Pirates: I Can Repel Everything

"If you have something to say, say it."

Chris flipped through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, as calm and composed as ever.

At the sight of the Den Den Mushi, Perona and the others knew who was calling.

The only woman among the Shichibukai—Boa Hancock!

"That's strange. Why would she call Chris?"

Honey Queen stared at the Den Den Mushi, confusion on her pretty face.

Belo Betty took a drag on her cigarette. "Isn't it obvious? Chris left a few days ago. He must have gone to discuss an Alliance."

Perona flew back and forth through the air, her face full of envy. "Even her Den Den Mushi is beautiful. What must she look like in person?"

"No wonder she's the world's most beautiful woman. She really is gorgeous! Horo horo horo..."

Reiju nodded and touched her fair chin. "Boa Hancock is a legendary beauty."

"They say most men turn to stone the moment they see her. She's breathtaking."

"One look at this Den Den Mushi tells me the rumors are true."

Baccarat glanced at Reiju, her beautiful eyes blinking as she smiled.

"You're right, but Chris clearly isn't one of those men."

"No matter who a woman is, it makes little difference to him."

Baccarat turned toward Chris with a bright smile. "He's a man destined for great things. He puts all his energy into training and pays no attention to women."

Then a pleasant voice came from the Den Den Mushi.

"Chris, I've already set out. Before long, I'll enter the Grand Line."

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Hancock, sweeping back its hair and smiling sweetly. "I'll reach the New World before you do. I'll be waiting for you there!"

Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged a look.

So that's what Chris looks like.

The Den Den Mushi's likeness of Chris wore black from head to toe. His expression was calm and composed, without a hint of a smile.

And he was handsome, too.

Together with the voice coming from the other end, it gave them an immediate sense of his character.

What a calm, rational man!

"Judging by the Den Den Mushi, Chris really is strong," Marigold whispered in Sandersonia's ear.

Sandersonia nodded. "You can't fake the bearing of someone that powerful."

"He really is strong. Big Sister was right—he has the strength of an Admiral."

Chris spoke then, his voice even. "You shouldn't run into much danger in the first half of the Grand Line."

"But in the New World, your strength won't be nearly enough."

"If you run into something you can't handle, call me. Don't try to tough it out alone."

Hancock had taken his advice, left the Calm Belt, and set out to grow stronger.

Chris wasn't so cold that he would fail to care about her safety.

His opinion of Hancock had improved considerably.

She wasn't as unreasonable as he had thought. There was plenty to admire about her.

"Chris, don't underestimate me."

Hancock's voice turned petulant. "None of you believe in my strength. Hmph!"

"Once I reach the New World, I'll prove you all wrong."

She could accept Elder Nyon doubting her.

But when the person doubting her was the man she loved, Hancock couldn't bear it.

She made a silent decision: no matter what happened, she would never ask Chris for help.

She didn't want the man she loved to look down on her.

Even if she faced terrible danger, she would never contact him.

"Fine. That's all, then."

Chris ignored Hancock's coaxing tone. It stirred nothing in him, and he remained as calm as ever.

With that, the call ended.

The women in the Training Room froze at the petulant note they had heard in Hancock's voice.

Their faces filled with astonishment.

They could barely process it.

"Did I hear that right? Boa Hancock was acting coy with Chris?"

Honey Queen turned to the others, her eyes wide. She still hadn't recovered.

Belo Betty nodded with a rueful smile. "Chris really is irresistible."

"Even the world's most beautiful woman has fallen for him."

Perona drifted through the air, giggling. "I don't know much about love, but there was definitely something going on with the way she spoke."

Reiju gazed at Chris, her flawless face turning thoughtful. "It's not that surprising, really."

"Chris is exceptional and incredibly strong. It makes perfect sense that Boa Hancock would fall for him."

Baccarat smoothed her dark red hair and joked.

"If the men out there learned that the world's most beautiful woman had already given her heart to someone, they'd be furious."

"They'd all envy Chris—and admire him, too."

(Well, everyone, by now you know Hancock is bound to run into danger later, but she certainly won't call Chris. I won't spoil what happens next. Just know it's exciting (*￣︶￣).)

Chapter 45

Four days later.

Inside the Training Room.

"Which Devil Fruit do you think Chris should choose?"

Honey Queen looked at the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia on the table and smiled.

Belo Betty exhaled a stream of smoke. "Our opinions don't decide it. Let Chris choose for himself."

Perona floated in the air as usual, looking thoroughly intrigued.

"I think the Mythical Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit sounds amazing."

"Eat that Devil Fruit and you can stay young forever. You'd never grow old."

"What an incredible Devil Fruit! Horo horo horo..."

Reiju shook her head gently, resting her delicate chin on one hand. A warm smile graced her beautiful face.

"That Devil Fruit would be priceless to anyone else. Everyone would want it."

"But for Chris, it's rather ordinary."

Reiju looked toward Chris, deep admiration in her eyes. "Chris has developed the power of the Repel-Repel Fruit to an extraordinary degree."

"I'm certain that one day, he'll develop an ability to repel aging."

"When that happens, the Bat-Bat Fruit won't be of any use to him."

"So I'd advise against choosing it."

Baccarat nodded with a slight smile. "Chris will develop that ability. I have no doubt."

"The Bat-Bat Fruit may be an exceptionally rare Mythical Zoan, but it isn't right for him."

Honey Queen flipped through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and stopped at an illustration of a pineapple-shaped Devil Fruit.

It was pale purple, with a spiral pattern like a snail's shell.

"Chris mentioned plenty of Devil Fruits, and the Dark-Dark Fruit is one he thinks highly of."

Honey Queen frowned at the strange fruit. "It can't grant elemental intangibility. That weakness is too serious."

"I think he'd be better off choosing something else."

Belo Betty leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and took a drag on her cigarette. "Of all the fruits on Chris's list, I like the Paramecia Crush-Crush Fruit best."

"The name alone tells you how powerful it is."

"With his incredible talent, Chris would surely be able to crush anything if he ate it."

Perona shook her head vigorously. "If he's choosing a Paramecia, he might as well pick the Bone-Bone Fruit."

"He could make bones grow from his body. How fun would that be? Horo horo horo!"

Reiju looked at the others, a sweet smile spreading across her face, and offered her opinion.

"If it were up to me, I'd suggest Chris eat the Pressure-Pressure Fruit."

"That Paramecia Devil Fruit would make him even more formidable."

"He could control the air pressure across the entire battlefield, then make it explode when his opponent least expected it."

"He could use Repulsion Space to escape instantly, so he wouldn't be in any danger. His opponent, though, would take a devastating hit."

Reiju touched her chin and smiled. "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."

"That's a good analysis. I'm sure Chris has considered all of it."

Baccarat swept back her hair with a smile. "But of the Paramecia fruits, the one Chris values most is the Clone-Clone Fruit."

"If he ate it and created another version of himself, his fighting strength would increase enormously."

"Who could beat Chris if they had to fight two of him at once?"

Suddenly, a lookout's voice rang out from the doorway.

"Reporting!"

"We're approaching Callet Town! We're approaching—"

At the lookout's call, the women stopped talking.

Honey Queen closed the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia with a smile. "All right, enough debating. Let Chris decide for himself."

"Right now, we need to get into town and buy some cosmetics. That's what matters most."

Honey Queen touched her cheek and sighed. "All this time at sea has been terrible for my skin. I'm buying plenty this time."

Belo Betty shot her a look. "You buy a mountain of cosmetics at every stop. How can you say that?"

"We're reaching town? I'm going to have a proper look around. It's so boring on the ship!" Delighted, Perona swooped up and down.

Reiju smiled. "Since everyone's shopping, I'll buy some lipstick."

Then Baccarat looked toward the figure ahead of them and spoke with a gentle smile.

"Chris, stop for a moment. I can feel a stroke of good luck coming."

The other women paused at her words.

Another stroke of good luck already?

Unbelievable.

"Let's go."

Chris was a man of action. He put away the Blood Red Saber and strode toward the door.

Honey Queen stood with a smile. "What will it be this time? A Devil Fruit, or someone new joining us?"