Back on the fleet.
Vane let everyone move about freely, but told them not to go too far. What they did today would definitely be reported to the Drum Kingdom's king and passed on to the World Government.
The Navy might arrive very soon.
"Vane, you really pulled out something incredible."
In the captain's cabin, Meowth opened the Poké Ball, and a Pokémon that looked like a lump of purple rubber clay appeared.
Grimer? No—it's Ditto.
Vane vaguely remembered that when that super rookie was fighting in the Orange League, he ran into a Ditto—whatever Pokémon he was, Ditto would become the same one, perfectly copying the Pokémon's moves.
"I should've thought of this, meow! Having a Ditto is basically like having Pokémon of most attributes, meow!"
Need electricity and it can become Electivire; need fire and it can become Charizard…
And it's not limited to Pokémon either. This thing can turn into objects and can even become people—basically a same-tier replacement for the Munch-Munch Fruit's mimicry ability.
Vane also thought of something else: it seemed Ditto could breed and lay eggs with almost any Pokémon, right?
The reproductive barrier among Pokémon is pretty vague. It doesn't have to be the same species; it seems as long as they're in the same "category," it works.
Translating that to real animals would be like cows and sheep—even breeding with deer.
And Ditto is practically a lab incubator—it can pair with almost any Pokémon.
"The significance of Ditto is huge. Congratulations, Meowth. But right now there's something even more important—the Munch-Munch Fruit that can synthesize materials. I originally planned to let Electivire eat it, but now we can consider Ditto."
Ditto can keep Electivire's Electric-type traits while also possessing other attribute energies, so it's also a great fit for the Munch-Munch Fruit.
"You're the one leading the Pokémon. Who eats this fruit is up to you."
Vane handed the Devil Fruit to Meowth.
"Think it over carefully. This fruit will help your research a lot… When you head out, remember to call Monet and Sugar in."
An uncertain Devil Fruit had to go to one of those two.
...
Very soon, Monet and Sugar appeared in Vane's captain's cabin.
"Vane-sama, you called us over—do you have something you want us to do?"
Monet carefully held her younger sister's hand and asked.
"I got a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit with unknown effects. Are you two willing to eat it?"
Of course they were willing!
Even an unknown Devil Fruit was worth the gamble. And once you eat a Devil Fruit, you're basically entering the core of the team.
The two sisters didn't have much talent in physical combat. If they wanted to become useful, they could only rely on Devil Fruits.
"There's only one Devil Fruit, so only one of you can eat it… but that's fine. When you get a suitable fruit later, I'll make it up to the one who doesn't eat this one."
The Monet sisters' loyalty meant that after Vane obtained fruits, he would think of the two of them first.
Now Monet hesitated a little. If the two of them could only get one Devil Fruit, then it definitely had to go to Sugar.
But now that Vane promised both of them would get Devil Fruits, then this unknown one might not necessarily be friendly to Sugar.
Monet fell into deep conflict.
"Devil Fruits are extremely precious… give it to Sugar."
After hesitating again and again, Monet still decided to give this chance to Sugar.
No one knows the future. What if there isn't a suitable Devil Fruit later?
"You being willing to give it up still depends on whether Sugar is willing to eat it."
Vane looked at Sugar.
Sugar blinked. "Can it let me beat Perona?"
Sugar was still young and didn't understand which ability was best. As long as she could beat Perona, that was enough. Perona's Hollow-Hollow Fruit ability made Sugar very envious.
"Not sure, but Devil Fruits all have amazing powers."
As long as it wasn't something like the Jacket-Jacket Fruit that helps others at your own expense, it would be fine.
"I'm willing to eat it… and later you have to find a suitable fruit for my sister too."
Sugar took the green fruit and took a bite.
Then came the classic "this tastes awful" expression.
She usually loved sweet grapes. A Devil Fruit that tasted extremely bad was basically torture for her.
"It's so nasty… it tastes like garbage."
"Don't just complain about the taste—try out the ability first."
Opening a blind box like this made Vane really curious about what the power was.
Would it be a Paramecia as powerful as the Op-Op Fruit or the Grow-Grow Fruit, or something like magnetism or a strawman—also not weak?
Anyway, just don't let it be a scam.
Sugar closed her eyes and felt a power inside her body.
Then she opened her eyes—and in the next second, she disappeared from where she stood.
An invisibility fruit?
No. Vane sensed a presence behind him—it was Sugar.
He turned around. Sure enough, Sugar was right behind him.
"Looks like we hit the jackpot."
In the next second, Sugar ran behind Monet.
"Vane-sama, what ability did my sister get?"
Monet didn't know the name of this fruit, but from those two demonstrations just now, her sister had clearly gotten a pretty good Devil Fruit.
"The Warp-Warp Fruit."
Yes—the Warp-Warp Fruit.
The first time this fruit appeared was when Blackbeard's crew's sniper, Van Augur, used it.
It's a Devil Fruit with extremely strong support capabilities. You can teleport yourself within your line of sight, and you can also bring others with you.
It's the same type of ability as the Through-Through Fruit, but even more convenient, and it's also very suitable for a gunner.
The former helps a gunner bypass an opponent's physical defenses; the latter helps a gunner reposition quickly—way more useful than Soru.
"Sugar, make sure you develop this ability well. Then no one will be able to catch you… For now, try to find out the farthest distance you can move, and check the stamina consumption."
Once you grasp those two points, the Warp-Warp Fruit will be able to pair with just about anyone. Calling it unpredictable wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Thank you, Leader! Does that mean Perona won't get to bully me with Negative Ghost anymore?"
"Be careful not to fall into the sea."
"Got it!"
Sugar excitedly activated her ability and went off to find Perona for trouble.
"She's really mischievous. This fruit's ability is great, so you don't need to worry anymore. When there's a suitable fruit later, it'll be your turn to eat."
Monet nodded, her face full of loyalty. "Everything will follow Vane-sama's arrangements."
Vane-sama took them away from a place of sorrow and even bestowed powerful Devil Fruits upon them. This debt of gratitude could never be repaid.