Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

She didn't have any improper designs on the Captain, but that didn't mean she would let others walk all over her.

Displaying a bit of capability was the only way to ensure everyone understood the hierarchy.

"Captain, look, this Devil Fruit..."

Having completed her counterattack against Baby 5, Nico Robin began explaining everything to Zane in high spirits.

These Devil Fruits that Baby 5 had brought were undoubtedly part of the accumulated treasure of the Happo Navy over generations.

One could even say they were carefully selected as the strategic reserves for the Happo Navy's future.

Consequently, under Nico Robin's introduction, all six Devil Fruits were revealed to be genuine rarities.

Among them, three were Ancient Zoan types, namely:

The Bird-Bird Fruit, Ancient Model: Argentavis!

The Bear-Bear Fruit, Ancient Model: Kolponomos!

The Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Velociraptor!

Then there were two Paramecia types:

The Repelling Fruit!

The Eye-Eye Fruit!

The last one was a Logia type: the Mercury Fruit!

With six Devil Fruits in total, the Happo Navy's collection had managed to cover every single one of the three Devil Fruit classifications.

"The Eye-Eye Fruit..."

Once the introduction was over, Zane didn't say a word, reaching out to pick up the Paramecia-type Eye-Eye Fruit.

As his thumb brushed against the fruit in his hand, his gaze grew profound as he observed it.

Legend had it that Devil Fruits possessed a consciousness of their own and would actively choose their hosts.

The Nika Fruit, for instance, had spent eight hundred years eluding the World Government time and time again. As if guided by a force like 'Final Destination,' it always found a way to escape their grasp.

Looking at the Eye-Eye Fruit in his hand now, Zane couldn't help but wonder if he had found this fruit, or if the fruit had used some unknown means to attract him.

In fact, before his past life's memories had reawakened, one of his main goals in going to sea was to find this specific fruit.

According to descriptions from his old man, the Eye-Eye Fruit was the superior version of the Glare-Glare Fruit and was the most suitable fruit for the Three-Eye Tribe.

This was because there was a high probability that this fruit could awaken the hidden special abilities of his tribe.

Even after his memories had returned, Zane still viewed the Eye-Eye Fruit as his best choice.

Think about it.

The Three-Eye Tribe and the Eye-Eye Fruit—the two were a perfect, matching set.

Just as Zane had been searching for the Eye-Eye Fruit, the fruit might very well have been searching for him.

'Such a meeting really does feel like fate. But unfortunately for you, I'm no ordinary person. Even if you really do have a consciousness, you'll have to take it up with my Nen!' Zane suddenly began to laugh.

He was definitely going to claim the Eye-Eye Fruit for his own.

However, whether it was to guard against the so-called consciousness within the fruit or to remove its inherent weaknesses, he wouldn't consume it directly.

He would definitely use the method of looting the ability instead.

'Using a cheat is a thrill, but using it forever is pure bliss.'

Only an idiot would have a cheat and not use it.

He sent the Eye-Eye Fruit into his Munch-Munch Space.

He would wait until he found a suitable sacrifice to plunder the power later.

Next, Zane gathered Manlong and the elites of the hunting team before him.

"Manlong, do any of these Devil Fruits catch your eye? If they do, take one."

Zane had Nico Robin introduce the fruits to everyone again before looking first toward Manlong.

As his number-one subordinate, Zane naturally wouldn't forget Manlong when good things were available.

Manlong stared silently at the Devil Fruits in the treasure chest. After pondering for a long time, he reached down and grabbed one.

"Boss, I want this one," Manlong said, requesting Zane's permission.

Zane looked at the fruit his subordinate had chosen.

It wasn't the sole Logia type, but rather the Paramecia-type Repelling Fruit.

"Alright." Zane nodded slightly, having no objection to Manlong's choice.

Just like his own choice of the Eye-Eye Fruit, compatibility was key.

A Paramecia type wasn't necessarily inferior to a Logia.

It all came down to how well it meshed with the user.

Moreover, in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia that Nico Robin had read, the Repelling Fruit was described as being part of the top tier among Paramecia types.

*Crunch!*

Seeing that Zane approved of his choice, Manlong didn't hesitate and took a bite of the Repelling Fruit immediately.

He chewed and frowned.

Evidently, even someone with a steady temperament like Manlong found it difficult to stomach the unique, foul taste of a Devil Fruit.

It wasn't until he swallowed the pulp that his brow finally relaxed.

Silently experiencing the change, Manlong seemed to have an epiphany. He raised his hand and aimed his palm at a nearby empty space.

*BOOM!*

Without any visible exertion from Manlong, a visible shockwave suddenly erupted from his palm.

The shockwave took the form of a light beam, easily whipping up layers of air and reaching a hundred meters away. It even caused spider-web-like cracks to crawl across the ice below along its path.

Everyone present had witnessed the extreme hardness of the ice in this place.

Seeing Manlong crack the ice with a casual gesture immediately caused many eyes to widen in shock.

"Using repulsion to generate shockwaves... it seems you're adapting to your ability very quickly!" Zane whistled, a grin spreading across his face.

"Yes, I like this ability very much!" Manlong looked back at Zane, showing a rare expression of joy with a happy smile.

Zane was also happy for him.

Suddenly, he looked at the elites of the hunting team, who were watching him with burning gazes.

"What? Are there fruits in here that you want too?" Zane asked playfully, seeing the expressions on his elite subordinates.

"Yes, yes, Captain! I want a Devil Fruit too!"

"If the Captain permits, I hope to use a Devil Fruit to become stronger so I can serve you better!"

"Hehe..."

Aside from those who were already ability users like Bones and Bon Kurei, everyone else scrambled to express their desire.

With Manlong as an example, the remaining four Devil Fruits were naturally a massive temptation.

Zane watched the reactions of his elites with interest.

"As your Captain, I naturally want to cultivate your potential. But as you can see, there are only a few Devil Fruits right now. It's impossible for everyone to get one."

"So, I can only distribute them based on merit. The greater and more numerous your contributions, the higher your ranking will be when it comes to allocating Devil Fruits."

Zane had already decided how to handle the remaining fruits.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have gathered all the elites here.

"First up is Roche!"

Zane scanned the non-ability-user elites, his gaze finally resting on one man.

Roche!

He was a man wearing a peaked cap and an open-chested fur coat.

On the surface, this man looked ordinary, and his peaked cap kept the upper half of his face perpetually hidden in shadow.

But in reality, he was one of the earliest members of the hunting team—one of the former members of the Bellamy Pirates.

From the early days in Newcastle to Ancient Jaya, and then to the clashes with the Baroque Works officers...

Roche's strength might only be considered average among the elites, but in terms of both seniority and merit, he was qualified to be at the very front of the line.