"A while ago in the New World, we caught a group of pirates, and this was found when we searched their ship."
Holding Aria in his arms, Zephyr looked at Ian with confusion. "What's wrong?"
Ian: "..."
What's wrong?
You're still asking me what's wrong?
Ian silently looked at the Yami Yami no Mi in his hand.
That's right, this was the Dark-Dark Fruit that a certain gap-toothed man dreamt of day and night.
He didn't expect that Zephyr and the others would actually end up getting it?
Just as Ian frowned at the Devil Fruit in his hand, Zephyr suddenly snatched the Devil Fruit away and said cheerfully, "This is a gift from me to Aria. What are you grabbing it for?"
"I was just looking."
Ian didn't try to take it back.
Watching Zephyr hand the Devil Fruit to Aria, he said irritably: "Do you even know what Devil Fruit this is?"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit! I already looked it up in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
Zephyr said matter-of-factly. "A Logia-type Devil Fruit. Whether Aria eats it or sells it, it's quite valuable!"
Ian: "..."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian raised his eyebrows, then looked at his daughter, who was now curiously holding the Devil Fruit. He stroked his chin and thought, could it be that Aria is eligible to eat the Dark-Dark Fruit too?
Don't tell him his daughter was also going to be a little black-hearted troublemaker!
He clearly remembered that after the Dark-Dark Fruit was fully developed, its black hole ability could even absorb sunlight itself, plunging the world into darkness.
It seemed... Somewhat counter to his own abilities!
While Ian was deep in thought, Aria was also curiously staring at the Devil Fruit in her hands. Her bright eyes lifted as she looked up at Zephyr. "The Dark-Dark Fruit?"
"That's right. Do you want to eat it?"
Seeing his adorable granddaughter, Zephyr smiled happily and nodded. "Grandpa got it by accident, so I'm giving it to you. If you want to eat it, then eat it. If not—"
He winked at her. "Then sell it. A Logia-type Devil Fruit should fetch around a billion Belly. Consider it grandpa's reward!"
Ian: "..."
A billion Belly…
If Teach found out, he'd offer ten billion... No, knowing him, he'd just steal it!
Ian also looked curiously at Aria. As for Devil Fruits, he wasn't lacking. He still had the Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit and Vampire Fruit unused.
But what would Aria choose?
And if Aria ate it, what would Teach decide?
Would he honestly stay on Whitebeard's ship acting like a filial son?
As Ian watched curiously, little Aria, who had been frowning adorably, thought seriously for a moment, then giggled and hugged the Devil Fruit.
"Mm… I don't want to eat this Devil Fruit!"
Ian and Zephyr: "...?"
Ian and Zephyr both looked at her. Before Ian could speak, Zephyr asked in confusion: "You don't like this Devil Fruit?"
"I like it. Thank you, Grandpa Zephyr, for the gift."
Aria kissed Zephyr on the cheek, her little face showing a bit of conflict. "But I actually want another Devil Fruit!"
"Hahaha, if you don't want it, then don't eat it. Don't worry, since it's grandpa's gift, even if you don't eat it, grandpa won't take it back!"
Zephyr burst into laughter after being kissed. Holding Aria in one arm, he tapped her little nose with the other hand. "You little trickster, just like your Mom!"
Then he shot Ian a glare. "And you, don't steal the gift I gave Aria!"
Ian: "..."
No, seriously, he was a very qualified father!
Since when did he become a father who steals his daughter's gifts in Zephyr's eyes?
Ian rolled his eyes, but before he could speak, Zephyr was already looking warmly at Aria again, clearly overjoyed from that kiss just now.
"Tell your grandpa, what Devil Fruit do you want? Grandpa will find it for you. And if someone else has already eaten it—"
He smacked his chest firmly.
"Grandpa will personally beat them up and take it back!"
"Really, Grandpa Zephyr!?"
"Of course!"
Another kiss made Zephyr look like he'd grown younger by ten years, and he burst out laughing.
"Even if someone already ate it, your grandpa will find a way to get it back for our little sweetheart!"
Robin and Ian: "..."
Robin and Ian watched helplessly as Zephyr was completely coaxed into submission by their five-year-old daughter, whose eyes were sparkling like gems.
This daughter of theirs... might be doing it on purpose.
"The Book-Book Fruit. I want the Book-Book Fruit."
Hearing her grandpa's promise, Aria's eyes shone with hope. She even clenched her tiny fists.
"I want to store all the books I've read, collect all the lost knowledge of the Tree of Knowledge, and help Mom rebuild the Tree of Knowledge!"
Robin: "...?!"
Her words froze not only Zephyr but Robin as well.
Robin looked down at her daughter, overwhelmed with emotion. She had never imagined her daughter's dream would be this.
A surge of happiness and warmth filled her heart.
"What a filial child! Hahaha!"
Zephyr roared with laughter. Seeing her bright, hopeful eyes, he said immediately: "The Book-Book Fruit, huh? Your grandpa understands! Don't worry, your grandpa will definitely find it for you!"
But as soon as he finished, Ian spoke up.
"No need to look for it. The Book-Book Fruit has already been eaten by the nineteenth son of the Big Mom Pirates' Captain."
"...?!"
All three stared at Ian in shock.
Little Aria also froze at her father's words.
The next moment, realizing that the Devil Fruit she wanted had been eaten, her eyes instantly filled with tears.
She buried her head in Zephyr's chest and cried pitifully.
"Grandpa Zephyr!"
"Ah! Don't cry, don't cry! Don't worry!"
Zephyr panicked instantly, and while comforting her, he glared furiously at Ian.
"Don't listen to your father's nonsense! No matter who ate it, your grandpa will go get it back for you!"
Even Robin looked at Ian with reproachful eyes.
Ian: "..."
Ian was speechless.
He wasn't lying!!!
Were they seriously going to declare war on the Big Mom Pirates for the Book-Book Fruit? Their Umbrella Corporation wasn't even a pirate crew!!!
He was about to say something, but then Robin gave him a smiling, squinty-eyed look.
Zephyr, holding the crying Aria in his left arm, clenched his right fist and flexed his arm threateningly.
Both of them stared at Ian.