Kaya

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"I'll pay for everything. I need at least forty to fifty tons of wood." Elian said, planning to upgrade the system's ship 3-4 levels at once.

Merry nodded and assured him that it would be ready within a day. Elian then took out 9 million berries from his inventory and handed it to Merry.

Turning back to Kaya, Elian paused for a moment, deep in thought.

"Kaya, you can go ahead and eat the devil fruit. I'm giving it to you regardless of whether you decide to join our crew. You can take your time to think about joining us later." he said.

Elian was confident that after gaining the powers of the Healing-Healing Fruit, Kaya would eventually join his crew. He believed the sense of obligation she'd feel after receiving such a rare and valuable gift would make it difficult for her to refuse.

Moreover, knowing the fruit's incredible ability to heal, Kaya would likely realize how many lives she could save around the world, which would further motivate her to become part of the crew.

Kaya looked at the fruit for a moment, still processing everything. Her hands trembled slightly from excitement and nervousness.

"Okay, I'll eat it. By the way thanks Elian! It just... means a lot to me—that you're helping me even though I was practically a stranger to you." she said softly, her innocent big eyes looking at him...

• • • • • • •

The next day, Elian stood at the seashore, feeding large piles of wood that Merry had arranged into the system's ship.

"Do you think she'll join our crew?" Elian asked Nami, who was standing next to him.

"Yeah, of course! We girls had a private chat yesterday, and I'm sure after everything we told her, there's no way she'll refuse." Nami said with a grin on her face.

Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya had spoken privately, with Nami and Nojiko sharing how Elian had saved their village without asking for anything in return, and how powerful he is.

Also, after eating the Healing-Healing Fruit, Kaya was truly shocked by its abilities. She tested its power, curing many ill people in Syrup Village almost instantly, something that left her amazed.

"Oh? Interesting. What exactly did you chat about?" Elian asked as he continued to place large chunks of wood into the ship's mouth, watching the ship devour the wood magically.

"That's a secret!" Nami teased.

Elian pulled her by the waist, closing in, his face just inches away from hers.

"So, you're keeping secrets from me, even after everything we did together?" he asked, his eyes staring directly into hers.

"Y-Yeah? You got a problem with that?" she replied, staring right back at him.

'How shameless, I forgot she's not the shy type.' Elian thought.

"Anyways, go get Nojiko and Kaya here. The ship's work is almost done, and we will set sail in a few hours." he said, releasing Nami from his grip and getting back to feeding the ship.

[Boat (unnamed) – Level 3

Upgrade condition – Feed wood to the boat (10 tons) 9.8/10

Or upgrade directly with 250 coins.]

Elian picked up two huge chunks of wood and finished the upgrade condition by feeding them to the ship.

The ship started shining brightly, its shape and features changing completely.

Slowly, it grew many times in size compared to its previous version.

[Boat (unnamed) – Level 3 → 4

Upgrading requires 500 coins.]

"Woah... that's big! But why is there no option to upgrade the ship with wood?" Elian murmured, looking at the ship, which was now no smaller than the Going Merry.

He stepped onto the newly upgraded ship.

The ship had grown much larger after the upgrade, resembling a classic pirate ship. Its hull was wider and sturdier, made from dark, polished wood that gleamed in the sunlight, giving it a solid, strong appearance. The bow featured a simple, sharp point, built for cutting through the waves efficiently.

The deck was now far more spacious, with enough room for the entire crew to move around comfortably. Below deck, new cabins had been added, offering space for sleeping, storage, and even a small area for a basic medic room.

The masts stood tall, with fresh white sails ready to catch the wind, and reinforced railings lined the deck for safety during rough seas.

At the stern, a raised platform held the captain's cabin, giving a clear view over the entire deck, ready for them to set sail on the sea.

"It even has a medic room but no training room? Are the ship upgrades tied to the crew members? But Kaya hasn't even joined yet..." Elian wondered aloud.

"Whatever, the deck is big enough for us to train, so it doesn't really matter."

After inspecting the ship, Elian felt satisfied overall, except for one thing—there were now separate rooms for each crew member. He wouldn't be able to stay with his crew in one room anymore.

However, that also meant he could go all out with Nami, without worrying about others finding out. A small grin crossed his face at the thought.

"What are you smiling about? And is this really the same ship? It has completely changed." Nami's voice caught him off guard as he quickly stopped grinning and turned in her direction.

Nojiko and Kaya were together with her as well, their eyes roaming around the ship.

He could also see a bag in Kaya's hand.

"So you have decided to join us, right?" Elian asked.

"Yes, Elian. Thanks to you, my body has fully recovered, and I have already tested my new powers. I can't just stay here with a power this useful, I want to make full use of it." Kaya replied.

"Yeah, yeah! Our Kaya will surely become the best doctor in the world." Nami cheered her up.

"Nami's right. I'm really glad Elian came to this island; we could meet Kaya because of him." Nojiko also joined in.

Kaya's cheeks turned red due to the compliments, but she just gave a kind smile.

Elian was wondering one thing as he saw all three girls getting along so closely in just one day.

'Are they getting along because all three of them are orpha-cough cough! I mean, females?'

His thoughts aside. Naturally, Elian was happy for them and welcomed Kaya into his crew.

• • • • • • •

As the crew made their final preparations to set sail, Merry appeared, to give Kaya's luggage to her, and to bid her farewell.

Though her decision to leave was a significant one, She had used her wealth to ensure the development of Syrup Village, to improve the livelihoods of its residents.

Merry, who had always been a loyal servant to Kaya's family, was now entrusted with a new responsibility. She had appointed him in charge of the village's growth.

She knew he would handle with the same dedication he had always shown. Merry would manage the funds, continuing to look after the well-being of the villagers in her absence.

Kaya exchanged a few final words with Merry before sailing with Elian and others...

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