Ojbk!
Noro agreed.
He had to give Kaido, the captain, some face, and Kaido was right.
Stussy couldn't cause too much trouble.
And...
He could even find a chance to give the world's strongest man, Whitebeard, a green hat!
Don't blame him for being a bad friend, blame your wife for being too alluring.
Serves you right for being so chummy with Oden!
He deserved to be cuckolded!
Noro's pupils narrowed into slits, a playful glint in his eyes.
Like he'd found an interesting prey.
While pirates liked to use brute force, Noro didn't. He preferred proactive women.
Stussy loved money, and he had plenty of that now.
What could be more satisfying than having the world's strongest man's woman serve him willingly?
The thought was... stimulating.
Stussy watched Kaido and Noro whispering, a glint flashing in her eyes.
She'd seen the newspapers on the way, and she knew Kaido's crew included a Rear Admiral with a 500 million bounty.
But she didn't care.
In the pirate world, the strong had absolute power, and the weak were silent.
Like the Rocks Pirates. Rocks was strong, Whitebeard and Golden Lion weren't weak either, but the others had no say. They just followed Rocks' orders.
But Kaido's crew seemed different. Kaido was actually discussing things with that Rear Admiral?
Kaido had joined the Rocks Pirates at fifteen. From then until God Valley five years ago, when Rocks was defeated and the crew disbanded, he'd been on the ship for five years.
She knew Kaido's strength very well. Later, at God Valley, Linlin had given Kaido the Azure Dragon Fruit.
The current Kaido, not to mention a mere Rear Admiral, even a Vice Admiral wouldn't be his match.
Had Kaido become more agreeable, or did that Rear Admiral have some special charisma, or...
Did that Rear Admiral possess strength comparable to Kaido's?
Interesting!
Kaido and Noro finished their discussion and returned to Stussy and Queen.
Stussy raised an eyebrow, asking politely, "Have you decided?"
Kaido grinned, "Stussy, my vice-captain and I in the Beasts Pirates have unanimously agreed to your joining."
Noro also smiled, "Welcome to the Beasts Pirates!"
Stussy's lips curved upward, and she walked over, proactively shaking Noro's hand, giving him a flirtatious smile, "Then I'll be in your care, Vice-Captain."
Damn it, was she doing this on purpose?
Shaking hands with the vice-captain instead of the captain.
A woman who loved to play tricks!
Kaido didn't care about Stussy's little gesture. He turned to Queen, extending an invitation, "Queen, you should join the Beasts Pirates too."
Queen, a cigar in his mouth, shook his head, "No, no, no. I was only invited to outfit your pirate ship with weapons."
Before Kaido could express his regret, Queen changed his tune, "But, if what you said on the Den Den Mushi is true, and you have a lot of Beli to support my research, it's not impossible."
Noro raised an eyebrow, smiling, "Need to verify our funds?"
So they really had money. Queen's eyes lit up, "I have to see the Beasts Pirates' strength, right?"
"Worororororo..."
Kaido laughed heartily, "No problem, come with me!"
Stussy watched with interest, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
She'd come for the Beli, but she couldn't say that. It would make her motives too obvious.
The group went to a room on the pirate ship. Noro nodded slightly to King, who opened the chests of Beli one by one.
As each chest was opened, 9 billion Beli filled the room, almost blinding Queen and Stussy.
Queen's mouth dropped open, his cigar falling out. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what.
They were so rich?
Noro quickly stepped on the cigar, putting it out.
Fire prevention was everyone's responsibility!
Stussy's breathing quickened, her eyes greedily fixed on the Beli, silently calculating the total amount.
Kaido had made it!
They'd only been apart for a short time, and he'd already gotten so much money. She hadn't heard anything about him stealing the Celestial Tribute.
Kaido, seeing their shocked expressions, mocked them silently: hicks.
He selectively forgot his own expression when he first saw Shandora.
Kaido laughed triumphantly, "Worororororo... How's that? Satisfied?"
Queen relit his cigar, taking a deep breath to calm himself, slowly exhaling a smoke ring, "I can use all this for experiments?"
Before Kaido and Noro could answer, Stussy glared fiercely at Queen.
As if she already considered the money her own, and Queen was stealing it from her.
Kaido nodded, "That's right."
Noro added, "Not just this. Our wealth is much greater than you imagine. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The captain's promise on the Den Den Mushi, that he'd support any experiments you want to do, wasn't just empty words."
Queen's eyes shone, rubbing his hands excitedly, "Alright! I'll join the Beasts Pirates!"
Kaido and Noro exchanged smiles, both feeling that Queen's addition was a major boost to the Beasts Pirates' strength.
Not just his fighting power, but his scientific ability was a great asset.
"Welcome to the Beasts Pirates!"
Stussy bit her lip, her greed intensifying, her mind racing.
What treasure had these people found? To make such a boast!
Stussy forced herself to look away from the Beli, forcing a smile.
She couldn't give herself away, she couldn't let them see her true intentions.
Patience!
A small impatience ruins great plans!
She had to figure out the source of their wealth, then see if there was a chance to take it all.
But the thought of all that Beli being used for the fat man's research made Stussy's heart bleed.
Stussy's beautiful eyes darted around, her gaze returning to Noro. She clearly remembered the undisguised desire in the vice-captain's eyes when he looked at her.
Men were all the same!
No, it was her charm that was too great, even Whitebeard couldn't resist it.
How much more so this vice-captain, who was so young? It was only natural that he couldn't resist her allure.
Kaido seemed to respect this vice-captain a lot. Could she use this vice-captain to get her hands on the money?
Even further, to find out how they'd acquired their wealth?
As for why she chose Noro instead of Kaido, wouldn't that be more direct?
Heh, Kaido was a clueless oaf.
Noro, though he couldn't read minds, could guess seven or eight tenths of Stussy's thoughts, looking at her cunning eyes.
This femme fatale was probably setting her sights on him.
But...
Who was the hunter...
And who was the prey...
Wasn't so certain.
===
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