"So, Miss Lu Yue, are you sure you want to buy this fast, two-masted schooner with a central stern rudder, measuring 26 meters in length and 14 meters in height, featuring a triangular sail on the aft mast, a blue peacock figurehead, one cannon on the bow and two on the stern, three cannons on each side, and perfectly appointed with three single bedrooms, four double bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a bathroom, a private toilet, and so on?"
Seeing the ship Lu Yue had selected—the very one they had just recommended—Kaya spoke in surprise, and Merry beside her was equally astonished.
This was because Lu Yue had immediately chosen their largest and best-equipped ship, one that previous customers had only looked at but couldn't afford because it was simply too expensive. It was the finest masterpiece among all the ships they had.
"Oh, I'm not short on cash. Here is eighty million Beri. I think that should be enough, right?" Lu Yue said with a smile, pulling a large sum of money directly from her storage ring, essentially paying on the spot.
"Th-that's certainly enough. Then, this business transaction is complete," Kaya immediately said with a smile. At the same time, she quickly signed the contract with Lu Yue, finalizing the deal.
"Miss Lu Yue, where did you suddenly pull out such a large sum of money from?" Kaya asked curiously. Now that the business was concluded, she wanted to ask the question that had just popped into her mind.
"Oh... it's like this." Lu Yue immediately gave Kaya a detailed introduction to the storage ring. Upon hearing it, Kaya was greatly astonished, and Merry, standing nearby, was also dumbfounded. They all looked toward Platinum Longlong, surprised that such a young woman was actually a Scientist and had invented such a masterpiece.
"But... I truly envy you. You get to go out to sea and adventure, experiencing everything you mentioned before, as part of such a sisterly Pirate Crew," Kaya said with an envious expression.
However, she quickly became disheartened, knowing clearly that given her physical condition, she simply could not handle sailing on the high seas and enduring severe weather.
"Haha, I know what you're worried about—your physical condition. Otherwise, you might have joined the Straw Hat Pirates with Usopp to adventure and fight. But what they can't solve, I can. I can directly boost your physical fitness significantly, making you surpass ordinary people, and even make you stronger."
Lu Yue smiled. She hadn't expected her luck to be so good. She had originally planned to find an excuse to bring up the topic, but Kaya had brought it up herself.
"Ah, is that really possible?" Kaya said excitedly at this moment.
If she could improve her physical fitness and go to sea, whether for her own dream or for an adventure, she truly did not want to miss any opportunity.
Furthermore, she wanted to become stronger. After the incident with Kuro, Kaya clearly understood how crucial a person's strength was on the high seas.
"Of course. Actually, you meet our requirements for joining the ship: you are similar in age to us, inherently very beautiful and charming, and you have a certain medical foundation. Becoming a doctor is certainly possible, and you can improve later. Furthermore, I guarantee that my method will not only boost your physical fitness but also grant you immense power, allowing you to immediately transform into a powerhouse. What do you say? Do you want to join my Pirate Crew?" Lu Yue asked.
She finally extended the invitation to Kaya to join the ship, promising to improve both her physical fitness and her strength.
Kaya was already tempted at this moment, especially after Lu Yue's previous generosity and Platinum Longlong's magical and magnificent invention, the storage ring.
Coupled with the fact that this group of people was clearly extraordinary, she had a premonition that everything was true. Moreover, she had long been tempted by the idea of joining such a Pirate Crew, and now the opportunity was right in front of her.
"Miss Kaya, go ahead and pursue your dreams. I, this old man, will certainly take good care of things here and your family's shipbuilding business."
Merry the housekeeper stepped forward and said this. She had watched Kaya grow up, and seeing Kaya's repeated expressions of disappointment because her physical condition prevented her from realizing her dream, Merry was heartbroken.
Now, the opportunity was right in front of her. She hoped Miss Kaya could go to sea, realize her dreams, and experience such freedom and adventure.
"Captain Lu Yue, as long as you can do it, I promise to become your crewmate. My current medical skill level is not high, but I will improve it."
Kaya said with a look of pleading and respect. The opportunity was right in front of her, and she did not want to miss it again, whether it was to gain strength, pursue her dreams, or join such a Pirate Crew for adventure and battle.
"Good." Lu Yue smiled, because the fish had taken the bait; she had finally caught a fish.
After agreeing, Lu Yue immediately took a Devil Fruit out of the system space and placed it on the table.
This was also a very beautiful Devil Fruit, bearing the characteristic Devil Fruit patterns. It looked like a cantaloupe-shaped Devil Fruit, primarily light yellow, with a golden circular halo on the green leaf stem, and six pure white wings on the fruit itself.
"It's a Devil Fruit, indeed," Merry laughed.
Being older and experienced, she had suspected it was a Devil Fruit early on, as only such a treasure of the sea could instantly and greatly increase Miss Kaya's physical fitness while granting her immense power.
"That's right, it's a Devil Fruit, and a very powerful one at that: the Zoan-type Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Six-Winged Angel Form. It allows the user to command the most sacred light in the world, granting them the power and speed of light, as well as extremely strong aerial combat capabilities. Moreover, the power of a Zoan-type fruit will boost your physical fitness, and for a Mythical Zoan like this, the enhancement effect is even greater. Ultimately, it allows you to transform into the legendary Angel."
Lu Yue said with a smile. This was the Devil Fruit she had obtained after completing her last mission, and it was perfect to give to Kaya now. Kaya, who was already a blonde beauty with a kind heart and the benevolence of a doctor, was indeed very suitable for eating the Angel Fruit.
"A Mythical Zoan! The Six-Winged Angel Fruit?!" Everyone heard her description, including Nojiko, who had just walked in.
However, Kaya and Merry were shocked that Lu Yue could produce a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit—the most powerful kind of Devil Fruit on the high seas.
As for Kuina, Nojiko, and even Platinum Longlong, who knew the truth, they were astonished that Lu Yue could produce yet another Mythical Zoan, and one of the legendary Six-Winged Angels at that. This was absolutely a top-tier Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
Kaya, as the person concerned, recovered and immediately asked, trembling all over, "Are you truly willing to give me such a powerful and precious Devil Fruit?"
"Of course. Didn't we agree to this earlier? I help you improve your physical fitness and become stronger, and you become the doctor on my ship. After eating such a powerful Devil Fruit, you'll be indispensable in future battles. Just don't let me and the other crewmates down, that's all,"
Lu Yue said with a smile, and seeing Nojiko who had already walked in, she immediately introduced her.
"Oh, this is our Navigator, Nojiko. She is from Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue. Like you, she is also a Mythical Zoan Hito Hito no Mi ability user, except she is the Yuki-onna."
"Hello."
"Hello."
After Lu Yue finished the introduction, the two women greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries.
Kaya immediately picked up the Devil Fruit on the table, seeing the encouraging looks from Lu Yue and her companions, as well as Merry the housekeeper.
Kaya finally mustered up her courage and took a small bite of the Devil Fruit. As she chewed the flesh in her mouth, Kaya's expression instantly turned awful, as if she had eaten something disgusting.
"Devil Fruits are truly disgusting, ugh..."
Kaya felt like throwing up.
"Hahahaha." Everyone burst into laughter, including Merry, because Kaya's expression was simply too amusing.
"Although you only need to eat one bite of a Devil Fruit, you must swallow the fruit flesh, otherwise you won't gain the abilities."
Following Lu Yue's instruction, Kaya had no choice but to suppress her urge to vomit and forcefully swallow the fruit flesh.
But very quickly, Kaya froze, because memories related to the Six-Winged Angel Fruit's abilities suddenly appeared in her mind.
It was as if she had already transformed into a battle-hardened Angel, soaring freely in the sky and radiating sacred light.
At the same time, changes were occurring in her body. Her original light yellow long hair grew longer, and the yellow hue in her strands deepened slightly. Her eyes also became more dazzling.
Even her skin became slightly whiter, though she was already quite fair.
Her body became more slender, and her figure improved significantly, similar to the transformation Nojiko underwent earlier. After all, both were Hito Hito no Mi users, and both were legendary mythical beauties.
However, simultaneously, the light in the entire room became more dazzling, accompanied by a feeling of sacred warmth.
Kaya's body was also glowing, radiating sacred gold and white light.
Kaya entered a state of enlightenment, closing her eyes, and she was already floating in the air.
"She is fine; this is the expected transformation," Lu Yue reassured Merry the housekeeper, who was worried about her.
At the same time, the changes in Kaya continued. Suddenly, six pure white Angel wings sprouted from her back, and an Angel halo appeared above her head. Even the clothes on her body changed.
Sacred and shining golden Angel battle robes and armor now covered her body, manifesting the power of the Hito Hito no Mi. Kaya had now fully entered her Angel Form. Simultaneously, a powerful wave of light energy erupted from her, spreading throughout the entire room. Lu Yue and the others immediately closed all the doors to prevent this wave from affecting the outside.
"Now we just wait for Kaya to wake up from her state of enlightenment," Lu Yue chuckled.
After all, they wouldn't have to wait too long.
Meanwhile...