Would Luffy still be that hot-blooded boy whose dream in life was to become the "Pirate King"?
Perhaps...
Perhaps, under the guidance of some legendary old marine who had lost his fighting spirit, Luffy would become a "Navy King"?
With a certain malicious anticipation for the future timeline, Adrian flashed away from the Red Force's deck, shattered the ice around the Heavenly Tribute Treasure Ship, and steered the tribute ship, loaded with rare treasures, toward the Nether Abyss.
Once White Ghost's figure gradually became a tiny black speck on the sea, the members of the Red Hair Pirates could finally breathe freely again.
"Shanks, is that Gum-Gum Fruit really that important?" Benn Beckman moved closer to his red-haired captain and asked in a lowered voice.
Shanks first frowned, then quickly relaxed again. As an optimist, he had never liked showing emotions such as "heaviness," "sadness," or "distress" in front of his companions.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure either. There's just a very special prophecy concerning that fruit. According to the prophecy, the Gum-Gum Fruit can only display its power when it's in the hands of a specific person. As for Adrian..."
Shanks thought seriously for a while before shaking his head.
"Although I don't know how Adrian learned about the importance of the Gum-Gum Fruit, everyone knows that he's already a Hollow-Hollow Fruit user. It's impossible for him to eat a second Devil Fruit... So he won't be the person the Gum-Gum Fruit is waiting for."
Benn Beckman said nothing more and merely nodded in silence.
"Speaking of which..."
Shanks suddenly stretched lazily, and his smile became much more genuine.
"Since Adrian won't eat the Gum-Gum Fruit, then with that fruit in his possession... there's no more secure place to store treasure in the entire sea than White