Chapter 65: Wood Decides to Stay

Hancock had been part of the "Kuja Pirates" since childhood, and she had been fortunate enough to see an album of Devil Fruits. However, the Devil Fruit that Wood now held in his hand was one she was certain had never been eaten by anyone before.

In other words, if she ate this Devil Fruit, she would become a landlubber who could not swim, and the abilities she gained would be unknown.

If the fruit granted powerful abilities, it might be worth it, but if it offered a useless ability, it would be a significant loss.

"Although Marijoa is in chaos right now, I honestly can't guarantee that I can get you out safely. And if we encounter enemies during our escape, I won't be able to protect all of you at the same time. So, for Mary and Sonia's sake, would you be willing to gain special abilities to protect them and help me?"

After hearing Wood's words, Hancock slowly took the Devil Fruit from his hand, a hint of hesitation on her face.

"How about trusting me again, Hancock? I can guarantee that this Devil Fruit doesn't grant a useless ability—it's definitely the most suitable one for you!"

In reality, Wood didn't know what abilities the Devil Fruit in his hand would grant. However, since he found it in the private collection of Saint Champlain—the same man who purchased the three Hancock sisters—Wood speculated that this Devil Fruit was most likely the "Mero Mero no Mi" (Love-Love Fruit).

Some might argue that Hancock's sisters, Mary and Sonia, also ate Devil Fruits. However, the original story doesn't clearly state whether they ate their Devil Fruits in Marijoa.

"I don't mind becoming a landlubber as long as I can gain the power to protect Mary and Sonia. Moreover, if this Devil Fruit were sold on the black market, it could fetch at least several hundred million Berries. Are you sure you want to give it to me for free?"

Hancock, initially hesitant, made up her mind after hearing Wood express his belief in her once again. After Wood nodded in confirmation, she immediately closed her eyes and took a bite!

Even though Hancock had been starving for two days in the dungeon, the taste of the Devil Fruit was still indescribably terrible.

"Sister, is the fruit that Brother Wood gave you delicious?"

Despite the fruit's awful taste, Mary bit her index finger and drooled, curious about whether the Devil Fruit was delicious.

Hancock and her sisters had all been hungry for two days, so it wasn't surprising that they would react this way.

"It tastes terrible. I definitely wouldn't want to eat it a second time..."

The terrible taste made Hancock consider giving the rest of the fruit to Mary, the little greedy cat, but Wood stopped her.

"You have to eat the entire Devil Fruit to gain its power. Although no one has tried sharing one before, I don't think it's wise to take that risk."

If a person eats two Devil Fruits simultaneously, their body will explode. Although it had never been tried, Wood believed that sharing a fruit between two people might not have good results, so he immediately stopped Hancock from trying.

After finishing the entire Devil Fruit while enduring the nausea, Hancock began to experience changes in her body and started sensing the abilities she had gained.

Meanwhile, Wood continued rescuing others in the dungeon. As Hancock familiarized herself with her new powers, Gion arrived.

Gion brought more keys, but unlike Wood, she had dealt with the Celestial Dragons' guards by knocking them out rather than killing them. Her methods were far less radical than Wood's.

With Gion back, and the people they intended to rescue now free, the next step was to begin their escape.

Most of Marijoa's defensive forces were occupied with Fisher Tiger and his men, so the obstacles Wood and his group encountered were relatively minor.

Wood and Gion fought at full strength, and the sword energy unleashed by the two swordsmen easily dispatched the enemies in their way.

As they fled, Hancock helped deal with smaller foes while constantly familiarizing herself with her new abilities.

Pink hearts gathered at the tip of Hancock's index finger. The high-frequency output and power of her "Pistol Kiss" far exceeded the current firearms, and she was able to eliminate small fry with a single shot.

"My sister has become so powerful! And I don't know why, but she suddenly seems so much more charming now."

Watching Hancock, who used her "Pistol Kiss" to defeat enemies with ease, Mary and Sonia became her loyal fans, cheering her on with excitement.

Seeing Hancock's newfound abilities, Wood was greatly relieved—his guess had been correct. The Devil Fruit he had given her was indeed the Paramecia-type "Mero Mero no Mi."

Although Hancock had only just eaten the fruit, her demeanor had already begun to subtly change.

Wood wasn't sure if the "Mero Mero no Mi" could enhance one's appearance, but it was clear that the fruit endowed its user with a charm that could captivate men, women, young, and old alike.

Moreover, this charm worked in a subtle way, even if the user wore Seastone cuffs—it wouldn't diminish the fruit's power.

Although Hancock was still learning to use her "Mero Mero no Mi" abilities, they had already taken effect on ordinary people like Mary and Sonia.

As for Wood and Gion, their strength far exceeded Hancock's, and their determination as swordsmen prevented them from being affected at the moment. However, they still found themselves inexplicably fond of Hancock, which was enough to prove the fruit's power.

Because the escape was premeditated, Wood and his team had already planned the best route and prepared rope ladders and boats for their getaway.

The medium-sized brig was packed to the brim, and when everything was ready and everyone was set to escape as soon as the boat set sail, Wood's next decision nearly gave Gion a stroke.

"You said you want to go back alone to help Fisher Tiger? Are you out of your mind? Once reinforcements from Navy Headquarters arrive, you won't be able to escape even by yourself!"

Things had escalated to the point where, if Wood were caught by the Navy, his fate would be sealed—he would face certain death, and no one could save him.

At the same time, Gion couldn't understand why Wood, who had no connection to Fisher Tiger, would take such a huge risk to assist him.