Sanji froze at Rubick's words, then said, "Hmph. I'll find the Clear-Clear Fruit myself. You don't need to worry about it."
"We're partners," Rubick said. "One of Gecko Moria's men has already eaten the Clear-Clear Fruit. When we run into him, we'll take him out."
Sanji shook his head. "But then the Devil Fruit will reappear somewhere at random in the world. Finding it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"Sanji, you've read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, haven't you? Do you know about the Dark-Dark Fruit?"
Sanji's eyes widened. "Uncle, don't tell me you..."
Nami looked puzzled. "What's the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia? What are you two talking about?"
Rubick explained, "It's a catalog of most Devil Fruits whose appearances and abilities are known. Most people never get to see it."
Nami was genuinely surprised. She pointed at Sanji. "You're telling me he's read it? Wait, Uncle. You seem to know Sanji's background."
Rubick smiled. "He's no ordinary person, anyway. So, Nami, you and I are the only ordinary people in the Straw Hat Pirates without any special backgrounds. I'm the only one who'll look after you."
Nami looked ready to cry. "Even Usopp has an unusual background? I want to go home!"
Rubick patted her head. "It's fine. I'll find you a powerful Devil Fruit someday so you can protect yourself. How does the Rumble-Rumble Fruit sound?"
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit? Is it a Logia?"
"That's right," Rubick said. "Eat it, and you'll become lightning. You'll move incredibly fast, hit incredibly hard, and strike from an incredible distance."
Nami looked confused again. "Uncle, why wouldn't you eat a Devil Fruit that powerful yourself?"
Could Rubick eat a Devil Fruit? Yes, absolutely. Spell Steal was his own ability. In this world, he was effectively a blank slate who