"El-sama—"

  "El onii!!!"

  Onboard the floating fortress 'Atntis', El and the massive bird touched down together. Linlin, Gerd, and the others came forward to meet him.

  "Hey, Moss..."

  Seeing Moss in human form with a bundle slung across his back, the giantess Lily couldn’t tain her curiosity and asked, "What Devil Fruits did the Wover bring for this exge?"

  "A Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit and a Cat-Cat Fruit, A Model: Saber-Toothed Tiger," Moss replied, gng toward El for firmation. When El nodded, Moss opehe bundle and revealed several strange-looking Devil Fruits for everyoo see. "Plus, a Paramecia-type - Fruit, Paramecia-type Wax-Wax Fruit, Dog-Dog Fruit: Dachshund Model, and two more uified Devil Fruits."

  "A Cloud-Cloud Fruit?"

  "An A Model Saber-Toothed Tiger?"

  "Wow, those guys are seriously loaded!"

  Not just Tsuru, the former Navy Rear Admiral, but Linlin, Lily, Nef, and Rock were all impressed. The Wover certainly had deep reserves, casually bringing out such rare powers. Alongside the previously traded Smoke-Smoke Fruit and the incredibly rare Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Model: Okuo-Makami, the Wover had exged two A Models and about ten other known or unknown fruits. And there was still one more Mythical Model, another A Model, and four additional Devil Fruits promised in the exge.

  "With the Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit, does that mean you turn into clouds?" asked Lillian, the Three-Eye Tribe girl, her third eye blinking with curiosity. "Isn’t that just like Zeus or Hera?"

  "It does seem simir…" Lily mused, surprised as she ied the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, which had patterns like little clouds on it. "So, it’s not as powerful as the Soul-Soul Fruit?"

  "ly, Lillian…" Tsuru interrupted, crossing her arms as she expined, "In the hands of someoruly skilled, the Cloud-Cloud Fruit could unleash powers that far surpass Zeus or Hera. But if someone weaker has it, it might not even pare to them."

  "That’s because 'Homies' don’t fear Haki," Tsuru tinued. "Take Thundercloud Homies, for example. They’re ued by typical physical attacks, and only specific Devil Fruit abilities ter them."

  "True!" Tsuru's expnatiht crity, and Lily, Lillian, and Ily, the mermaid, all nodded in uanding.

  "Actually, pared to the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, I think this one might suit you eveer.”

  At that moment, El handed a Devil Fruit to Tsuru, an e-colored fruit shaped like a persimmon.

  Not only were Linlin and the others stunned, but Tsuru herself stood there, wide-eyed with shock.

  "Are you giving this fruit… to me?"

  Tsuru was taken aback, staring in disbelief at the tall, intimidatingly powerful figure before her. The fruit wasn’t just any ordinary power—it was the one gained i exge with the Wover, a Mythical Zoan, Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Okuo-Makami, which was said to be even rarer than a Logia.

  "You’re a smart woman," El said, his gaze steady as he looked at her. "Whether you choose to eat it or not is entirely up to you."

  This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; he genuinely believed that this rare, high-tier Zoan fruit would suit Tsuru well, enhang her already impressive potential far more than a Paramecia Wash-Wash Fruit or even a Logia Cloud-Cloud Fruit could.

  After all, uhe naturally monstrous power of someone like Charlotte Linlin, most women were born with slightly less physical resilience. A top-tier Zoan ability like the Okuo-Makami would perfectly bahis, allowio reaew heights oh of power. El felt fident that, with her talent, Tsuru could easily reach, if not surpass, the level of some of the world’s greatest figures.

  More importantly, though, El valued Tsuru's strategid even more than her potential strength. As he prepared for the uping "Totto Land Pn" and the founding of his new kingdom, someone like her, able to handle plex matters of governance, would ease his burden signifitly.

  " you really ensure you’ll make good on what you’re promising?" Tsuru asked, fixing El with a steady gaze, her tone serious. She didn’t reach for the fruit right away.

  It wasn’t that she was wavering. Tsuru uood the tremendous value of this fruit; the Okuo-Makami might not be the most powerful of Mythical Zoan fruits, but it was still among the top ranks. Eating it would certainly transform her abilities. Yet taking the fruit would be an official itment to joining the Fallen Angel Pirates. She wasn’t oo refuse an offer and still accept gifts from the group without feeling a sense of obligation.

  "If the 'Totto Land Kingdom' I envisio live up to your standards, you’ll be free to leave whenever you want." Turning, El left her with the fruit in hand.

  He didn’t o say more; he already knew her answer. With his special Observation Haki, capable of easily sensing the thoughts of others, Tsuru’s internal flict hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  "Tsk, tsk, El onii really does value you, doesn’t he?" Linlin teased, watg as Tsuru stood there, silent and thoughtful. She didn’t press her or exge any more banter, choosing io follow after El. "Don’t let him down."

  "e on, Tsuru, please stay with us…" Lillian ed her arms around her closest friend, looking up with a hopeful smile. "Then we could always be together!"

  While Lillian got along well with the others like Linlin and Gerd, she felt a special bond with Tsuru. She admired this elder sister figure’s knowledge and saw her as a dear friend.

  "Tsuru," came Lily, Nef, and Gerd’s voices. "The choice to be friend or foe is yours alone."

  They each gave her encing smiles, though none of them urged her for an answer.

  Tsuru looked at the rare fruit in her hands—the type that tless people would fight to the death ng at the eager Lillian, she finally broke through the s of her own indecision.

  "Then, everyone… please take care of me!" She smiled.

  "That’s great, Tsuru!" Lillian excimed, beaming.

  "Wele aboard, Tsuru!”