Chapter

The banquet proceeded smoothly in Kaya's estate.

Luxurious yet understated, the estate possessed a strong pastoral charm. The entire village of Syrup had gathered inside Kaya's estate to partake in a three-day celebration. A massive abundance of fresh fruits, fine wine, and fragrant roasted meats allowed everyone to eat and drink to their heart's content.

In a corner of the banquet, after drinking a few toasts with the warm and hospitable villagers, Tang Shen found an excuse and finally managed to enjoy a moment of peace by himself.

"Mr. Roger, am I disturbing you?"

Suddenly, a soft voice sounded from not far away.

It was none other than Kaya, dressed in a simple white dress and white canvas shoes, looking exceedingly elegant.

She had not been this happy or lively in a long time. Usually, she was all alone in the vast estate, with only Usopp occasionally sneaking up a tree to tell her stories of the ocean outside her window.

Kaya knew nothing of the outside world, yet yearned for it deeply. Looking at the strange young man before her, her large eyes were filled with curiosity, along with the faint flutter of a young girl's heartbeat.

Especially at the exact moment Tang Shen turned his head. His profile, striking enough to make any young girl's heart race, gave Kaya the sensation of her heart pounding for a completely unfamiliar male for the very first time—nervous yet wonderful.

Tang Shen smiled faintly. "Of course not, how could you be a disturbance? I was just wondering when the beautiful Miss Kaya would come to find me."

Hearing Tang Shen's playful words, Kaya's cheeks flushed red. Her pale index fingers twisted tightly together, and with a trace of coyness and shyness, she sat down beside Tang Shen.

Because Tang Shen had just been drinking champagne, the moment Kaya sat down, she caught the scent of champagne, mingled with a special fragrance that belonged uniquely to Tang Shen.

"Would you like a glass, Miss Kaya? The champagne in Syrup Village is truly delicious."

Tang Shen smiled as he handed over a glass of champagne.

"Mr. Roger, I... I don't drink alcohol..."

A flash of longing crossed Kaya's eyes, but it quickly dimmed. Her health had always been poor, and she had been forbidden from touching alcohol since childhood.

"Is that so? What a pity."

Tang Shen smiled and didn't press her further, taking a small sip from his own glass.

"Mr. Roger, may I ask you something?"

Seeming to have rehearsed it many times in her mind, Kaya finally mustered the courage to speak, looking nervously at Tang Shen.

"Of course, please go ahead, Kaya."

"I want to know about the outside world. Ever since I was a child, I've never left Syrup Village, and most of the time I'm just confined to the estate. Usopp told me that the outside world has an endless ocean, man-eating pirate captains, and even squids bigger than mountains..."

As Kaya spoke, a gradually glowing excitement appeared on her pretty face. Perhaps only when talking about these things would she ever show such anticipation and yearning.

Tang Shen chuckled. That braggart Usopp certainly knew how to weave a tale. He nodded toward Kaya and smiled, "The outside world is truly magnificent. Not only are there squids bigger than mountains, but there are also endless seas of flowers. There are even contraptions that can carry people flying through the sky, and giants taller than houses..."

As Tang Shen continued to speak, the light in Kaya's eyes grew brighter and brighter. By the end, a flush of excitement bloomed on her pale face, and her small, fair hands unknowingly grasped Tang Shen's arm.

When Tang Shen recounted those wondrous and bizarre tales of the outside world, she would even gasp in nervous anticipation.

At this moment, Tang Shen looked precisely like a classic shady uncle abducting a young maiden.

However, wonderful moments are always fleeting, as a voice tinged with a hint of resentment interrupted their conversation.

"Captain, we've finished sorting through the Black Cat Pirates' loot. We found this item, take a look."

Nami and Koby looked as though they were practically on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, having finally cleaned out all the assets of the Black Cat Pirates.

At this moment, Nami was holding a pink Devil Fruit in her hand.

Tang Shen was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected a guy like Kuro to actually possess a Devil Fruit, though this particular fruit looked completely unfamiliar.

"And this too."

Nami handed a quaint, battered book over to Tang Shen.

"This is?"

Tang Shen looked in surprise at the worn book in his hand, which already looked quite aged. A large number of Devil Fruits could be seen illustrated within its pages.

"A Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!"

Overjoyed, he never expected the Black Cat Pirates to possess such an item. For a pirate crew in the East Blue, however, they probably didn't even know what a Devil Fruit was, let alone how to read this guide!

"I thought it might be useful, so I brought it along," Nami said somewhat tentatively.

"Well done, Nami!"

Tang Shen praised her without hesitation!

He certainly had an impression of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. Patiently turning the pages one by one, he finally uncovered the true identity of the pink fruit before him!

[Warm-Warm Fruit]

Attribute: Anyone who consumes this fruit will have their body warmed, previous illnesses within the body will be slowly cleared away, and it comes with a certain degree of healing properties.

There was actually a fruit like this?

Tang Shen was slightly startled, but a smile of pleasant surprise soon blossomed on his face. He took the Devil Fruit from Nami's hand, placed it right in front of Kaya, and smiled, "Miss Kaya, would you like to come out and sail with us? To go and see this vast world."

This sudden question left Kaya stunned. A look of delighted surprise appeared on her pretty face, but it was quickly replaced by disappointment.

"My health has always been bad. Ever since my father passed away, I've stayed right here in the estate. Sailing on the vast ocean... I'm afraid I would only become a burden to you all. I think I'd better..."

Though deep down she desperately wanted to witness this vast world, Kaya understood that her body could not bear such a heavy dream.

The outside world she longed to understand could only ever be heard through the words of others, pieced together by her own imagination. If only it were possible—how dearly Kaya wished she could step outside and see the world for herself.

"Why wouldn't it be possible? As long as you are willing, I will take you across the entire world." Tang Shen smiled. Yet, Nami, watching Tang Shen's smile from the side, felt an unendurable chill run through her heart. How similar this was to the smile he had used when he tricked her in the beginning! Taking another look at the Devil Fruit in Tang Shen's hand, Nami's delicate body trembled even more...

"Really?!?"

Looking at Tang Shen in sheer disbelief, Kaya's eyes were filled with delight.

"Of course it's true. A man named Roger always keeps his word. I will make your body healthy again, and you won't have to worry about the turbulence of the journey at all. But before that, you need to eat this fruit."

Tang Shen smiled with utter confidence.

Kaya looked in astonishment at the Devil Fruit before her. Just as Nami hesitated, wondering whether she should speak up and warn her, Kaya suddenly grabbed the Devil Fruit from Tang Shen's hand and took a direct bite out of it.

"..."

Nami was left speechless, and could only glare resentfully at Tang Shen. After taking a bite of the Devil Fruit, Kaya stared in amazement as she felt changes begin to take place within her body.