"Karin, quick—some Water-Water Meat!"
Anne, usually the cool one, turned into a total foodie the second dinner was mentioned. Honestly… way cuter like this.
"Got it. What about you guys—any cravings?"
"As long as it's meat." Benson never fussed. A dyed-in-the-wool carnivore.
"If Karin-chan cooks it, I love it."
"Same here!" said Aili and Adrian in chorus.
"And you three?"
"Whatever's easy—chef's choice."
"This god wants apple juice," Enel declared.
"Okay, okay—gimme a minute!" Karin vanished into the galley, while the others headed below to sort through the day's haul.
"Man, having a real chef on the crew is the best."
Karl stretched out on a beach chair, entirely too comfy.
"Uncle, you're getting lazier by the day."
"Oh? You dare sass your uncle now? Back to sword practice—chop chop!"
"Nope! nyeh-nyeh~" Anne pulled a face and bolted into the cabin.
"Everyone went inside, huh… Aili, come here a sec."
Karl tugged Aili into his arms.
"Hey—quit it! Save it for tonight."
"They're all downstairs—no one can see. I'm just collecting a bit of interest."
He stole a kiss; she stopped resisting and kissed him back, warm and fierce.
"Enough—for now! They'll be back up any second."
"Fine, fine… Aili, when we're back on Tiger-Roar Island… let's have a kid."
"…Okay." She answered, cheeks pink.
Which only made Karl dive back in for a few more "interest payments."
By the time he let go, both were breathless, a silver thread at the corner of their lips.
"Now I'm hungry."
"Come on, let's see if dinner's ready." He straightened up, took her hand, and they went below.
Next morning, fair winds and sunshine. The Tiger God rode a gentle breeze out to sea.
Karl sat on the rail, fishing with one hand and coaching Anne's sword drills with the other.
Anne had reached the "cut iron" threshold, though a true swordsman was still a ways off.
"Captain, three pirate ships tailing us. Do we swat them now?"
"Not yet. Let them follow till we're further from Water 7."
"This time this god moves!" Enel crackled. "Infuriating—weaklings daring to chase us!"
"Fine by me. Gnats are annoying. I've been thinking: maybe we should pull a big stunt so the whole world learns our name—then the gnats stop buzzing. Downside: we'll get bounties." Karl said it lightly.
"Not a bad plan. Bounties don't scare us. Procurement might get trickier though."
"Forget it—we'll ramp up slowly. Enel, your move."
The ships behind opened fire first.
"Yehahahaha! Vermin! Taste this god's wrath!" Enel launched into the sky.
"Ten Thousand Thunder!"
A sky-splitting detonation—lightning swallowed the three ships whole. Moments later, only charred splinters bobbed on the waves.
"Yehahahaha! That's what you get for angering a god!" Enel gloated.
Karl blinked. Huh. Rumble-Rumble really was perfect for clearing trash mobs. Right—Enel could keep that job.
A Den-Den Mushi trilled.
"Purururu… click."
"Sashi buri dana, Karl-boy. Calling out of the blue—what's up?" Shakky purred.
"Nothing big, Shakky-san. Thinking of grabbing a drink with Old Ray. Is he on the Sabaody Archipelago?"
"He is. When'll you get here? A few young ladies are dying to see you~"
"This afternoon, probably. 'Young ladies'… Don't tell me—Hancock and her sisters?"
He figured Shakky's circle, plus girls who'd want to see him, pretty much narrowed it down to the Boa sisters.
"Mmm, that's them. Hancock's the new captain of the Kuja Pirates and the freshly crowned Empress. They're in Sabaody picking up supplies I prepped."
"Got it. See you this afternoon."
"See you soon, Karl-boy~"
"Click."
"Who's 'Old Ray,' Karl?" asked Anne.
"Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King—Roger's right hand. We used to spar when I was training out in the world."
"Ohhh. Then who's Hancock?"
"…A girl I rescued back then. She's now captain of the Kuja Pirates."
"Hmph. Playboy." Anne puffed her cheeks.
"Uncle, does Old Ray know about my situation?"
"He doesn't. And Rayleigh's a terrible gossip—one drink and he'll spill everything. So we keep it quiet for now."
"Got it. Aren't you going to sweet-talk Aili?"
"Right! On it. Also, why do you call her sister and not aunt?"
"Because she likes it that way."
"…Fair. Get back to your forms."
"Yo! Karl-boy—sashi buri dana!"
"Old Ray, loving the look—spots on spots. Kinda works for you."
Rayleigh's dappled pants and cloak somehow did look… stylish.
"Hahaha! Come on, Shakky's waiting." He led the way.
"By the way… never thought about kids?"
"We'll leave it to fate. We're lazy folks—not like you youngsters." Rayleigh waved it off.
"Shakky, we're back!"
"Karl-boy, long time no see—handsomer than ever. And these are your crew?"
"Haha, Shakky-san, you're as young and dazzling as always. Introductions—
Big guy is Benson. The redhead is Karin, our chef—national cooking champion.
Jerry the fish-man is our shipwright; the rifle is Adrian our sniper; the long-eared one is Enel.
This is my wife, Aili.
And the little one is my niece, Portgas D. Anne."
"A crew of standouts. Honestly, Karl-boy, your strength isn't far off a Yonko division."
"Heh. As for the One Piece, not my thing," Karl said as Shakky's eyes glittered with intel-lust. "We just want to treasure-hunt and adventure. Speaking of, where's Hancock?"
"She ran back to the ship to change the moment she heard you were coming. Mmm… might be a rough day for her." Shakky teased.
"Looks like I'm getting a little sister," Aili said suddenly, to Karl's surprise. "Back then I was rescued from pirates too. I know exactly how that feels."
"Hahaha! Enough talk—brought a ton of Water-Water Meat from Water 7 and some Sky Island liquor!"
"Oh? You've been to Skypiea? Ahh, memories."
"Yep. The long-eared guy was their 'god'."
"Tch. When's the feast? This god is starving."
"Haha! Backyard—let's get cooking!"
They spilled into the rear courtyard, setting the place buzzing.
"Karl-sama! This one is overjoyed to see you again!"
"Karl-sama, long time no see!" ×2
The Boa sisters arrived.
"Sashi buri, Hancock, Sandersonia, Marigold!"
"Hancock, I'm Aili. Come—let's talk, just us two."
"Ah? O-okay. Karl-sama, I shall return shortly!"
Karl blinked. Two women off to form a united front—he braced himself.
"Come on, Sandersonia, Marigold—sit. We're all friends here."
"Thank you, Karl-sama!"
"Young folks, huh," Old Ray sighed fondly.
A little later, Aili and Hancock came back hand-in-hand.
"Karl, we talked. From now on, Hancock is my younger sister."
"This one agrees," Hancock nodded. "But from today forward—you may only have the two of us."
Karl's throat tightened. "You two… thank you."
"So I've got two aunts now?" Anne chirped.
"Bwahahaha!" The yard erupted.
"To celebrate Karl-boy's arrival—cheers!"
"Cheers!" ×12
"This Sky Island brew's legit."
"Of course—Karin tuned the recipe. We all love it."
Laughter filled the courtyard.
"It's been ages since a party like this," Rayleigh murmured. "The last was the day the Roger Pirates disbanded…"
Morning after, Karl woke with two women on his arms.
Last night had been… a lot. His lower back complained bitterly.
"Mmm… Karl, time to get up?"
One look at the view, and if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't get up.
"You three have shopping today, remember? Up you go—Anne's probably bouncing already."
"Fine. Hancock, you coming?"
"This one shall! I will change at once—ah!" She stumbled as her feet hit the floor.
"Hahaha—easy there."
"It's your fault," Hancock pouted. "I begged for mercy last night!"
"Don't mind him," Aili sniffed. "Tonight he sleeps alone."
…What did I even say?
"Take a phone-snail. Call if anything happens."
"Got it!"
Grove 49, Sabaody. The ladies strolled, happily buying clothes and specialty goods.
Passersby couldn't help staring—too beautiful to ignore.
Suddenly, people ahead fell to their knees. Agents moved to cordon the way.
A Celestial Dragon had arrived.
"What gorgeous women! You—bring them to me. I'll make them my wives!"
A leering man in a glass helmet drooled openly at Hancock and the others.
"Yes, sir!" A CP agent lunged—
—only to freeze solid mid-step. Anne had moved first. Aili had already pinged Karl.
"Filthy commoners dare resist?! All of you—attack!"
"Divine Judgment!" Thunder boomed from above; several CP agents turned to charcoal in a blink.
Enel had arrived fastest—unsurprisingly.
Panic erupted. Civilians scattered in every direction.
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