Of the three remaining missions, only eliminating the Blackbeard Pirates seemed relatively simple; the other two were far more difficult, as Marco knew he could not defeat Kaido at the moment. Originally, he had been close to victory, but Kaido had awakened his Devil Fruit at the critical moment, dramatically increasing his strength.
Marco muttered to himself as he studied his status panel. "All six of my powers… they've improved quite a bit."
Name: Marco
Age: 43
Attribute Points: 3,000
Devil Fruit: Zoan Type – Phoenix Form (Awakened)
Haki: Armament Haki (Top-tier), Observation Haki (Top-tier), Conqueror's Haki (Top-tier)
Body Techniques: Soru (Top-tier), Rankyaku (Advanced), Moonwalk (Advanced), Tekkai (Top-tier), Finger Pistol (Top-tier), Kami-e (Advanced)
Strength: 12,054
Speed: 6,500
Defense: 13,800
Recovery: 60,000
Stamina: 20,100
Spirit: 13,300
System Combat Power Evaluation: Strong General Emperor Level
Seeing that he was still classified as Strong General Emperor Level, Marco understood that it was a significant threshold. His Devil Fruit awakening had already placed him at the peak of human potential for a Strong General Emperor. During his battle with Kaido, he had earned 8,000 attribute points and learned Conqueror's Haki Infusion, raising his Conqueror's Haki to top-tier—but even so, his overall strength remained at Strong General Emperor Level.
Either my basic attributes aren't high enough, or my Haki needs to reach legendary status, he thought, studying his panel.
"Captain…" At that moment, Sak approached. "Monet said she wants to see you about something."
"Monet, the Snow Woman Monet?" Marco asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes," Sak confirmed.
Marco's curiosity was piqued, though he wasn't particularly interested in her. He asked, "Didn't she leave with Caesar?"
Sak shook his head. "No, she stayed on the Moby Dick. She said she wanted to join the Phoenix Pirates because you were busy fighting Kaido, so we didn't mention it before."
Marco nodded, intrigued. "Alright, let her come over."
Soon, Sak returned with Monet. She bowed respectfully. "Captain Marco…"
Marco studied her carefully. She was undeniably beautiful. "You want to join the Phoenix Pirates?" he asked.
"Yes," Monet replied respectfully.
Marco narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "Why?"
Monet's cheeks flushed slightly. "Well, it's because i want to stay by your side, and i want to serve you."
Marco raised an eyebrow. Was his reputation really that persuasive? But he remained cautious. Knowing Monet's past as a spy, he asked carefully, "Is that all?"
"Mm," Monet nodded. She half-knelt before him, deliberately opening her clothes slightly in a calculated display of charm. "After all, I am just a weak woman, and Lord Marco is the strongest man I have ever met. I wish to remain by your side and serve you."
Marco frowned, suspicion sharpening his gaze. "You… you're not trying to use a honey trap, are you? Are you here to avenge Doflamingo?"
Monet looked slightly taken aback but admitted, "Yes, I did think of that at first, because Law killed Young Master, and I wanted revenge."
She paused, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "However, with my strength, it would be extremely difficult to defeat Law alone. That's why I wish to follow Lord Marco."
Marco shook his head. "If it isn't just about revenge, you could join the Beasts Pirates. Their power could help you as much as mine. Besides, Doflamingo's death is also my responsibility. If you want revenge, you could come with me."
Monet shook her head earnestly. "No, I don't blame Lord Marco. I know the full story. Law saved everyone from the Phoenix Pirates, which is why you agreed to act against Young Master. The root cause lies with Law—he is my target."
She added thoughtfully, "As for the Beasts Pirates… I've heard of them. They're reckless and brutal. If I joined them, I'd likely be torn apart immediately."
Monet then smiled charmingly. "On the contrary, I've been very happy with the Phoenix Pirates. Everyone treated me kindly, regardless of my abilities. If I were with the Beasts Pirates, a crew that reveres strength above all, I wouldn't have survived this long."
Marco's lips curved into a wry, calculating smile. Though he wasn't particularly interested in women, this presentation could not be ignored. "You said you want to serve me. How do you plan to do that?"
Monet's jade arms slid around his neck, her voice low and sultry. "As long as Lord Marco gives this humble servant a chance, I will cherish it fully."
Marco rose from his beach chair, the sun warming his back. Facing Monet's enchanting presence, he could not resist any longer. He whispered, Damn, she hot…
"Come with me...."