Mera-Mera Fruit

Kahn sees himself as very macho. However, when compared to Koshiro, he still falls short. Koshiro, true to his Wanokuni origins, embodies the male-dominated mentality often seen in the islanders of Kahn's previous life.

In an effort to motivate his favourite disciple, Koshiro went as far as to send his daughter away, didn't invite an esteemed guest to join him for a meal, and didn't show any kindness to his own daughter. Kuina wasn't even allowed to say goodbye to Zoro or leave him a letter.

However, Koshiro's way of raising Kuina is even more frugal than Kahn's. Despite growing up in such a strict household, Kuina has become a well-behaved and polite girl who understands her place.

After asking Monet what a maid should do, Kuina immediately started calling Kahn "Master" the moment she boarded the ship. Her well-mannered behaviour instantly endeared her to Monet.

Much like Kahn's introduction to the Grandine last year, Monet took Kuina around, letting her experience all the entertainment the ship had to offer, which broadened Kuina's perspective as someone from the countryside.

In her eleven years, Kuina had never left Shimotsuki Village. In that isolated place, she had never even been to the village's gambling house. She had been training with swords since childhood and never played games with other kids her age.

But after enjoying the Grandine's attractions, including riding the Veba and even getting drenched a few times, the pressure she felt from constantly trying to gain her father's approval and from being quickly overtaken by Zoro—these burdens were all released.

When night fell, Kahn personally prepared a lavish dinner with Monet to welcome Kuina aboard. Wearing a wreath Kahn made himself, Kuina smiled brightly.

In less than a day, Kuina already accepted Kahn as her Master and saw Monet as her big sister. Even though Kuina didn't have Observation Haki, she could clearly sense the genuine kindness from her new big brother and sister.

As Kahn had promised Koshiro, they truly saw Kuina as family and treated her as such. This made it much easier for her to lower her guard.

Because Kuina was still so innocent and unscarred by the world, unlike the three Boya sisters or Granose, Kahn quickly grew fond of her. With his methods, it wouldn't be long before Kuina would value her Master's guidance even more than her dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman.

"Master, aren't you from East Blue?" Kuina asked after the welcome banquet as Kahn was introducing her to Robin's daughters over a Den Den Mushi.

When Kahn finished the call, Kuina suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "New World? What's that?"

"The New World is the name of a sea region," Kahn replied, sitting on an open-air sofa and eating fruit that Monet fed him. "This world is ruled by the sea, and it's divided into four regions: North Blue, East Blue, South Blue, West Blue, the four largest sea areas in the world."

"As for the four seas, due to the Red Line, there are two routes sandwiched between them.

"These two routes—one closest to the four seas—is the Calm Belt."

"Sandwiched by the Calm Belt is the Grand Line, which East Blue calls the graveyard of pirates.

"Because of the Red Line, the Grand Line is divided into two halves."

"The New World is what the world calls the second half of the Grand Line. This sea area is also recognized as the most dangerous sea, a paradise for the strong and a graveyard for the weak.

"...So that's how it is!" Kuina said, suddenly understanding.

Kahn's explanation was so detailed that even Kuina could grasp it.

At this point, Monet, who was feeding Kahn with a fork, smiled and said, "The New World is the strongest sea, and the Master is one of the strongest in the New World. That's why your father is so 'respectful' to the Master, Kuina."

"Master is one of the strongest in the world?!" 

Kuina couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes as she looked at her Master again.

She never imagined that the big brother-like Master in front of her was actually one of the most powerful people in the world. 

Is this why her father said she was capable and worthy?

She had actually received an invitation from one of the strongest men in the world and became his disciple.

What an honour!

Seeing Kuina's reaction, Monet, feeling deeply satisfied, continued, "Yes, the person standing before you earned a bounty of 1.555 million berries at the age of 15, became the overlord of West Blue, the ruler of the dark world, the richest man in the world, and the head of the 'Cross Family'—the 'Walking Calamity,' Cross Kahn..."

A series of titles overwhelmed Kuina.

Although she didn't fully understand what the overlord of West Blue or the dark world meant, Kuina knew what it meant to be one of the strongest men in the world and the richest.

Was she really not dreaming about becoming the maid of such a powerful figure?

Seeing Kuina in a daze, Monet smiled contentedly.

Kahn shook his head helplessly but couldn't help feeling proud. 

Even though boasting in front of a child felt a bit silly, there was no denying it felt great—especially when someone else was hyping you up.

Two days later...

As Kuina broadened her horizons, grew closer to Kahn and Monet, and started receiving training as Monet's maid, the Grandine finally arrived at one of the most dangerous islands in East Blue: Sixis Island, known as the "Desert Island."

Despite the name, the top of Sixis Island isn't a desert at all. On the contrary, it's quite beautiful.

But beneath that beauty lies a deadly threat.

The island has no animals, no food, no water—nothing to sustain life. 

Lots of dead trees, but not even leaves or bark to eat.

Those who stray onto this island, without a boat to leave or rescue in sight, face death by starvation or thirst, leaving behind only bones.

Because it's as barren as a desert, East Blue people call it the "desert island," and it's considered one of the most dangerous places in East Blue.

Perhaps because no one dares to enter, no one has discovered the Logia Mera-Mera Fruit hidden on this island.

When the Grandine arrived at Sixis Island, Kahn didn't go ashore to search. Instead, he fished on the boat while using his unique Observation Haki to locate the Logia Mera-Mera Fruit.

With his experience in finding the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Dumpling Fruit, Kahn found the Mera-Mera Fruit hidden in the hollow of a dead tree in just one week.

With this, the "Cross Family" had obtained its third powerful Devil Fruit.

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