Calling someone "husband" in front of his girlfriend?!
Just the thought of it felt incredibly thrilling.
But… tempting fate like that could be fatal.
In the end, Sero was forced to use a generous amount of his secret stash to pay off all of Tsunade's debts.
He even politely escorted each of the toy people out of the restaurant.
When Sero turned around, he found Tsunade already heartlessly eating and drinking merrily with Yamato and the others.
Hancock, however, was staring at Tsunade with a wary gaze.
Mainly because… in two certain areas, she couldn't compete with Tsunade.
Her sense of threat was through the roof.
"Sero… who is this woman?"
Unable to hold it in, Hancock asked softly with a slightly aggrieved look.
Seeing the obvious emotion on Hancock's face, Sero was completely confused.
How could anyone think a young guy like him had that kind of relationship with someone like Tsunade, who was an older woman?
"Sero! We've finished all the food! Bring out another round of everything!"
Shamelessly seated at the table, Tsunade shouted.
She even kept glancing between Sero and Hancock, her gaze practically dripping with provocation.
"Waiter! Please bring out another full round of dishes as requested by this… auntie."
"Auntie?!"
That one word made Tsunade leap up and punch Sero in the knee.
(After all, Sero was three meters tall.)
"Pfft! Let me introduce her, this auntie is my cousin."
"Cousin! That's right! I'm Sero's younger cousin!"
Before Sero could finish, Tsunade cut him off and gave herself a much younger identity.
Sero was speechless.
Who would possibly believe Tsunade was his younger cousin?!
"You're Sero's cousin? Then that makes you my cousin, too! Nice to meet you, cousin! I'm Hancock, Sero's girlfriend! Please take care of me!"
Well then… Hancock believed her.
She even started trying to build a bond with Tsunade.
Sero was so dumbfounded that he didn't even bother correcting them.
Yamato, Sabo, and the others also quickly accepted Tsunade as part of the group without issue.
After the meal, at Yamato's curious urging, the group began exploring the streets of Dressrosa.
After all, Doflamingo wouldn't return immediately, and they couldn't just sit around the inn forever.
That would be terrible for Sero's kidneys.
Besides, defeating Doflamingo didn't require any real preparation for this crew; Sero, Yamato, Sabo, Hancock, and Little Sparrow were already a half-Yonko-level squad.
And now with a Kage-level ninja like Tsunade, they were more than overpowered.
"Don't you have anything you want to ask me, Tsunade?"
Falling to the back of the group, Sero asked curiously.
Tsunade looked at him with a confused expression, as if she had no idea why he was even asking.
You'd think Sero was the one who had been rewarded by the system for completing the "Escape Onigashima Alive" mission.
"The system told me everything I needed to know. For a wanderer like me, one place is just like another. I just miss Shizune and Tonton a little."
Tsunade's response was very laid-back.
And made a lot of sense, honestly.
Since his "cousin" was so chill, Sero could finally relax.
"As my cousin, you'll be covering all my expenses in this world from now on, right?"
"Sorry, what? The signal's breaking up, Hancock. Did you call me? I'm coming!"
Sero feigned ignorance and hurried over to Hancock, leaving Tsunade behind in a daze.
But soon, Tsunade's face twisted into a mischievous grin.
She muttered to herself:
"Dear cousin... your cousin isn't letting go that easily! Hehehe~"
Up front, Sero suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
As if something wicked had latched onto him.
Spooked, he hurried the group toward a massive nearby coliseum packed with people.
"Why are there so many people here? What's everyone doing?!"
Yamato had never seen such a lively scene and joyfully ran straight into the crowd.
Sero, still feeling the strange chill, told Hancock to watch over Katakuri and Jack, then followed Yamato into the heart of the crowd, hoping it would dispel whatever was following him.
However, in no time, both Sero and Yamato were accidentally pushed into the fighters' prep area by the crowd.
An event staff member even-handedly handed each of them a number badge for the match.
Sero was completely stunned.
"We get to go up and fight in the arena too, Sero?!"
While Sero was baffled, Yamato was thrilled.
Fighting was her favorite pastime, and fighting people outside of Onigashima? Even better.
Seeing how excited Yamato was, Sero couldn't bear to disappoint her.
So he went along with it and joined the crowd of fighters heading to the arena.
"Wait, isn't that Sero and Yamato?! Why are they entering the arena?!"
From the stands, Sabo, with his sharp eyes, spotted them and was instantly shocked.
He began silently praying for all the other fighters…
And for the arena itself.
Not to mention Sero, who could casually one-shot two Flying Six members, and Yamato, who could go toe-to-toe with Kaido.
Either of them alone could level the entire Kingdom of Dressrosa.
"If any of those bastards dare hurt Sero, I'll kick them all to death!"
Hancock's perspective was… unique.
Katakuri and Jack sat beside her, completely speechless.
As cheers and shouts echoed through the stands, the match bell rang.
Most fighters quickly picked out opponents and charged in.
Yamato was the most aggressive of all, swinging her Kaido-style kanabo as she challenged dozens of fighters at once.
Sero was planning to hang out quietly in the corner until it was over,
But a girl with a longsword locked eyes with him, full of battle intent.
She had noticed the katana at his waist and wanted to test her swordsmanship against him.
Sero found her intriguing.
Looking at her closely, she seemed familiar.
Golden helmet, light golden armor, a green cape…
"Rebecca?!"
The name burst into Sero's mind.
Granddaughter of King Riku, the former king of Dressrosa.
Daughter of the legendary gladiator Kyros.
The same Rebecca who met Luffy two years later.
"You know my name? You don't look like you're from Dressrosa… are you a swordsman from outside?"
Rebecca was a little surprised that Sero knew her name.
But as the granddaughter of a former king, she had some degree of fame in the coliseum, even if it was mostly negative.
"You are Rebecca! I'm Sero, just an unknown great swordsman."
Sero smiled, then drew his katana with interest.
A fierce sword aura exploded from him, engulfing the arena.
Rebecca, standing closest, was overwhelmed and staggered back, then collapsed to the ground, staring up at him in terror.
Although only three meters tall, Sero seemed impossibly high and unreachable.
Most of the other fighters were in the same state as Rebecca.
Many even dropped their weapons and ran off crying for their mothers.
Yamato, still swinging her club, felt very unsatisfied.
Sero didn't expect this reaction either.
He had overestimated Rebecca and the others.
They were way weaker than he thought.
"Not even brave enough to raise your sword?"
Sero still had a shred of hope for Rebecca.
A fallen princess with a grudge, being this timid wouldn't do.
Hearing this, Rebecca clenched her teeth, forced herself to grip her sword again, and stood up.
That earned a trace of admiration in Sero's eyes.
"I… I know I can't defeat you. But I still want to try and test my swordsmanship against someone so powerful."
As she spoke, her voice grew more determined.
If only her knees would stop shaking.
"Come. Attack."
Sero's face turned serious.
For those who genuinely respected the sword, Sero would always return the respect.
He let her strike first, knowing if he moved first, she'd never even have a chance to swing.
Rebecca took deep breaths to calm herself, then bravely leapt forward, sword slashing at Sero.
Sero casually raised his katana.
Her sword immediately stopped, unable to push forward even an inch.
Her technique was weak. Her strength was lacking.
Normally, Sero wouldn't even draw his blade for such an opponent; he could defeat them with a finger.
But since he had a bit of admiration for Rebecca, he decided to give her a taste of what real swordsmanship was.
"That's not how you wield a sword."
Sero opened his eyes wide.
A sharper, more powerful sword aura exploded.
It blasted Rebecca into the air.
At the same time, that sharp sword aura condensed into Sero's katana.
With a single slash, a massive sword beam ripped through the air beside Rebecca,
And cleaved both the arena and the entire Dressrosa Coliseum in half.