Chapter 161: Your Vice President… Won't Let You Down!
The Straw Hat crew departed, sailing on the Going Merry toward Alabasta.
Little Garden returned to silence, leaving only the sound of waves crashing against the shore, and...
"This... this is..."
Mr. 3 held the small package with trembling hands.
Ralph had shoved it into his hands before leaving, calling it "funding for your activities."
At the time, Mr. 3 had assumed it contained some Berry or jewelry—nice, but nothing extraordinary.
But now, as he opened the package and saw the pitch-black, patterned fruit inside, he felt his entire body shaking.
A note beside it read:
Funding for activities—Kachi Kachi no Mi. I believe in you! —Ralph
The air seemed to freeze.
Miss Valentine's parasol clattered to the ground.
Mr. 5's mouth hung open, his afro seeming to puff up even more.
Even the usually calm Miss Goldenweek stopped eating her senbei, her eyes fixed intently on the fruit.
"A... a Devil Fruit..."
Mr. 3's voice trembled with excitement, "And... and it's the Paramecia-type Kachi Kachi no Mi..."
In the world of Pirates, what did a Devil Fruit represent?
Even the lowest-tier Zoan-type could sell for a hundred million Berry at auction, and even then, they were rarely available.
A Paramecia-type with decent potential could fetch five hundred million, a billion, or even more.
And now, their new boss, whom they'd only pledged loyalty to less than a day ago, had casually tossed them one.
As "funding for activities."
"Boss..."
Miss Valentine covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening,
"He trusts us this much? Isn't he afraid we'll run off with it?"
That hit the nail on the head.
Mr. 3 and Mr. 5 exchanged glances, seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
To be honest, they had considered it.
Take the fruit, disappear, sell it on the black market...
But Miss Goldenweek set down her senbei and said in her eerily calm, childlike voice:
"Boss is very capable when it comes to intelligence. And since he defeated the four of us once, he can do it again."
Crunch. She bit into a piece of senbei.
"Betraying him probably wouldn't end any better than betraying Crocodile."
Her words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing any unrealistic fantasies.
Mr. 3 took a deep breath and looked back at the fruit in his hands.
The black fruit gleamed with a metallic sheen in the sunlight, its spiral patterns seeming to writhe faintly as if alive.
He suddenly remembered what Ralph had said earlier.
"When I retake Baroque Works, you'll be the vice president. You'll handle all affairs, and all agents will answer to you. Our goal isn't just a small Alabasta—it's the entire world."
At the time, he'd thought it was just empty promises.
But now...
Comparing people could be fatal; comparing goods could make you discard them.
Compared to this boss, Ralph, whether the current Mr. 0 was Crocodile or not, he could step down!
Since Baroque Works was founded, they'd been lured with "Utopia," bound by strict regulations and mystique.
Every member contributed far more value to the organization than they ever received.
The hundred Bounty Hunters at Whiskey Peak, so poor they could barely eat, still catching Pirates, were proof enough.
Why had Mr. 3 wanted to capture Dorry and Brogy in the first place?
Wasn't it for that two hundred million Berry bounty?
But most of that money had to be handed over, exchanged for the elusive "contribution points," waiting for the promise of "being ennobled after Utopia is built."
Now Ralph had exposed it—the so-called Utopia was actually Alabasta.
How much power could the "nobility" they hoped for possibly hold in that new kingdom?
And the grand vision Ralph painted was "the entire world."
More importantly, Ralph didn't demand contributions upfront. Instead, he tossed out a Devil Fruit as funding right from the start.
Talk about flaunting wealth!
He wasn't even afraid they might run off with the money!
This level of trust… was simply beyond repayment!
"Boss…"
Mr. 3 clenched the fruit tightly, tears finally spilling uncontrollably, "Don't worry, your vice president… won't let you down!"
Just then, the two giants Dorry and Brogy approached, bending down as their enormous eyes curiously stared at the four humans.
"If you're friends of the Straw Hat crew,"
Dorry's voice boomed like a bell, "Why didn't you leave with them?"
Mr. 3 was momentarily stunned, then his mind raced into overdrive.
The task Ralph had given them was to "lie low, await orders, and build up strength."
Staying on Little Garden to help the giants build their ship would not only keep them away from the war in Alabasta but also allow them to befriend two powerful giants. Who knows, they might even connect with the mysterious Elbaph…
Three birds with one stone!
"Our boss Ralph has other plans for us."
Mr. 3 stood up, a sincere smile spreading across his face, "That is—to stay and help the two of you build your ship and return home."
He patted his chest, putting on a bold and generous demeanor, "After all, when friends are in need, it's only right to lend a hand."
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, their massive faces showing touched expressions.
"Little ones… no, friends!"
Brogy also thumped his chest forcefully, the sound echoing like war drums,
"We appreciate your kindness!"
"Then let's build the ship together!"
Dorry laughed heartily, "With your help, we'll finish it much faster!"
Watching the two giants moved by their words, Mr. 3 mentally gave himself a pat on the back.
Boss, just wait for our good news.
At the same time, aboard the Going Merry.
Ralph had no idea how much emotion and overthinking his casually tossed Kachi Kachi no Mi had stirred in Mr. 3.
His reason for giving the fruit was actually quite simple—
[Ding! Established "Friend" relationship with Mr. 3 (Galdino)!]
[Ding! Established "Friend" relationship with Mr. 5 (Gem)!]
[Ding! Established "Friend" relationship with Miss Goldenweek (Marianne)!]
[Detected that the target possesses a Devil Fruit ability, meeting the conditions for "Fruit Reincarnation Method"...]
"Ignore."
Ralph silently thought to himself.
A living friend is far better than a cold, lifeless fruit.
Besides, that Kachi Kachi no Mi was useless sitting in his hands anyway.
Rather than letting it gather dust, why not give it to Mr. 3 and the others as "operational funds"? It could even boost their loyalty.
Moreover, the reward from befriending Miss Goldenweek had already made it worth it.
[Acquired Skill: Colors Trap (Advanced)]
[Description: The ability to perform psychological suggestion and hypnosis through colors and symbols. Can draw specific patterns to impose emotional effects on targets who see them.]
This ability is simply game-changing.
In the original work, Miss Goldenweek was a formidable character who firmly controlled Luffy with her paints and brushes.
Even better, this skill synergized with Ralph's existing "Hypnosis (Intermediate)."
[Ding! Detected similar skills "Colors Trap (Advanced)" and "Miwaku no Memai Dance (Beginner)." Would you like to perform skill fusion?]
"Miwaku no Memai Dance?"
Ralph was taken aback for a moment before remembering.
Right, Vivi.
Not long ago, Princess Vivi had officially established a "Friend" relationship with him.
The skill that dropped was "Miwaku no Memai Dance," a comedic ability that could daze people through dance movements and clothing patterns...
Though it sounded rather useless.
The system clearly considered this a type of "mental influence ability" as well.
"Fuse."
[Fusion successful! New skill acquired: Hypnosis (Advanced)]
[Description: Can use various mediums such as language, movements, patterns, and sounds to perform psychological suggestion and mental influence on targets. Effectiveness depends on the host's skill, the target's willpower, and environmental factors. Advanced feature: Under specific conditions, can permanently alter a target's certain belief or habit.]
Permanently change beliefs?
Ralph's eyes lit up.
Isn't this just...