During dinner, I heard an interesting story from Luffy's crew. They said they met Alvida in Loguetown. But since I have the [Smooth-Smooth Fruit], she's apparently still in her fat state. And it seems she joined Buggy's pirate crew as in the original.
Honestly, I didn't really like Alvida. I've seen in various parody works where they make Alvida a comrade. To some extent, it's understandable because if she eats the fruit, she becomes a real beauty. But basically, her personality is trash, and her combat ability isn't that high either. So I took the fruit without hesitation as soon as I found it.
'It's a fruit too good for Alvida to eat.'
The next day, Zoro was training with the dojo master, Sanji was in the restaurant making delicious desserts for the beautiful employees and chatting with them. And Usopp went to the shooting range and was trying out the revolvers and Winchesters only available on the Merchant's Island, while Nami and Luffy were happily playing with the orphanage children in the small water park I made.
Meanwhile, I went to Skypiea and, together with Gan Fall and the Shandia chief, revised the evil laws Enel had made. Since he made so many strange laws, it took some time. After revising laws all day, I returned to the Merchant's Island in the evening.
"Where have you been going like that?"
Since I came and went without a word, Nico Robin asked.
"Our island's future. You'll find out soon too."
"Just saying strange things again."
"More importantly, nothing special happened today, right?"
"Usopp, was it? He said he likes the Winchester and asked for one, but other than that, nothing special."
If I give Usopp a Winchester, his weapon will become similar to Yasopp's, but it seemed fine. Probably, due to the Winchester's precision, he intended to use it for long range.
"Really? Hmm... I see. Have you eaten?"
"I haven't eaten because of a boss who doesn't say where he's going or what he's doing."
"I'll be sure to tell you next time. I'll make something delicious, so let's go to the restaurant."
"Hehe~ I'm looking forward to it."
We went down to the restaurant together. I made delicious food for Nico Robin, paying attention to her. Sanji was still busy making desserts for the beautiful employees.
"Oh~ It's delicious."
"Haha~ Right? I put in some effort."
"Thank you?"
"Since my secretary was starving because of me, I should pay attention."
I also ate a meal next to Nico Robin and made delicious desserts, and then Luffy and Nami were seen entering the restaurant.
"Uwahaha, today was fun."
Luffy was still energetic, but Nami had a completely dead face.
"Ugh... I didn't know kids' stamina could be this good."
It was natural. Since Hina teaches martial arts every day, their stamina had to be good. I called Sanji, who was still making desserts for the beautiful employees, and prepared a meal together. As a reward for playing with the children, I decided to make it generously. While preparing the food, Zoro and Usopp also entered the restaurant.
"Wow~ I'm hungry! The gun suits me so well, right?"
"Merchant! Can I take one of the swords from the dojo?"
There were two types of swords on the Merchant's Island. One was the 100 swords I made before, and the other was 20 alloy swords made by blending metals found in the One Piece worldview with the help of Nano at optimal ratios based on experience. Of those, 10 were handed over to the dojo.
"Which sword are you talking about?"
"That... the alloy sword, was it? The sword with a slight blue aura. The master said I need the boss's permission."
"Then play with the kids instead of Nami tomorrow. Then I'll give you one."
"Hmm... I see. I'll do that."
"And Usopp!"
"Yes!"
"You play with the kids too. If you want to take a gun."
"Ahaha, I understand."
I made a meal for Luffy's crew, and the next day came. Nami seemed still tired, sleeping all the time, while Zoro, Usopp, and Luffy went to play with the children this time. When evening came, Usopp returned exhausted.
"Hahaha, did you play well?"
"Uwah~ I'm dying... What, their stamina..."
"Good for stamina training."
I gave Zoro and Usopp an alloy sword and a Winchester with an extended barrel for increased range and accuracy, equipped with a 10x scope, from my inventory.
"Here you go. You worked hard."
"Oh~ Thank you!"
That day also passed with laughter and chatter, and the next day, Luffy's crew said they were leaving, so I loaded supplies and materials onto the Going Merry for them. Then Luffy brought a chubby girl who used a spear and was from the orphanage and in the island security force. Her name was 'Elodie'.
"I've decided to make this kid my comrade!"
"Luffy, you kid! Are you just informing me?"
"B, Boss... I want to follow Luffy too. P, please allow me."
Elodie was a timid girl who spoke carefully, slightly stuttering. She had no talent in swordsmanship but had talent in spear techniques, so I remembered her name because I separately taught her spear techniques from Nano's information.
"Goodness... Both brothers are taking away precious employees. Elodie, Luffy is a pirate. It could be quite dangerous. Do you still want to follow?"
"Yes, I, I thought a lot about it. I also want to s, see the wide world."
"Is that so? Sigh... I guess there's no choice. Wait a moment."
I went into my room for a moment and took out the [Smooth-Smooth Fruit] and a spear containing a Heat Dial used by a Skypiea priest from my inventory, blended it into an alloy using [Matter Manipulation], changed the design to make it easy and beautiful for Elodie to use, and handed it over.
"This is a 'Devil Fruit'. Eat it right now."
"Yes, yes."
It must have been terribly tasteless, but she ate the fruit without a word. Then Elodie's chubby body transformed into a slim body and she was reborn as quite a beauty.
"Uh, uh, my body!?"
Swoosh...
Elodie's clothes, now the wrong size, began to slip off her body. Seeing that, Nico Robin urgently shouted.
"Men, turn around!"
Luffy and I turned around. After a while like that, Nico Robin sighed and said.
"Sigh... It's done now."
When I turned around, Nico Robin had temporarily tied Elodie's large clothes roughly to make them look decent.
"Ooh~ Good skills."
Nico Robin glared at me and said.
"If it's a Devil Fruit like this, say so in advance. You didn't plan this, did you?"
I quickly apologized and changed the subject. In times like this, moving on quickly was best.
"Sorry, I didn't think. I absolutely didn't plan it. And about this spear..."
I explained how to use the spear and demonstrated. The 'Heat Spear' could store fire and then release flames from the spear tip when attacking.
Whoosh~!
"Wow~ Cool!"
Somehow, when I demonstrated, Luffy liked it even more.
"Th, thank you. Boss."
"Since you just ate the Devil Fruit, you'll have to practice hard."
"I understand."
"And if it gets too hard, contact me. You can always return to the Merchant's Island."
"Ah, I understand."
I also loaded clothes that would fit Elodie onto the Going Merry and gave her a Den Den Mushi. Honestly, I was worried since she was a child I raised. Because following Luffy is like opening the gates of hell. As I waited in front of the Going Merry, the other comrades also packed their belongings and began boarding the Going Merry. Sanji couldn't take his eyes off Elodie.
"Miss Elodie~ I'll make lots of delicious things for you~"
Hina and the orphanage children also came to the port. It seemed they came to see them off in gratitude for playing with them.
"Well then, take care! Elodie, stay healthy."
The children also waved to Luffy's crew.
"Bye, big brothers~" "Come again next time~"
Luffy's crew waved from the Going Merry, and Elodie was seen crying as she said goodbye.
"Boss, thank you for everything until now."
I don't have children yet, but is this how it feels to send a daughter off to marriage? No, if she were my real daughter, I would never send her as Luffy's comrade. That place is hell.
Hina watched the departing Going Merry and said.
"Hina, feeling sorry. They're good kids, but to be pirates until the end..."
"You never know, the World Government might be creating pirates. If you look at what the Celestial Dragons do, the answer is clear."
When the topic of Celestial Dragons came up, Hina immediately agreed.
"Maybe so. I was assigned to a place far from the Celestial Dragons due to my superiors' consideration, and at first, I didn't know the reason, but later I understood. How trashy the Celestial Dragons are."
Hina told a story about an incident between the Marines and the Celestial Dragons.
"There was a time when a female Marine was assigned to guard a Celestial Dragon, and she was treated so harshly that her body and mind were broken, and she had to retire, unable to be a Marine anymore. After that incident, I heard they deliberately exclude female Marines from guarding Celestial Dragons and assign them to distant places."
"The Marines who endure that are quite something."
"Well, it's because the Marines run on the Celestial Dragons' money."
"That money isn't given by the Celestial Dragons but by each kingdom. Marines should protect innocent citizens, not the Celestial Dragons."
"Hina agrees, that's right. But there's no choice. That's reality. And with the trash of the sea (pirates) running wild, there seems to be even less choice."
I thought about telling Hina what I was planning, but it didn't seem like the right time yet, so I just stayed quiet. Hina led the children back to the orphanage.
After a few days, I received contact from the Whitebeard Pirates for the first time in a while. I managed the Den Den Mushi that receives contact from pirates separately.
"Long time no see, Cassian."
"Mr. Satch, long time no see."
"It's just that we're running out of alcohol."
"I see. Please describe your approximate location."
"Well, it's around here..."
I told Nico Robin I was making a delivery and teleported to an island near the Moby Dick, parked the Tahlarian vehicle next to the Moby Dick. The Whitebeard crew waved and greeted me again. They're really lively pirates.
"Cassian, long time no see, yoi."
"Cassian, nice to see you~"
I greeted the Whitebeard Pirates crew.
Ace was also with the Whitebeard Pirates as in the original. When I came last time and saw Ace with the Whitebeard Pirates, I was surprised because it was the same as the original, but hearing the story so far, what changed from the original was that Ace defeated Yamato and even Jinbe without much difficulty. Hearing that, I wondered if it was really Ace.
"Oh right, Luffy came to the Merchant's Island."
"Oh~ Really? Is that kid doing well?"
"Yes, and he made comrades too. He's probably entering the Grand Line now."
"Hahaha, as expected of my brother."
The employee who followed Ace also greeted me, so I greeted him happily. I met Satch and delivered the groceries.
"As expected, the stuff you sell is in good condition."
"Come to think of it, I don't see Mr. Teach. Where did he go?"
"Teach retired from the pirate life. Wants to live quietly, I guess? Father allowed it."
"I see. It's a shame I couldn't say goodbye."
"Tell me about it."
I don't know what scheme he has since he's not that kind of person. Satch, Ace, the employee, and I—four of us—shared stories of what had happened and had a simple drink before I returned to the Merchant's Island. Nico Robin showed me a newspaper and said.
"Boss, a bounty has been placed on Luffy. 10 million Berries. It seems these guys caused trouble in Loguetown before coming to our island."
"Now he's a real pirate."
"Indeed."
"Let's wish him luck."