin.
"There is indeed such a theory, but why bother caring about that? In my opinion, as long as you obtained a Devil Fruit, that means you were qualified to eat it. It was only because you chose not to eat it that the Devil Fruit left your hands and was then acquired and eaten by someone else. And that person is considered by everyone to be the one most suitable for that Devil Fruit."
Hearing Vegapunk's words, Ian fell silent.
That was true. If Ain ate the Vampire Fruit now, then Ain would become the person most suitable for the Vampire Fruit.
So it wasn't only the Devil Fruit choosing its host; the host was also choosing the Devil Fruit.
"Don't think so much."
Vegapunk said cheerfully, "If you run into one and want to eat it, then eat it. Otherwise, what counts as the most suitable? On the sea, there are plenty of people who develop a Devil Fruit into a pile of trash, then what, are they suitable or not? And there are others who take a so-called garbage Devil Fruit and develop powerful abilities. Does that make them the suitable ones?"
"There are only useless Devil Fruit users, no useless Devil Fruits."
"I like that saying of yours, but it's really boring!"
Vegapunk laughed as he looked at Ian, then shook the Devil Fruit in his hand and said, "You seem to really want this Devil Fruit. One billion Belly. My research needs funding right now. As long as you pay one billion Belly, I can sell this Devil Fruit to you."
"One billion Belly?"
Without any hesitation, Ian immediately replied: "Okay!"
But right when the two seemed about to make a deal, Borsalino, sitting beside them, suddenly straightened and, scratching his head in distress while saying, "Hey, hey, hey, is it really okay to sell important property from Marine Headquarters like that in front of an Admiral? And also..."
As he said that, he looked at Ian: "As your senior, I'll remind you properly. Don't let that sly merchant-scientist fool you. For a Devil Fruit like that, the starting price is only between 180 million Belly. With one billion Belly you could buy a really good Logia Devil Fruit."
"Is it really okay for you to ruin my business like that?"
Hearing Borsalino's words, Vegapunk immediately exclaimed: "Besides, that Devil Fruit was given to me as part of a transaction. It already belongs to me. It shouldn't count as Marine Headquarters' property."
"Is that so? Then I'm really sorry."
Borsalino shrugged. His mouth said sorry, but his tone showed he didn't care at all.
Swinging his legs, he laughed and said, "But looking at it now, it seems like your business won't go through?"
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