"Hey, don't Devil Fruits give incredible strength? So why didn't your captain eat the fruit from the chest?" Murphy asked the crew member standing next to him in a low voice.
"I don't know," he answered, with some strange gleam in his eyes.
"That's because she doesn't value this fruit," a familiar voice said. Murphy turned around and saw the middle-aged pirate he had met when he boarded the ship. The pirate paused for a moment, then added, "I don't know what kind of fruit this is, but the captain seems to recognize it. Apparently, the fruit doesn't live up to her expectations, so she's planning to auction it off at Sabaody Archipelago. That way, she'll get a lot of belly."
"Thanks for the information," Murphy nodded in gratitude.
The market price of a Devil Fruit is one hundred million beli, but in reality, this figure is purely nominal. If someone thinks that they can just buy a Devil Fruit for one hundred million, then it is equivalent to a pipe dream.
Even the most common Devil Fruit will go for at least double the price at auction. And the rarer fruits are much more expensive. In the future, the Ope Ope no Mi, which gives the opportunity to gain immortality, the World Government will be ready to buy for five billion beli even without competition at the auction.
Therefore, many pirates, knowing full well that eating the Devil Fruit can make you stronger, still cannot resist the temptation to exchange it for money. And although Nidam did not value this unknown fruit, this did not prevent her from realizing its significance - after all, it was worth a fortune.
None of that mattered to Murphy, though. It was enough for him to know that the reason Nydam hadn't eaten the fruit wasn't because she already had another power.
At the same time, somewhere behind him, one of the sailors was asking the middle-aged pirate in the same quiet voice: "Why did you tell him this? Who is he anyway? What if the captain finds out?"
- No matter who he was before, he may soon become our vice-captain. We'd better establish good relations with him in advance! - the pirate patted his comrade on the shoulder, glanced at Mori and added sadly: - You see that our captain doesn't spare Mori at all. He's definitely finished, and we won't be able to help him in any way. Eh!
- Although yes... you're right!
Murphy's ears twitched, picking up the conversation behind him, and a small smile appeared on his face. They must have assumed he didn't understand who they meant by vice-captain, so they spoke quietly but rather nonchalantly.
Murphy even suggested that the middle-aged pirate had deliberately allowed him to overhear their conversation to make it clear that they were thus expressing their favor.
Meanwhile, another crash came from the captain's cabin - Nidam had struck Mori again. And when the assembled people looked in that direction again, Mori had already completely lost consciousness.
- Mori is not long for this world, is he?
- Poor thing.
- He helped me so many times, I really want to help him, but...
Several people were whispering among themselves, but when they noticed Murphy looking in their direction, they began to speak even more quietly.
"Hey, you all don't like Nidam, do you?" Murphy asked quietly.
But no one answered. Even the middle-aged pirate avoided his gaze, staring off to the side as if there was something extremely exciting there.
- This ship is heading to Sabaody Archipelago, right?
Oppression had become a habit for these people, and direct questions about Nydam were not answered, so Murphy simply changed the subject. After all, he had not counted on their help to begin with.
"Yes," everyone nodded, not understanding why the topic had changed so abruptly, but they responded instinctively. After all, they were indeed heading to Sabaody Archipelago, so there was no mystery about it.
- Then it's all right. I'll deal with this fat woman, and as a thank you, you'll take me to Sabaody Archipelago, okay?
Of course, there was one more detail he hadn't mentioned - the treasure chest would be his as a spoil of war. Otherwise, with Murphy's character, he wouldn't lift a finger without benefit.
- Pff.
- Are you kidding me?
— With your body type?
Everyone present looked at him as if he were an idiot, some laughed, while others began to mock.
"Boy, do you think now is the time for such jokes? Don't rush to certain death!" Only the middle-aged pirate, who was clearly uneasy, stepped forward with a warning, although there was something strange in his gaze.
Murphy ignored their words and simply walked forward, ignoring the pirate who tried to stop him by tugging on his sleeve twice.
At this time, Nydam, seeing that Mori had lost consciousness, calmed down a little. However, even so, her mouth did not stop moving, and she continued to shout at the already seriously injured Mori: "Ungrateful creature! I valued you so much, and you dared to encroach on the Devil Fruit?!"
Then she turned to the team and yelled: - See?! This is what awaits you! Next time, if someone dares to plan something evil, I will immediately throw him into the sea to feed the fish!
After finishing her tirade, Needham noticed Murphy approaching. Her fierce expression did not soften at all, and she screamed furiously: - And you too! From now on, you will obey without question, or you will end up like this! Do you understand me? From now on, you will stay on this ship!
Her menacing aura enveloped everyone present, but Murphy was unimpressed. He knew that Needham was about to become even more furious.
"Listen, fatso, you look absolutely disgusting. Would you mind leaving this ship?" Murphy's light words instantly silenced everyone around him.
All of Nidam's rage seemed to freeze. Her mouth opened in surprise, and her face reflected disbelief, she did not even notice how the chest fell from her hands.
Not only Needham, but also all the surrounding pirates shuddered when they heard Murphy's words. They had thought he was joking before, but they had not expected him to actually do something like that. However, after that, all of them immediately all the crew members retreated back in horror, already imagining how furious Needham would be.
This wasn't the first time this had happened - there had been others who had dared to call her fat to her face, but none of them had survived.
Everyone silently prayed that the captain would not destroy the ship in her rage, otherwise they would have no chance of survival in the endless sea.
Indeed, the expression on Nidam's face was gradually becoming frightening. The recent numbness had been only a temporary lull, and now, like a volcano preparing to erupt, it filled the entire cabin with an oppressive atmosphere.
- Son of a bitch, do you even know what you're talking about?! I'LL JUST TURN YOU INTO MINCE MEAT!? - A powerful punch flew straight at Murphy. Why did he even feel the air compress under the pressure of her approaching fist.
However, when he came face to face with this blow, he did not even think of dodging.
Boom! Murphy put all his strength into the counterpunch.
An air wave spread out from the center of their collision, instantly demolishing the wooden door and walls of the captain's cabin. Everything crumbled under the pressure of this force.
The small room suddenly became very spacious, and two figures - large and small - stood frozen in the center, exchanging blow after blow.
Equal forces!
At that moment, putting all his power into each blow, Murphy felt an incredible lightness in his entire body. The irritation that had accumulated over two months completely disappeared. For the first time, he realized that free fighting was much more enjoyable and beautiful than he could have imagined.
In fact, his previous fight with Nelson wasn't very satisfying - Nelson tried to cheat, which resulted in him not even having time to show his strength before Murphy sent him flying.
Although Nelson was quite strong, he did not specialize in brute force like Nydam. Indeed, during their fight, he did not even have time to demonstrate his swordsmanship or shooting skills before he was seriously injured. And given Murphy's character, he certainly did not give his opponent a chance for revenge. It was reliable, but did not bring him much satisfaction from the fight.
And so, in this fist-to-fist battle, it was as if a new world had opened up to him.
With each blow, his fighting spirit rose, as if he were constantly pushing past his limits.
Murphy knew that with his usual approach, he was unlikely to have another opportunity for such a direct power struggle. And since he was so lucky, he couldn't miss the chance.
His lips curled into a grin, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he shouted at the shocked Nidas: "Hey, pig, show me all your strength! You like to take by force, and so do I! If you don't want to leave the ship, then I'll throw you out of here myself!"