Perona stared blankly at Moses, looking somewhat dumbfounded. "Seems like there's no way out."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. When I teach you how to fight later, it'll definitely hurt more than drawing blood does now."
"Consider this a rehearsal. Don't be scared. Here, let me help you hold this."
As he spoke, Moses pressed the cotton ball against her injection site for her.
With Moses comforting her, Perona reluctantly agreed.
Robin watched this scene, pursing her lips as she pressed the cotton ball on her own arm. She couldn't help but feel a sense of distance between herself and them.
But that was only natural—after all, she was currently the boy's captive.
Once everything was done, Moses led the two downstairs. The moment they reached the bottom, Perona threw herself into Bear Cub's arms.
"Hahahahaha! Bear Cub, Bear Cub! A real-life panda!"
Bear Cub looked at Perona, then at Moses, grinding his teeth slightly. Moses chuckled, "Why not play with her? Her abilities are pretty fun too."
The next moment, Bear Cub's eyes lit up as he wrapped his arms around Perona's slender waist.
Perona's eyes sparkled, thinking Bear Cub liked her, and she excitedly raised her head.
The next second, a huge dark maw came at her.
Everything went black.
Kureha descended the stairs at that moment, only to see a pair of slender legs dangling from Bear Cub's mouth before being completely swallowed.
Kureha remained utterly unfazed.
However, with a clatter—
Moses turned to see Robin staring wide-eyed at the scene, a stool toppled behind her.
Robin pointed at Bear Cub in horror and stammered, "Peipei got eaten! Hurry and save her!"
Moses glanced at Bear Cub and said softly, "Don't hurt her. Just play around."
"Rooaar~"
Bear Cub nodded.
His body then began to transform, his frame becoming more slender, pink hair sprouting from his bear head, and his face taking on some of Perona's features.
Moses' eye twitched—it looked disturbingly bizarre. The next second, Bear Cub's body convulsed before he plopped onto the ground, lying flat with his eyes rolled back.
Then, he stood back up, one hand on his hip, looking aggrieved as he whined at Moses:
"Why did Bear Cub eat me? I turned into a panda! Wuwuwu, Moses, I don't wanna play anymore!"
It felt even more unsettling—the whimpers didn't sound like whimpers at all. Moses sighed helplessly.
"You knocked out his consciousness using your Conqueror Spirit's power, right? Since you're the one controlling the body now, do you feel like you can use another Devil Fruit's abilities?"
Perona focused on her current state.
The Munch-Munch Fruit's fusion ability didn't just merge Perona's body with Bear Cub's—it even partially fused their Spirit Bodies.
This was the key to Perona overpowering Bear Cub's consciousness with her own Spirit Body.
After all, the Hollow-Hollow Fruit had an overwhelming effect on Spirit Bodies.
Its abilities were pretty broken too.
Combined with Conqueror's Haki, Bear Cub's consciousness was easily crushed.
With their bodies fused, Perona's Spirit Body took over.
Unlike Moses' fusion with Bear Cub—where Moses used technique to seize control—Perona brute-forced her way through sheer power and her fruit's unique traits to dominate the body.
After taking over the merged body, Perona quickly figured out how to use the ability. First, she exited the merged state, then opened her mouth and spat out her own body.
Eventually, the Spirit Body also separated on its own.
Bear Cub fell backward and lay flat on the ground.
The Spirit Body dove back into its own flesh, and Perona took a deep breath, looking thoroughly displeased. She sat squarely on Bear Cub's chest, her flat but perky bottom pressing down as she reached out and tugged at his furry face.
Kureha watched with amazement—this was her first time seeing such a Devil Fruit ability.
"Quite fascinating. Bear Cub has met his match."
"Yes, in every sense of the word."
Robin let out a sigh of relief. She was quite fond of Perona as a friend, so seeing her unharmed put her at ease.
"Caw!"
At that moment, Crow Dabao pried open the door with his claws and waddled in with a duck-like gait.
Spotting Bear Cub lying motionless on the ground and Perona sitting atop him, kneading his fur, Crow Dabao froze.
"Did... Bear Cub get knocked out too?"
Moses nodded. Without another word, Crow Dabao spun around, flapped his wings, and flew straight out.
...
[Merit Points +1]
Moses glanced at the holographic panel in front of him. As usual, his daily Merit Points increased by one.
He got up and tidied himself.
After sparing a glance at Bear Cub, who was sleeping on a blanket by his bed, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Then, he leaped out the window.
Soon, he arrived in the snowy forest outside.
Before long, Bear Cub's body shrank and then expanded back to normal as he appeared outside, yawning and lumbering toward Moses.
After breakfast, Bear Cub wiped his mouth.
"Moses, wanna go hunting?"
"Still hungry? Fine, let's go."
A month had passed since they returned home.
Ocean Cycle Calendar, Year 1506.
January 5th.
Moses had grown another year older.
He jogged through the snowy forest, Bear Cub trotting alongside him.
Above them, Crow Dabao soared, his sharp avian eyes scanning the snow-laden trees below.
Before long, Crow Dabao swooped down past Moses.
"Go—that way."
Moses immediately picked up speed.
His figure flickered in and out of view amidst the swirling snow.
Behind him, Bear Cub also accelerated—though he frequently lost his footing, tumbling face-first into the snow with a clumsy, bear-like flail.
Moments later, Crow Dabao perched on a tree branch.
At the same time, Moses and Bear Cub arrived.
Ahead of them stood a massive Snow Hippopotamus. Judging by its size, it was quite old—its teeth yellowed, its fur dull.
Moses' eyes lit up. He dashed forward, his right fist crackling with black-red arcs of energy before slamming heavily into the beast's forehead.
Thud!
The three-meter-long Snow Hippopotamus collapsed, its eyes rolling back, a large lump swelling on its head.
Moses pulled out a red-and-blue capsule from his waist pouch and shoved it into the creature's mouth.
Grabbing a handful of snow, he forced that down its throat too.
Then, he waited quietly for the transformation.
Before long, the Snow Hippopotamus' muscles began to writhe. Its fur shed at a visible rate as its body shrank rapidly. Soon, a half-meter-long juvenile lay before them.
Even though it wasn't his first time witnessing this, Moses was still amazed.
APTX 4869Ⅱ
It seemed Kureha had truly succeeded in developing it.
He took out a small syringe, drew a tube of blood, and handed it to Crow Dabao, who had flown down.
Gripping the Cold Dew Short Sword, Moses flicked his wrist—
A cold gleam flashed.
A small, bloodied piece of the creature's ear was cleanly sliced off.
He handed that to Crow Dabao as well.
Amidst a ripple of space.
"Castle Space - Laboratory"
The sample was placed into a container on the laboratory table.
Today's tasks were mostly complete.
Staring at the Snow Hippopotamus cub, Moses muttered, "Should I take it back and make breakfast out of it?"
"No, no, better not. Who knows if the drugs have fully metabolized? Still, the experiments must continue."
Turning to Crow Dabao, he said, "Go find a bigger one. See if there's a herd or something. With more mouths to feed at home, one won't be enough."
Crow Dabao soared into the sky.
Just then, a figure grew from small to large and landed on the ground.
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A spray of snowflakes scattered.
Breathing out white mist and bundled up tightly, Robin looked at Moses and said:
"I've made up my mind. I want to stay with you. Can you teach me how to train?"
Over the past month, Robin had felt a sense of security she'd never experienced before. She no longer had to wake up each morning and immediately check her surroundings for danger.
No more worries about survival.
She ate well and slept soundly every day.
It was even better than the life she'd had before she turned eight.
This kind of life had made her somewhat greedy.
After a month of thinking and observing, she realized that Moses and the others had never shown her the slightest malice.
Peipei even treated her like a close friend.
Every day, she watched Moses and the others train, and Perona was also following along.
Only she had nothing to do.
She didn't want to be left out.
So, Robin looked at Moses earnestly and repeated her request.
"Please teach me how to train. I want to become stronger."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch. I can teach you, but I'll be putting in effort—so what about you? What can you offer in return?"
Moses raised an eyebrow and stared at Robin.
"You're not planning to freeload off me forever, are you? For the past month, you've been eating my food, drinking my drinks, wearing my clothes, and living under my roof. You don't actually think I'm some kind of philanthropist, do you?"
Robin wasn't like Perona. She had a mature and sound mind, and she knew that a one-sided relationship wouldn't last.
"As long as you don't abandon or betray me, and don't hand me over to the World Government, my life is yours from now on. As long as you don't cross my bottom line, I'll do anything you ask."
"Not bad resolve. I can teach you. So, what is your bottom line?" Moses smirked. "It's not something flexible, is it? The moment I ask you to do something you don't like, you'll just say, 'That's my bottom line'?"
Robin felt lost, unsure, and inexplicably angry and hurt.
"Then why don't you ask Peipei to offer anything in return?"
Moses sighed faintly, his expression calm.
"Peipei is an idiot. But I also believe that no matter what I do, she'll follow me—even if it's something heinous."
"She trusts me unconditionally."
"She's an idiot, with an underdeveloped sense of morality. Easy to fool."
"Within half an hour of meeting me, she dared to help me steal a Devil Fruit from the mafia—and she was the main force."
"Even if it was thanks to her Devil Fruit abilities."
"And you?"
"I can tell. Your life experiences have made you very mature. You're extremely wary and don't trust anyone easily."
"You're quite perceptive." Robin pursed her lips, lowering her eyelids. "I did want to use you—to grow stronger through you, to survive better. Here, I don't have to hide every day. I want to master the power to protect myself."
"But what I said earlier wasn't a lie. As for my bottom line, as long as you don't make me kill innocents, I'll help you with anything."
"Since you refuse—"
Moses waved his hand, cutting her off. "I never claim to be a good person, but I have my own principles."
"I can teach you. But remember your words. And... I hate betrayal too."
Robin nodded lightly, her lips still pressed together.
Moses smiled and extended his hand. "Let's introduce ourselves properly. I'm Portgas D. Moses. Welcome to my side, Robin."
Robin blinked, looking at Moses's pale, ungloved hand. She removed her right glove and shook it.
"You already know me. I'm Nico Robin."
Moses chuckled. "The Devil Child, huh? Quite the reputation."
Robin's expression darkened. Moses felt her hand stiffen and gave it a firm squeeze.
"Don't overthink it. I'm not mocking you. Just thought your title sounded kinda edgy."
"Edgy?" Robin looked puzzled. "Not terrifying?"
"Someone like you? I could make you cry with one punch. 'Terrifying' my ass. The World Government's lost their minds. 'World Destroyer' would fit better—now that's terrifying."
Robin stared blankly, finding some truth in his words. Then her cheeks puffed out.
"Who would even take that kind of title?"
"Maybe someone," Moses said. "Anyway, enough talk. Let's go hunting."
He turned to Bear Cub, who was watching curiously. "Bring the hippo calf. We're moving."
Releasing Robin's hand, Moses led the way.
Bear Cub obediently swallowed the calf whole and trotted after them.
Soon, on a snowy slope, Moses spotted a pack of six or seven snow wolves below. He signaled Bear Cub to regurgitate the calf from its stomach space.
Grabbing the calf by its hind leg, Moses hurled it down. The thud of impact drew the wolves' attention.
The scent of blood excited them.
Minutes later, the wolves put on a vivid display of nature's law for Moses.
Once they finished eating, Moses charged at them. Seeing another "meal" approach, the wolves circled him eagerly.
Moses scoffed. His eyes flashed—Conqueror's Haki surged outward, precisely sweeping over them.
Snowflakes swirling around him scattered in a gust.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The wolves collapsed, eyes rolled back, unconscious.
"Clearing out trash with Conqueror's Haki is way too convenient," Moses mused.
Robin approached, staring at him in awe.
"Like Peipei's ability... Is that Conqueror's Haki? Amazing. Can I learn it?"
Moses smirked.
"Once your Breath training reaches the Unity of Heaven and Man, and you can sense the fluctuations of your Spirit Body's Breath rhythm, you'll be able to awaken it naturally. Otherwise... it's up to fate."
"Breath training? Unity of Heaven and Man? Levels?"
Moses just smiled.
For now, he was more interested in observing whether the wolves would show any side effects after eating the Snow Hippopotamus dosed with APTX 4869Ⅱ.
Taking advantage of this free moment, Moses began formally explaining to Robin what the Breath technique was.
As time passed.
Half an hour later.
Moses collected blood samples from several snow wolves and had Crow Dabao take them back to the laboratory in the castle.
At this point, Moses turned to Crow Dabao, "Da Bao, hasn't Peipei woken up yet?"
Crow Dabao: "No. Should I go wake her up?"
"Mmm. The air is so fresh—she should come out and breathe it in."
Robin watched the snowflakes drifting in the sky and felt the wind whistling around her. She gave Moses a peculiar look:
"Aren't you cold at all? And don't you think it's strange that you're wearing so little? This is Winter Island, after all."
Moses glanced at his own attire—a pair of waterproof brown-gray pants, a purp
le long-sleeved T-shirt, and a thin gray-white long-sleeved jacket over it. On his feet were waterproofed deerskin boots.
It did look rather light.
He then looked at Robin, who was bundled up tightly.
"Doctorine wears even less than I do—she even shows her belly button. You're just not used to seeing it."
Robin thought for a moment and shivered. "That woman really doesn't feel cold at all?"
"Who knows? If you're curious, go ask her."
"Never mind." Robin's eyes flickered. "I have a feeling I'd get punched if I asked."
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