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The storm clouds dispersed, and the sun reappeared. The sea calmed. Arthur entered the small galley—enjoying Jessica's cooking under her resentful glare.
"Jessica, you don't need look at me like that. You're going to be my chef sooner or later. What difference does it make?"
"Hmph! In your dreams!" She stabbed at a piece of meat with her fork, as if taking out her frustration on Arthur—her pretty face set in a stubborn pout.
Arthur chuckled. "You're adorable when you're angry. Tell you what—let's make a bet. If I lose, I'll let you go. If I win, you Join my crew as my Chef."
He lounged in his chair, the muscles beneath his shirt twitching rhythmically as he used Electromagnetism to enhance his body.
Physical Strength was paramount.
He never neglected his training. While he couldn't break the 200M Volt barrier yet, he could still push his physical limits.
The prospect of freedom sparked a flicker of hope in Jessica's eyes. "What's the bet? And I'm not agreeing to anything rigged."
"Completely fair and above board." Arthur held up his hand, pinky and thumb touching.
"You said the Marines represent justice, right? Let's bet on whether there are any corrupt, Evil Marines—officers who betray justice."
An experienced pirate wouldn't take that bet. Anyone who understood politics knew it was inherently dirty, regardless of nation or species.
Wherever there was power, there was corruption. No exceptions.
But Jessica was young, her worldview still malleable, her experiences limited. She couldn't see past the surface, her strong sense of justice blinding her to the darker realities.
She would accept the bet!
"Fine! I accept! And I will win!" Jessica's sullen expression brightened. "And you better keep your word. If I win, you let me go."
Arthur laughed inwardly. This chef was already his. "Don't worry. But it's too early to talk about winning or losing—"
"Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Seabury D. Arthur, a pirate—My dream is to find true Freedom, live a thrilling life, and grow stronger along the way."
Jessica scoffed, her chin held high. "I know who you are. I've seen your wanted poster. I'm Jessica. My dream is to become the world's Greatest Chef and find the legendary All Blue—the place where all the ingredients from the four seas meet!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Arthur clapped, his tone laced with amusement. "A noble dream. May it come true."
The four seas, separated by the Calm Belt, the Grand Line, and the Red Line, only seemed to converge at Reverse Mountain, where they flowed into the Grand Line.
But that was common knowledge. It wasn't the place chefs dreamed of.
Arthur suspected the All Blue was either the Grand Line itself—or a place whose location was only revealed at Laugh Tale.
"What's with that look?" Jessica, noticing Arthur's knowing smile, bristled.
"Nothing, nothing. I'm just impressed by your grand ambition. Hahahaha!"
"No, you're not. You're thinking something devious…"
"Hahaha! You caught me!"
——
Three days passed quickly.
"Arthur! You food-wasting fiend! You threw out the vegetables again!" Jessica's shriek echoed through the ship, a frying pan clutched in her hand, ready to do battle.
"I have a rare—life-threatening allergy to vegetables," Arthur groaned dramatically from his chair.
The small ship they'd commandeered didn't have much food, but Jessica's culinary skills had kept Arthur from starving.
He marveled at her ability to create delicious and nutritious meals from seemingly random ingredients. She had even earned a grudging respect from him—expressed through subtle eye rolls and exasperated sighs.
A skilled chef was a valuable asset, especially on long voyages. Arthur finally understood how pirates survived weeks at sea.
They could forage for food, and a good chef could stretch limited supplies, creating filling meals from minimal ingredients.
Arthur, cursed by the sea thanks to his Devil Fruit, couldn't forage, and he refused to waste time fishing. He had simply abandon his ship and fly to the nearest island for food.
Now, with a chef on board—life was much easier.
Under Arthur's subtle guidance, Jessica was adapting to life at sea. She found the freedom surprisingly enjoyable—a welcome change from the strict rules and regulations of Marine life.
Arthur smirked inwardly.
He was corrupting a young girl—but he didn't care.
Teenagers were fickle, easily swayed by novelty. Jessica, likely bored with Marine life, was enjoying the change of pace, the freedom to do as she pleased.
Habits were powerful things.
They could turn enemies into friends, strangers into lovers. Once established, they were hard to break.
Jessica was falling into a routine—cooking for Arthur without being asked, anticipating his needs.
Their relationship had improved over the past three days. Arthur was confident he could convince her to join his crew without resorting to their bet.
—
Spring Queen City, Saint Poplar!
This eternally spring-like island was the second-to-last stop on the first magnetic route of Paradise. Beyond it lay a small island—and then Sabaody Archipelago.
To the right lay Water 7.
Because of its central location and multiple navigable routes, predicting a ship's next destination from here was difficult. The Marines hadn't bothered setting an ambush.
Gecko Moria hadn't challenged Kaido yet—and the massive Thriller Bark wasn't in these waters.
A small ship sailed into the bustling harbor.
Dockworkers, waiting to unload the ship, grew impatient. When no one disembarked, they cautiously boarded, only to find it deserted.
"A Ghost ship…" The two workers exchanged terrified glances.
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