"Twenty years?"
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The still-young Big Mom froze for a moment when she heard Orin's words, then her eyes flickered with thought.
Twenty years later, she would only be in her middle age. Her ability to bear children would still be intact. To exchange a Devil Fruit for a monstrously powerful son—one strong enough to conquer the entire world...
She couldn't deny it. The offer made Charlotte Linlin's heart stir. Her gaze on Orin grew strangely intense.
"Hey!!! Orin, are you serious?"
"Can I really have a child with you? As long as my looks don't fade..."
Looks or not, for someone like her—especially Linlin, who controlled souls and could even influence lifespan to a certain degree—maintaining beauty in middle age by manipulating fat and vitality was hardly impossible.
She just hoped Orin wasn't toying with her.
But why wait twenty years for such a thing?
"When I give my word, it's never something I can't make happen!!!"
Orin thought to himself: in any case, it won't be me who has to worry about it, but the version of me in another branch of the timeline. So there was no burden on his mind.
"As for why it has to be twenty years later—that's none of your concern."
"..."
After a long silence, clutching her wound, the voluptuous Charlotte Linlin slowly rose to her feet. She stared at Orin for a long while, then finally turned, gripping Napoleon tightly, and began walking away.
As she departed, she looked back over her shoulder and left a final statement.
"This Devil Fruit counts as me owing you a favor. When you fulfill your promise, then this matter will be settled..."
Orin's expression was unreadable.
Watching the giant-like young Linlin depart, he shrugged.
Not my problem~
Once Linlin left, only Orin, Keek, and two little ones remained at the scene.
Orin had already been about to leave, but fortunately noticed the two pitiful kids at the last moment.
After a brief thought, he glanced at the two Devil Fruits in his hand. Having made up his mind, he tossed the Paw-Paw Fruit over.
"Kuma, think of it as payment for giving me some face."
In Orin's view, the Azure Dragon Fruit alone was more than enough for the old man. As for the Paw-Paw Fruit—though buggy—it wasn't of much use to him.
And the simple, honest little Kuma looked quite agreeable. Before in the timeline, he had always treated Orin politely.
So Orin casually handed it over. Otherwise, this timeline's Kuma, Ivankov, and Ginny would likely end up miserably dead.
"Ah—ahhh!!!"
Fumbling, Kuma raised both hands above his head, trying in a panic to catch the fruit. He fumbled again and again, failing to get a firm grip.
The sight amused Orin greatly, and he uncharacteristically added a few more words.
"Since you've got a Fruit now, get moving... This place is about to turn into hell~"
"Ah… y-yes!!!"
...
Two small eyes stared intently. Keek clutched the Azure Dragon Fruit in his hand, unable to calm his heart.
"Um… Captain Orin, well, I still have to ask... why would you give me something so precious?"
"Why?"
Orin rubbed his chin and looked at the earnest Keek, who was waiting for an explanation. He answered casually, as if it were nothing.
"Because I'm your grandson~"
"Actually, I came back from the future using a Devil Fruit ability."
"..."
Orin spoke so nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal. But in Keek's ears, the words exploded like thunder!!!
I… I-I-I… am Captain Orin's gramps???
It took him a long time before, under Orin's insistence, he reluctantly accepted the claim. Yet curiosity gnawed at him.
"Then who's your grandmother?"
"Grandmother?" Orin looked exasperated. "There's no such thing. You stayed single your whole life."
"???"
"I was adopted. Not a blood grandson."
"So I'm just your god-grandfather?" (disappointed face)
It made sense, though. Keek didn't have the confidence to believe his own bloodline could produce a monster like Orin—one of the world's absolute top beings.
But his curiosity about the future grew.
Orin didn't reveal much. He only told him that not long after God Valley ended, he would return to his homeland, where he would find his newborn self. All he needed to do was raise him—and then wait to be carried along for the ride.
Keek nodded, deep in thought.
Orin figured the man was just stunned by the revelation and needed time to process it. So he patted Keek's shoulder with a mischievous grin.
"So you see, I'm not your brother, old man~"
Keek's mouth twitched. Only now did he realize he had been treating his own grandson as a sworn brother…
But his respect for Orin ran too deep. Even knowing Orin was his grandson, he couldn't bring himself to change his attitude so quickly—let alone lose his temper.
Instead, he tucked the Azure Dragon Fruit into his chest and followed along, a little gloomily.
Orin noticed and looked down at him.
"What's wrong? Not going to eat it?
That Fruit was stolen just for you—it's the future possession of a ruler of the seas."
"Compared to the Fruit you ate, how does this one measure up?"
Keek had no real knowledge of Devil Fruits. A pure martial artist, he knew nothing about awakening, development techniques, or the like.
But Orin genuinely considered the question.
At present, the Warp-Warp Fruit suited him perfectly—high compatibility, limitless potential.
Still, the Azure Dragon Fruit was undeniably flashy, offered tremendous physical boosts, elemental control, and in Orin's hands would certainly shine. Its awakened form was outright broken.
From the perspective of ability development, considering everything together...
"I'd say they're both great. Each has its own strengths." Orin smiled.
Keek pressed a hand over the Azure Dragon Fruit in his chest and smiled as well.
I see.
It really is a strong Fruit…
But hearing that, Keek decided not to eat it. He knew his own limits—lacking talent, he'd never be able to master it. It would only waste such a mighty Fruit.
Better to save it for his grandson. If fate denied him another good Fruit, at least he'd have this one as a guarantee.
Keek thought it only natural.
After all, his grandson was a monster of unimaginable power. He deserved the very best Devil Fruit.
If Keek himself could not be king among monsters, then he'd be king of nurturing one.
He, Keek… was a man of dreams!!!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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