Aboard the Divine Slave—
Nojiko stared in disbelief as two full-grown orange trees were hauled onto the rear deck by ship ropes controlled autonomously. The ropes gently lowered the trees next to a freshly created garden patch.
More ropes worked like living tools, digging, shoveling, and planting the trees into fertile soil that had just been scooped up from an unnamed island—also by the ship's ropes.
It was like witnessing magic in motion.
Nojiko felt as if she had stepped into a fantasy world.
"That's the young master's power," Anna said with a light giggle.
"Come now, it's time for you to wash up."
"Wash... up?" Nojiko asked, puzzled.
It wasn't even nighttime yet—why would she need to bathe now?
"Hehe... Tonight's your first night serving the young master."
"Of course, you need to be cleaned thoroughly."
Anna and Shalria chuckled, dragging a flustered Nojiko toward the ship's luxurious bath area.
Now that Nojiko was on board, they would finally get a break at night.
"I—"
Nojiko's cheeks flushed a deep red. She hadn't expected things to move this fast.
She'd understood what becoming Sora's woman entailed, but the speed was overwhelming.
Sora, meanwhile, didn't intervene. He lay quietly at the front of the ship, eyes closed, reflecting on the system scan results from earlier.
[Name: Nojiko]
[Status: Marine-Adopted Orphan]
[Skills: None]
[Talents: None]
[Affection: 20]
[Combat Rating: Unranked]
Sora sighed at the sight of her "three-zero" status: no skills, no talent, no combat level.
He began thinking about where she could even fit into his crew.
Should he give her a Devil Fruit now?
The Bako Bako no Mi (Box Box Fruit) was a Paramecia-type with low combat value. From its name, it likely granted storage abilities—not suitable for Nojiko.
That fruit was better reserved for Kaya or Makino—his future ship doctor and cook.
They'd need plenty of space for medical supplies and ingredients.
Nojiko, on the other hand, was completely ordinary.
Recruiting her at this stage wouldn't yield any system benefits for him.
However, if he did feed her a Devil Fruit and then recruited her, the system might grant him a return based on her fruit ability.
That decided it—he wouldn't formally recruit her until he found a Devil Fruit that suited her.
That didn't mean he wouldn't get close to her in the meantime.
Whether before or after recruitment, as long as a bond was formed, the system would grant him a skill.
His thoughts wandered to potential targets: pirates who might be carrying Devil Fruits or ways to secure more fruits.
That night...
Led by Anna and Shalria, Sora entered Nojiko's room.
"...Sora..."
She whispered his name as he stepped in, her face burning red, eyes averted.
So obedient.
Seeing her dressed in a revealing nightgown—courtesy of Anna and Shalria—Sora gave the two a silent nod of approval before gently closing the door.
This night belonged to him and Nojiko alone.
The next morning—
Nojiko woke up alone. She quickly tidied up the bedsheets, her cheeks still warm from the memories of the previous night.
When she stepped onto the deck, she saw Sora overseeing training drills.
Anna, Shalria, and Reiju were all in matching training outfits: tight crop tops and shorts that emphasized their curves and long legs.
"Do I need to train too?" Nojiko asked, suddenly conscious of the others' gazes.
"If you want to get stronger, it's a must."
"Alright then."
She changed into a similar outfit, showing off her own graceful figure.
"Start from the basics," Sora said with a smirk.
Nojiko's foundation was too weak to jump into the advanced drills.
"Yes, sir," she nodded sweetly.
Meanwhile – East Blue, Marine 16th Branch Base
The base was chaotic.
Most of the Marines were partying—drinking, gambling, brawling—looking nothing like soldiers of justice.
Only a small group, led by a sergeant with a thick beard, still clung to the values of true Marines and continued their training.
"Captain... do we really need to keep training?"
A young recruit glanced wistfully at the drunken celebration in the distance. He wanted to join in—to eat, drink, share loot, and indulge in women.
The corruption was all thanks to Lieutenant Nezumi, who had already pulled most of the division into his web of bribes and threats.
Those who refused had either been arrested or blackmailed with threats to their families.
The few who remained loyal could do nothing but look the other way, pretending not to hear or see anything.
"Why did you join the Marines in the first place?" the bearded sergeant asked the boy and his small group.
"My father was killed by pirates," the boy replied, head lowered.
"I want to bring them to justice."
"Then do you think those people over there can capture pirates?"
The sergeant pointed toward the partying scum.
The boy shook his head. "No, sir. They can't."
The sergeant's face turned cold.
"Of course they can't. Because they're not Marines."
"Well said."
A calm voice echoed from nearby.
Sora stepped out of the shadows, his eyes admiring the sergeant.
Behind him stood Reiju, Nojiko, Anna, and Shalria.
They had come here for one purpose—
To wipe out Lieutenant Nezumi, the corrupt officer who had collaborated with Arlong and betrayed Cocoyashi Village.
Sora would give Nojiko her justice.
And this would be a live-combat trial for Anna and Shalria. Only through blood could they evolve.
"Reiju, you handle the rat. Bring him in alive."
"Anna, Shalria—you handle the rest. No survivors."
"Yes, sir!" the three women answered in unison before charging toward the base.
Reiju moved with lethal precision. Anna and Shalria were still a bit rough, but with their Zoan abilities boosting them, they quickly adapted.
The drunken, poorly trained soldiers couldn't even mount a defense. All they could do was flee in terror.
It was a slaughter—completely one-sided.
"You guys..."
The young recruit's eyes widened in horror at the bloodshed.
"Don't speak."
The bearded sergeant stopped him with a hand.
He had recognized Sora the moment he saw him—
The Godslayer of the North Blue. The one with a 1.5 billion bounty.
There was no use resisting. They were far too weak.
And more importantly, like he said earlier...
He never considered those degenerates part of the Marines anyway.
He felt nothing for their deaths.
_____
[You give me a power stone, and I will give you a mass release deal? And if you like this story, add it to your library and give me a review, and I will reward you with mass release.]