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"Oh? That guy Crocodile didn't want to break out of prison with you?"
Shaka raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring the others. His gaze fell on Miss Golden Week—a petite girl with dark red pigtails, carrying a sketchpad. She still had a childish look to her. Smiling slightly, he said, "Let's put everything else aside for now. As the price for saving you, from now on, you're coming with me!"
"I happen to need a talented artist."
If he remembered correctly, Miss Golden Week—Marianne—wasn't a Devil Fruit user. Instead, she was more like a hypnotist, a "realistic painter."
Colors naturally have suggestive effects, such as excitement or calmness, but she could take it a step further—using her paint to manipulate emotions and even implant subconscious suggestions. She could even strengthen these suggestions, turning them into a unique form of attack.
That ability paired perfectly with the Superhuman-type Brush-Brush Fruit he had in his possession.
"What?!"
"You're taking Miss Golden Week?"
"Damn it! She's our comrade—you won't take her so easily!"
Aboard the navy warship, the Baroque Works agents were shocked and furious upon hearing Shaka's demand. They glared at him with hostility.
Mr. 5, Gem, couldn't hold back. He jumped forward, ready to attack with his Bomb-Bomb Fruit abilities.
"Too noisy."
Shaka's eyes turned sharp.
An invisible wave of energy swept over them.
In an instant, all the Baroque Works members collapsed unconscious, leaving only the three female agents—Miss Golden Week, Miss Doublefinger, and Miss Valentine—standing.
They looked at their fallen comrades in horror, their bodies trembling. Cold sweat trickled down their backs as they gazed at the towering young man before them, utterly terrified.
"Let's get one thing straight—I'm not asking for your opinion."
Shaka's expression remained calm as he glanced at the pale-faced trio. He continued nonchalantly, "That said, I don't mind if the two of you want to come along as well."
"I'm heading to Water 7 next—to pick up your old colleague, Baroque Works' Vice President, Miss All Sunday..."
"What do you say? Want to come?"
Aside from Miss Golden Week, the young prodigy artist, Miss Doublefinger (Zala) and Miss Valentine (Mikita) weren't bad either. Their combat skills were lacking, but their looks and figures were definitely on point.
Of course, he wasn't going to force them. After spending a few indulgent days on Amazon Lily, he wasn't exactly in "sage mode," but he also wasn't as pent-up as when he had just escaped from Impel Down. So, he left the choice to them.
"Miss All Sunday?"
"Nico Robin?"
Hearing that name, Zala, Mikita, and Marianne were visibly shaken.
"Crocodile has been captured. As remnants of Baroque Works, you have two choices—either run from the Navy for the rest of your lives, never knowing when you'll be caught..."
Shaka leaped onto the warship and smiled. "Or you can come with me—to witness the vast sky and the open sea."
The three women fell silent.
Without Crocodile's protection as a Warlord of the Sea, they were bound to become wanted fugitives. Even if they went into hiding, there was always the risk of their identities being exposed. They'd either be captured by the Navy or hunted down, forced to live on the run.
"Sir... do you really need an artist?"
Marianne's big eyes stared directly at Shaka's handsome face. Suppressing her anxiety, she asked cautiously.
Her dream was to become a world-famous painter.
For some reason, she felt like she could trust this man.
"Of course!"
Shaka smiled warmly, ruffling Miss Golden Week's hair. "Don't you want to travel the world, visit different islands, and experience various landscapes and cultures?"
"Maybe, after exploring this vibrant sea, your skills will improve even further. Your paintings might gain a soul of their own."
Marianne's eyes lit up.
Without any further hesitation, she nodded vigorously. "Then I'll go with you!"
"Sir, we'll come too!"
Zala and Mikita exchanged glances. After a brief moment of hesitation, they made their decision.
The man before them was absurdly strong.
In a mere instant, he had knocked out Mr. 5 and the others. He was likely even more powerful than Crocodile.
Baroque Works was finished. They had nowhere else to go. And since Marianne had already agreed, following Shaka didn't seem like a bad choice.
"A wise decision. Then let's go!"
Shaka nodded approvingly.
He gestured for Panda-White Dragon to expand the Flying Nimbus.
"Sir, may we know your name?" Zala asked, staring at her new boss's handsome face.
"I'm Shaka. From the Land of Flowers—a wayward monk."
Shaka didn't hide it. He grinned as he introduced himself.
"A... wayward monk?"
The three women looked at each other.
That didn't sound like a proper profession.
Then again, who among pirates was a proper person?
"What about them?" Zala glanced at the unconscious Mr. 5 and the others, hesitating.
After all, she—Miss Doublefinger—had just been rescued by him.
"Don't worry, I controlled my strength. They'll wake up soon enough."
Shaka waved his hand dismissively.
He scooped up the petite Miss Golden Week and leaped onto the panda-shaped Flying Nimbus.
Seeing this, Zala and Mikita hesitated no longer. They quickly followed and jumped aboard.
And just like that, a new journey began.
"....."