"So that's how it is."
Kureha chuckled mischievously, "Heh, one of the three Ancient Weapons—Sea King Poseidon, huh?"
Robin nodded silently.
She didn't know why she had revealed the location of such a terrifying weapon, but she remembered promising Moses that day: as long as he didn't betray her, she would never betray him either.
So,
she told him.
She didn't want to deceive him.
She didn't want to weave more lies to cover it up later, nor did she want to lie to this boy who had accepted her.
She didn't want him to hold any resentment toward her if he found out someday.
If he ever tried to use that weapon for evil, she would stop him—even if it cost her life.
Robin tilted her head slightly, stealing a glance at Moses to gauge his reaction, but all she saw was calm indifference.
Confused, Robin asked:
"Moses, aren't you shocked at all?"
Moses turned to look at her, raising his left hand naturally to pat her head as he replied flatly:
"Shocked? Why would I be? So what if it can control sea kings? Once I get stronger, I'll chop them up with one swing of my axe and treat you to spicy fish head stew."
Pfft! Snrk—snrk—snrk!
Perona immediately started shaking, covering her mouth as her shoulders trembled:
"Hahahaha! Spicy fish head stew made from sea kings? Could you even finish it?"
"If I can't, Bear Cub will. He's a Munch-Munch Fruit user—he can handle it."
"Ehehe~ That's right, Bear can eat it." Bear Cub grinned beside Kureha. "Spicy fish head is yummy. I can cook it."
At this, Kureha shot Moses a sidelong glance and smirked:
"Though I didn't expect, according to Robin here, that your deadbeat dad actually came to this place too? And just scribbled whatever he wanted."
Moses chuckled dismissively. "The world's only so big. There'll be places he's been that I'll go to as well. This place doesn't have his name on it—the Golden Bell isn't his."
"Oh wait, he did actually scribble his name on other people's stuff. What a weird sense of humor."
Kureha laughed along, reaching out to pinch Moses' cheek lightly:
"Kehkehkeh, well said. That bastard pulling cryptic nonsense like that was downright shameless."
"Why couldn't he just write things clearly? Leaving half-truths hanging is the worst. Don't you dare pick that up from him, kid."
Moses shook his head helplessly, using his right hand to pull hers away from his face.
"He's him, I'm me. We're different—why would I copy him?"
"Fair point. You're just you. Just Moses—Portgas D. Moses."
Just then, Perona turned around, looping her arms around Moses' neck and leaning in close. Staring at his face, she mumbled:
"What are you two talking about? I don't really get it… Moses, your dad is Roger? Is that true?"
Robin pressed her lips together, fists clenched tightly at her sides, but she remained silent as she turned to look at him.
Her eyes were filled with shock and confusion.
Seeing this, Moses simply nodded lightly before smiling:
"It's not a big deal. Just keep it to yourselves—no need to spread it around. I've got no interest in being a pirate anyway."
Then he turned his head slightly to look at Perona, now inches away from him—taking in her long lashes, delicate brows, and those beautiful eyes wide with shock, her mouth forming a perfect "O."
Moses pinched her nose lightly, "What are you staring at? Do I have flowers on my face?"
Perona shook her head gently, then looked into Moses' eyes with earnest determination:
"Moses, don't worry. I won't tell anyone. From now on, I'll train seriously and protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Hearing her words, warmth flickered in Moses' eyes as his lips curled upward. Gazing at her resolute expression, he replied:
"Well then, starting tomorrow, your training will double. I'll drill you properly."
Almost instantly, Perona's expression turned awkward—truly a case of "coolness lasting less than three seconds."
Seeing this, Moses burst into laughter and ruffled her hair:
"If you want to protect me, you're a hundred years too early. Come talk to me again when you're actually stronger than me."
Perona puffed her cheeks and turned away sulkily, muttering under her breath:
"After I finally mustered up my resolve, you just had to crush my confidence with a few words. You big dummy jerk."
Just then, Moses felt a poke at his waist. Turning, he saw Robin frowning slightly, her lips pressed together, yet her eyes held a rare glimmer of kinship:
"I know the pain of being hunted. So I'll keep your secret. I'll never reveal your identity to anyone."
Moses sighed and placed a hand on her head:
"That doesn't matter. As long as I'm strong enough to make them realize opposing me would cost them more than they can bear, they'll turn a blind eye to my existence."
Kureha remarked calmly, "Robin, don't overthink it. When you're strong enough, you'll find this world can actually be kind."
Robin absorbed her words, her frown easing.
For the first time, she felt like she'd finally found her people.
She was called the Devil Child.
And Moses was known as the Devil's Son.
Amusingly, the Devil's Son had taken in the Devil Child—suddenly, it felt like they were a perfect match.
Hehe!
Abruptly, Robin laughed, her eyes crinkling with mirth.
Seeing her smile, Moses chuckled too, then suddenly stood up, startling Perona, who clung to his neck to avoid falling.
"Why'd you stand up so suddenly? You scared me!"
Perona lightly bumped her forehead against his. Moses sighed, "The sun's setting. Time to head back. Now let go."
At this, Perona's eyes gleamed mischievously as she tightened her grip around his neck and whined, "No way! You scared me, so you have to carry me home."
Kureha watched the scene with amusement, waving at Crow Dabao before being stored inside the Castle Space. Robin smiled at Moses and was likewise stored away.
Chopper, confused but following the trend, added, "I'll keep the secret too!" before being stored inside.
Bear Cub shook his head at Crow Dabao. "I'll walk with Moses."
Crow Dabao tilted his head at Moses. "What about you, Mo? How are you getting back?"
Moses grinned, feeling the weight on his back, and said to Crow Dabao and Bear Cub:
"Fly with me—both of you."
Bear Cub nodded, his body transforming into a somewhat plump white-headed eagle with a two-meter wingspan.
Seeing this, Moses turned his head to look at Perona, whose eyes sparkled with excitement, and said directly, "Hold on tight to me."
"Huh?" Perona was puzzled at first, then delighted. "Okay—"
Before she could finish speaking, Moses suddenly took a big step forward, his foot stepping into empty air as he plummeted straight down from the thousand-meter-high Island Cloud.
Perona's delight turned to terror, and she couldn't help but let out a loud, groundhog-like scream:
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
With the howling wind and her screams in his ears, Moses chuckled mischievously. "What are you scared of? Relax, we won't die. Also, stop squeezing my neck with your arms."
As soon as he said that, he felt the grip around his neck loosen, only for a pair of slender legs to wrap tightly around his waist instead.
Moses tilted his head to glance at the two birds flying on either side of him.
Breathing steadily.
Disguise.
Using the Paper Drawing technique to lighten his body, he gathered and guided the surrounding winds, abruptly slowing his descent.
Then, he stretched out his right hand and called, "Bear Cub!"
The next moment, Bear Cub flew over, and Moses grabbed his right claw, the sound of flapping wings filling his ears.
Holding onto Bear Cub's talons, the bird carried Moses and Perona toward Angel Island.
"It's too high! I don't want to do this anymore! Da Bao, take me back to the castle now!" Perona shouted nervously at Crow Dabao, who was flying close by.
"Caw caw caw!"
All she got in response was a series of hoarse, mocking laughs.
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A moment later, Moses gave Bear Cub's claw a firm tug, using the wind to flip himself onto the bird's back.
He plopped down, sitting firmly, while Perona, her legs weak, sat behind him in a duck-like posture, her eyes flickering between panic and excitement.
A few seconds later, she burst into cheerful laughter in the sky.
...
Castle Space. Residential Area
Moses returned to his room and glanced at the two items casually tossed on the bedside.
After calling out to Crow Dabao, Kureha walked in a few minutes later, her hair still damp.
Dressed in cartoon Panda pajamas, she plopped onto Moses' soft cloud bed, bouncing slightly.
Turning her head to look at Moses sitting beside her, curiosity flashed in her eyes. "So? Why did you have Crow Dabao call me here?"
Without wasting words, Moses reached over, picked up the Devil Fruit from the bedside, and handed it to her with a smile.
"This is what Little Five from Crow Dabao's family found on another Sky Island. I went and got it today—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. It's yours."
Kureha took it with keen interest, examining the golden fruit's spiky, lightning-like protrusions before poking one of the sharp tips.
Suddenly, she hugged the fruit to her chest, a blissful smile spreading across her face as she rolled around on the bed.
Utterly childish.
"Hehehe, Moses, do you realize this fruit is one of the absolute top-tier Devil Fruits? It's considered the strongest Logia-Type. You're really not eating it?"
Kureha stopped rolling, propped herself up on her hands, and leaned in close, her eyes shining. Moses pushed her face away.
"Stop talking nonsense and quit trying to act cute on purpose," Moses said helplessly. "Though Logia-Type Devil Fruits are powerful, allowing elemental transformation—especially the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's ability to embody and control lightning—it's nothing special to me."
As he spoke, dense black-red arcs of electricity silently crackled between the fingers of his right palm with a buzzing sound. Moses declared proudly, "I can wield the power of lightning through my own strength."
Curious, Kureha reached out her small hand, placing her left palm against Moses'. "Conqueror's Haki Infusion? You've even mastered this technique... And this sensation—"
Upon contact, a wave of fear began rising in her heart. The next moment, she dropped the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, grabbed Moses' collar with both hands, and buried her face against him.
Sniffle sniffle~
Dispersing the Conqueror's Haki from his hand, Moses looked down at the century-old "loli" pressing her head against his chest, her body trembling slightly. He smirked.
"Cut the act. Your performance is terrible."
Kureha froze, then lifted her teary eyes to meet his gaze. Moses massaged his temples and sighed in exasperation.
"Fake cuteness is shameless."
Kureha clicked her tongue, and the tears vanished instantly. Moses studied her curiously. "Life Return?"
Hearing this, Kureha grinned brightly. "I mastered that simple trick decades ago. Just basic body control."
Pushing off Moses' chest to sit upright, she asked with interest, "That fear-inducing Conqueror's Haki—did you learn it from that Spirit Body girl? You really are something."
Moses nodded and urged her, "Just eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit already."
Kureha curled her lips and shook her head. "Thanks for the thought, brat. I'm touched you'd think of me first for something this good. Guess I didn't spoil you for nothing back then—worth all the diapers I—"
Moses swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth, his expression awkward. "Let's skip the second half of that sentence. It's weirdly embarrassing."
Kureha swatted his hand away and rolled her eyes. She tossed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in her palm a few times before flinging it back to Moses.
"I don't eat Devil Fruits. I still plan to wear cute swimsuits and go swimming someday. Not even you can take that freedom from me."
"Keep the fruit for yourself. If you won't eat it, save it for someone trustworthy later."
"Of course, how you use it is up to you. But I'm not eating it. Our Effortless Breathing Technique is enough—it's no worse than any so-called fruit power. Honestly, I think it has even greater potential."
"If you really want to help me, focus on how to advance the breathing technique further."
Moses chuckled helplessly. "Fine. Though I could help you with the breathing technique right now... but you might not like the method."
"What do you mean?" Kureha frowned.
Everything in existence has its own Breath—a rhythmic frequency. Using his Disguise Blessing, Moses could perfectly synchronize his Breath with another's, aligning their frequencies. Through Qi Circulation Throughout the Body and Spirit-Flesh Convergence, he could merge their Breaths into one, guiding the other's rhythm as a unified whole.
This was equivalent to Moses himself being a kind of experience multiplier cheat.
As for how much another person could improve using Moses' method, the difference lay solely in their own comprehension and talent.
An otherworldly version of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra?
That's what Moses thought.
Upon hearing Moses' explanation and recalling her mastery of Life Return, Kureha realized that doing this would essentially be stacking cheats upon cheats.
Stroking her chin, Kureha said calmly, "Not a bad method. It should benefit you too, right?"
Of course. The more complex the "Disguise," the more it could enhance the growth of the Blessing. And in this world, the only truly complex things were people—not just their physical bodies but also their Spirit Bodies, complex in every sense.
Kureha's eyes sparkled. Interfering with the human body's frequency through synchronized Breath—that "resonant fluctuation of all things' breathing rhythms" was utterly
fascinating. Was that the scenery this kid could see?
"I really want to see it."
Moses chuckled and shook his head without speaking, looking every bit the enigmatic figure.
Kureha sighed in exasperation.
"Fine, keep your secrets, you little brat."
(End of Chapter)