With the first light of day, Allen woke up in his cabin, but it wasn't a pleasant morning. His head hurt.
"Shit..."
[Aww, what's wrong? The combination of a morning hangover and the rocking of the sea isn't treating you well?]
Lenalee had begun enjoying it whenever Allen suffered the consequences of his impulsive actions.
Allen remained silent. He didn't want to argue at that moment.
A few minutes later, he managed to get out of bed and walk over to the window overlooking the sea. It was still early, but the first rays of sunlight were already appearing.
"Ugh... maybe increasing the size of the Black Pearl isn't such a bad idea after all."
The bigger a ship was, the harder it was for waves to affect it—basic logic.
Lenalee mocked him.
[Or you could stop drinking~]
"Oh, come on. What kind of pirate captain would I be if I can't handle a little rum? The other kids would make fun of me, Mom."
[Who are you calling Mom? And trust me, there are plenty of things people would make fun of you for, and not being able to drink rum isn't one of them.]
"Tsk, they're fools who have yet to witness my absolute magnificence," Allen snorted.
[Sure...]
"Alright, enough wasting time. I need a general report. How are we looking right now?" Allen asked.
Lenalee stopped playing around and appeared on the desk in the form of a small chest. When Allen approached her, a scroll materialized before him.
Strength: Level 69
Fire Logia Skills:
Hiken: Level 3
Firefly: Level 3
Higan: Level 3
– Kyokaen (Flame Mirror): Level 1
Monkey D. Garp Skills:
Fist of Love: Level 4
– Garp's Physique: Level 1
Noro Paramecia Skills:
Noro Beam: Level 3
Rokushiki Skills:
Shigan: Level 3
Tekkai: Level 3
Soru: Level 3
– Rankyaku: Level 1
Tremor Paramecia Skills:
Gura Gura: Level 4
Ice Logia Skills:
Hie Hie: Level 1
– Ice Saber: Level 1
Fish-Man Skills:
– Arlong's Swimming: Level 1
Operation Paramecia Skills:
– Room: Level 1
Light Logia Skills:
– Amaterasu: Level 1
Magellan Skills:
– Partial Poison Immunity: Level 1
The last eight skills were highlighted.
After seeing the list of abilities and his current strength level, Allen remained silent.
"I'm surprised I didn't die in Loguetown..." he said casually.
His current state was pathetic. He looked like an amateur player who had just finished the first level of the beginner dungeon.
[I wouldn't say that. At the very least, you're more than strong enough to clear the first floor. The problem is that instead of finding the floor boss, the Demon King suddenly appeared right in front of you.]
Allen and Lenalee paused before laughing. This happened to them quite often. They would start speaking in terms and references neither of them truly understood, yet somehow they both did.
– Ships: Black Pearl Brigantine Level 5 (Plus)
Legendary Traits:
Slot 1: Speed
Slot 2: Stealth
Slot 3: Remote Control
Slot 4: Auto Reload
Slot 5: Transcendent
The ship would need to reach Level 6 for another slot, which made sense. Among all upgrades, Legendary Traits were practically cheats for a ship. There had to be a limit somewhere.
Crew:
Nami Lv. 2
Kaya Lv. 2
Nojiko Lv. 1
Uta Lv. 1
"..."
[Don't try to run away from it. You know you need to level up the girls~]
"I know..." Allen looked away. In another life, he might have been a shameless womanizer, but here he lacked both experience and skill. Feeling embarrassed was inevitable.
Passengers/Hostages:
Hina
Tashigi
Vivi
Mikita
Allen smiled. These four women could become future members of his crew, or perhaps they would only bring him trouble. He didn't know yet, but he didn't regret bringing them aboard. A pirate takes what he wants and accepts the consequences.
Territories:
Conomi Islands
Gecko Islands
"How pathetic..." Allen sighed.
A man who desired the entire world felt miserable knowing only two small regions in the vast sea flew his flag.
Lenalee shrugged.
[Well, you'll just have to work harder, World King~]
The last thing to review was his available "budget." Of the seventeen million he previously had, he had spent nine: three on upgrades, one on the harpoon, and five on the Legendary Trait. However, he had gained twenty-five million from the Baroque Works shipment, leaving him with thirty-three million available.
He hadn't touched the cash and gold he found in the captain's cabin.
Allen knew how much Nami had sacrificed by giving him all her money, so he wanted to make it up to her. He gave her everything from the captain's treasure stash.
It was understandable that she had even kissed him in a moment of euphoria.
"..." Allen remembered the kisses from both sisters and remained silent.
[What's wrong? Has spring finally arrived?]
Lenalee teased.
"I know you're just getting revenge for what happened yesterday. Still, give me a break."
[Fine~]
Copper Coins: 33
Allen sat at his desk and considered how to invest those coins. Naturally, he would save eight for the level-ups of the four girls, but the rest...
"Haki... huh."
He had been thinking about Haki ever since fighting Garp.
The Fist of Love was basically a normal punch infused with the mysterious power of Haki. It dramatically increased both offensive and defensive capabilities. On top of that, it was the natural counter to Logia Devil Fruits, making Haki an indispensable weapon for future battles.
On the other hand, his current physical strength was equivalent to that of a pirate worth 123 million Berries. Even if he spent all twenty-five million on physical development, the difference wouldn't be that significant. Using them on skills would be another matter.
Even a single coin invested in a skill created a massive increase in power, but ultimately it wasn't very practical.
For example, upgrading "Garp's Physique" would grant tremendous strength, far beyond what normal physical leveling could provide. However, it was temporary power. Once the effect ended, he would return to his current level.
"Skills are double-edged swords..."
[That's true. They allow you to wield power far beyond your natural capabilities, but you become dependent on defeating your opponent quickly. If the battle drags on too long, you'll be exhausted, and then it's Game Over.]
"In that case, there's no need to think about it. I'll invest in Haki." Allen touched the Haki option on the scroll, causing three choices to appear. "Use ten on Armament, ten on Observation, and five coins on Conqueror's."
[Understood...]
"...!"
Allen's vision blurred, and he collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
[Allen?! Allen!]
Several minutes passed before he regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, Nami, Uta, Nojiko, and Kaya were gathered around him.
"His eyes are open!" Uta exclaimed.
"Are you alright?!" Nami asked worriedly.
"What happened to you?!" Nojiko said anxiously.
"Thank goodness..." Kaya grabbed his hand while sniffling.
'Lenalee...'
[Sorry. I panicked. I didn't know you'd pass out, so I called Kaya. Of course, everyone found out when they saw her running to your cabin in panic.]
He couldn't blame Lenalee. She was a beginner at this too. Neither of them knew this would happen.
"Sorry, girls. I'm fine. The upgrade this time was just a little exhausting and knocked me out," Allen explained.
The girls sighed in relief, though traces of concern still lingered.
"I'm really fine," Allen smiled as he stood up.
"Alright, but next time you're going to do something like that, tell us first. You nearly scared us to death," Nami sighed.
"Sorry." Allen patted Kaya's head.
"...?"
Allen suddenly stopped and looked toward the cabin door. It was strange. Subtle. A new sensation. But he could tell someone was standing there.
[That should be Observation Haki. It's like a sixth sense. However, it isn't a passive ability. Unless your will is focused on observing, it won't activate. So don't get overconfident, or you'll end up like Garp.]
Allen laughed.
He walked over and opened the door. Two girls who had been leaning against it immediately fell inside.
"Kya!" Vivi screamed.
"Ouch!" Tashigi complained.
A third girl stood nearby. It was Mikita, who smiled and awkwardly waved.
"It's good to see you standing again, Captain~" Mikita said.
"Thanks. It's a shame you couldn't take advantage of the opportunity and escape," Allen smirked.
"N-No, I never thought about that!" Mikita said in panic.
Allen chuckled. He was only teasing her.
"As for you two, I'm glad you're worried about me, but eavesdropping is very disrespectful. Should I punish you?"
Both girls trembled.
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to spy! I was just worried!" Vivi quickly said.
Allen knew Vivi's concern stemmed more from her kind nature than any affection toward him, which wasn't surprising. Tashigi, meanwhile, became annoyed, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Don't flatter yourself. My goal is to arrest you. If you die before that, it's unacceptable," Tashigi said.
"You're not an honest girl. Just admit you've fallen for my charm. There's nothing to be ashamed of," Allen said arrogantly.
[For some reason, the word tsundere came to mind. I wonder what that means?]
'Me too, haha,' Allen thought, amused.
"Tsk." Tashigi stood up and left the room grumbling.
Since it had been a false alarm, everyone gradually left the cabin except Kaya.
Even though Allen insisted he was fine, Kaya refused to let him go until she performed a complete physical examination.
....
"Is this really necessary?" Allen asked.
At the moment, he was sitting shirtless on his bed while Kaya, her face completely red, examined his body for any problems. Or at least that had been the original goal. At this point, she was simply touching his muscles with an intense stare.
"I see..." Kaya said seriously.
"See what?" Allen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Somehow your physical development is natural despite coming from Lenalee... it doesn't make sense."
"Well, turning money into strength doesn't make sense either. But we live in a world where people can transform into elements of nature or mythical creatures. It's not that strange," Allen smiled.
"That's true." Kaya laughed as well.
The examination continued, though at some point it became ridiculous. She wasn't even pretending anymore that it had anything to do with medicine. It was simply Kaya's curiosity.
Even so, Allen allowed it. Eventually, both of them fell silent as they looked into each other's eyes.
"It's unfair... me too," Kaya said sadly.
Despite never having had a girlfriend, Allen wasn't dense (A/N: Sure...), so he understood what she meant.
He could have stopped, come up with an excuse, and avoided the situation. But he didn't. He didn't think about the consequences. He didn't think about what would happen afterward. He simply acted on impulse and desire.
He wrapped an arm around Kaya's waist, pulled her against his chest, and kissed her.
Kaya froze for a moment before hugging him back and trying to return the kiss. It wasn't passionate, skillful, or even particularly long. Kaya lacked experience, and Allen had forgotten most of his own. Still, enough remained for him to adapt.
Then something wonderful happened.
Both of them felt as if they had connected on a level that went beyond physical contact. A strange bond linked them together for a brief moment.
Kaya felt happiness and pleasure. Allen, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by a strange feeling in his chest that he couldn't identify, but he knew he didn't want to let Kaya go.
Kaya trembled and let out a soft moan, causing Allen to stop.
They pulled apart, leaving a thin strand of saliva connecting them and creating an awkward yet funny moment where neither knew what had just happened.
"Sorry!" Kaya shouted before running out of the room with a bright red face.
"I... why?" Allen grabbed his head. It had happened completely out of nowhere, and before he realized it, he was already kissing Kaya.
[Congratulations on your first dual cultivation. It's not what I expected, but it's enough for now. Kaya jumped straight to Level 3~]
Lenalee's words didn't reach Allen's ears. He sat there with his head lowered, trying to calm the pounding in his chest.
[Hm? Don't tell me... you're embarrassed?]
"Shut up," Allen growled, a faint blush on his cheeks. If anyone saw him right now, they'd fall over in shock.
This shameless bastard was embarrassed?!
[...]
Lenalee was speechless.
"Storm!" Nami shouted.
The cry snapped him out of his embarrassment. He slapped himself, stood up, grabbed a shirt, and left the cabin.
Outside, storm clouds threatened the ship.
"Nami?" Allen approached the girl at the helm.
"It appeared out of nowhere." Nami was shocked. Since childhood, she had been able to predict the weather hours, even days in advance. But on the Grand Line, none of that worked because the weather followed no logic.
"It's too late!" Nojiko shouted from the crow's nest.
The sky trembled with every lightning strike. The wind slammed against the sails as if trying to tear them apart. The sea battered the hull as if it wanted to sink them.
Allen's expression became serious.
"Mikita, Vivi, go to the pantry and make sure nothing gets ruined!"
"Tashigi, Hina, and Uta, head below deck and secure the cannons with chains! Close all the ammunition crates!"
"Nami, there's no need to run. We're going through it!" Allen shouted.
"Seriously?!"
Allen smiled, fearless and confident.
"Of course. Poseidon wants to stop our voyage, but he underestimates my Black Pearl! To hell with him! Or Calypso! Whoever's causing me trouble!"
"Everyone get ready! We're crossing this storm! Nothing will stop this crew!"
Instead of retreating and submitting to the power of the sea like ordinary ships, the Black Pearl accelerated forward, charging through thirty-meter waves that looked like collapsing buildings.
Slowly and absurdly, the jet-black ship crossed the storm.
Whenever a wave became too large, Allen stood at the bow and shattered it with the Gura Gura power.
Only Allen's voice rose above the raging sea.
"Uta, sing!"
Uta blinked as she clung to a mast, then laughed and began to sing.
"Can you see me, Sea Goddess?! Go intimidate those freshwater sailors! Those Devil Fruit users who can't even swim in you! I'm a true pirate captain and the future King of Everything! Hahahaha!"
It almost seemed as if the sea itself became enraged by Allen's words. The waves grew even larger, and a bolt of lightning struck the mast, splitting it in half. However, Lenalee repaired it almost instantly. It seemed Nami's money would be sacrificed once again, but who cared?
Somehow, their insane captain inspired the girls, and they faced the massive storm with courage.
After several hours, they finally emerged from the storm. Many of the girls collapsed from exhaustion, yet smiles remained on their faces, especially Uta and Kaya, who had spent so long trapped on their islands dreaming of the outside world.
Everyone took a shower and enjoyed a well-earned rest.
....
By midday, the weather changed once again without warning, and the Black Pearl found itself surrounded by dense fog.
"These weather changes in the Grand Line make no sense," Allen said.
He stood on the bow, but even with his enhanced vision, he could only see a few hundred meters through the mist. His Observation Haki wasn't strong enough either.
"It's impossible to navigate like this. Luckily, we have an Eternal Pose," Nami said from the helm.
At the bow, Uta tried to see into the distance but quickly gave up. She turned toward Allen, who was sitting on the figurehead.
"Are we really heading straight for Alabasta? We're skipping two islands," Uta asked.
Since deciding to attack Baroque Works, Allen had to follow the route from Whisky Peak. Of course, he had no intention of giving up on the Kingdom of Drum, which was located on a different route.
Alabasta was a massive kingdom with many cities, so finding an Eternal Pose to Drum shouldn't be impossible. If not, they could always steal one from a Marine base. The Marines always kept Eternal Poses on various islands.
"I thought about that too, but we're not missing much."
Alabasta was the fourth island on their route. The first was, naturally, Cactus Island, home of Whisky Peak.
The second was called Little Garden, a prehistoric island filled with dinosaurs and plants that had supposedly gone extinct millions of years ago. However, the island was a beginner's trap. Its magnetic field required an entire year for a Log Pose to record.
The third island was even more disappointing. It was called Nanimonai Island. (A/N: In Japanese, Nanimonai literally means "nothing.") The island lived up to its name. No people, no animals, no plants. Nothing at all. Just an empty island.
"Honestly, if it weren't for the appeal of robbing a Shichibukai, I would've chosen another route," Allen sighed.
[True. This route might be the worst one, but perhaps the islands after Alabasta are better. Don't lose faith.]
"We'll see..." Allen muttered.
Still, he wasn't a tourist. He was the most famous rookie in the world right now. Even if the islands themselves weren't interesting, trouble would come looking for him—and it would hit hard.
....
Another hour passed, and by this point, the crew had relaxed.
Allen stayed on the foredeck, waiting for the fog to clear.
"Good morning, World King~"
A woman's voice echoed through the fog. She sat casually on the figurehead, legs crossed, and resting her cheek on one hand.
"..." Allen glanced sideways at her.
She was a beautiful woman with long black hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous figure. She wore cowboy-style clothing beneath a white coat, and her smile resembled that of an older sister who enjoyed watching others get into trouble.
"You're Nico Robin?!" Tashigi drew her katana immediately.
Her shout alerted the rest of the women, who emerged from cabins, the kitchen, and below deck. Upon seeing the intruder, they all went on guard. However, nobody acted because Allen was standing at the bow and had said nothing.
"Impossible. What are you doing here?" Hina asked with a hostile frown.
Seeing the reactions of the two Marines made everyone else nervous. Was this woman someone truly dangerous?
"Who is she?" Uta asked seriously.
Hina frowned.
"She's Nico Robin, also known as the Demon Child. The World Government has been hunting her for twenty years, and she has a bounty of seventy-nine million."
"So that was your real identity, Miss All Sunday?" Mikita said.
"She's Miss All Sunday?!" Vivi exclaimed.
"You mean she's a member of Baroque Works?" Nojiko asked in disbelief.
Mikita shrugged.
"You should've noticed by now. Every elite and frontier agent works with a partner. She's Mr. Zero's partner. Well... Crocodile's."
Nami raised her staff.
Nojiko aimed her rifle.
Uta also prepared herself for a fight.
In Baroque Works, lower numbers meant stronger agents. By that logic, Robin had to be terrifying.
"Don't point something so dangerous at me..." Robin smiled.
The next moment, Nojiko's rifle fell to the deck. Nami's staff and Tashigi's katana also dropped.
Flower petals appeared in the air, leaving everyone stunned. Even Mikita stopped smiling. She had never fought Robin, but she knew how dangerous she was.
Strangely, nobody attacked Robin. She sighed before turning her attention back to Allen, who had silently allowed everything to happen.
"Isn't that a rather rude way to treat a guest, Captain Walker?"
"Not at all." Allen showed a faint smile. "It's exactly how they should react in this situation. I'm proud of them."
"My, I suppose that makes sense." Robin laughed.
"So what brings you here, big sister?" Allen asked.
Most of the girls became confused. Was Allen being lenient simply because she was beautiful?
Nico Robin stepped down from the figurehead and walked over to him. Since Allen was taller, she had to look up slightly.
"You've grown..." she said with surprise.
"Thank you. I've gotten more handsome too, by the way," Allen replied shamelessly.
Robin laughed once more before reaching out and patting his head.
"That's true~"
"Allen?" Kaya said.
She stared at him in confusion. Did he really know this woman?
Meanwhile, Hina and Tashigi became increasingly nervous.
This was huge news.
What kind of relationship did Nico Robin have with Allen Walker?!
====
A/N: The real question is: Who will be the first girl to complete a real "dual cultivation"? 🗿
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