Byrnndi World himself wasn't exceptionally strong, but the reason he was valued by figures like Sengoku and Garp was solely because of his Multiply-Multiply Fruit. This Devil Fruit is incredibly overpowered. If you use a sufficiently large cannon and stack the Multiply-Multiply Fruit's effects, it can create power similar to an Ancient Weapon like Pluton, which is simply absurd.
Although truly strong fighters can stop high-powered, stacked cannonballs , strong individuals aren't always present at every Marine base.
If the Revolutionary Army obtains the Multiply-Multiply Fruit, it will create a powerful threat against the World Government and the Marines. An Admiral wouldn't dare to leave the base easily, otherwise, there would be no one to defend it if it came under heavy bombardment. This shows the strategic importance of the Multiply-Multiply Fruit.
Of course, if they could also find the Target-Target Fruit, it would open up another kind of strategic potential.
In short, the Revolutionary Army absolutely needs to get the Multiply-Multiply Fruit. Carl regretted missing the Lion-Lion Fruit before, so he couldn't let the Multiply-Multiply Fruit slip away now.
"Anyway, try your best to find it. I won't worry about it," Carl concluded.
He then hung up the Transponder Snail.
Life is definitely easier for people who don't have a mission, he thought. If he were a member of the Revolutionary Army, he'd be busy and stressed right now.
It was nice not being part of the Revolutionary Army. Carl didn't regret his choice to become a pirate. Although pirates have a bad reputation, they are less restricted. Plus, this was a chaotic era, and many people sailing the sea weren't truly bandits. There were also dirty parts of the Marines and the World Government, so it was already impossible to clearly distinguish right from wrong.
So, even as a pirate, I'll just stick to my own principles.
Carl looked at Marie again and saw the young girl calmly eating biscuits. He genuinely didn't know what she was thinking.
"Marie, think again about what kind of Devil Fruit you might want," Carl said casually. "The Revolutionary Army still owes us two. You can ask for whatever you want. They're the ones responsible for finding it, so we don't have to put in any effort."
Carl wasn't overly obsessed with whether Marie ate a Devil Fruit or not. Marie's superpower was already strong enough. If she developed it well, it was entirely possible for her to defeat a Marine Admiral in the future, so a Devil Fruit wasn't necessary. Of course, if Marie did want to eat one, it would simply be an added bonus, and there might be unexpected effects.
Marie paused while eating her biscuit. "Then let them owe us," she said. "We can ask them to find the fruit we want when we figure out what it is."
"Hahaha! Yes, let them owe it!" Carl burst out laughing, agreeing with her idea.
Since they didn't have an urgently needed fruit right now, having the Revolutionary Army owe them was fine. Carl believed that Monkey D. Dragon, Luffy's father, and Sabo, his brother, wouldn't go back on their debt.
"Hehe, you two are truly funny, but I like it," Nico Robin said, covering her mouth as she smiled.
Nami couldn't help but roll her eyes. She probably figured out why those three always gravitated toward each other: they were all similarly mischievous.
In another part of the kingdom, Luffy led Shirahoshi forward, heading in the same direction the flying axes had come from earlier.
Prince Fukaboshi and the Merman guards he led looked serious, maintaining high vigilance. In contrast, the Straw Hat Crew seemed completely at ease, showing little tension.
Sanji spent the entire time with heart-shaped eyes, constantly trying to flirt with Shirahoshi. However, Shirahoshi seemed focused only on Luffy. She kept talking to him and even mentioned her desire to visit the Sea Forest. Predictably, Luffy immediately insisted they go to the Sea Forest, putting off the task of defeating Vander Decken IX.
He seemed incredibly unreliable!
However, Fukaboshi showed no signs of dissatisfaction. Throughout the journey, the Straw Hats had successfully blocked the incoming flying weapons three times in a row.
Before Fukaboshi and his Merman team could even detect any signs of a flying weapon, the green-haired swordsman of the Straw Hats had already moved. He then easily knocked the flying weapon out of the way.
If the crew members are this formidable, their captain, Straw Hat Luffy, must be even more powerful!
While Fukaboshi still didn't fully understand the true power of a Yonko, he only needed to know that Luffy's combat ability was at the very top of the sea. Because of this, he didn't feel the need to worry too much.
The group arrived at the Sea Forest not long after.
Den was a little surprised and even more shocked to see Prince Fukaboshi and Princess Shirahoshi arriving in person. However, Den asked no questions. He simply greeted them and went back to coating the Thousand Sunny. Franky quickly rushed over to help.
Shirahoshi gazed at the beautiful Sea Forest, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Straw Hat Captain, thank you," Fukaboshi sincerely said. "Shirahoshi has been confined to the hard-shell tower. For her safety, we have been afraid to take her out. She must have wanted to come here for a very long time, and it's wonderful that her wish can finally be granted!"
Luffy just giggled. "You're welcome. Once I beat that Vander-something guy into the air, the crybaby can come here whenever she wants!"
As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he shall appear.
At that moment, a four-legged Fish-Man wearing overalls approached, surrounded by a group of Merman subordinates.
"...Hehehe, isn't this my dearest bride, Princess Shirahoshi! You've finally left the shell tower! Has your heart changed, and do you want to accept my marriage proposal? Hehehe!" The four-legged Fish-Man laughed shrilly, his voice sharp and piercing.
Fukaboshi and Shirahoshi's expressions changed. "You are Vander Decken IX!"
The Straw Hat Crew was briefly stunned. "This four-legged guy is Vander Decken IX? He actually came right to us!"
For the Straw Hats, it was perfect that the enemy came right to their door; it saved them the trouble of searching. Now, they had fulfilled Shirahoshi's wish to see the Sea Forest and could also knock Vander Decken into the air. It truly killed two birds with one stone!
"I must refuse!" Shirahoshi suddenly yelled loudly, seemingly out of nowhere. "I'm sorry, but you really aren't my type!"
Gah!!!
Vander Decken IX seemed to have been profoundly struck. Even though his purpose in pursuing Shirahoshi was impure, he was deeply hurt by such a blunt rejection, and his anger flared. Since Shirahoshi refused to agree, he would have to use force.
"In that case, I will kidnap you to be my bride..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a fist rushing toward him. The next thing he knew, his jaw was throbbing, and his entire body was flying through the air.
He could still hear screaming in his ears and saw a flash of lightning jumping through his subordinate team. Every single one of his subordinates fell to the ground in the next second.
This is not the time to be united against the enemy at all!
Vander Decken IX, still soaring mid-air, finally got a clear look at the straw hat on Luffy's head, and his eyes instantly shrunk. It was impossible for him not to know about the newly promoted Five Emperors. The fact that he did know filled him with terror. He hadn't expected such a huge power to show up here!