Ultimate Fruit

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Chapter 77: Freedom

As expected, Luffy had followed the smell of food and arrived at Shirahoshi’s heavily shut door.

Luffy didn’t seem to pay attention to the weapons sticking into the heavy door but Hancock was different.

Seeing the strange door, she sharpened her senses and was ready for battle while following behind Luffy.

After opening it, they found themselves in a dark room. However, with Luffy’s keen sense of smell, he is able to easily find where the food is.

Hopping to where the food is, Luffy found the ground to be bouncy and jumped a few more times.

“Huh? What is this? It’s so soft!”

“Kyaa!? Is there someone here!?”

“Huh!?”

Hearing the sudden voice along with suddenly the ground lifting up, both Luffy and Hancock were alarmed and confused.

Suddenly, the lights opened and they finally saw the person who spoke.

In front of them was a large mermaid with pink hair and beauty that is comparable to Hancock herself!

She was clutching onto her chest while looking at them with teary eyes.

“W-what do you think you're doing to someone else’s body!? Who in the world are you!?”

Hancock saw this huge mermaid and felt threatened!

Before Luffy could speak, she had already appeared in front of him and pointed at Shirahoshi while looking down on her by tilting her head backward.

“Who do you think you’re speaking to!? The people in front of you are the future Pirate King and Pirate Empress! You should be grateful for being graced by our presence!”

“E-ehh!?”

“Apologize!”

“Eek! I-I’m sorry…”

Shirahoshi was taken aback with what Hancock said and apologized instinctively.

Aren’t they the ones who barged in and even stepped on me…!? But I have to be the one to apologize!?

Luffy laughed at that and calmed down Hancock.

“Shishishi! Well, it's fine. It’s our fault anyway. No need for her to apologize.”

“But…if she apologizes and you’re not satisfied, you can ask her to give her food to you.”

“Apologize now dammit!”

“Eeek!? I’m so sorry!? Please take all of my food!”

Watching this scene, Lucas’s face twitched and couldn’t help but stare at Hancock.

Damn, this woman knows how to control Luffy!

And so vicious!

Since things were getting a bit out of hand, Lucas decided to finally step in.

Just as he was about to speak, he noticed something approaching. It was another weapon thrown by Vander Decken towards Shirahoshi.

Something like this wasn’t an issue to Lucas at all as he easily caught it by the handle and threw it back to where it came from.

The ‘mark’ ability had already disappeared when it was stopped so the weapon didn’t circle back to Shirahoshi anymore.

Vander Decken may be able to easily hit a target but Lucas has no problem with throwing from a great distance as well.

At a distance away, Vander Decken was just feeling good about himself after throwing an ax to where Shirahoshi was when suddenly, he felt something approach.

Looking closely, he found that the ax he threw actually went back to him!

Vander Decken quickly dodged away which made the ax lodge itself on the ground where he was previously at.

His face twitched in anger.

“That damn...Shark Knight again! Why is he always with my dear Shirahoshi!? What’s their relationship!?”

Vander Decken can only curse loudly but is unable to do anything.

After all, Lucas has been doing this since he was asked to visit Ryugu Palace. At first, Vander Decken was confused about how this was happening. Only when he had someone investigate that he learned it was Lucas, aka Shark Knight’s doing!

Since then, he had kept a close eye on him at all times. When he heard about what happened with the New Fishman Pirates and what Lucas did, he knew that he wasn’t a match for him at all.

However, this didn’t mean he will simply give up.

“They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend...It’s time I meet Hody and join him to deal with this Shark Knight bastard!”

Back in the Ryugu Palace, Lucas was unaware of what Vander Decken was planning and simply walked towards Luffy and the rest.

Even if he was aware, he wouldn't think too much about it as he can easily handle both of them.

Lucas was more curious how much the Strawhats had grown instead.

Of course, if those bastards dare to touch his daughter, that’s a different story…

Lucas walked over to Shirahoshi and calmed her down.

“Alright, just ignore them. They’re just fooling around. Go eat your food.”

“Ah! Lucas-sama!”

Shirahoshi’s face lit up when she saw Lucas.

“Hm? Lucas, you know this huge chick? And what’s with that flying ax before?”

“Haha, Luffy, this is the mermaid princess. Her name is Shirahoshi. Due to certain circumstances, she is being targeted by someone with the ability to hit her no matter where and when. That’s why, you should’ve closed the door when you came in.”

Hearing her circumstances, Luffy and Hancock felt pity towards Shirahoshi.

“Heeh, must be tough huh?”

“...Oi, don’t pity her and eat her food at the same time.”

Lucas knocked Luffy’s head as he saw him nonchalantly each Shirahoshi’s food like it was normal.

“Oh, by the way, this is my daughter, Luna. Luna, this big sister is Shirahoshi.”

“Waa! Big sister! You're so big!”

“Luna-chan, is it? You’re so small!”

Shirahoshi seemed to have forgotten about what happened earlier and simply played with Luna.

On the other hand, Luffy is still eating her food…

Lucas sighed and shook his head. When it comes to food, there’s nothing you can do to separate Luffy from it…

Since Shirahoshi is playing with Luna and Luffy was busy eating, Lucas and Hancock had a rare moment alone and didn’t know what to do.

At this time, Lucas remembered something.

“That’s right, Hancock, there’s something I’ve been meaning to do for you.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Hancock was confused about what Lucas meant. After all, she didn’t really have that much interaction with him.

Lucas grinned.

“I want to see if I can remove that mark on your back.”

“!!!”

Hancock’s eyes widened and took a defensive stance.

“...Did Luffy tell you?”

“No, I just know. Anyway, no need to be so alarmed. Like I said, I think I can remove it.”

“That’s impossible! I’ve tried many ways to remove that mark...but it doesn’t work!”

Hancock shook her head, afraid to gain hope and be crushed by it in the end.

Lucas sighed and stretched out his hand.

“Just give it a try. You don’t even have to remove your clothes. Just take my hand.”

Hancock looked at his hand skeptically. She hesitated whether it was okay to do it or not...ultimately, she decided to have a little hope...and hopefully…

Her hand stretched out and grabbed Lucas’ hand.

Water started to appear from his hand and moved to Hancock’s arm then to her back.

Hancock felt a warm sensation on her back accompanied with a soothing feeling.

It only took a minute before that feeling was gone and was replaced with a sense of...freedom?

Without caring for Lucas and everyone else, Hancock ran to the mirror and took off her clothes!

Lucas was startled and quickly turned around. It would be bad for his health if he looked at her perfect body…

As for Luffy, he looked at Hancock and then to the meat on his mouth. Unconsciously, a drip of saliva flowed from his mouth...whether it was because of the meat or because of Hancock’s ‘meat’...only Luffy knows…

Hancock didn’t care for their reactions and simply looked at her flawless white back.

Right...that mark is...gone!

The hoof of the dragon is gone!

She is finally...free!

Tears started to flow from her eyes as she looked at the absence of the mark on her back.

Luna saw her crying and comforted her.

“Don’t cry auntie Snake. Look, this pearl is so pretty! Big sis Shirahoshi gave it to me!”

Hancock saw her innocent smile and also smiled back.

“Un...it’s very pretty…”

Luffy approached her and wiped the tears on her face.

“Well, I don’t really understand what’s happening but isn’t it a good thing that Lucas managed to remove that mark? You should smile and laugh instead! Shishishishi!”

Looking at Luffy’s smile, Hancock blushed furiously and all sorts of thought appeared in her head.

“I do!”

Lucas nearly tripped.

What ‘I do’!? Are you already getting married in your head or something!?

...Speaking of marriage...maybe it was time I put a ring on Nami as well…

Before Lucas could continue thinking about this, Hancock approached him and bowed.

“Thank you...for lifting my curse. If it’s alright...I hope my sisters could also…”

“Ah, un. That’s no problem for me...more importantly, please wear some clothes!”

“Eh?....Ah!”

Hancock blushed even more and quickly ran behind Luffy to get dressed.

You already showed everything, why are you embarrassed to dress up now…?

Lucas smiled wryly and shook his head.

Luffy didn’t really care about her though as he looked at Shirahoshi and asked.

“Hey, don’t you wanna go somewhere?”

“Eh? Well, I do but…”

“Then let’s go for a walk! Don’t worry about those weapons flying at you! I’ll protect you!”

Shirahoshi fell silent for a moment then turned to look at Lucas.

Lucas nodded.

“It’s fine. You can trust them.”

“Well...if that’s the case...I want to visit the Sea Forest!”

Lucas raised a brow in curiosity.

In the original, Shirahoshi only wanted to go there because that’s where her mother was buried.

This time, her mother is still alive and well...so why does she feel the need to go there again?

Luffy asked as well.

“Hm? I’ve been there earlier! That’s where Jinbei is! Do you want to see him?”

“Boss Jinbei? So he is there as well.”

“Yeah! But if you didn’t know that, then he’s not why you want to go there?”

Shirahoshi nodded and looked at the direction of the Sea Forest.

“Since I was a kid, I...always had this feeling...that I needed to go to that place. As if someone is calling me...I know it’s weird...But I want to find out about it!”

Hearing this, Lucas frowned.

Things are certainly different in this version...is this perhaps because she is the Ancient Weapon Poseidon?

Just what secrets are there in that place that she felt something is calling her to that place?

In the end, Lucas doesn’t really know the world of One Piece despite reading and watching about it in his previous world.

All he can do is theorize and speculate according to what he does know.

Nevertheless, it might be better if he also comes with them just to be on the safe side.

Luffy didn’t think too much into it and just nodded with a grin.

“Then let’s go there! Don’t worry about those flying weapons! Just leave it to me!”

“Thank you!”

Shirahoshi’s face lit up.

“Still, you’re so big! If you leave the palace, everyone would notice!”

“I’m sorry…”

Shirahoshi is about to cry again…

Luffy laughed.

“Shishishi! Don’t worry! I’ve got a reaaaaally good idea!”

Lucas saw Luffy’s grin and stopped him.

“If you’re thinking about putting her inside Megalo, then no.”

“What!? How did you figure out my plan!? Did you read my mind!?”

“Yes.”

“That’s awesome! What am I thinking now!?”

“...You want to eat again.”

“Wow! You really can read minds!”

...You're just too easy to read!

Besides, if I can’t think of an answer, food is always the correct answer anyway…

Lucas sighed.

“Anyway, no need to do something like that. I’ll explain to King Neptune and Queen Otohime so they wouldn't get worried.”

“But will they agree?”

“Haha, don’t worry. If they don’t agree, we’ll just kidnap you. Right, captain?”

“Shishishi! Let’s go then!”

“Kidnap! Yay!”

...Luna, why are you the one getting excited!? Just what did Nami teach you!?

As they were about to leave, Lucas remembered something.

“Oh yeah, Shirahoshi, where’s the treasure room located?”

“Hm? It’s over there but...why did you ask, Lucas-sama?”

“Are there rings there?”

“I think so…”

“Hm…”

Lucas no longer answered as he fell into deep thought.