"You're quite aware of the situation. Since you're so sensible, I'll give you a chance. From now on, you're one of my men."
Kaito Arisawa looked down at Sandy with a faint smile. He had no disdain for the man's lack of backbone. In his view, surrendering to the stronger party was simply part of the rules of the sea.
After all, Kaito himself believed firmly in the principle that the victor reigned.
More importantly, Sandy was a Devil Fruit user. That alone gave him value.
As for loyalty?
That was hardly a concern.
Kaito's Conqueror's Haki was not for show. With a few more applications of his "submission" ability, he could easily mold Sandy into a completely loyal subordinate.
Hearing himself accepted, Sandy's tense expression finally broke into visible relief.
"Thank you, Captain! I won't disappoint you!"
Kaito waved a hand casually.
"It's still early. Go back and enjoy yourselves."
He glanced toward Mangu.
"Brave, you too. I've had my fun. I'm heading back to the ship. Go relax properly."
Then he turned to Sandy.
"You're Sandy, right? I'm giving you your first task. Go have a good time with Mangu. If you don't enjoy yourself properly, I'll settle accounts with you later."
His tone was light, but the meaning was clear.
Sandy immediately nodded repeatedly. "Understood!"
Kaito was in high spirits. Recruiting a capable fighter with decent strength was always good news.
With that, he left the scene alone and headed toward the port.
"Wait a moment!"
"Captain Kaito, please wait!"
"Lord Kaito, please!"
Before he could exit Happy Street, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded behind him.
Kaito turned.
A large group of people rushed forward and, upon reaching him, dropped to their knees without hesitation.
"Lord Kaito, we admire your strength! Please allow us to join your pirate crew!"
"Yes, Captain Kaito! Let us serve under you!"
"Please accept us!"
Their clothes varied—clearly not from the same group—but their intention was identical.
They wanted to join the War Pirates.
It was obvious these were spectators from the earlier battle. The overwhelming display of strength by the War Pirates had stirred something in them. Now that Kaito was leaving, they had seized the chance to recommend themselves.
Kaito regarded them with mild interest.
"You want to become my subordinates?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Very well. Let me test whether you're qualified."
Boom!
Without further warning, his Conqueror's Haki burst outward like a violent storm.
The invisible pressure swept across the kneeling crowd instantly.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
One after another, bodies collapsed.
Eyes rolled white. Consciousness vanished.
Not a single one remained standing.
Within seconds, the entire group lay unconscious at Kaito's feet.
He shrugged lightly.
"What a pity. None of you are qualified."
If they couldn't even withstand his Conqueror's Haki in its ordinary state, then regardless of physical strength, their spiritual will was lacking.
And without sufficient willpower, they were unworthy of joining his crew.
Turning his back on the fallen crowd, Kaito continued toward the port.
By the time he boarded the No. 1 main ship, the younger brother on watch saluted him respectfully.
He headed straight for his captain's cabin.
Before he even reached the door, he heard voices inside.
"Keep drinking, Kitty. You're not done yet."
"I… I can still drink, meow…"
"Then drink."
Kaito pushed the door open.
What he saw made the corner of his mouth twitch.
Wine bottles were scattered everywhere.
The once-prized wine cabinet—where he had stored a collection of top-tier bottles—stood completely empty.
Robin and Neferpet sat amid the mess, flushed and clearly drunk.
"You two wiped out my entire collection," Kaito said with a sigh.
Robin looked up at him, cheeks red, eyes slightly glazed yet bright with mischief.
"You're back? How did it go? Want a drink?"
She casually shook the bottle in her hand.
It was rare to see her like this. Normally composed and calculating, she now looked almost girlish.
Neferpet, on the other hand, jolted upright the moment she saw Kaito.
"S-Sorry, Captain!"
She bowed hastily, wobbling slightly.
"It's common courtesy to show sincerity when apologizing," Kaito said casually.
Neferpet froze.
"O-Okay, meow…"
She hesitated, then awkwardly reached toward her clothes.
Robin's eyes snapped open a little wider.
"Idiot. He's teasing you."
Neferpet stopped immediately.
Kaito couldn't help feeling a faint trace of disappointment. He had indeed been joking—but that didn't mean he would have minded if she took it seriously.
Neferpet might be petite, but her figure was strikingly mature, a stark contrast to her youthful face.
Robin shot him a sideways glare.
"So? Didn't get enough entertainment outside? You come back and start teasing her the moment you walk in? Are you sure your body can handle it?"
There was clear provocation in her tone.
Kaito waved dismissively.
"It was just a joke. And as for that little bit earlier?" He smirked faintly. "Hardly enough to tire me out."
He looked directly at her.
"Why don't you try me yourself?"
With his Constitution talent—even without concentration—his stamina far surpassed ordinary limits. Recovery came almost instantly.
Robin raised a brow.
"Oh?"
The cabin, cluttered with empty bottles and heavy with the scent of wine, grew strangely quiet.
Neferpet blinked between the two of them, her expression blank but curious.
Outside, the sea lapped gently against the hull.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted—no longer just drunkenness, but something more charged.
Kaito stepped forward.
"Since you've finished my wine," he said lightly, "I suppose I'll have to find some other way to collect compensation."
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