The several-thousand-pound, plump sea fish wasn't too much of a burden for Cyrus.
He maintained his Armament and Observation Haki as he walked into the Isshin Dojo, coming face to face with Dragon's group and Koshiro, who was seeing them off.
Then they saw Cyrus.
Dragon, Ivankov, and Koshiro were all stunned.
Their eyes were fixed on Cyrus, sweeping over his drenched hair and clothes before finally landing on the sea fish he was holding.
"Cyrus, did you buy this in the village? I didn't expect to find such fresh sea fish in the morning." Koshiro spoke after a moment of hesitation.
"Oh, after receiving this gentleman's kindness yesterday, I thought I'd go into the sea this morning to catch a fish to treat you all. But... are you all leaving?" Cyrus said with a cheerful laugh.
He went into the sea and caught it himself?
Koshiro and Dragon exchanged a look, their eyes filled with confusion.
"You can go into the sea?"
Ivankov was dumbfounded.
As a Devil Fruit user himself, he knew very well that touching seawater would make a user feel weak all over.
Even someone with a powerful physique would find it difficult to resist this feeling of powerlessness.
But last night, both Dragon and Koshiro had said Cyrus was a Devil Fruit user.
So, what the hell was going on now?
Dragon was also very puzzled.
Last night, when he helped Cyrus draw out his Armament Haki, he had clearly sensed that Cyrus seemed to want to use Elemental Transformation but didn't succeed, or perhaps he had given up on his own.
At that moment, he was almost certain that Cyrus was a Devil Fruit user, and most likely a Logia Type.
So, the sight of Cyrus having gone into the sea to catch a fish left the three of them stunned on the spot.
"Damn that's a huge fish." Zoro's cry of surprise rang out from outside the Dojo.
Returning after his morning training, he saw Cyrus carrying the large fish and couldn't help but exclaim.
It was this exclamation that brought Koshiro and the others back to their senses.
The situation with Cyrus truly challenged their conventional understanding.
"Then thank you very much, young Cyrus. I happen to be hungry as well."
After coming to his senses, Dragon waved the others away and then smiled at Cyrus.
The others left silently, not knowing what their leader was up to.
Next, Koshiro personally handled the fish, with Zoro, Kuina, and Cyrus helping on the side.
Soon, the entire large fish was turned into a sumptuous all-fish feast.
"So, you're not a Devil Fruit user?"
While Zoro was stuffing his face and the others were quietly savoring the grand meal, Ivankov couldn't hold back any longer and asked directly.
Cyrus's gaze fell upon Ivankov, and he smiled.
"Are you talking about Devil Fruits? Who told you I was a user?"
Cyrus's words made the others pause, though, of course, Zoro was unaffected.
"Devil Fruits? Are those the legendary treasures of the sea?" Kuina asked doubtfully; she had actually heard of Devil Fruits.
"That's right, the treasures of the sea. Even the least valuable one is priced at over one hundred million Belly." Cyrus said to Kuina.
Kuina's eyes widened.
Dragon had been sizing up Cyrus the whole time.
Hearing Cyrus's words, he recalled the situation from last night, and his brow furrowed slightly.
'Is he from a special race?'
'A special race with the ability to control fire?'
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon knew that many special races did indeed exist in this world.
'If it was a race that naturally possessed the ability of fire, then... the Lunarian Tribe?'
'That clan of gods from eight hundred years ago?'
Dragon guessed in his heart.
If he was from that clan of gods, the subtle look or attitude Cyrus had when looking at others would make sense.
However, that race had disappeared a long time ago, and the World Government was hunting down its members.
But Cyrus didn't have any of the legendary characteristics of this race.
White hair, wings on his back, and flames burning behind him.
He had none of them.
Except for Zoro who was gorging himself, the other four people were all looking at Cyrus.
"I'm not some Devil Fruit user."
After Cyrus spoke, he raised his hand.
With a poof, his entire right hand transformed into burning flames, like a torch.
'Wait... is he really not a devil fruit user?'
Everyone stopped what they were doing, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"It seems you have some secrets, young Cyrus."
Dragon nodded, then lowered his head and didn't ask any more questions.
"How is that possible? If you're not a user, how can you create fire?"
Ivankov felt his brain trembling.
"Do you have to be a user to create fire? If you travel more in the New World in the future, you might see many people who can use fire abilities even without being a user of Devil fruit."
"The New World?"
Ivankov's eyes widened.
Of course he knew of it; it was a paradise for pirates.
"So cool!" Zoro's voice suddenly rang out.
With his mouth stuffed full, Zoro managed to give his assessment with difficulty.
Kuina's eyes, on the other hand, were sparkling.
"Speaking of which, Zoan type Devil Fruit abilities can significantly enhance one's physique." Cyrus said, looking at Koshiro.
Koshiro was still affected by Cyrus's ability to control fire.
Hearing this, his gaze shifted to his daughter, Kuina.
Sure enough, after hearing Cyrus's words, Kuina looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.
"That's true, but Devil Fruits are indeed not easy to find."
Koshiro was silent for a moment before affirming Cyrus's words.
"If I hear any news, I'll keep an eye out for you."
Dragon interjected, clearly understanding the current situation.
Dragon, Ivankov, and Koshiro were all baffled by Cyrus's secrets, but they didn't probe any further.
...
The sea vessel slowly departed from the pier.
Ivankov watched the group of people standing on the pier, his gaze lingering on Cyrus for a long time.
Only when the figures became blurry did he turn his head to look at Dragon.
"Leader, that boy?"
"I'm also very curious. His ability is very similar to a Devil Fruit's, but I don't know... seawater has no effect on him."
Dragon shook his head.
It was impossible that Cyrus's physique was just so powerful that seawater had no effect on him.
If his physique were truly that strong, it would be impossible for him not to have sensed it.
When he helped guide Cyrus's Armament Haki last night, he had tested him.
His physique was indeed very strong; if it were him at the same age, he wouldn't be a match for Cyrus.
But it wasn't so strong that he could ignore the effects of seawater.
And he had been maintaining his Armament Haki the entire time.
This kid is a bit uncanny.
Dragon retracted his gaze and turned to return to the cabin.
"I can't see through this kid."
...
Shimotsuki Village.
On the way back to the Isshin Dojo, Cyrus lowered his head slightly in thought, pondering what Dragon had said to him alone before leaving.
Vice Admiral Garp had recently returned to the East Blue, and the reason for his return was said to be related to a Pirate Hunter in the East Blue, a suspected user of a fire-related ability.
'Is he coming for me?'