Chapter 164: Feeding Ralph the Fruit!
War.
At this moment, Ralph looked at Vivi.
"Is your country's situation... alright? I can still hold on. Should we change course and head straight to Alabasta? To free your country from turmoil sooner—"
He was sincere in this moment.
He knew Alabasta's situation was like sitting on a powder keg.
If his presence caused even the slightest deviation in the course of events, it wouldn't just cost one or two lives.
But then he thought, what about Chopper?
If that terrible king Wapol returned to Drum Island and carried out a series of atrocities with no one to stop him, wouldn't that also harm the people there?
Including Chopper!
If he hadn't been sick, he could have just taken care of Wapol earlier!
As Ralph wrestled with his thoughts, Vivi remained silent for a few seconds before shaking her head.
"Precisely because I want to end Alabasta's turmoil as soon as possible, it's even more important to cure you."
Her gaze was serious.
"Ralph, though I haven't been on the ship long, I've seen your abilities. With you here, we can minimize the casualties of this turmoil and end it in the shortest time possible."
She stepped forward and placed her hand on Ralph's burning forehead.
"So, focus on recovering."
Vivi said with a smile, "Once you're better, we'll save my country together."
Ralph looked into her eyes and nodded.
That was enough.
With those words, it was enough.
Vivi valued and trusted him so much, Ralph thought he should show something in return.
"Usopp."
Ralph suddenly said, "Go get my safe."
"Huh? Now?"
"Now."
A few minutes later, the specially made mechanical safe was placed on Ralph's bed.
Everyone gathered in the narrow cabin, watching curiously.
Ralph entered the code.
With a click, the lid popped open.
Inside, the remaining Devil Fruit lay quietly on a soft cushion.
Pink, soft, with a slimy sheen on its surface—the Toro Toro no Mi.
"Wow!"
Lufia was the first to exclaim,
"So this safe of yours really does hide something delicious! Were you planning to eat it when you got sick to recover faster?"
She reached out to grab the pink Toro Toro no Mi, moving so fast no one could react.
Then, under Ralph's horrified gaze, she shoved the fruit toward his mouth.
"Here! Eat it! You'll get better!"
Ralph: "..."
He didn't even dare say "no," afraid the fruit would be shoved in if he opened his mouth.
He could only press his lips tightly together, shaking his head desperately, his eyes screaming, "No, no, no!"
"Miss Lufia! Wait!"
Sanji finally snapped out of it and grabbed Lufia's wrist.
Lufia looked puzzled:
"What's wrong? Let Ralph eat something."
Sanji pointed at the fruit:
"Ralph is clearly resisting! And that's not medicine, that's..."
Before Sanji could finish, Lufia pulled the fruit away from Ralph's mouth.
"Really? Since Ralph won't eat it..."
Just as Ralph breathed a sigh of relief, he saw Lufia holding the fruit, thinking for a moment, and then bringing it toward her own mouth.
"Then I'll try it and see what's so delicious!"
"Lufia, stop!!"
This time, Ralph, Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Vivi all shouted at once.
Sanji once again stopped Lufia's "suicidal attempt," snatched the fruit away, and rubbed his temples wearily.
After preventing two perilous maneuvers, Sanji's contributions were truly invaluable, finally allowing the chance to discuss the Devil Fruit matter.
Lufia disappointedly placed the Devil Fruit in her hand back into the box.
"So it's a Devil Fruit! It's different from the one I ate as a child! Good thing I didn't eat it—it tastes awful!"
"So,"
Nami looked at the fruit in the box with a complicated expression, "Ralph, this is..."
"The Toro Toro no Mi."
Ralph finally spoke up, "Obtained from Honey Queen."
The cabin fell silent for a few seconds.
Among those aware of Ralph's "Fruit Reincarnation Method" ability, Lufia blinked, her expression unchanged, as if she were too carefree to react.
Meanwhile, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp all wore grave expressions.
They certainly wouldn't blame Ralph, as it was an enemy.
But taking another's life is never an easy thing to do.
No one can end a life without inner turmoil.
Isn't this a burden in itself?
"The key to resolving the situation in Alabasta is to defeat Crocodile."
Ralph continued, breaking the silence, "And to defeat Crocodile, we must counter his Logia Suna Suna no Mi ability."
He looked at the pink Toro Toro no Mi:
"Sand is loose and flowing when dry, making it impossible to attack. But when it encounters water or other liquids, it clumps together."
Vivi's eyes lit up:
"So..."
"So the user of this Toro Toro no Mi would be the natural counter to the Suna Suna no Mi."
Ralph nodded, "Whoever eats it will gain an absolute advantage against Crocodile."
Princess Vivi's heart raced.
Was this the true caliber of Baroque Works' real boss?
Not only did he effortlessly turn a traitorous employee in Little Garden, but he also held the traitor's weakness at his fingertips.
What foresight!
Recalling the rebellion-stricken Alabasta, Vivi lamented that if only their palace had someone like Ralph, things would never have escalated to this point.
With this thought, Vivi's gaze toward Ralph shifted slightly, and many new ideas sprang to mind!
Suddenly, Lufia raised her hand:
"I should be the one to defeat Crocodile! But I can't eat another Devil Fruit!!"
Lufia pouted, "Wouldn't the person who eats the fruit steal my opponent?!"
Ralph shook his head:
"Your Haki can indeed contend with him, and it would be best if you could defeat him with your own strength."
He looked at everyone, his voice serious.
"But this isn't just a duel—it's a war that concerns the fate of all the people of Alabasta. We can only win, not lose. An extra layer of insurance means an extra chance of victory."
Everyone's expressions grew solemn, feeling the weight on their shoulders increase.
But at the same time, they were grateful to have a vice-captain like Ralph who considered every detail and had everything planned out.
"By the way," Ralph suddenly remembered something, "About the earlier battle... Is the Going Merry badly damaged?"
At this, Usopp's expression immediately fell:
"Their captain was a monster! Not only could he swallow knives whole, but he even took bites out of our Going Merry! The deck, the ropes, the gunwales... he bit into them all!"
Sanji's anger reignited:
"That ugly freak was probably a Devil Fruit user too, eating everything in sight, and he even bit Miss Lufia!"
But Lufia proudly argued back:
"Not at all! He swallowed my whole head! But I'm completely fine!"
Lufia was fine, but Ralph was not!
This statement, like a fuse, ignited the memory of that scene in Ralph's mind.
Wapol.
Biting the Going Merry.
Biting Lufia's face.
Straw Hat was one thing.
But the thought of Wapol's huge mouth swallowing Lufia's face whole and chewing on it made Ralph feel his blood boiling.
"I... I... I..."
Ralph opened his mouth, wanting to say "I'll kill him," but the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
Extreme rage assaulted his weakened body.
He felt his vision darken, the sounds around him growing distant.
"Ralph!!"