The Cheat Activated!

After returning to the mansion, Boodle prepared a lavish home-cooked meal for them~

While chatting at the dinner table, the old mayor could tell that Rayson's group was completely different from vicious scoundrels like Buggy's crew, so he told them everything that had happened to Orange Town~

Luffy simply kept stuffing himself, not saying a single word the entire time~

Upon hearing how Chouchou had even been willing to die defending his master's shop, Nami's eyes reddened, yet she also felt utterly helpless~

"Ah, I'm full! Thanks for the meal, old man. We'll be heading out now!" Luffy rubbed his round belly in satisfaction, beaming brightly~

"How can you still smile after hearing such a heartbreaking story?! Pirates really are cold and heartless! They always take away the things others hold dear!" Seeing Luffy's smile stir up her own wounds, Nami finally could no longer hold herself back, her voice growing extremely agitated~

"Even if I cried my eyes out, that wouldn't bring back what was lost here, would it?" Luffy raised his head and looked straight at her~

"But you can't act so indifferent!" Nami clenched her teeth and loudly vented the grief and indignation in her heart~

She knew Luffy was right. She had lost control only because it reminded her of the hometown enslaved by the Arlong Pirates~

But the next second, a warm hand rested on her shoulder~

"Rayson?" Nami looked up at him in surprise~

"Luffy isn't being cold~ This is just... his unique way of expressing himself, and where his strength lies~" Rayson's tone was sincere~

"Words of comfort have always been the easiest thing to offer, but pale words can't change the current situation~ Just like you, Nami~"

Nami was about to argue when Rayson's next words left her frozen in place~

"You must be carrying a heavy past too, but we won't force you to tell us~ Even if you told us everything right now, we probably couldn't truly understand your pain~ Saying it aloud can't heal your scars, but if one day you need us..."

Nami stared blankly at Rayson's smile, warm as the morning sun~

"...then just ask us for help~ Even if it costs us our lives, we'll give it everything we've got~ Because we're companions now~"

Nami's lips moved, but she could not say a word~

Rayson turned his head and winked at Luffy~

"Right, Luffy?"

"Shishishi! That's right!" Luffy enthusiastically shouted in agreement~

Rayson's definition of companions perfectly matched the rules in Luffy's heart~

Zoro said nothing. He merely grinned and pushed open the guard of Wado Ichimonji with his thumb~

That kind of unspoken understanding had long since seeped into their blood~

"..." Nami bit her lip tightly, desperately holding back the mist in her eyes~

She tightly grasped the hand Rayson had placed on her shoulder and pressed her forehead against it. The defensive wall that had always been tense deep within her heart finally found something to lean on~

＞Detected Monkey D. Luffy's strong recognition~ Bond deepened, trait equipment progress greatly increased~

＞Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple) equipped~

"Check traits~"

＞Rayson Traits: Navigation (White), Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple), Conqueror's Haki (Awakened) (Pale Gold), Factional Fortune (Ultimate Gold), Child of the Sea (Ultimate Gold);

＞Demon Physique (Deep Purple) (Equipping): [|||...]

＞Ashura Aura (Special) (Equipping): [||...]

＞Sun God (Ultimate Gold) (Equipping): [|||...]

＞Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple) has been fully equipped~

＞Rayson could clearly feel the food he had eaten earlier, which had yet to be fully digested, being converted by his body at an astonishing rate, becoming a steady stream of nutrients that nourished his entire body~

＞Furthermore, his stamina and strength had both undergone a comprehensive surge~

＞With the boost from a Deep Purple-grade physique trait, Rayson now possessed more varied offensive and defensive methods besides Conqueror's Haki~

＞A superior trait of the same type detected. Beast Strength (Blue) automatically converted into nourishment~

Another system notification popped up~

The first Blue trait Rayson had obtained after crossing over had finally completed its historic mission~

Although Blue traits could not be used as materials for fusion upgrades, under the current circumstances, where a high-grade trait directly overwrote a low-grade one, Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple) displayed extraordinary efficiency~

Under the assimilating effect of Transcendent Physique, the energy of the original Beast Strength (Blue) was completely broken down into pure nourishment, further strengthening Rayson's body~

However, this furnace-like devouring conversion only had one chance~ If he acquired similar Blue power traits in the future, he would no longer be able to refine them this way~

If he wanted to continue improving Transcendent Physique, he could only hope for Pale Purple or higher-grade physique traits~

Rayson moved his limbs and could indeed feel that his physique had gained another slight boost~

Although the gulf between Blue and Deep Purple traits was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud, every little bit helped~

Judging from his current physical foundation alone, Rayson actually had an extra Blue trait's worth of accumulation compared to Luffy~

This trip to Orange Town had yielded far more than Rayson had expected~

Not only had he forcefully seized Child of the Sea (Ultimate Gold), but the Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple) he had synchronized from Luffy had also completed its final step~

Even the progress of the Sun God trait had advanced by a considerable amount~

Next, he only needed to quietly wait for Zoro's Demon Physique to finish equipping. Then the grand blueprint Rayson had envisioned for his body would be considered initially complete~

By then, even without relying on any Devil Fruit, his physical potential would be enough to stand alongside the strongest figures on these seas~

Rayson clenched his fist, feeling the surging monstrous strength beneath his flesh, unable to stop a smile from appearing on his face~

Since the traits he ultimately acquired could be controlled perfectly, there was no need to worry that a sudden surge in power would cause him to lose control~

"Thank you for the hospitality, Mayor~ We'll be taking our leave now~" Rayson said~

Right now, what he wanted most was to plunge into those deep blue waters and personally experience the wonders of the Child of the Sea trait~

"Hah!" Mayor Boodle suddenly straightened his back and gave Luffy, Rayson, and the others a proper ninety-degree bow~

"My gratitude cannot be put into words! Thank you... thank you for saving this town!" Tears rapidly welled from the old man's eyes~

"Shishishi! Don't worry about it, don't worry about it! It was nothing!" Luffy answered with his signature hearty grin~

Rayson smiled from the side, then gave Nami a meaningful look~