"Paramecia-Type · Speed-Speed Fruit."
"Effect: Enhances the speed of bodily movement, greatly increasing overall agility."
Back aboard the Going Merry, now returned to the real sea.
With the previous lesson of the Storage-Storage Fruit still fresh in mind, after reading the front page of the Devil Fruit encyclopedia, Roronoa Zoro refrained from making any snide remarks this time.
But then again…
After seeing the ability description of this fruit, even Zoro found it impossible to say anything negative about it.
In fact, he couldn't help but seriously consider whether he himself should eat it.
After all, speed was an extremely important attribute for any combatant.
Take the Glint-Glint Fruit user Kizaru they had encountered not long ago—he was the very embodiment of speed taken to the extreme.
"Speed-Speed Fruit? Is it similar to the Strength-Strength Fruit?"
Red curiously took the encyclopedia from Zoro's hand and flipped it straight to the back.
Sure enough, the reverse side of the Speed-Speed Fruit also recorded examples of the power it had displayed when it previously appeared in the world.
Compared to the Storage-Storage Fruit, however, the description was noticeably shorter and far more straightforward.
Simply put…
This fruit drastically boosted a person's speed.
Even an ordinary person who ate it would immediately gain movement speed comparable to Six Powers · Shave, moving so fast it surpassed the limits of naked-eye perception.
It was a powerful Devil Fruit capable of making someone drastically stronger in a very short amount of time!
"So… this is Whitebeard's true gift of thanks to us?!"
Staring at the fruit's overwhelming description, Red suddenly understood.
From the Devil Fruit encyclopedia alone, anyone could tell that the Storage-Storage Fruit and the Speed-Speed Fruit were not even on the same level.
Perhaps the fruit Whitebeard truly intended to give the Straw Hats was this Speed-Speed Fruit.
As for the seemingly ordinary Storage-Storage Fruit, it might have just been a bonus.
However…
"Interesting~" Red chuckled softly, glancing at Usopp, who had already immersed his consciousness into his internal storage space, busily allocating living areas for insects.
The Whitebeard Pirates would never imagine that such a casual act on their part would give birth to such a terrifying monster in this world.
"So this Speed-Speed Fruit…" Red weighed the oddly shaped Devil Fruit in his hand, his gaze moving between Zoro and Sanji. In the end, he made an executive decision and handed it directly to Sanji.
"Sanji, do you want to eat this Devil Fruit?"
"Eh?!"
Sanji froze, clearly not expecting Red to hand the fruit to him so decisively.
Instinctively, he looked toward the green-haired swordsman beside him.
Judging from the effect alone, the Speed-Speed Fruit would be incredibly useful to both him and Zoro.
Even Nami could use it to greatly improve her survivability, turning herself into a nimble walking natural disaster of a mage.
But just then, as if he had read Sanji's thoughts, Red spoke directly:
"Don't worry about Zoro."
"There are plenty of Devil Fruits in this world that suit him."
"Comparatively speaking, you and the Speed-Speed Fruit are the perfect match."
"If you're considering becoming a Devil Fruit user, this is absolutely an opportunity you shouldn't miss."
At that moment, a mysterious glimmer flashed through Red's eyes.
He continued:
"You fought Kizaru not long ago—you should know very well how important speed is in battle!"
"Sanji, what you need to understand is…"
"No matter how fast light is, it still has a limit!"
"But pure speed as a concept has no limit at all!!!"
"That means once your speed surpasses the speed of light, you'll become a true invisible man."
"Because in this world, there will be no light capable of catching you!!!"
"Gulp!"
Sanji, who had still been hesitating about becoming a Devil Fruit user, suddenly swallowed hard.
He didn't know if it was just his imagination…
But before his eyes, a vast expanse of white steam suddenly appeared.
Within the mist stood an enormous bathhouse.
The cheerful laughter of young women echoed continuously from behind the steam.
"Sanji… Sanji…"
"Why are you bleeding from your nose?!"
Tony Tony Chopper's anxious voice yanked Sanji straight out of the imaginary women's bath.
Realizing his disgrace, Sanji hurriedly wiped the blood from his nose and, under the gaze of Nami and Nico Robin, hastily explained:
"N-nothing!"
"Probably just overheated…"
"Hmph." Zoro let out a contemptuous cold laugh and mercilessly exposed the truth. "I bet this idiot started fantasizing about sneaking into women's baths the moment Red said the word 'invisible,' didn't he?!"
"Is that true, Sanji?!"
Nami planted one hand on her hip and demanded an answer.
Sanji could only respond with an awkward grin. "H-how could that be?!"
"Nami-swan, you have to believe me! I'm not that kind of man!"
"But speaking of which…"
Sanji took the Speed-Speed Fruit from Red, then turned to Zoro.
"Marimo, are you really not going to consider this fruit?"
"Tch." Zoro sneered. "Didn't Red say there'd be even stronger abilities waiting for me later?!"
"A mere Speed-Speed Fruit isn't worthy of my attention!"
"But for a perverted cook like you, it's more than enough!"
"Bastard! What do you mean 'stronger'?! Red clearly said more suitable for you!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Once I eat this fruit, you'll be my defeated underling!"
"You?!""Me!!!"
"...""..."
One sentence too many, and sparks flew.
What should have been mutual respect between crewmates inexplicably turned into Zoro and Sanji gearing up for a fight.
If Red hadn't stepped in to stop them, the two would've been throwing punches within seconds.
Once the atmosphere finally settled down, Sanji hesitated again and again before ultimately swallowing the Speed-Speed Fruit.
...
...
"Blegh—!!!"
"Making a chef eat something like this is the ultimate insult."
Sanji clutched his forehead in agony, his taste buds utterly devastated.
But as the Devil Fruit's power spread through his body, his attention was quickly drawn to the changes within.
"How is it, Sanji?!"
"Show us what you can do!"
Luffy and Chopper leaned in immediately, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The others were no different.
"Looks like everyone's curious, huh?!" Sanji grinned as he gradually adapted to the ability. "Then watch closely!"
The moment his words fell—
Before anyone could even register what was happening, a jet-black blur flashed past them.
The next instant, Sanji vanished completely!
"So fast!!!"
Luffy and Zoro were both shocked.
As the two with the strongest Observation Haki present, they had almost failed to catch Sanji's departure trajectory.
Instantly, their gazes snapped toward the ship's interior.
But only a few seconds later, another black blur burst back out from the cabin.
Whoosh!
Sanji, immaculate in his suit, suddenly appeared beside Nami and Robin.
"Nami-swan, Robin-chwan—these are specially prepared love drinks for the two of you. Please enjoy~"
"Huh?!"
The two women froze, then instinctively took the drinks from the tray.
"This is… freshly squeezed juice?!"
After the first sip, surprise filled their faces as they turned to Sanji in unison.
Bathed in the attention of two beautiful crewmates, Sanji proudly lifted the corner of his mouth and explained:
"Just as Red said—the enhancement of speed… has no upper limit!"
"With the Speed-Speed Fruit, I can freely regulate my movement speed."
"Of course, the higher the multiplier, the greater the stamina consumption."
"The finer details will need proper testing."
"Shishishi~!!!"
Luffy and Chopper instantly lit up with excitement.
Luffy exclaimed eagerly,"Then doesn't that mean you can cook an entire table of food in an instant, Sanji?!"
"That's amazing!!!"
"Hey, hey, hey—aren't you focusing on the wrong thing?!"
"My Devil Fruit ability isn't for cooking for you guys!!!"
Sanji, who had just been basking in pride, suddenly felt a very bad premonition.
Unfortunately, his protests were completely ignored.
Instead, they were met with enthusiastic cheers from the Straw Hats.
In the end, unable to resist the crowd, Sanji used his Devil Fruit power to prepare a full banquet-level feast at blistering speed.
Watching Sanji turn into countless afterimages as he rushed around the kitchen, Red couldn't help but comment:
"Truly a Heaven-Chosen wage-slave kind of Devil Fruit."
"When we run into Vegapunk someday, I have to get him to copy this ability and install it on the soldiers in the abdominal world…"
"That way, Usopp Factory's production capacity can skyrocket!"
The wine glass in Red's hand swayed, carrying the aroma of freshly squeezed fruit juice.
Watching his companions grow stronger by the day, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
On the deck of the Going Merry, the long-missed peace of everyday life returned.
However…
While the Straw Hats enjoyed their calm routine, the outside world had already been thrown into chaos because of them.
...
...
"Still no sign of Whitebeard's whereabouts?!"
Within a hastily constructed temporary office in the heavily damaged Marineford.
With bandages wrapped around his arms and head, Fleet Admiral Sengoku fixed a stern gaze upon the sea chart before him.
The Marine officer he questioned lowered his head with a sigh.
"My apologies, Fleet Admiral."
"The Whitebeard Pirates appear to possess a unique ship-coating technology. I suspect they may have already passed through the deep sea beneath Mary Geoise and returned to the New World."
"Impossible!"
A sharp glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
"The direction Whitebeard sailed when leaving Marineford was not the New World—it was Jaya!"
"They were most likely heading to rendezvous with Fire Fist Ace…"
"There's no way they could complete the rendezvous and return to the New World in such a short time!"
"Which means they must still be in the first half of the Grand Line!"
"But—"
The reporting officer tried to continue.
"No 'buts'!!!"
The strategist famed for his composure now clenched his fists, impatience and anger overtaking his expression.
Sengoku slammed his fist onto the table.
"We must find Whitebeard's position—otherwise, how do we explain this to the people of the world?!"
Morgans, having nothing left to lose, had already spread the news worldwide that Whitebeard had attacked Marineford and withdrawn safely.
This time, both the World Government and the Marines had truly lost all face!
In contrast, the prestige of the Whitebeard Pirates surged to unprecedented heights.
Countless ambitious individuals—and those who had suffered under the Celestial Dragons—began seeking ways to repay or join the Whitebeard Pirates.
It was easy to foresee that before long, the recently battered Whitebeard Pirates would rebound and grow even stronger.
And all Whitebeard had paid was two Devil Fruits—a massive profit by any measure.
Whitebeard clearly understood this as well, which was why he called those fruits merely a preliminary gift.
As for what other gifts might come later… that was a matter for the future.
After all, the Whitebeard Pirates had just endured several major battles and weren't exactly wealthy at the moment.
This was precisely why Sengoku was so anxious.
He knew that right now was the weakest point the Whitebeard Pirates would ever have!
If they failed to strike at this moment, the authority of the World Government and the Marines would be impossible to recover!
However…
"Sengoku."
At that moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing at the edge of the temporary office, suddenly spoke up.
After signaling the reporting officer to leave, she slowly addressed Sengoku.
"This matter… should be dropped."
"Tsuru…"
Years of trust tempered Sengoku's fury, though the unwillingness on his face was unmistakable.
Before he could speak, Tsuru continued:
"The Marines can't withstand any more turmoil."
"Marineford is no longer suitable as headquarters—we need a new base."
"The soldiers and officers killed or injured in battle also need to be properly comforted."
"And beyond that…"
"The Akatsuki organization mentioned in Kizaru's intelligence report must be prioritized."
"To provoke Whitebeard again at a time like this would be extremely unwise."
"Besides, even you and Garp together couldn't detain a heavily wounded Whitebeard…"
"Sending others would achieve little and might even backfire."
"Don't lose your wisdom. Calm down and think carefully."
A gentle breeze pushed open the office window, carrying cool air into the cramped room.
Sengoku stood there in silence for a long while, fists clenched.
At last, he let out a long breath, removed his hat, and turned around, his tone heavy.
"Tsuru…"
"Once this incident is fully resolved, I'll submit my resignation to the World Government."
"At that time, you'll take temporary command of the Marines…"
"And through public opinion, push all the blame… onto me."
...
...
Meanwhile, deep beneath the sea in the first half of the Grand Line.
Aboard the Moby Dick, sailing underwater.
Whitebeard clenched his fist tightly, shock written plainly across his face.
Around him, the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates had gathered, their eyes filled with undisguised delight.
After a long moment, Whitebeard looked at the only one among them wearing a calm, knowing smile—Ace.
His eyes gleamed, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
"Gurarararara~"
"To think I'd live to see the day I embarrass myself."
"Just two Devil Fruits…"
"That really was a bit stingy, wasn't it~?!"
"Gurarararara~!!!"
(End of Chapter)