I'm Not Interested in Devil Fruits

'B.I.B.' demonstrated remarkable obedience, refraining from acting independently and instead merging seamlessly back into Liam's main body.

Liam bought two oversized coats that were obviously unsuitable for both of them at the clothing store, along with several sets of fitting change clothes. He paid and left with Robin.

The clothes weren't heavy, and Robin followed, carrying bags of various sizes.

Liam continued his leisurely stroll, leading Robin on a meandering path. In a nearby toy store, he indulged in purchasing two elaborately crafted masks: one adorned with whimsical cartoon stars, while the other boasted an exaggerated butterfly design with wings outstretched.

Playing with the two masks he just got, Liam smiled and muttered to himself, "Hā Hā, interesting."

'Where was the fun in that?' Robin, holding a bunch of bags, had a question mark on her head.

The pitch-black battle armor closely followed. Liam raised his hand and said to it, "Not yet; wait for me until after I've finished eating.."

Upon 'B.I.B.''s return, akin to a "return of experience and fatigue" akin to a Shadow Clone, Liam felt the dual refinement of both mind and body—a sensation that stirred a mixture of affection and trepidation within him.

This was just normal Stand activity, at most, dealing with a few members of criminal organizations. When returning to Fusion, it was uncomfortable like this; what about when he truly started training? How difficult would it be to endure that high-intensity fatigue and soreness?

However, on the flip side, Liam, after experiencing the sour and refreshing Fusion moment during Stand's return, could vaguely feel his improvement.

The effectiveness of the Stand practice method was evident.

But today, the number of Fusions was a bit high, causing Liam's stamina consumption to be quite large, and he was now hungry.

Soon, Liam took Robin to a restaurant by the roadside, randomly went in, and ordered a table of dishes to start devouring.

The Beli he had acquired from the encounter with the Black-Clothed Person near the garbage dump and the generous funds gifted by the benevolent auntie had been swiftly exhausted on Liam's shopping spree. With little left in his coffers, Liam's mind inevitably drifted back to his plan of relieving Hogback of his wealth.

Robin silently ate her meal. She was intelligent enough to have calculated this. Since there was almost no money left, Liam was even less likely to give up the idea of robbing Hogback.

She couldn't understand her own position.

Being pursued by Marines, logically speaking, she wasn't considered a good person in the eyes of others. However... Robin really wasn't willing to engage in this kind of house robbery.

But on the other hand, Robin didn't find Liam's actions particularly bad.

Although only eight years old and only leaving her destroyed homeland for a few months, Robin had already seen many things in this Sea.

Including the darkness of human hearts, including hidden crimes... compared to those, the boy named Liam seemed to have a relatively good heart.

Suddenly, Liam interjected amidst his voracious eating, "Honestly, I've been wondering..."

Robin, her curiosity piqued, emitted a soft, inquisitive sound as she continued to dine.

In just a short while, Liam had already eaten almost everything. He patted his slightly bulging belly, saying casually, "Those people chasing after you— is it because you're the only one capable of deciphering that unique script?"

Robin's hand holding the spoon tightened.

How did this boy know everything?!

Her mouth was full, and for a moment, she forgot to chew and swallow. She lifted her eyes on the plate, glaring at Liam.

Unfortunately, he really just said it casually; his ears were still attentively listening to the conversations at the other tables in the restaurant.

He smiled casually, "Since that's the case, why don't you turn that kind of writing into teaching materials? Spread it everywhere, and make the learning methods for that kind of writing available everywhere. Will they still care so much about you, a no longer special little girl?"

Hearing this, Robin was truly stunned.

This...

Buzz! Buzz! 

Robin's mind was filled with the echoes of Liam's words.

"Turning the learning methods of ancient writing into teaching materials?"

Just imagine, if the learning textbooks of ancient writing spread everywhere in West Blue, even if it's just one or two, or a dozen people find them and study them, even if those people have no idea what the writing is, what it represents... would Robin still appear so special? 

Would she still be pursued by the Marines? They would probably be too busy searching for "forbidden books" themselves, right?

Why does this boy have such unconventional thinking?

Why couldn't I think of this method?

Although Robin has good intelligence, being only eight years old, she was shocked by Liam's idea, and for a moment, she couldn't come up with a counterargument. Her mind was in chaos.

Her mouth involuntarily opened, only to be immediately closed by Liam's ability. The Flower-Flower Fruit (Hana Hana no Mi) was activated, and a hand grew next to Robin's table, pushing her open mouth closed to prevent food from falling out.

Liam shrugged at her, indicating that he was just casually mentioning it, and whether she listened or not, whether she did it or not, was entirely up to her.

Almost done eating, Liam, carrying bags big and small, led Robin to the restroom in the restaurant.

"Don't continue wearing this dress. Do you want others to forget your features?"

At the restroom door, Liam handed one of the sets of clothes to Robin.

Robin lowered her head, pursed her lips, and took the new clothes into the restroom.

Looking at herself in the mirror in the restroom, the short-haired girl with falling petals on her face, revealing her original appearance, Robin hugged the new clothes tightly.

She didn't know why, but she felt like crying. But she held back.

It seemed to be the first time she received new clothes as a gift...

Outside, Liam beckoned to the pitch-black battle armor, raised his neck, and closed his eyes, signaling it to come!

'B.I.B.' pulled out its fruit chip, transformed into dark energy, and returned to the main body.

Liam immediately trembled all over, as if having a spasm, lightly pounding the wall outside the restroom with his fist. He endured the pervasive, mentally scattered Fusion feeling...

Correspondingly, memories of 'B.I.B.' writing that line in the ruins of the fire scene also flowed into his mind.

So many people were watching... Liam reminisced about the short-lived memories of 'B.I.B.,' and the abnormal feeling on his body gradually receded or adapted.

A trace of new strength also quietly sprouted along with Fusion, in the subtle corners of his limbs and body.

Although extremely subtle, it existed after all.

Before long, Robin came out.

Not only did she change out of the worn-out dress, but she also put on a neutral-style shirt, overalls, and sneakers, complemented by that sharp short haircut... a boy's style.

She washed her face, revealing her originally clean and delicate face. Her hair was a bit wet.

However, Liam didn't pay much attention. He released the pitch-black battle armor Stand again, and the latter re-implanted the fruit chip into the main body.

Liam immediately raised his hand, and Flower-Flower Fruit (Hana Hana no Mi) grew "flesh" on Robin's face, filling her forehead and cheeks, making them fuller, and her nose turned into a garlic shape...

"Let's go," Liam said, leading her out.

At this moment, inside the restaurant, there were several tables of people in a heated argument.

"Nonsense! I definitely didn't make a mistake! That's clearly the resurrection of Roger's ghost!"

(End of this chapter)

You can read ahead up to 80 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/marvel6395