"Devil Fruit?"

Dr. Kureha glanced at those two fruits.

"Forget it, Captain.

I don't need the power of a Devil Fruit, nor do I want the flaw of not being able to swim in the sea.

And even if I myself have no combat power, what does it matter?"

Dr. Kureha's speech slowed down.

"Matters of combat have nothing to do with me in the first place.

If one day, Captain, you are chased down by the Marines, arrested, and sent into Impel Down,

I bring out my research, I might even be granted amnesty and recruited into the Marines."

Speaking of this, Dr. Kureha deliberately paused to observe Loya's expression.

Seeing that Loya was not angry because of this and still maintained his previous calm appearance,

Dr. Kureha finally felt relieved, and she trusted Zeff's previous words a bit more.

The captain was indeed not some heinous fellow at all times, different from those ordinary pirates.

Seeing Dr. Kureha decline, Loya couldn't be bothered to force her.

After all, just as Dr. Kureha said, matters of combat didn't need her anyway.

Loya himself also had confidence; he alone was enough to rival the high-end combat power of the entire Marine Headquarters!

"Since you don't want it, that's fine too.

Then you can take a few more boxes of treasure."

Saying that, Loya directly gave all the treasure he took from the King of Drum, which was prepared to be put into the treasury, to Dr. Kureha.

After previously seizing the Heavenly Tribute, Loya no longer valued things like treasure so much.

He very casually gave all these treasures away.

After comforting Dr. Kureha and letting her go prepare materials to make the life potential potion,

Loya glanced out of the corner of his eye at Zeff, who was standing beside him and staring firmly at the two Devil Fruits in his hands.

Zeff was currently staring at the two Devil Fruits in Loya's hands.

His hesitant look was completely different from usual.

Seeing this, Loya directly handed over the Ox-Ox Fruit and Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit in his hands.

"What? Our marine cook Zeff, do you want to eat a Devil Fruit?"

"Right! Ah! No, no, I didn't want to eat..."

Zeff's voice was a bit nervous, his brain seemed not to have turned around either, incoherent and stuttering in his reply.

Seeing Zeff like this, Loya found it somewhat amusing.

"If you don't want it, forget it, then I'll take it back.

I originally planned to let you advance a Devil Fruit with your future merits."

"Ah, is this also okay?"

Zeff was stunned for a moment, then looked at Loya with burning eyes.

"Captain——

I will work on your ship for the rest of my life, can I have that Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit?"

"Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit?"

Although Loya was somewhat confused and didn't know why Zeff would want this fruit, he still handed over the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit in his hand.

"Take it if you want it, but you must consider it clearly before eating this fruit.

In the future, you will have weaknesses like fear of the ocean and Seastone...

And when you fight, you mainly rely on your own kicking techniques and leg strength.

In my view, you'd better get a Zoan Devil Fruit to maximize your combat power..."

Before Loya's voice could fall, Zeff answered with actions.

He bit off a piece of the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit's flesh in one go and swallowed it without changing his expression.

"Captain, I considered it clearly long ago.

Hehe, I've wanted this fruit for a long time..."

While speaking, Zeff raised his hand and rested it on the wooden handrail beside him.

The next moment, several colorful mushrooms grew on this handrail at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Zeff's eyes were fiery, but his hand movements were cautious.

After picking all these mushrooms, he directly put them into his pocket usually used for holding ingredients.

Seeing this scene, a bad premonition rose in Loya's heart.

"Zeff, calm down, what do you want to do?"

Zeff chuckled twice, but didn't directly give an answer like usual.

"Captain, don't worry yet.

You'll know when we hold a welcome banquet for our new partner tonight."

Saying that, Zeff didn't give Loya a chance to retain him.

He trotted towards the kitchen smilingly...

Hours later.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, but the Black King was brightly lit.

Several long tables were spread out, covered with all kinds of delicious delicacies.

Including Loya, the entire crew was celebrating Dr. Kureha joining.

Feeling the atmosphere on the ship, Dr. Kureha was also caught up in it, picked up a wine glass and jumped onto the dining table to drink heartily.

"Hahaha, Captain, you're indeed a good guy! I like the atmosphere on the ship!"

After drinking the wine in her cup in one gulp, Dr. Kureha laughed heartily.

"Another cup!"

Saying that, Dr. Kureha messed around with the other ordinary crew members.

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Zeff's voice came over.

"Make way, make way, the new dishes are here, everyone come and taste the dishes I newly researched."

Hearing Zeff's voice, Loya, who had a bad premonition since the afternoon, turned his head to see clearly.

Zeff was seen walking over carrying a large table board.

It was covered with various kinds of meals.

Bright red chili-like mushroom pizza, cream-like rich mushroom soup, mushroom skewers strung together like mutton...

And just by looking at the color, Loya clearly knew that these mushrooms were all poisonous.

And they were inevitably forced to grow by Zeff relying on his ability.

The next moment, before Loya could speak, Dr. Kureha, the protagonist of the banquet, jumped down from the dining table and walked towards Zeff.

"Zeff, this soup looks good?

Just right to help me sober up."

Dr. Kureha didn't think much, picked up that mushroom soup and drank it all in one breath.

The next moment, Dr. Kureha's body, having just finished drinking the soup, began to twist like a noodle.

"So delicious, so comfortable, the body feels like it's wrapped in clouds...

Why are there still little people flying in front of my eyes..."

Seeing this scene, Loya took a sharp breath.

"Zeff, what the hell are you up to?"

Zeff chuckled.

"Captain, as you know, mushrooms are a top-tier ingredient, exceptionally delicious.

And the more poisonous a mushroom is, the fuller its umami flavor!

That's why I asked Captain for that Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit."

Saying that, Zeff, who had already put down the table board, stood akimbo and laughed loudly.

"Captain, rest assured.

I am a mushroom man who ate the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit, I can control the direction of the toxins in the mushrooms.

It won't harm the body."

Pausing for a moment, Zeff reached out and pointed at the jar that Dr. Kureha had just drunk clean.

"Captain, guess again how I boiled that bowl of soup Dr. Kureha just drank?"

"Stewed with milk and mushrooms together?"

"Wrong!"

Zeff laughed loudly akimbo.

"I directly planted mushrooms in milk, directly forcing out milk-flavored milk mushrooms.

Then I directly boiled those milk mushrooms with clean water for half an hour, which was that bowl of soup just now."

Loya's mouth twitched, pointing to the milk on the dining table and asking,

"Zeff, the milk you used to grow mushrooms is this milk?"

"Right!"

Zeff laughed and nodded.

"After all, I'm a cook, I can't take the lead in wasting ingredients."

Saying that, Zeff pointed to several other mushroom dishes.

"The raw material of this hell-spicy mushroom pizza is the super spicy mushrooms I grew on chili peppers.

I deliberately controlled the toxicity to increase the stimulation in terms of spiciness.

Those used chili powders, I also reused them as barbecue coating.

That charcoal-grilled mutton mushroom skewer was made using mutton-flavored mushrooms I grew on mutton.

The mutton was also made into barbecue by me and sent to the dining table."

Zeff introduced the dishes one by one.

Loya slapped his forehead with one palm, regretting having directly handed the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit to Zeff earlier.

He could already imagine the future meals on this Black King of his.

This was probably going to eat poisonous mushrooms until the voyage ended...

"Captain, what are you dazing for? Hurry up and taste my craftsmanship."

Zeff handed the charcoal-grilled mutton mushroom skewer brushed full of barbecue seasoning to Loya.

"I won't eat it, even if I starve to death, even if I jump down from here, I won't eat a single poisonous mushroom of yours."

The aroma of the mushroom skewers came over, and Loya twitched his nose.

"No, considering the health issues of the crew members, I must taste it first before talking."

Loya took the skewer from Zeff's hand without blinking an eye.

Taking a bite, there was not a trace of gamey smell, only the umami flavor of mutton blended with the natural umami flavor of mushrooms, mixed with just the right aroma of barbecue seasoning.

What reached the mouth was full satisfaction.

"Ah, so delicious!"

Loya got a bit carried away; after eating only a few skewers, the corners of his mouth began to blister due to the mushroom toxicity.

But as the blood and energy inside his body rushed, Loya immediately recovered his state.

After confirming that his ability could eliminate the toxicity problem, Loya simply let loose as well.

Together with the crew members, he began to eat and drink heavily at this banquet...

Just as they were eating to their heart's content, a burst of hurried footsteps came over.

The crew member on duty ran in front of Loya holding a Transponder Snail.

"Captain, people from the Drum Kingdom sent a communication saying that the Munch-Munch Fruit you wanted has been found..."