"If I eat this, can I really gain the power to defeat Arlong?!" Nami murmured, half-believing, half-doubting.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Reno.
She just had no concept of Devil Fruits and didn't know how much power a small fruit could grant a person.
"Of course, it's true," Reno said with a confident tone.
Even with just a little development of the Weather-Weather Fruit, killing Arlong would be as simple as crushing an ant.
"Nami, hurry and eat it. Don't let the captain's good intentions go to waste."
"Once you eat the Devil Fruit, you'll have the power to protect everyone," Makino continued to persuade her.
"Ah, Nami, I only became this strong because I ate the Devil Fruit that Brother Reno gave me," Kaya chimed in to help.
"Protect everyone?!" Nami suddenly thought of her adoptive mother, Belle-mère, and her gaze gradually became firm.
"I'll eat it." Nami took the Weather-Weather Fruit and, under everyone's expectant gazes, took a large bite.
"So sweet~"
With one bite, Nami's eyes lit up.
For such a strange-looking fruit, the taste was really good.
Her mood improved along with it.
"Nami, the captain is so good to you. Don't be so fierce to him in the future. I heard that a single Devil Fruit sells for 100 million Beri on the outside," Makino, acting as the big sister, gently stroked Nami's forehead.
"Mm... How much?!"
"One hundred million Beri?!"
Having eaten most of the Devil Fruit, Nami froze, speaking in disbelief.
This Devil Fruit is worth one hundred million Beri?!
The same price as the village?!
"That's for an ordinary Devil Fruit. This one is worth far more than a billion Beri," Reno explained with a smile.
That's just a conservative estimate.
If the major powers of the New World knew about this Weather-Weather Fruit, people would buy it no matter how high the price.
Putting aside other things, just by developing the wind and lightning abilities to their peak, one could become a top-tier powerhouse.
Who wouldn't be tempted by that?!
A billion?!
The Devil Fruit I just ate is worth a billion?!
Nami's expression went completely blank.
In an instant.
Reno saw Nami's eyes turn red again, tears welling up as if about to overflow.
"You haggle over even 10 million Beri. There's no way I'd believe you."
Nami fought back her emotions, quickly wiped away her tears, and continued to eat the Devil Fruit, forcing a calm expression. "It must be fake. You must be saying that on purpose. You're the best at sweet-talking."
But as she spoke, after eating the last bite of the fruit...
Nami couldn't hold it in any longer.
Sob sob sob sob~
Reno, you bastard, why are you so good to me?!
In eight years, no one has ever moved me like this.
Reno's light voice sounded again: "Nami, it's just a mere Devil Fruit. In my heart, you are priceless. You deserve to have it."
Nami sobbed, hitting Reno with her fists. "You bastard, stop making me feel so moved."
Kaya and Makino smiled in unison.
Reno caught Nami's small fists, pulled her into his arms, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Alright, now carefully feel the power inside your body." Nami nodded obediently.
"Nami, the fruit you just ate is called the Weather-Weather Fruit. You should be no stranger to weather phenomena."
"There are too many weather elements. I suggest you focus on developing three: wind, lightning, and clouds."
Wind and lightning are primarily for offense and destruction.
Clouds are primarily for defense.
Two offense, one defense!
That's right, Reno planned to train Nami into a combatant.
On their future voyages, they would inevitably encounter some powerful enemies.
Combatants were indispensable.
In his plan for beautiful female fighters, Nami was one of them.
"I'm listening," Nami nodded obediently.
The moment she ate the Weather-Weather Fruit, she could sense all kinds of powers emerging within her body.
Wind, rain, thunder, lightning, clouds, snow, fog...
She could freely convert between various weather elements.
"Nami, try out your lightning ability."
"Watch me," Nami's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.
"Thunderbolt!!"
Following her soft cry, streaks of silver lightning suddenly struck the sea surface dozens of meters in front of them, causing waves to churn.
"Wow~ Sister Nami is so amazing," Kaya said, her face full of astonishment, clapping her small hands.
"Storm!"
Nami didn't stop, once again flinging a whirlwind from her palm.
The whirlwind swept across the sea, kicking up waves several meters high.
"Cloud Wall!"
"Hundred-Year Snow!"
"Rain Arrow!!"
"..."
Next, Nami demonstrated a series of moves using different weather elements.
Of course, these moves were the most basic ones that could be mastered just by eating the Devil Fruit.
Like the "Thunderbolt" at the beginning, the name sounded intimidating.
But it was just a few small bolts of lightning, and the area of effect wasn't large.
The other moves were the same.
Of course, with further development in the future, the power of these same moves would become much stronger.
After demonstrating all the elemental moves, Nami stood frozen in place.
She was in a daze.
In her mind, Arlong was undoubtedly number one.
But.
Only within the realm of living creatures.
As a genius navigator, Nami knew well how terrifying natural disasters were.
No living being could withstand them, not even Arlong.
But now, she had mastered these disaster-level abilities.
And it was all given to her by Reno.
Tears streamed down her face again.
"Sob sob sob... Reno, this is too good."
Nami cried tears of joy, hugging Reno tightly.
Now she absolutely believed that this Devil Fruit was worth more than a billion.
"You won't be pretty anymore if you keep crying."
Reno smiled, clearly feeling a subtle change in Nami's state of mind.
"You bad guy, you made me cry so many times today," Nami said, wiping her tears and looking at Reno resentfully.
"Nami, I gave you such a precious Devil Fruit. How are you going to repay me?!" Reno responded to Nami's gaze with a grin.
"Alright, this young lady agrees today. I'll let you enjoy yourself to the fullest!"
Nami understood, proactively opened her arms, and closed her eyes.