The Shepherd family is incredibly powerful.
Just from what Black knows, there is one Gorosei and one God's Knights member.
But no matter how large the other party's family influence is, Celestial Dragons are, in principle, equal in status.
And although the various Celestial Dragons families are not a monolithic block, there is no internal strife.
Let alone a small conflict like fighting over a Slave, even if they were to openly brawl, the Shepherd family would not trouble Black for it.
Grothius's face was dark, and he cursed under his breath at the corpse of Blood Axe:
"Useless!"
Then he left the banquet hall without looking back.
Black pouted:
"So petty, he left already. I wanted him to get another Slave and bet a few more Devil Fruits with me."
If Black hadn't appeared, the Boa Sisters would most likely have fallen into Grothius's hands.
Then the Mero Mero no Mi (Love-Love Fruit) would most likely also be in his possession.
Although Black would rather Hancock eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit or a Devil Fruit that greatly enhances physical combat.
However, if the Mero Mero no Mi (Love-Love Fruit) stayed with Grothius, who knows, he might give it to some untalented Slave one day.
Isn't that a waste?
Giving it to my Slaves is the only way to make the best use of it!
But there was clearly no such opportunity at the moment, so he could only wait for next time.
Just as he was thinking, Rosward had already swayed his way to Black, covering his mouth and chuckling softly:
"Congratulations, Saint Black, these three rare Slaves are now yours."
Black came back to his senses, suppressing his disgust and nodding to Rosward:
"Then thank you, Rosward... Palace."
After a perfunctory remark, Black left Rosward's manor with Mandy and the Boa Sisters.
After stepping outside, Black let out a long breath:
"It's truly tormenting, I always want to punch that guy in the face."
Mandy's eye twitched, but she didn't reply.
Hancock, with her two sisters, followed closely behind.
It was late at night when they returned to the manor. Black handed the three women over to Stella for arrangements, then went back to his room with Mandy.
It was the usual rule: don't be too hasty with new Slaves. Given time, they would naturally lower their guard.
The next morning, after breakfast, Black lay in the yard sunbathing, while the Boa Sisters stood neatly by his side.
They clearly hadn't rested well last night, their expressions slightly haggard.
Black glanced in their direction, raised his hand, and pointed at Sandersonia:
"I don't like you. You're far less attractive than your older and younger sisters."
"By the way, are you really biological sisters? How can there be such a big difference?"
Robin, who was reading nearby, pursed her lips, long accustomed to Black's double standards.
Hearing these words, the three sisters looked at Black in terror, their bodies involuntarily beginning to tremble.
They had witnessed the Celestial Dragons' attitude towards Slaves; an unliked Slave might be directly killed.
Black smiled and beckoned to Hancock.
Hancock gritted her teeth, released her sisters' hands from her clothes, slowly moved in front of Black, and lowered her head.
Black reached out his hand, and under the terrified gazes of Sandersonia and Marigold—
He gently stroked Hancock's beautiful hair.
"Whether it's you or Marigold, I like you both very much. I just don't like her."
"What do you think I should do?"
Hancock looked up, biting her lower lip tightly. After a moment, she finally spoke:
"Your Highness... please spare my sister."
Black put his hand on Hancock's head as if petting a cat, stroking her hair while saying:
"Hmm, tell Rami later to send your sister to her parents and not let me see her easily again."
"Lest it affect my mood."
Hancock let out a slight sigh of relief, her tense body gradually relaxing:
"Thank you for your Highness's benevolence!"
She thanked him sincerely.
At least at this moment, Hancock truly felt that Black was a good person.
Indeed, this was also a form of PUA.
First, use immense fear to destroy the other party's ability to think, then offer a lifeline.
At this point, the other party will not think about where the fear came from, but rather focus on the lifeline, thus generating gratitude.
After Black's words, Hancock would come to the conclusion—
Sandersonia would have died, but Black didn't let her die, so Black has shown kindness to their sisters.
This strange conclusion.
After Hancock and her sisters left, Black took out a white transponder snail and contacted Aramaki, inquiring about his subordinates' training progress.
The fastest progress was made by Eneru and Lafitte.
Lafitte had successfully awakened two types of Haki, and his combat skills were becoming increasingly refined.
Eneru was no longer the stick-thin figure he was when they first met; his physical fitness had greatly improved, and he had awakened Observation Haki.
Capone Bege, as an ambitious individual, would pledge allegiance to the strong, but not sincerely.
This guy had always been secretly disloyal. Aramaki hadn't even taught him Haki, only using his intelligence network in West Blue to monitor the Revolutionary Army.
Hawkins was still too young, his focus for now was mainly on improving his physical fitness.
Black listened, then instructed:
"You handled Bege's situation very well."
"Eneru acts obedient now because your strength is much greater than his."
"If one day his strength surpasses yours, his mindset will change."
"So you must maintain a high-pressure policy on him, make him fear you, make him tremble at the mention of your name."
"Lafitte and Hawkins are both smart people who can assess the situation; normal training will suffice for them."
"Yes! Your Highness!"
Aramaki noted everything down, then said:
"Your Highness, I have already located the Revolutionary Army's base in West Blue."
"Oh?"
Black was a little surprised.
The current Revolutionary Army was really not doing well, to be so easily traced by Aramaki.
Immediately after, Aramaki revealed a location that Black had never anticipated.
"Your Highness, the Revolutionary Army's base is in Degalt, the Giant Kingdom near Reverse Mountain."
Black was stunned.
He remembered that he had activated Observation Haki when he was in Degalt, so how could he not have discovered the Revolutionary Army's traces?
Then he realized that they must have abandoned their original base after Akainu's pursuit and moved to Degalt.
Mori, the Revolutionary Army's West Blue leader, originally came from Degalt, and coupled with the nearby vortex siphon zone, it was indeed a good hiding place.
Just as he was about to tell Aramaki to continue monitoring, he heard the other party continue:
"Your Highness, while personally monitoring their transport ship, I unintentionally overheard a piece of news."
"The Revolutionary Army's East Blue leader is about to arrive in West Blue, seemingly intending to help the West Blue Revolutionary Army establish an anti-eavesdropping communication device."
Hearing this news, Black's eyes narrowed:
"I remember the Revolutionary Army's East Blue leader, it seems to be..."