"It's actually a Logia type..."
Looking at the Devil Fruit in Meiser's hand, shock appeared in everyone's eyes. Such abilities weren't easily obtained.
"Your luck is just too good," Granny Nyon remarked while staring at the Devil Fruit in Meiser's hand. "To actually get your hands on a Logia type Devil Fruit."
This was something that couldn't even be bought with money, yet Meiser had managed to seize one. This...
"I suppose I just have good luck," Meiser said with a smile.
Granny Nyon nodded, then asked, "Is this for Merry?"
"Merry?" Meiser was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. "No, this Logia type Devil Fruit isn't for Merry."
"It's not?" Granny Nyon looked bewildered. "This Logia type isn't for Merry to eat?"
This was the Devil Fruit that provided the fastest power boost, yet it wasn't for Merry?
"Yes, I have other plans for Merry's Devil Fruit," Meiser said.
"Then what about this Devil Fruit?"
"This is for Nami," Meiser replied.
"Nami?!"
Hancock immediately caught these words, then tearfully grabbed Meiser's arm. "Who... who is she?"
"She's the Navigator of our Straw Hat Pirates."
Seeing that Hancock's expression hadn't changed, Meiser could only helplessly continue explaining: "It's not just her - I plan to prepare Devil Fruits for my other crewmates too."
"This way we won't need to fear the World Government."
As for whether they would choose to eat them or not... that would be up to them.
After hearing Meiser's explanation, Hancock relaxed and nodded. "This consort understands."
She knew what Meiser had done, and she knew what the Straw Hat Pirates would face two years later, so it made sense for Meiser to do this.
"Yes, you're doing the right thing," Granny Nyon said. "Only when you're strong enough will the World Government dare not cause trouble for you."
"That's what I think too," Meiser laughed. The fact that he was alive would eventually be discovered by the World Government, so... he hoped to make his crewmates as strong as possible before the World Government sent forces to attack them!!
Granny Nyon nodded, then asked, "Are you giving this ability to her... because it's most suitable for a Navigator?"
After eating the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, one could easily sense changes in the clouds, allowing for quicker perception of weather conditions.
"Not because it's suitable for a Navigator, but because it's suitable for her," Meiser said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because she fights using weather," Meiser explained.
After explaining Nami's combat style to the group, Meiser helped them understand why he had made this decision. "In that case, she truly is the most suitable for this ability," Granny Nyon remarked.
It had to be admitted that Meiser's choice was correct.
In her hands, this Devil Fruit would undoubtedly unleash even greater power!
At that moment, Meiser noticed something unusual about Merry in Granny Nyon's arms.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Merry's expression turn somewhat unpleasant, Meiser asked, "Merry, what's wrong?"
Hearing Meiser's words, Granny Nyon immediately looked down at the child in her arms and frowned.
What was going on with this little girl?
"For some reason, I instinctively despise this thing," Merry said with a small frown.
Granny Nyon was taken aback by this. What did she mean by "instinctive disgust"?
Meiser glanced at the Devil Fruit in his hand, then looked at Merry and asked, "Are you talking about this Devil Fruit?"
As he spoke, Meiser moved the Devil Fruit closer to Merry, which only intensified the discomfort on her face.
Meiser: "..."
What did this aversion to the Devil Fruit mean?
"I really do despise this Devil Fruit," Merry said, shrinking further into Granny Nyon's embrace. "So please don't bring it closer to me."
Seeing Merry's reaction, confusion appeared in Meiser's eyes. He couldn't understand why she would have such a response.
But since Merry had made her feelings clear, Meiser stopped moving the Devil Fruit toward her and instead placed it back in the box.
"Merry, why are you reacting like this?" Granny Nyon asked, puzzled.
Merry thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I can't really explain it."
It was a feeling that came from deep within her heart, but if pressed to describe it, she couldn't put it into words.
"So you're rejecting the Devil Fruit?" Meiser said.
Merry thought for a moment before nodding. "More or less."
"I see..."
Hearing Merry's words, Meiser fell into deep thought.
Just then, Sandersonia seemed to recall something and said, "Could it be because Merry has already eaten a Devil Fruit?"
"A Devil Fruit?"
Merry was taken aback, then shook her head. "I've never eaten a Devil Fruit."
She was quite certain about that.
"Why would you ask that?" Meiser asked, puzzled. "Do people who have eaten Devil Fruits instinctively despise them?"
"Yes!"
Hearing Sandersonia's words, Meiser raised an eyebrow. "Is that really a thing? Devil Fruit Ability Users instinctively despise Devil Fruits? Does that make sense?"
"It is," Sandersonia nodded. "There's a saying that circulates across the seas."
"Anyone greedy enough to eat two Devil Fruits will be killed by the demons within them!"
"So..."
"So you suspect that's why Merry is rejecting the Devil Fruit?" Meiser said.
"Exactly!"
Hearing Sandersonia's words, Meiser fell into deep thought once more.
Then, Meiser glanced at Hancock beside him, who had once again adopted her lovestruck expression, and wondered if this legend might be somewhat unreliable.
Hancock certainly didn't seem to dislike the Devil Fruit at all.
Meanwhile, Granny Nyon wore a helpless expression, utterly baffled by the situation.
Then, Granny Nyon said:
"Eating two Devil Fruits at once would indeed cause the body to explode, but it wouldn't make a Devil Fruit Ability User detest Devil Fruits."
If someone truly despised Devil Fruits, then Charlotte Linlin wouldn't have snatched that Devil Fruit back then.
"Is that so?"
"What, do you feel an aversion to Devil Fruits?" Granny Nyon retorted.
"Uh..."
Sandersonia hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let me give it a try."
Since she was standing quite far from the Devil Fruit, she wasn't sure if she would experience that feeling.
Then, Sandersonia walked over to the table, picked up the Devil Fruit, and examined it.
"It seems... I don't feel anything at all..."
"See?"
Seeing Sandersonia's slightly embarrassed expression, Granny Nyon rolled her eyes.
"Then what's going on with Merry?" Meiser said.
"How should I know?" Granny Nyon replied helplessly.
All they could confirm was that Merry wasn't a Devil Fruit Ability User; beyond that, no other issues were apparent.
"Could it be that Merry instinctively resists the Devil Fruit because she doesn't want to become a landlubber?" Marigold speculated.
"That's possible..."
Meiser thought for a moment, then looked at Merry and said, "Merry, is that why you dislike the Devil Fruit?"
"Hmm..."
Little Merry furrowed her small brow in thought, then shook her head and said, "It's not because of that."
"Can you describe it more specifically?"
"Describe it..."
Merry thought for a moment, then said, "It's like... my body is rejecting the Devil Fruit."
This statement left everyone present utterly confused.
How could someone who had never eaten a Devil Fruit have a body that rejects it?
They had never heard of such a thing before.
Just then, a startling idea occurred to Meiser.
He then said, "I think I know what's going on!"
"Oh?"
"Tell us!"
Instead of immediately sharing his thoughts, Meiser first organized his words.
Then, he said, "You all know that Devil Fruit Ability Users fear seawater, right?"
"Of course we know."
Who on the high seas doesn't know that Ability Users fear seawater!
"So here's the question: why do Devil Fruit Ability Users fear seawater?" Meiser said.
"???"
Meiser's question left everyone present completely baffled.
What did he mean by why Devil Fruit Ability Users fear seawater?
Wasn't it just a given?
Seeing their reactions, Meiser understood their thoughts.
"Devil Fruit Ability Users don't fear seawater for no reason," Meiser explained. "There must be some specific cause behind it."
"So I made a bold guess..."
At this point, Meiser paused, then said with intense eyes, "I believe there is some substance in the sea that can suppress Devil Fruit Ability Users!"
"It's precisely because of this special substance that ability users become landlubbers who can't swim in the sea."
"Special substance..."
Upon hearing Meiser's words, Granny Nyon pondered for a moment before her eyes lit up. "Are you referring to Sea Stone?"
Sea Stone is the crystallization of the ocean—a terrifying mineral that can strip ability users of their supernatural powers!
This must be the special substance Meiser was talking about!
"Sea Stone, huh..." Meiser thought for a moment before saying, "Perhaps."
"But regardless, both the sea and Sea Stone should contain that special substance, which is why these two things can suppress ability users."
The others considered this and nodded in acceptance of this explanation.
"What does this have to do with Merry?" Marigold asked in confusion.
Merry also looked at Meiser with a puzzled expression, clearly unable to grasp his meaning.
"Of course it's related," Meiser said. "Haven't you forgotten Merry's identity?"
Marigold replied without hesitation, "Of course not! Merry is a Ship Spirit!"
How could they forget such a legendary being as a Ship Spirit?
At that moment, Granny Nyon interjected, "Wait... I think I understand what you're getting at."
"Huh?"
"Granny Nyon understood already?" Sandersonia exclaimed, staring at Granny Nyon in astonishment.
While they were still pondering how Meiser's explanation related to Merry, Granny Nyon had already grasped his meaning?
Truly, ginger is spicier when old!
Ignoring Sandersonia's reaction, Granny Nyon looked at Meiser and said, "Are you suggesting that since Merry is a Ship Spirit born from the sea, her body also contains that special substance?"
"Exactly," Meiser nodded without hesitation. "That's likely why she instinctively dislikes Devil Fruits."
Because her body contains that special substance, she naturally resists Devil Fruits and refuses to become an ability user!
"But that doesn't make sense," Sandersonia said, looking puzzledly at Merry. "I've held Merry before and never felt any weakness. If her body truly contained such a substance, it should make her feel weak."
Meiser thought for a moment before responding, "Perhaps... it's because the substance is hidden deep within Merry's body, so you can't come into contact with it."
Just like how Sea Stone won't affect ability users if kept inside a box.
He then continued, "Of course, it's also possible I'm overthinking this."
"No, you're probably not overthinking it," Granny Nyon said. "Although this theory is bold, it's the most plausible explanation for the current situation."
She couldn't think of any other possibility.
"So, Merry can't eat a Devil Fruit, right?" Marigold said.
"Essentially," Meiser replied.
"Can't eat Devil Fruits..." Granny Nyon rubbed her temples. "That's going to be troublesome."
If she couldn't eat the Devil Fruit, Merry wouldn't be able to grow stronger quickly. How would she handle the events that might occur two years from now?
The World Government wasn't to be underestimated.
"It's fine if I don't eat the Devil Fruit," Merry shook her head. "I can find other ways to grow stronger."
Hearing Merry's words, Granny Nyon showed an expression as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
In the end, she didn't voice what was on her mind—it might make Merry sad.
"Are you sure you can't eat it?" Sandersonia said. "This is a shortcut to becoming stronger."
If Merry could consume the Devil Fruit, she could gain powerful combat abilities even at her young age.
Merry didn't respond immediately, instead staring at the Devil Fruit for a while.
After a moment, she declared: "No!"
"My instincts tell me eating this might kill me!"
After saying this, Merry suddenly froze as if she had sensed something.
This is...
Carefully sensing the new power emerging within her body, Merry fell into deep thought.
"Then forget about it," Sandersonia said, shaking her head without noticing Merry's internal conflict. "If it might kill you, don't eat it."
She didn't want anything to happen to the little girl, so it was better to drop the matter.
"It's alright, we can protect you too," Meiser comforted.
Even if the little girl couldn't become stronger by eating the Devil Fruit, they could still protect her, couldn't they?
Hearing Meiser's words, Merry snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "Though I can't eat the Devil Fruit, I can still become stronger through other methods!"
With this power existing within her body, she could still become powerful!
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