One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

Yamato opened her mouth, ready to press further, but Luffy cut her off with a calm yet firm tone.

"Let's set Wano Country aside for now. If you have more questions, come find me later, and I'll explain everything," he said, dismissing the topic.

Though anxious, Yamato recognized it wasn't the right time to argue. Reluctantly, she swallowed her questions and focused on Luffy's next words.

Luffy had expected Doflamingo to flee, but the confirmation still irritated him. It made sense, though. Without Luffy's interference, Kaido would never have lost key subordinates like Jack, nor the stronghold of Wano Country. The Beasts Pirates wouldn't have been crippled.

Even with minimal thought, Luffy knew Kaido wouldn't spare Doflamingo when he recovered. The clown would be first in line for Kaido's wrath, likely served with a full-course Thunder Bagua. Staying in the New World would've been a death sentence for Doflamingo—it was smarter to flee while Kaido licked his wounds.

"Humph," Luffy muttered, a determined glint in his eyes. "Even if that guy ran away, we still have to go to Dressrosa. There's someone there I must recruit."

"Who?" Nami asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Another beauty, perhaps?"

Her tone was laced with caution, and the other women exchanged wary glances. The recent addition of Yamato and Gion had already stretched their patience. If Luffy dared to bring in yet another woman…

Under their scrutinizing stares, Luffy raised his hands in surrender. "She's… well, she could be considered a beauty, but not in the way you think."

"Oh?" Nami's eyes narrowed further.

"She's… small," Luffy added quickly, gesturing with his hand. "Not in age, but in height. She's probably about as big as my palm—no, smaller."

The women exchanged confused glances.

"Are there people that small?" Kalifa asked, her skepticism evident.

Gion, who had more worldly experience, furrowed her brows thoughtfully. Based on Luffy's description and Dressrosa's location, she quickly deduced the answer.

"She's a dwarf, isn't she?" Gion guessed.

Luffy snapped his fingers. "Exactly! She's the princess of the dwarf tribe and a user of the Healing Fruit."

"The Healing Fruit?" Kalifa echoed, intrigued. "That name sounds promising."

"It is," Luffy confirmed. "The Healing Fruit allows its user to cure most illnesses and injuries. In extreme cases, they can even restore someone to their original state—at the cost of their own lifespan."

The table fell silent as the women digested the information.

"That's… both incredible and terrifying," Kalifa murmured. "A fruit with such powerful abilities, but such a cruel price…"

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Luffy assured her. "Most treatments only drain stamina. It's only in dire situations that the ultimate ability—recovery at the cost of life—is required."

As he spoke, a shadow passed over his face. "But I'm worried. If Doflamingo fled, he may have taken her with him. If that's the case, we'll have to track him down before we can even think about recruiting her."

"Why would Doflamingo want her?" Hina asked, folding her arms.

"Simple," Luffy said. "Her abilities are invaluable, and she's a princess. Holding her hostage gives him leverage over the dwarves. But if we can recruit her, we'll have a powerful ally. And combined with pure gold, the side effects of her fruit won't matter anymore."

The room froze.

Gion stiffened, sensing the conversation reaching a critical point. Kujaku, who had been quietly grinning, froze mid-smile. Her head snapped toward Luffy, disbelief etched across her face.

Luffy winked at her and, without giving the others time to question what pure gold was, launched into an explanation.

"Pure gold," he began, "is a legendary metal that was smelted 200 years ago. It's said to extend life, keep people youthful, and cure all diseases. The Celestial Dragons have been searching for it for centuries, but I happen to know where it is."

The room went silent. Every woman present stared at Luffy with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe. Even Yamato, despite her carefree nature, was visibly stunned.

"Wait," Yamato said hesitantly. "If pure gold can cure all diseases, then what's the point of the Healing Fruit?"

The women turned to stare at Yamato, incredulous.

"Is that what you got out of all this?" Nami asked, exasperated.

"That's not the point!" Kalifa added, rolling her eyes.

Kujaku, shaking off her initial shock, burst into laughter. "You really know how to shift the focus, Yamato!"

Blissfully oblivious to their reactions, Yamato scratched her head and muttered, "I mean, it's a fair question…"

The women groaned in unison, but Luffy's chuckle cut through the tension.

"Yamato's not wrong," he said, smiling. "The Healing Fruit has its limitations, and pure gold isn't an instant solution. Together, though, they can achieve miracles."

He leaned forward, his expression serious. "We're going to Dressrosa. We'll find the princess and bring her here. As for pure gold…" He smirked. "That's a story for another day."

The women nodded, their resolve renewed.

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