"Marriage alliance?"
Looking at the Den Den Mushi that had gone silent, Leo pondered the news. So, did Sanji get out of Impel Down after all? Or is it one of the other Vinsmoke brothers—Ichiji, Niji, or Yonji? He couldn't be sure, but it wasn't worth dwelling on. Regardless of whether the Big Mom Pirates were allying with the Germa Kingdom, Totto Land was a destination he couldn't miss.
He had two primary objectives there.
The most important, of course, was recruitment. Among Big Mom's many daughters, while few were particularly appealing, there were two notable beauties. The first was Charlotte Galette, the 18th daughter, Minister of Butter and user of the Butter-Butter Fruit. The second was Charlotte Flampe, the 36th daughter, a combatant and Minister of Honey. She was the little girl who had sneak-attacked Luffy with a poison needle during his fight with Katakuri in the original storyline. They were the only two in the Whole Cake Island Arc who met his... aesthetic standards.
Of course, Charlotte Pudding was also beautiful, but the third eye on her forehead was a bit... unconventional. If his guess was correct, two other beauties would also be present at the wedding. One was Vinsmoke Reiju, the eldest daughter of the Germa family and, in his mind, the perfect candidate for the Poison-Poison Fruit sitting in his warehouse. The other was Stussy—that alluring, fox-like temptress whose bewitching demeanor was in a class of its own. These four women, Leo was determined to acquire.
Beyond recruitment, he had a second goal. In Big Mom's possession was a red Poneglyph, one of the four Road Poneglyphs that served as a guide to the final island, Laugh Tale. While Leo had no personal interest in the so-called "One Piece," it was said that Roger had learned the answer to everything there, including the secrets of the Void Century. That was a mystery Robin was dedicated to uncovering. So, no matter what, a trip to Totto Land was necessary.
"Hmm?"
As Leo's thoughts drifted, he noticed Shakky and Keimi had swum closer, their tails coiled beneath them as they knelt before him.
"What is it?" Leo asked, a playful smirk on his lips as he glanced downwards.
"Captain, I was wrong," Shakky said, following his gaze and wincing slightly. The sight was... beyond her previous experience.
"Realizing it now? What were you thinking earlier?" Leo snorted. She truly lived up to her reputation as Madame Shakky—bolder than most. Even the proud Hancock wouldn't dare to tease him so brazenly anymore. Clearly, she still needed some... training.
"Go on," Leo said, reducing the intensity slightly with a thought and a pointed look.
Shakky and Keimi exchanged a glance, their blushes deepening, spreading down their necks. Seeing Keimi's hesitation, Shakky sighed inwardly.
"Captain, I know I was wrong~" she said in a deliberately sweet, pleading tone as she moved closer.
"Why isn't Leo riding in the main ship with us?"
On the deck of the Luxury Ship, Shirahoshi stared at the distant white cloud cottage, her flawless face a picture of innocent confusion.
Hearing her question, Nami, Hancock, and the other women covered their mouths to stifle their giggles. The mermaid princess was so adorably naive. But probably not for much longer...
"Shirahoshi," Hancock said, appearing in a flash to sit gracefully on the giant princess's shoulder. "Did Leo give you anything? A gift, perhaps?"
Shirahoshi tilted her head in thought, then reached into Megalo's little vest pocket and pulled out a book. "He gave me this," she said softly. "Leo said I should practice the methods inside. He said once I learn them, I can be a big help to him someday." The thought of being useful to Leo made her happy.
The women leaned in to look. The cover of the book read: Rokushiki: The Six Powers.
They all rolled their eyes in unison. Leo, you're really going all out just for that, aren't you?
Soon, the women dispersed to attend to their daily tasks and training. Only Shirahoshi remained on the deck, refusing to leave no matter who tried to persuade her. Six hours later, seeing that Leo still hadn't returned, she finally gave up and retired to her room.
Eight hours later.
The pristine cloud cottage was saturated with the scent of sweat and sex. Shakky and Keimi had fallen into an exhausted slumber, their fishtails still twitching faintly.
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crew member: Shakky. Claim reward?]
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recruiting crew member: Keimi. Claim reward?]
The cold, mechanical system voice arrived as expected. Of the three "recruits" from Fish-Man Island, Leo had only completed the final... formalities with Shakky and Keimi. As for Shirahoshi, her size made things currently impossible. A twelve-meter-tall mermaid was a gap even his mastery of Life Return couldn't bridge alone. But even so, Leo had never considered marking her with a slave insignia. He could wait for any reward she might bring.
"Claim rewards," Leo mentally commanded.
[Congratulations! Reward acquired: 'Cupid's Embrace' x60!]
[Congratulations! Reward acquired: 'Storage Ring' x60!]
Cupid's Embrace? Leo snorted inwardly. Who does the system think it's dealing with? Every woman on his ship was generously endowed! Which of them wasn't already汹涌澎湃 (voluptuous)?
With a touch of disdain, he checked the system annotation.
Cupid's Embrace:
1. Size automatically adjusts to the wearer's dimensions.
2. For women below a D-cup, regular wear will yield pleasant surprises within one month.
3. Long-term wear promotes improved symmetry, firmness, and prevents sagging.
4. Made from a special, indestructible material.
Wait a minute... Leo's eyes lit up. Okay, I spoke too soon. As expected of the system! They're all wearing these. No arguments. He could already imagine the delightful, bouncy results.
In a much better mood, he looked at the second reward.
Storage Ring. A familiar term that instantly pulled his mind back to memories of high-fantasy novels.
Annotation:
1. Contains 500 cubic meters of storage space for everyday items.
2. Can only store inanimate objects.
3. Items can be stored or retrieved via mental command.
4. Ring size is self-adjusting.
5. Indestructible; immune to physical damage.
The explanations were straightforward. Both the "Cupid's Embrace" and the Storage Rings came in sets of 60—more than enough for all the women. The Storage Rings, especially, would make Nami and the others ecstatic. Every woman loved to shop. Nami and Robin had complained more than once about lugging around bags. Problem solved.
Stashing the rewards away, Leo teleported himself and the two sleeping mermaids back to the main ship. The cloud cottage dissipated into the wind. After tucking Shakky and Keimi into bed, Leo gathered all the women in the main lounge.
Twenty-four women, not counting Shirahoshi, stood in a row.
"Leo, eight whole hours with two mermaids? You must be in heaven," Nami teased with a wicked grin.
"Captain, what's it like with a mermaid?" Vivi asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Leo, was it... exciting?" Kaya joined in, her expression playful.
Before Leo could even speak, the women were already ribbing him, their exaggerated expressions and gestures making their meaning clear.
"Leo, what are the sisters talking about?" Shirahoshi asked, utterly lost, her face a blank canvas of confusion.
"Don't mind them, Shirahoshi," Leo said, ignoring the teasing. They dare to mock me? Just wait until they're begging for mercy later.
He produced twenty-five sets of the "Cupid's Embrace" and twenty-five Storage Rings.
"Huh?"
"Leo, what are these?"
"Captain, are these presents for us?"
Another wave of excited chattering erupted. This is the downside of having so many women, Leo thought with an internal sigh. Don't try this at home.
He picked up one of the special garments and, under the intensely curious gazes of two dozen women, began to explain its functions.
Upon hearing its purpose, reactions varied. Shirahoshi simply blushed and looked down, nervously twisting her fingers. Hancock, Nami, Sarah, Tashigi, and others with ample "capital" stood a little taller, their postures proud. Below a D-cup? Who are you looking down on?
In contrast, a few like Maya and Mary (Mari) looked down, their expressions dimming.
Ahem. "Maya, don't lose heart," Leo said, offering an encouraging look. "Wear this, and it won't be long before you join their ranks."
"Captain!" Maya stomped her foot, her face red. She was already self-conscious, and now he had to point her out in front of everyone? Talk about adding insult to injury!
Leo offered an awkward smile and quickly changed the subject, picking up a Storage Ring. "Ahem, this is my second gift for you all: Storage Rings."
He then explained their function. The moment he finished, the women swarmed him.
"Captain, give me one!"
"Leo, I want one too!"
"Leo, don't forget me!"
The prospect of a magical storage space delighted them. Now their shopping trips would be effortless. As for how Leo had obtained such miraculous items, they didn't bother to ask. They knew their captain was full of secrets. If he wanted to share, they'd listen. If not, they wouldn't pry. As long as he treated them well, that was enough.
Soon, the twenty-four "Cupid's Embrace" sets and twenty-four Storage Rings were distributed. The women hurried back to their rooms to try on the new underwear and experiment with their rings.
Only Shirahoshi remained, looking a little lost.
"Shirahoshi, these are for you." Leo walked over and handed her the last set.
"Leo... I get one too?!" Shirahoshi asked, her face flushing crimson.
"Of course. I don't play favorites. Come on, let's go to your room. I'll help you put it on." Leo's gaze was fixed intently on her... upper assets. While certain activities were off the table for now, there was nothing stopping him from appreciating and adjusting her new attire.
"Lord Leo, I... I think I can manage..." Seeing Leo's mock-stern expression, Shirahoshi covered her mouth, cutting herself off. "I mean... if you want to help me, Leo... that's... that's okay," she finished, her voice dropping to a whisper as she bowed her head shyly.
"Good girl. Let's go." To Shirahoshi's utter astonishment, Leo simply flew up and landed softly on her generous bust, taking a deep, appreciative breath of her unique, sweet scent. Biting her lip, a deeply flustered but compliant Shirahoshi swam towards her room, carrying her captain with her.
Four days passed in a flash.
Totto Land was buzzing with unprecedented activity. News of the wedding between the Big Mom Pirates and the Vinsmoke family had spread like wildfire across the New World. On the day of the ceremony, representatives from many invited organizations arrived from distant seas to offer congratulations.
Within the whimsical kingdom, houses made of cake, pastries, and cheese lined the streets, filling the air with delicious aromas.
"What perfect weather for a wedding!"
"Hahaha! Miss Pudding has found a good match. Mama must be overjoyed!"
"I hear Vinsmoke Sanji is quite handsome. He's lucky to marry Miss Pudding!"
The fairy-tale town was packed, filled with laughter and cheer. Before the pristine wedding chapel, the invited underground moguls, merchants, and nobles gathered.
The Emperor, Big Mom, sat on the central throne, beaming at the festive scene, a picture of maternal joy quite unlike her usual terrifying demeanor.
Closest to her sat the most famous of the Underground Emperors:
Morgans, President of the World Economic Journal, purveyor of news and newspapers.
Stussy, the Queen of the Pleasure Districts.
Du Feld, the Loan Shark King.
"Massacre Soldier" Disco, the Assassin King.
"Trenchwater" Umit, the Shipping King, who controlled maritime transport in the New World and beyond.
These figures held immense sway in the underworld, their businesses spanning the globe. Even the World Government treated them with caution.
"Mamamamama! Everyone, the ceremony will begin shortly! Please, enjoy the treats!" Big Mom spread her arms, laughing heartily.
The crowd of nobles and merchants cheered in response.
Just then, Du Feld, the Loan Shark King, walked up to Big Mom, a cigar in his mouth and a small, ornate box in his hand. "Hahaha! Big Mom! A little wedding gift from me," he said, his tone that of an old business partner.
Big Mom nodded and accepted it with a smile. The Big Mom Pirates had vast interests, especially in the underworld. Nearly all those invited had business ties with her crew. She had maintained long-standing partnerships with the individuals before her.
"Hah! Du Feld, you're as stingy as ever! Such a tiny box?" Umit, the Shipping King, scoffed and snapped his fingers. Two burly men struggled to carry over a massive chest filled with gold and jewels.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Big Mom was practically drooling with delight.
"Linlin, this is my gift. I do hope you like it~" Stussy presented a small but exquisitely crafted box with a charming smile.
"Mamamama! So thoughtful, Stussy!" Big Mom took the box personally.
"Big Mom, I've brought you rare delicacies from various countries. All very hard to come by," Morgans announced grandly as he stepped forward. Several large chests were carried and placed before Big Mom.
Looking at Morgans, Big Mom teased, "Mamamama! Such generosity, Morgans! Business must be booming for you lately!"
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T/N :
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