Canaan's Request

Next, Shanks also explained the abilities of the Devil Fruit to Yelena in detail. Shanks's companions also sincerely marveled at Yelena's good fortune.

However, Yelena's words made them all fall silent, "We found this in the fruits and vegetables you gave us."

"..."

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates looked at each other upon hearing this, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Finally, after a period of silence, Shanks said with a smile, "We don't have Devil Fruits on our ship..."

"Perhaps the previous Devil Fruit user died, and this Devil Fruit just happened to be reborn in the fruits and vegetables we brought!"

Yelena raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, though she didn't quite understand what he meant.

Then, she reached out and handed the fruit to Shanks, saying, "Such a magical and precious item should be returned to you!"

However, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates smiled and waved their hands, saying, "There's an unwritten rule among those who roam the seas: whoever finds a fruit can dispose of it as they please."

"Since Yelena found this fruit, it belongs to you, Yelena!"

Shanks nodded in agreement, smiling as he pushed the fruit back, saying, "Yelena, keep it for yourself!"

"All of us in the crew have decided not to eat Devil Fruits!"

Yelena looked at the fruit in her hand, then at the Red-Haired Pirates showing genuine smiles, feeling a bit at a loss.

Meanwhile, Louis appeared to be in deep thought. If he remembered correctly, the Five Elders had mentioned that Zoan-type Devil Fruits all housed the will of their abilities.

Some people online in his past life had also said that some Devil Fruits chose their own masters. However, the Five Elders had said that only the Nika Fruit seemed to evade the World Government's search and choose its master.

So, in this situation, was it Yelena's good luck, or did the fruit choose her?

Ultimately, Louis's thoughts yielded no results, and he gave up thinking.

However, at this moment, Yelena made a move that surprised everyone.

Under everyone's gaze, she walked towards Louis and once again offered him the Devil Fruit in her hand.

Louis looked at the Devil Fruit that had entered his line of sight, his face full of question marks.

"What are you doing?"

"For you." Yelena's red eyes met Louis's, and her dry lips moved slightly.

The cold wind whipped a few strands of Yelena's white hair, brushing across her withered yellow face, which nevertheless showed a gentle smile. Anyone could see her sincerity.

Louis froze on the spot, instinctively repeating the word, "For me?"

"En, I want to give this to you."

"..."

Nearby, the scattered citizens who had been watching instantly changed their dejected expressions. They each pulled their families over, forming a strong crowd to watch.

Seeing that Louis didn't speak, Yelena added, "If you hadn't intervened in that war that day, my subjects and I would have died. The women and children living on this plateau would also have been found and killed."

After the Jacobites poisoned the river, Yelena understood that even if she dragged that king to his death.

Her subjects would not be able to outmaneuver those despicable Jacobites. In other words, if it weren't for Louis, Ganan would have truly perished.

"Therefore, I want to give this fruit to you."

Nearby, the faces of the surrounding citizens stiffened. They looked somewhat disappointed and exchanged glances. Clearly, this wasn't the show they wanted to see.

Louis took a deep breath, then pushed the fruit back and said, "People who have eaten a Devil Fruit cannot eat a second one."

Upon hearing this, Yelena's smile turned into confusion. She looked at Shanks. Only after he nodded, confirming Louis was correct, did she awkwardly lower her hand.

A bonfire burned, and sparks rose with the heatwaves, twinkling like stars. The orange firelight cast long shadows of the few people.

Accompanied by the crackling sound, Louis looked at the fruit in her hand and suggested, "I think it would be better for you to eat this fruit yourself."

Yelena shook her head and said, "I'm dying soon, so eating a Devil Fruit would be a waste."

She had already decided to wait until midnight to launch a solo surprise attack on the town below, killing as many Jacobites as possible.

Even though the Devil Fruit's power could enhance her strength, it would still be too wasteful to die along with her.

So, she planned to give the fruit to Louis and have him help relocate her people from this island.

Regarding this, Louis mused, "Not necessarily. Zoan Devil Fruits can enhance a person's physique. Perhaps it can alleviate your pain."

Just then, Shanks adjusted his Straw hat, put an arm around Hongou, and slowly stepped forward, smiling as he interjected, "Don't worry, Hongou can definitely cure your illness!"

"Don't you think so, Hongou?!"

Shanks' words were filled with trust in his companion, believing Yelena's illness was a minor matter for Hongou.

Hongou, hearing this, changed his previous demeanor and nodded calmly, saying, "Leave it to me!"

Yelena was stunned on the spot, not knowing what to say for a moment. Ever since she learned that even Louis's miraculous abilities couldn't help her illness, she had lost hope of survival.

But she never expected that now she suddenly had a chance to live and continue protecting her subjects.

Before Yelena could react, the citizens who had been protected and supported by the Ganan Royal Family for generations couldn't sit still.

In an instant, they surged towards Hongou like a tide, their faces full of pleading, tears shimmering in their eyes.

"Please, save Her Majesty?"

"She's not even fifteen years old, she shouldn't die like this!"

Thump... Someone in the crowd knelt down. Then a second, and a third.

Soon, all the remaining two hundred survivors of the Kingdom of Canaan knelt before Hongou and the Red-Haired Pirates.

For a moment, even the Red-Haired Pirates were stunned.

Yelena snapped back to reality and stepped forward, trying to help her subjects up. The Red-Haired Pirates also recovered from their shock and joined in pulling up the kneeling crowd.

"What are you doing? Get up quickly!" Yelena was afraid of hurting her subjects and didn't dare use too much force.

Seeing that her words had no effect, she changed her usual gentle demeanor and pretended to be angry, saying, "You won't even listen to me anymore?"

"Or, do you no longer recognize me as the last king of Canaan!"

As her words fell, the crowd trembled and fell silent, but they still remained kneeling.

After a long while, someone turned their head and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty Yelena, the kindness of the Ganan Royal Family to us is plain for all to see."

"If it weren't for the successive kings protecting us with their lives, and exchanging their health for the food that allowed us to survive, we would have died long ago!"

"Ever since we were driven to the plateau, no king in the royal family has had a good end. Now that you have a chance to live, how can we be willing to miss it?"