Time passed.
Five months later.
On a peaceful morning, sudden cheers erupted from Belo Betty's room.
"I did it!"
Belo Betty excitedly threw open her door.
She raised both hands, jumping with joy.
In the next moment—
Doors from more than a dozen rooms flew open simultaneously as crewmates rushed out, many still in their light sleepwear.
In the kitchen, where breakfast was being prepared, the head chef Makino walked out, holding a ladle.
Wearing only a camisole, Charlotte Linlin rushed straight to Belo Betty, staring at her intently. "Betty, you've really done it?"
"You really succeeded?" Shakky took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions.
Yamato let out a loud howl. "Awooo! This means I can stay with the captain and everyone forever!"
The entire crew was overjoyed.
Eternal youth.
It was the greatest dream of all humankind since ancient times.
"What's going on?"
Reiju curiously opened her door.
She looked around at everyone, puzzled and astonished.
Having been part of the Sun and Moon Pirates for five months, she had gradually come to understand the strength of her fellow crewmates.
It far exceeded anything she had imagined.
She felt immense pride and joy in joining such a force.
But she couldn't comprehend—
What could possibly make them so excited?
As a relatively new member, Reiju still felt somewhat reserved.
She didn't feel comfortable asking directly.
Instead, she stood quietly at the back, watching.
By the time Kuke finally emerged from his room—after being helped into his clothes by Hancock—he lazily pushed open the door.
Yawning.
"Kuke, I did it! I really did it!"
Belo Betty bounced with excitement, eagerly awaiting praise.
"Good job."
Belo Betty pouted. That was way too perfunctory.
Kuke took the perfectly damp, temperature-controlled towel from the ever-thoughtful Robin and wiped his face. Then, after rinsing his mouth with the warm water she handed him, he finally spoke.
"Since it's successful, let's test it."
Test what?
Apart from Reiju, and the younger ones like Pudding and Flampe, the entire crew already knew.
Almost instinctively—
Everyone turned to Kuke.
He was their captain. The backbone of the entire crew.
Eternal youth—naturally, he should be the first to receive it.
But unexpectedly, Gion was the first to step forward and say to Belo Betty:
"I'll go first."
"?????"
The crew looked at Gion in confusion.
She was the recognized vice-captain.
And someone deeply respected by everyone.
Naturally, they didn't think she was trying to steal the first spot from Kuke.
Everyone on the ship knew—
Gion's feelings for Kuke were no less than anyone else's, likely even greater.
After a brief silence—
The sharp-minded ones figured out her intention.
"Let me do it. Captain… if I don't preserve my youth now, I really will start aging soon," Stussy said, elegantly swaying her hips as she walked toward Kuke.
"This little lady fears nothing! I'll go first!" Charlotte Linlin also jumped in.
Yamato instinctively reached for her kanabo, declaring, "I'm the ship's General—I should always take the lead!"
"This isn't a battle," Hancock said as she also stepped forward.
A dispute had begun.
"What's happening?"
Reiju was dumbfounded.
In her five months on the ship—
She had become fully immersed in the joyful and harmonious atmosphere of the Sun and Moon Pirates. Every crewmember had a distinct personality, yet they were all considerate of one another.
Aside from the occasional outbursts between Charlotte Linlin, Smoothie, and Galette—
She had never seen such a large-scale argument before.
What exactly were they fighting over?
What could be so important that it was worth competing for?
Reiju didn't dare to speak up.
She shrank back, watching with curiosity and concern, afraid that the ship's atmosphere would never return to what it once was—afraid that internal conflicts were arising.
"Don't worry."
Nico Robin stepped out from the crowd.
Her nature was one of quiet observation—never one to fight or compete.
"Robin, do you know what they're fighting over?" Reiju asked curiously.
As a newer member—
She still didn't know many of the ship's secrets.
While the crew never actively excluded newcomers, unless Kuke gave a signal, they wouldn't reveal the ship's deeper secrets.
Only when a new member had fully integrated—
Would Kuke allow them to learn everything.
Reiju—
Had only fully integrated a week ago.
Kuke had already shown that he considered her one of his own, but the other crewmembers hadn't had the chance to explain everything yet.
Now that Reiju was asking—
Nico Robin no longer concealed it.
She explained, "Belo Betty possesses the Op-Op Fruit. She has successfully developed the Eternal Youth Surgery."
Reiju's eyes widened.
She stared blankly at the chaotic scene before her.
So it was the legendary eternal youth?
"No wonder even the closest of comrades are fighting over it. The temptation of eternal youth is nearly impossible to resist," Reiju murmured, thinking she understood everything.
Nico Robin turned to look at her.
Surprised.
"Don't mistake everyone here for selfish people who would abandon camaraderie just to obtain eternal youth," Robin quickly clarified, realizing Reiju had misunderstood.
"????"
Reiju looked at Robin in confusion.
Wasn't that the logical conclusion?
It made perfect sense.
"Every single person on this ship will receive eternal youth. It's only a matter of time. The reason they're fighting to go first isn't because they're desperate for immortality—but because none of them want the captain or anyone else to endure the potential pain and hardships of being the first. They want to be the test subject."
Robin continued explaining.
"Everyone will get it?"
Reiju's mouth fell open.
Her distinctively shaped lips formed an elegant curve.
"Of course. That's just part of our captain's mysteries." Robin's gaze shimmered as she silently looked toward Kuke.
She hadn't stepped forward.
Hadn't fought to prove her devotion to Kuke.
But the look in her eyes was no less intense than anyone else's.
"Including me?"
Reiju asked in disbelief.
She had never even entertained the thought of eternal youth for herself.
It didn't take much thought to realize—
An ability like this must come with an immense cost. It surely couldn't be used infinitely.
It might even be a one-time use.
Among the Sun and Moon Pirates, she was the last to join.
She had assumed such an immense blessing would never reach her.
She had never even dared to hope.
"Of course. Every single person will have it," Robin said firmly.
Reiju fell silent.
Her gaze turned vacant.
Her entire mind went blank.
She kept mumbling, "Eternal youth… eternal youth…"
Staring at Kuke.
Staring at everyone around her.
In that moment—
She finally understood the privileges and opportunities granted to members of the Sun and Moon Pirates.
And she—
Was one of them.
The normally composed and intelligent Reiju suddenly broke into a silly, blissful grin—
Much like the one often seen on Yamato's face.
------
DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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