Pirate, I am the demon fox that brings disaster to the world!

(All characters in this chapter are adults)

(To avoid excessive word count, the two sisters’ names will be shortened)

“Eh? Eh??”

Looking at the twin cherries in front of her, one red and one purple with a heart pattern, Hancock barely recovered from her shyness and said with surprise,

"Is this... a devil fruit?"

Hancock from Nine Snake Island naturally knows what the devil fruit means. It is the "secret treasure of the sea" that can give the user all kinds of incredible abilities. It is a shortcut to strengthening oneself, but it is also a shackle. After eating it, the user will be rejected by the sea.

From what the other party said, is this for myself?

As if noticing Hancock's surprised and puzzled look, Yakumo Shiro smiled and explained,

"Strength is the foundation of this sea, isn't it? If you were strong enough, you wouldn't have been captured and brought to the Holy Land, right? If you believe in me and crave strength, then eat it.

After all, you don't want your sisters to be in danger again, right?"

The gentle words were as warm as the spring breeze, but when they fell into Hancock's ears, they made Hancock's heart tremble violently.

Has she not thought about this? You know, Nine Snake Island is a country of women, even with the natural barrier of the Calm Belt, it still pursues violence and power! Because only in this way can it protect this unique country of women!

If I were stronger, I could kill all those hateful human traffickers! Even this holy land!

It's just that I have only been practicing for a short time. Not to mention the top forces in this ocean, even some ordinary navy, pirates, and even slave ships cannot defeat them. If I have a powerful devil fruit, it is indeed the best choice to enhance my strength!

only......

Hancock was a little worried, her eyebrows were twisted together, her eyes were downcast, and she asked in a muffled voice,

"Yakumo Shira... is that your name? Can I ask you a question?"

"Oh? Of course. Come to think of it, I know you quite well, but you only know my name~"

Yakumo Shiro teased with a hint of meaning.

Hearing this, Hancock blushed. She naturally knew what the other party was talking about, so she glared at Yakumo Bai with a coquettish and angry look, then she tried to calm down and asked softly,

"I want to know... you are so powerful, you can break into the holy land and enslave the Celestial Dragons, why... why do you want to buy us... Now you are giving me another devil fruit...

Could it be... Could it be for...嘤~"

Hancock lowered her head again in embarrassment. The girl nowadays was far from being as narcissistic as she would be 20 years later, so she couldn't really say that Yakumo Shira was after the three sisters' beauty... Besides, that would be a bit too self-satisfied...

However, contrary to the girl's expectation, Yakumo Bai was surprisingly honest. He just said,

“Actually, I learned this from an elder sister.

Beautiful things should be cherished, just like famous paintings are well preserved in frames and books are collected in libraries...

Beautiful girls should also enjoy their lives happily, showing their beauty to themselves and those who cherish them, and should never be buried in such a dirty holy place..."

Yakumo Bai's words were indeed appropriate, but after looking at them carefully, they were actually just five words: —————

Of course, Hancock couldn't hear it, but she could more or less understand that the other party was praising her!

Even though she seemed to have been shy countless times in front of the other person, Hancock still couldn't help but hold up her face, as if using her cool little hands to cool down her hot face.

However, Yakumo Shiro would not let the girl act like an ostrich. Seeing that she did not understand, he firmly grasped her wrist and said,

"No matter what, Hancock, I hope you can understand that beautiful flowers need careful care, but they also need the ability to protect themselves. I "bought" you out of selfishness, but I also hope that while you are able to protect yourself and the things you cherish, you can also be my helper~

This way, you and I can both feel at ease, right?"

As Yakumo Bai finished speaking, waves of emotion began to stir in Hancock's heart.

At this moment, Hancock only felt that he was extremely lucky. He was lucky to be bought by the other party and escape the fate of being a slave. He was lucky to be treated kindly by the other party and just for the sake of simple protection. He was lucky to know and understand the other party and would use his own strength to become his helper...

If Hancock was still a little wary and suspicious when she was first brought here by Yakumo Shira, then after a series of "contacts" and such conversations, Hancock has quietly begun to trust the other party and began to regard him as a support.

After all, Hancock is just a little girl. In an environment where she is isolated and almost becomes a slave, such reliable warmth has already won the girl's favor, not to mention that the two of them are hugging each other now~

"I...I understand...I will do as you say~"

Taking the sweet fruit from Yakumo Shiro's hand, Hancock reached out to smooth the hair by her ears, lowered her head and said embarrassedly.

"...Oh! Of course, of course!"

Yakumo Shiro slightly turned his eyes away. After all, in the original work, the Sweet-Sweet Fruit was almost only immune to Luffy and the powerful domineering possessors. Although he could temporarily turn himself into a doll, he couldn't be sure whether he would be moved. Just in case, he decided to look away for the time being.

Hancock held the sweet fruit in her hand, and after taking a steady look at Yakumo Shiro, she solemnly put the sweet fruit to her mouth and pursed her lips nervously. Hancock knew that she was holding her future in her hands!

A future where you can control your own destiny and walk with him!

Having made up her mind secretly, Hancock closed her eyes tightly, then opened her mouth slightly and took a bite of the cherry in her hand!

"Hmm... it tastes terrible!"

Hancock frowned and swallowed hard. She couldn't help coughing a few times. After the uncomfortable feeling subsided, she gathered her mind and tried to sense her own abilities.

However, before she could calm down, there was a sudden and abrupt cry from behind her -

"Sanda!"

Marigorude looked at the gradually petrified Sandasonia with a worried look on her face. Before she could finish her words, she was also petrified on the spot under the charm of Hancock's ability.

"Sanda! Mary!"

Seeing this, before Hancock could figure out the situation, she heard Yakumo Bai shouting to her,

"Oops! I forgot they were here! Hancock! Find a place to hide first and get familiar with your abilities. They are fine for now! It's just the effect of your abilities! You can change back!"

Hearing this, Hancock breathed a sigh of relief, and then wanted to turn around and leave as Yakumo Bai ordered. However, what the girl didn't expect was that due to the violent action just now, something unexpected happened suddenly -

"Ah~~!!!"

A shy scream suddenly rang out in her ears, and at the same time, Yakumo Shiro, who was about to go to check on Sandasonia and the others, couldn't help but turn his head to look -

"No! Don't look back~~"

"------"

Another stone sculpture stood up, but returned to its original shape in the blink of an eye. Hancock's whole body turned red. She hurriedly grabbed the bath towel and stumbled towards the room, leaving Yakumo Shiro standing stiffly with a dazed look on his face.

"Uh...how come Hancock was petrified? But I'm fine? Could it be that she bounced back?"

After a long while, Yakumo Shiro wiped the wings of his nose and murmured unnaturally.