[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 451- 455

Chapter 451: A Scientific Proposition

Luffy's eyes narrowed as he watched Alpha holding Lilith's arms behind her back, forcing her chest to protrude forward in an exaggerated pose. The scene before him triggered a clear memory of the original timeline—where York, Vegapunk's avatar representing greed, had betrayed the scientist. That betrayal had sparked the infamous Egghead Island incident, which ultimately led to the largest Buster Call in history.

This can't happen again, Luffy thought firmly. I need to eliminate this danger at its source.

"Doctor," Luffy asked, turning to the elderly scientist, "which of your personalities do you plan to create next?"

"Hmm..." Vegapunk crossed his arms, his brilliant mind visibly working as he considered the question. "Let me think about it~"

The elderly genius stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Currently, there are two incarnations—one for logic and one for evil. If I were to expand further, I believe Thought, Wisdom, Rage, and Greed would be most beneficial."

"Why those specific ones?"

He carefully began his persuasion. "Doctor, I think we should forget about creating Greed. You know how human greed are endless. Are you certain you can control such an entity? What if it turns into an evil villain robot like in those science fiction comics Usopp reads?"

"I... I hadn't considered that perspective..." Vegapunk admitted, genuinely taken aback by Luffy's insight.

The scientist had only thought about creating Greed to handle basic functions—eating, drinking, and other mundane tasks that consumed valuable time. He hadn't considered how greed might breed ambition as they accumulated over time.

Despite Luffy's warning, Vegapunk still believed in his creation. Rather than committing to destroy York before he could be created, the scientist earnestly assured Luffy:

"I understand your concerns. I promise I won't let anything like that happen."

Hearing Vegapunk's solemn promise, Luffy relaxed slightly. He believed the scientist was reasonable. If he had made such a promise, perhaps there wouldn't be any accidents... right?

Tsk, I'm still worried, Luffy thought to himself. I'll need to keep a closer eye on this situation in the future.

While the two were lost in their thoughts, Alpha's playful voice drew their attention back to the present situation.

"Luffy! Doctor! Look, look, look~!" she called out cheerfully.

Alpha had positioned Lilith with her legs crossed in an extremely provocative pose that emphasized every curve of the robot's figure. The display was so unexpected that both Luffy and Vegapunk's jaws dropped in perfect synchronization.

"OI! Stop playing with the doctor's clone!" Luffy shouted.

"Release my creation this instant!" Vegapunk demanded simultaneously.

But Kujaku and Violet seemed deaf to their protests. They continued examining Lilith, hands curiously pinching her chest, waist, and hips as if inspecting a fascinating new specimen.

Vegapunk glanced back and forth between Luffy and Lilith several times, a sly smile slowly spreading across his weathered face.

"Wow~!" Kujaku exclaimed with wide eyes. "She feels incredibly realistic! Luffy, don't you want to try touching her?"

Alpha continued to pose Lilith in various alluring positions. "Why not take her home?" she suggested with a mischievous grin. "She could even bear your children!"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Luffy nearly coughed blood in shock. His face turned crimson as he yelled, "She might look like a woman, but she's actually connected to an old man's brain!! Why would I be interested in that?!"

"I am the world's most brilliant scientist! Show some respect!" Vegapunk protested indignantly. "This ignorant young people has no vision whatsoever, calling a handsome and cool genius like me an old man..."

"But Luffy," Kujaku persisted, "don't you appreciate beautiful women? Look at this robot—she's gorgeous and has an incredible figure!"

"BAKA! That's impossible!" Luffy crossed his arms in an X-shape. "She's connected to Vegapunk's memories and thoughts!"

"Hey, you insolent brat!" Vegapunk jumped in. "Who are you calling an old man?! In my youth, I was quite the heartthrob, charming countless women with my intellect and good looks!" The scientist puffed out his chest proudly before adding, "Though I should mention, when I created Lilith, I designed her according to normal female biology. In other words... Lilith is fully capable of reproduction..."

As he spoke, Vegapunk slowly turned his head toward Luffy, his inquiring gaze circling the young pirate without any attempt at subtlety.

A shiver ran down Luffy's spine. A terrible premonition formed in his gut, causing him to instinctively take several steps backward.

"H-hey, Doctor," he stammered, "what exactly are you planning? I've got a bad feeling about the way you're looking at me!"

"Luffy-kun," Vegapunk began with a scientist's enthusiasm, "you've always shown an appreciation for technological advancement. Surely you'd be willing to contribute a small sample to further the progress of science?"

Facing Vegapunk's burning gaze, Luffy felt a chill run through his entire body. He frantically shook his head, denying the unspoken proposition three times in rapid succession:

"NO WAY! You've got it all wrong! That's absolutely impossible for me!"

"Don't be so hasty to refuse," Vegapunk countered smoothly. "I promise to disconnect Lilith from the Punk Records database before you reach third base. The, ah, process of your contribution won't be uploaded to the records."

"Even so, it's still impossible!" Luffy protested, his voice cracking slightly.

"Just consider it," Vegapunk pressed. "Aren't you curious about what offspring between humans and advanced robots might look like?"

"I'm not curious at all! That's entirely your problem!"

Vegapunk's expression shifted to one of pleading. "Luffy, I've helped you significantly in the past. Help me just this once!"

Luffy could only stare in disbelief as the world's greatest scientist continued his bizarre request, wondering how exactly he'd gotten himself into this situation.

Chapter 452: The Perseverant Old Bei, the Magical Juicer

"No, no, no!" Luffy protested, waving his hands frantically. "Even if you need me to help you secure tens of billions of Berries for research funding, I'll do it! I can even rob the Celestial Dragons to get it for you. But this—THIS is the one thing that absolutely won't work!"

The two continued their heated argument about the possibility of making Lilith pregnant, but neither could reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Luffy couldn't understand why Vegapunk was so fixated on him specifically. If the scientist was so determined to see Lilith bear a child, there were plenty of other candidates around.

What about that guy Sentomaru outside? Luffy thought. Or any of the strong Marine officers stationed on the island? Why does it have to be me?

But Vegapunk had his reasons.

As a perfectionist in all his scientific endeavors, he believed that if Lilith were to bear a child, it should be one with extraordinary potential. The more talented the father, the more exceptional the child would naturally be.

And currently in all of Egghead Island—no, in the entire world—was there any man with more remarkable talent and hidden potential than Monkey D. Luffy?

Absolutely not!

Even looking across the vast oceans of the world, his genetic makeup was unparalleled. So Vegapunk, the research-obsessed genius, was determined to have Luffy cooperate with his experiment.

"Okay, Doctor, please let this go," Luffy sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. "Let's not even discuss the fact that I can't accept this mentally. Even if I could, what about Lilith? Shouldn't you ask for her opinion on the matter?"

"Lilith..." Vegapunk started, initially intending to point out that they shared the same brain—Lilith's opinion would be his opinion. But after glancing back at the dormant robot, he swallowed his words.

"Well," the elderly scientist conceded, "let's wait until Lilith awakens. I have some minor tests to conduct on these two specimens. I'll arrange for you to meet again when I'm finished."

As he spoke, Vegapunk took out his remote control and pressed a button. Seeing his action, the women who had been examining Lilith quickly exited the protective shield. After they emerged, the barrier automatically repaired itself.

Turning around, Vegapunk beckoned for them to follow him out of the laboratory.

As they walked, the scientist clasped his hands behind his back and glanced sideways at Luffy, who was striding beside him.

"Tell me," Vegapunk asked with barely concealed frustration, "what exactly do you want me to do for you? If it's too troublesome, I suggest you just accept my proposal and bring Lilith back to assist with my research."

"You're really persistent, old man," Luffy wiped cold sweat from his forehead, genuinely defeated by Vegapunk's unwavering determination.

"It's nothing complicated," he explained, trying to change the subject. "I just need your help to imbue a certain object with Devil Fruit powers."

"Oh? Is that all?" Vegapunk's eyebrows rose with interest. "That's relatively straightforward to handle. Nevertheless, I still suggest you consider my offer regarding Lilith. If you encounter similar technical problems in the future, she could provide immediate assistance."

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Luffy nodded rapidly, not wanting to engage further. "As long as you can help me with this current problem, let's get moving, Doctor."

Vegapunk wasn't discouraged by Luffy's evasiveness. He knew the man would inevitably return for his expertise again and again. The scientist couldn't believe that he—possessing the most brilliant mind in the world—couldn't eventually persuade Luffy to agree to his proposition.

One day, Vegapunk thought with determined confidence, I'll make him agree to father a child with Lilith.

Unlike what Luffy had expected, Vegapunk didn't lead them to his main laboratory. Instead, he took them to a specialized warehouse where he stored his completed inventions.

This facility was entirely different from the warehouse Luffy had emptied at Punk Hazard years ago. Here were stored the perfect creations that Vegapunk considered his crowning achievements—including a device capable of transferring Devil Fruit powers into inanimate objects.

However, when they finally saw this supposedly groundbreaking invention, Luffy and the women who had accompanied him fell into stunned silence.

Alpha leaned forward to examine the device for a long moment before hesitantly speaking up:

"Isn't this... just a juicer?"

Her innocent question immediately triggered Vegapunk's indignation.

"FOOL!" he bellowed, face reddening. "This is one of the greatest scientific achievements of the century! Don't spout nonsense about things you don't understand!"

Alpha curled her lips in disdain. Despite Vegapunk's outburst, she couldn't help but trust her own eyes. The machine before them looked exactly like an ordinary kitchen juicer.

Not only Alpha, but Luffy and the others shared the same impression. However, seeing Vegapunk's furious expression, none dared to voice their thoughts aloud.

With a contemptuous snort, the genius scientist decided not to waste his breath arguing with these scientifically illiterate observers. He simply extended his hand toward Luffy.

"Where are the fruits? Hand them over," he demanded curtly.

Luffy obediently produced the size-size fruits from his bag and passed them to Vegapunk. The group then watched attentively as the scientist began operating his invention, curious to see how this supposedly revolutionary device functioned.

To everyone's continued skepticism, Vegapunk simply opened the top cover of the machine and placed the Devil Fruit inside.

He then replaced the lid and pressed the start button.

As the machine began running with a familiar "buzzing" sound, they all watched in silence as the blades inside started crushing the Devil Fruit, exactly like... well, a juicer.

This thing... is definitely just a juicer! they all thought simultaneously, exchanging glances of disbelief.

They were about to voice their doubts when suddenly the machine's humming intensified dramatically. The ordinary sound transformed into a high-pitched whine, and a brilliant white light began emanating from within the device.

"HOLY CRAP!" Luffy exclaimed, instinctively pushing everyone back. "IS THE JUICER ABOUT TO EXPLODE?!"

Chapter 453: Why Do You All Want to Give Birth to a Child for Me?

As the mysterious light intensified, everyone shared the same terrified thought. Gion and Kujaku quickly moved to shield Alpha and Violet behind them.

Luffy, reacting with his characteristic lightning-fast reflexes, stretched his arm to protect little Mansherry against his chest. With his other hand, he reached out to pull Vegapunk to safety.

"Don't worry, this is a normal reaction," Vegapunk assured them calmly.

The elderly scientist stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression serene and unbothered—looking every bit like a master completely in control of his creation.

True to his word, the "juicer" behaved just as he predicted. After emitting the brilliant white light for several minutes, the glow gradually diminished. As the machine slowly wound down, Vegapunk calmly donned a pair of specialized gloves and approached it. After carefully operating a series of controls, he extracted something from within.

Luffy and the others peered curiously at what Vegapunk now held—a fully sealed glass tube barely larger than a pinky finger, containing a thin layer of shimmering green liquid at the bottom.

Luffy gave Vegapunk a questioning look.

"This," the scientist explained with evident pride, "is the essence of the Devil Fruit. Once it leaves this specialized containment tube, it can grant abilities to any object it touches."

He looked at them gravely. "This includes the air around us and even our own bodies. Therefore, it's imperative that individuals with Devil Fruit powers take appropriate precautions. This substance must only be handled with professional equipment."

As he spoke, Vegapunk walked to a workbench on the opposite side of the room and carefully placed the glass tube into a device that resembled a miniature microwave oven.

"Now then," he turned to Luffy, "what item would you like to imbue with this power? If you haven't brought something specific, I have spare swords and various pieces of jewelry for you to choose from."

"No thanks," Luffy declined with respectful awe in his voice. "I've prepared something myself."

He reached into his pocket and produced a gold nugget roughly the size of his thumb. Focusing his concentration, Luffy activated his advanced metalworking ability!

Under his power, the gold nugget began to change shape rapidly. The metal flowed like liquid, twisting and reforming until it solidified into an exquisite ring. The band featured an intricate vine pattern, with a pure and noble lily blooming at its center.

Mansherry, who had peeked her tiny head out from the safety of Luffy's chest, was instantly captivated by the beautiful creation. The ring's design perfectly complemented the Tontatta tribe's aesthetic appreciation for plant motifs.

It was, however, far too large for her—the band thicker than her entire waist.

When we return home, she thought to herself, I'll have to ask Luffy to make one my size. I wonder if he can craft something that small...

Mansherry assumed Luffy was creating the ring for someone else, unaware of his true intentions.

"Alright," Luffy said after cooling the golden ring, "it should be ready now, Doctor."

He handed the creation to Vegapunk, who examined it with a knowing smirk. The ring was obviously meant as a gift for someone special.

"Remember to prepare one for Lilith next time," Vegapunk muttered as he accepted the ring, unable to resist one more attempt at his proposition, "or I might not be so willing to help you in the future."

With that remark, he turned around and placed the ring into the specialized machine, activating the process.

Behind him, Luffy's mouth twitched uncontrollably in frustration. He mentally swore that if he ever needed scientific assistance again, he'd send someone else to run the errand rather than dealing with Vegapunk's persistent matchmaking attempts.

The machine hummed softly to life, emitting a warm yellow glow as it began the transformation process.

While they waited, Luffy called Mansherry over and let her stand on his palm, bringing her to eye level.

"Mansherry, do you remember the surprise I mentioned to you before?" he asked with a gentle smile. "This ring, imbued with the power of a Devil Fruit, is my gift to you. Can you guess what ability it will have?"

Mansherry's large, expressive eyes blinked in surprise before lighting up with unrestrained joy. Even though the ring was far too large for her tiny frame, she would treasure it simply because it came from Luffy.

But guessing its power? That was beyond her imagination. Even now, she found it difficult to believe that an inanimate object like a ring could possess Devil Fruit abilities. She had never heard of such a thing in all her time in the Tontatta Kingdom.

"Hmm..." she pondered, tapping her tiny finger against her chin. "Is it a fruit that can summon plants? That would be wonderful!"

Luffy shook his head. "Well, that fruit does exist, but it was eaten by a guy named Binz who works under me."

"Then..." Mansherry tried again, "perhaps it's a fruit that can transform into flowers?"

"Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit is somewhat like that," Luffy explained. "Her powers manifest with petals when she uses them."

Mansherry's shoulders slumped slightly. "I give up! I can't think of what it could be. Please just tell me, Luffy—I'm really looking forward to knowing!"

"Alright," Luffy grinned widely, unable to contain his excitement any longer. "I'll tell you directly. It's a Paramecia Fruit, Size-Size Fruit. Its ability allows the user—or anything living or non-living that's touched while the power is activated—to grow or shrink freely at will."

His eyes softened as he continued. "When you wear this ring, Mansherry, you can become adult-sized... or even as large as a giant if you wanted."

Upon hearing this, Mansherry gasped and covered her mouth in shock. Despite her innocent nature, she immediately understood the implications of this gift and what it meant for their relationship.

The size difference between them had been something she'd worried about privately—particularly the impossibility of having children together. But with this ring, that barrier would vanish completely.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Mansherry could no longer contain herself. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes as she rushed forward to hug Luffy's finger—the closest she could come to embracing him at her current size.

"That's wonderful, Luffy!" she cried happily. "This means I can have your children now!"

Luffy's face froze in an expression of comical shock. Why, he thought with growing exasperation, does EVERYONE suddenly want to have my children?!

Chapter 454: Size Size Rings, Mansherry Becoming an Adult

Wait, wait, wait! What's happening here?! Luffy thought in exasperation. Why does everyone suddenly want to have MY children?!

Meanwhile, Vegapunk, who had been monitoring the machine's operation, perked up with newfound interest. His eyes darted between tiny Mansherry standing in Luffy's palm and the tall marine vice admiral, his scientific curiosity visibly igniting.

"Fascinating!" the elderly scientist exclaimed, practically trembling with excitement. "I'm genuinely intrigued! What would offspring between Tontatta and humans look like? Would they inherit their father's human stature? Or their mother's diminutive Tontatta traits?"

He clasped his hands together enthusiastically. "Come now, Luffy! The great advancement of scientific knowledge depends on you!"

Just as Vegapunk was about to continue his eager speculation, the machine chimed softly, indicating the completion of its process. The scientist quickly retrieved the ring and handed it to Luffy with barely contained impatience.

Looking at Vegapunk's excited expression, Luffy had to resist the urge to deliver a lighting bolt directly to the old man's face.

You never quit, do you? he thought irritably. First you're talking about Lilith bearing my children, and now it's Mansherry? What are you planning to do—be the doctor when all these babies are born?!

Had Vegapunk somehow heard Luffy's internal complaints, he would have undoubtedly thumped his chest proudly and enthusiastically accepted such a mission. The opportunity to examine children of such unique parentage and document how they differed from normal humans would be too tempting to pass up..

Choosing to ignore the scientist's matchmaking schemes—which somehow managed to be even more persistent than his grandfather Garp's—Luffy focused on the task at hand.

He examined the ring carefully before gently offering it to Mansherry. Despite the gold band being thicker than her entire waist, the tiny princess had no difficulty holding it. Her expression, however, revealed confusion about how to actually use an item that had "eaten" a Devil Fruit. She had never encountered such an object before.

Noticing her uncertainty, Vegapunk provided surprisingly patient instruction:

"Relax, little one. Using this is essentially the same as activating your Heal-Heal Fruit powers. Simply feel it with your heart and will the effect to happen."

Luffy added a few words of encouragement, then set her down on the floor and stepped back to give her space.

"Just like using the Heal-Heal Fruit..." Mansherry whispered to herself, clutching the ring that appeared enormous compared to her tiny frame.

She closed her eyes and focused her thought: I want to grow bigger... as big as Luffy.

The moment this desire formed in her mind, Mansherry was startled to find her perspective beginning to change—her line of sight gradually rising.

From Luffy and the others' viewpoint, the Tontatta princess's body was expanding rapidly. Within moments, Mansherry grew from a tiny being barely the size of a palm to the height of an average human woman.

Most remarkably, her proportions changed as well. Unlike her Tontatta form with its characteristically large head and small body, her new form featured perfectly balanced human proportions. Her cranium adjusted to be indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person, while her long golden hair shortened from ankle-length to a more manageable waist-length style.

Her clothing transformed as well. She now wore a light pink knee-length dress paired with elegant white boots that accentuated her legs. The figure that had once been unremarkable in its miniature state became gracefully curved and eye-catching after being enlarged proportionally.

"I—I've grown! I've become an adult!" Mansherry gasped, staring at her hands in disbelief. Her gaze then shifted to Luffy, who now stood at eye level with her. For the first time, she could look at him as an equal, without needing to crane her neck or be held in his palm.

Unable to contain her joy, she rushed toward her beloved.

Seeing Mansherry hurrying toward him, Luffy smiled warmly and opened his arms in welcome. When they collided, he absorbed the impact but still found himself pushed back half a step by her enthusiasm.

Interesting, Luffy noted mentally. The Size-Size Fruit doesn't seem to increase the user's physical strength proportionally. If it did, with the legendary strength the Tontatta naturally possess, even I would be knocked flat if that power were magnified to human scale.

He gently stroked Mansherry's hair, admiring the elegant floral crown that adorned her head—a traditional symbol of her royal status among the Tontatta.

"Congratulations, Mansherry," he said softly. "Now you can live a normal life alongside us whenever you choose."

Mansherry lifted her face—already streaked with tears of happiness—and nodded emphatically. From this closer perspective, Luffy could now clearly see the features that distinguished her Tontatta heritage despite her human size.

The first was her delicately pointed nose—reminiscent of the fairies in children's storybooks. The second was partially hidden behind her—a fluffy squirrel-like tail that reminded Luffy somewhat of Yamato's own distinctive features.

That tail looks so soft! Luffy thought with childlike excitement. I bet it feels amazing to touch, just like Yamato's!

Unfortunately, with others present, he would have to wait for a more private moment to satisfy his curiosity.

Collecting his thoughts, Luffy turned his attention back to Vegapunk with some practical questions.

"Doctor," he began, "generally speaking, when someone with Devil Fruit abilities activates their powers, it consumes their physical stamina. But for an inanimate object like this ring, what does it use as energy? Or does it not require any energy at all?"

Vegapunk, who had been studying Mansherry with intense scientific interest, nodded appreciatively at Luffy's question.

"As expected of you, Luffy-kun," he remarked. "You consistently notice details that others overlook."

Chapter 455: The Devil in the Devil Fruit

"Like you suggested," Vegapunk began with scholarly precision, "when a Devil Fruit ability is activated, it does indeed consume the user's physical strength. However, inanimate objects work somewhat differently—they still require energy, but they draw it directly from their users."

"Drain the user's energy?" Luffy's brow furrowed in surprise. "Is that even possible?"

Seeing Luffy's genuine interest, Vegapunk's demeanor shifted to a more serious tone. The topic clearly touched on one of his most passionate areas of research.

"Yes, my extensive studies confirm this. I wonder, have you ever heard the rumor that there's an actual devil residing within each Devil Fruit?"

"I've heard that theory before," Luffy nodded thoughtfully. "I've also heard that some scientists investigated it, but their research supposedly debunked it as just a rumor. They concluded Devil Fruits are simply magical plants with unusual properties."

As Luffy shared this information, his expression remained conflicted, as though he had more to add but was hesitant to voice it.

Vegapunk leaned forward eagerly when he noticed Luffy's expression. "What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you believe there's more to it?"

"Well," Luffy began carefully, "I don't necessarily think there's a literal demon living inside the fruits. But I also don't think they're as simple as everyone believes."

He crossed his arms"I've heard that the World Government has been searching for a particular devil fruitfor 800 years. Yet somehow, the fruit always seems to elude them. Whenever they get close to securing it, some 'coincidence' occurs, and it slips through their fingers."

Luffy's gaze met Vegapunk's directly. "So while I don't believe in actual demons inside the fruits, I think they possess some level of consciousness—maybe even rudimentary thoughts and intentions."

As Luffy spoke, Vegapunk's eyes grew progressively wider with excitement. By the time Luffy finished, the elderly scientist couldn't contain himself and broke into enthusiastic applause.

"Brilliant! That's an impressively bold hypothesis. I knew my assessment of your intellect wasn't mistaken."

After his brief celebration, Vegapunk's expression turned solemn. He addressed everyone present with the gravity of someone revealing a scientific breakthrough.

"You're absolutely correct. Devil Fruits do possess their own form of consciousness. Moreover, they sometimes actively select suitable individuals to wield their powers."

He paced slowly as he continued. "This was merely speculation at first. But after encountering the same question you just raised—how inanimate objects that have 'eaten' Devil Fruits consume energy—I conducted extensive research. My findings ultimately confirmed this theory."

Vegapunk approached Mansherry, examining the lily-adorned ring now proportionally sized on her human-scale finger. His eyes held a complex mixture of fascination and wariness.

"The ring itself is an inanimate object, but the Devil Fruit power bonded to it maintains a form of consciousness—or perhaps more accurately, instinct. This instinct allows it to identify precisely who is utilizing its abilities and draw energy from that person as compensation."

His voice dropped slightly, as though sharing a profound secret. "They're remarkably intelligent in their own way. These powers can even detach themselves from objects once they've been damaged beyond a certain threshold. They revert to their fruit form and wait patiently for another compatible user whose abilities align with their... preferences."

"Hissss!"

Kujaku, Violet, and the other women present gasped in collective shock. Vegapunk's conclusion was so unsettling it sent chills down their spines.

Those who possessed Devil Fruit abilities felt particularly disturbed. The thought that some alien consciousness might be residing within their bodies left them feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Only Luffy remained relatively composed, showing minimal resistance to this revelation. Of course, he'd already encountered similar information in his previous life. The Human Human Fruit model Nika was a prime example of a particularly difficult fruit to control, though most others were more manageable.

"Haha! Well, if it has consciousness, then it has consciousness," Luffy shrugged with characteristic nonchalance. "For hundreds or thousands of years, I've never heard of a Devil Fruit turning against its user. As long as its powers are useful to us, nothing else really matters."

Vegapunk smiled appreciatively at Luffy's pragmatic outlook. "That's precisely right. And the 'consciousness' we're discussing is merely relative. Compared to ordinary objects, Devil Fruits simply possess more sophisticated instincts. But considering their magical nature, such properties shouldn't be especially surprising."

As they shared a knowing chuckle, the tension in the room dissipated. The women listening to their conversation relaxed noticeably, no longer viewing their own abilities as potential threats.

Now that Luffy had accomplished what he came for and received answers to his questions, he saw no reason to linger. He was particularly eager to return home and properly examine Mansherry's squirrel-like tail—for purely scientific reasons, of course.

"Thank you for everything, Doctor," he said with a polite bow. "If there's nothing else, we should be heading back now. Until next time."

Luffy took Mansherry's hand in his, ready to depart. Despite being so unceremoniously dismissed after providing his service, Vegapunk showed no signs of offense. Instead, he waved them off with unmistakable enthusiasm.

"Yes, yes, off you go! And remember—work diligently on producing that baby as soon as possible~!"

Luffy's mental response contained a string of colorful expletives that would have made even the most hardened pirate blush. However, out of respect for the scientist's help, he managed to suppress his outburst.

"Just wait," he said through gritted teeth. "I have absolutely no plans to become a father anytime in the next few years."

Vegapunk's face immediately fell into an expression of profound disappointment. The thought of delaying such a fascinating scientific opportunity clearly pained him deeply.