Sora sat behind the desk in the captain's quarters, flipping through the day's newspaper.
Once Princess Vivi was aboard, he could set sail for the Straw Hats' current location and seize both Nami and Robin.
Although Sora knew the plot of future events, he was wary of causing a butterfly effect that might shift the Straw Hats' movements. So he made it a point to check the news daily.
It was also his primary way of staying informed about the world—tracking the whereabouts of future targets and identifying newly emerged Devil Fruit users he could potentially rob.
"Heh… Jewelry Bonney's already shown up, huh?" Sora grinned as he looked at the paper's photo of the voluptuous pirate.
"I'll come for you after I take Nami and Robin."
Bonney's Devil Fruit—letting her alter her age between child and adult at will—was a power he definitely wanted to experience for himself.
Click.
The door creaked open.
"Sora…"
Nojiko stepped inside, wearing a robe that concealed her figure. She slid into his chair, snuggled up beside him, and began drawing slow circles on his chest with her fingertip.
Sora chuckled and shifted to the side, glancing out at the sea glowing under the sunset. He had a feeling she was here to ask for a Devil Fruit.
He already intended to give her Mr. 5's Bomb-Bomb Fruit, but he was curious to see how she planned to persuade him—especially since her last "lesson" from Makino had polished more than just his sword.
The next moment, Nojiko wrapped her arms around his neck, turning his face back toward her.
"I heard you picked up three new Devil Fruits today…"
Sora smirked as he looked at her pretty face.
"Yeah. One of them's the Bomb-Bomb Fruit—a Paramecia type. Extremely powerful in combat."
Nojiko's eyes immediately lit up. Just hearing the name told her how strong it was.
I have to get my hands on that fruit.
Without another word, she stood up, walked over to the door, and locked it.
Then she turned around, her cheeks flushed, eyes shimmering.
"I just learned a new dance."
Whoosh!
With one swift motion, she pulled off her robe—revealing a dazzling red dancer outfit that hugged her alluring figure.
Sora's breath hitched. Something about the vivid colors against her lithe body held a dangerously hypnotic charm.
"Hehe~"
Seeing his reaction, Nojiko giggled to herself. She'd gotten the effect she wanted.
The colors on her costume had been hand-painted by Marianne—Miss Golden Week. They were laced with a charm effect, designed to magnify Sora's primal desires.
Then, she began to dance—a seductive Alabastan performance. Her waist swayed rhythmically, her body spinning lightly, every movement carefully crafted to entice. Every few steps, she would glide close to Sora and tease him with a soft touch or whispered breath.
Damn…
What man could withstand something like this?
After just a few minutes of that wicked dance, Sora cracked. He activated his "starving wolf mode" and lunged.
…
After the storm had passed, Sora sat back in his chair, holding a Devil Fruit in hand.
"You really want to eat this?" he asked, amused.
"I want to get stronger," Nojiko replied, kneeling on the carpet at his feet without hesitation.
"Alright then. Open wide."
Sora sliced off a small chunk of the fruit and handed it to her.
Nojiko bit into it—and immediately grimaced, clutching her mouth.
"Ugh… it tastes horrible…"
She'd heard Devil Fruits tasted bad, but this was on a whole different level.
"You've gotta finish the whole thing, y'know," Sora said with a wicked grin, enjoying her suffering a bit too much.
With a face full of despair, Nojiko forced herself to keep eating, despite the taste making her gag.
If it wasn't for her burning desire to grow stronger, she wouldn't touch this thing with a ten-foot pole.
Finally, after choking down the last bite, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
Watching her expression, Sora smiled.
Yes, part of him just enjoyed seeing her squirm, but he also knew that forcing her to finish the fruit helped increase her bond with him.
And it worked. Her friendliness toward him had skyrocketed during that ordeal.
He gently cupped her face.
"Nojiko… would you like to officially join my crew as one of my officers?"
"Huh? Haven't I already joined your crew?" she blinked, confused.
Sora chuckled. "This is a ceremony. Like saying vows at a wedding. I'm asking if you're willing."
A wedding…?
Nojiko's cheeks flushed red. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded shyly.
"I'm willing."
Whether she meant she was willing to be his subordinate or his bride… only she knew for sure.
『Ding! Nojiko has joined the crew. Please assign her a crew position.』
『Ding! A bond has been formed with Nojiko. You've obtained her ability: Bomb Human.』
『Ding! Nojiko's friendliness has reached 100. She will be eternally loyal to you. Experience feedback doubled.』
『Ding…』
Seeing the flurry of system messages, Sora grinned.
Not only did he gain a powerful ability from her, but he also maxed out their relationship score—huge payoff.
"Combatant," he assigned without hesitation.
Nojiko was bold, passionate, and brave—perfect for a frontline fighter.
With the power of explosions at her disposal, anything else would've been a waste.
"You're staying here tonight."
He carried her to the bed in the captain's private chamber and stroked her cheek.
It was already late—the perfect time to rest.
"Mm."
Snuggling beneath the covers with only her eyes peeking out, Nojiko nodded sweetly.
She'd endured the full brunt of his firepower… and was thoroughly exhausted.
"Good night."
He kissed her forehead, turned off the lights, and left.
"…Marriage…"
Nojiko touched her forehead where he kissed her, giggling quietly to herself. She rolled around in his bed, delighted, before finally falling into a deep sleep half an hour later.
Meanwhile, in the Divine Slave's prison deck…
The prison area had been converted from a full lower floor of the ship. Each room contained a massive cell reinforced with Seastone.
Sora unlocked one of the doors and stepped inside, where Mikita—Miss Valentine—was locked in one of the cells.
Out of all the female Baroque agents, Mikita was easily his favorite.
Gorgeous face, long legs, and that crazy laugh—"Yahahahaha!"—it was unforgettable.
Her Kilo-Kilo Fruit also had great combat potential if developed properly.
And her arrogance and pride made her absolutely perfect for… breaking in.
When Mikita saw Sora, she kicked the bars with a scowl.
"You bastard! Let me the hell outta here!"