This Is Tradition

Kaya: "..."

When she heard that Makino had also been abducted onto the ship, Kaya felt awful.

She now seriously suspected that all the pretty girls around Mr. Lin Yu had probably been snatched away by him...

"Although Lin Yu's way of getting people aboard is a bit bastardly, he actually treats us quite well."

Afraid of scaring Kaya, Makino spoke up in Lin Yu's defense.

Of course, just as she had said, aside from being somewhat bastardly when it came to making them board the ship and teaching them Swordsmanship, Lin Yu truly treated them very well.

Mm, even when teaching Swordsmanship, he was very considerate.

Makino thought this, her cheeks flushing slightly.

The two chatted as they packed their things.

When Makino saw Kaya tuck a portrait of a long-nosed man into her clothes, she frowned.

"Kaya. I don't think you should bring that."

Kaya froze and asked in astonishment:

"Why?"

"Ah." Makino sighed and looked at Kaya.

"Since you agreed to board Lin Yu's ship, you basically belong to him now."

"He may not care about other things, but he takes this matter very seriously."

"You understand what I mean, right?"

Kaya's face turned pale at those words.

As smart as she was, how could she fail to understand Makino's meaning?

After struggling for a long time, she finally tore the portrait apart through her tears.

Seeing Kaya cover her face and sob, Makino pulled her into an embrace and comforted her softly.

Though she was utterly unwilling, Kaya still followed Makino to the shore where the God Slave was docked.

"Mr. Merry, I'll have to rely on you to keep things running at home from now on."

Kaya fought back the tears in her eyes as she looked at Merry.

"Miss Kaya, you must take good care of yourself."

"I'll always wait for you."

Merry wept bitterly as he urged Kaya.

Though he was unwilling in every possible way, Merry also knew that circumstances were stronger than people.

Given Lin Yu's fearsome reputation, Kaya would only have a chance to survive if she obeyed his arrangements.

"I understand, Mr. Merry."

Kaya wiped away her tears and forced a smile at Merry before continuing:

"If Mr. Merry ever meets Usopp in the future, tell him..."

"I already have someone I like."

After saying that, Kaya turned and walked toward the God Slave. At just the right moment, a ship's rope extended from the God Slave, wrapped around Kaya's ankle, and carried her aboard.

Before Lin Yu's overwhelming strength, Usopp had no possibility whatsoever of taking Kaya back.

Rather than that, Kaya might as well cut ties with him directly and keep him safe.

Once Kaya stepped onto the deck, the God Slave raised its sails and headed out toward the distant sea.

Merry stood on the shore and kept shouting:

"Miss Kaya, you must come back..."

On the rail of the God Slave, Reiju, Nojiko, and Makino, who had been watching the spectacle, looked at Merry in the distance, then at Kaya crying on the deck, and sighed at the same time.

"I suddenly realized you seem pretty bastardly."

This was Reiju, unafraid of death, speaking to Lin Yu.

"It is her blessing that Young Master has taken a liking to her."

This was Anna, loyally defending her master.

"Are you teaching her Swordsmanship tonight? Kaya might not be able to take it..."

Makino was somewhat worried about Kaya's body.

"Of course. This is tradition."

Charloss answered first.

"Will you give her a Devil Fruit? I was here first."

This was Nojiko, who desperately wanted to grow stronger.

Lin Yu did not answer the girls' questions.

Walking over to Kaya, Lin Yu lifted her chin with his index finger and smiled at the pitifully lovely Kaya.

"Miss Kaya, what kind of ability do you want?"

Although Lin Yu had a Zoan-type Light Butterfly Fruit in hand, he did not intend to let anyone eat it.

Mainly because, in Lin Yu's view, the ability of that Fruit was simply too useless.

Of course, bug girls were still quite tempting, so Lin Yu planned to give it to his next maid.

"What kind of ability do I want?" Kaya asked in astonishment.

She was crying her heart out, and he suddenly asked what kind of ability she wanted. How was she supposed to answer that?

"To put it another way, what kind of Devil Fruit ability does Kaya want?"

Lin Yu smiled as he caressed Kaya's pretty face.

Kaya endured Lin Yu's touch uncomfortably, forcing herself not to care about such things. She pressed her lips together and said:

"I want an ability that can cure illnesses and save people."

An ability to cure illnesses and save people.

It was quite fitting for Kaya's identity as a ship's doctor.

Hearing Kaya's words, Lin Yu quickly began thinking about whose ability could achieve the effect of curing illnesses and saving people.

After thinking it over, Lin Yu quickly settled on several people.

Pineapple Head, Doc Q, and Mansherry.

Pineapple Head's Zoan-type Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit was the most suitable for Kaya.

Not only would it grant her the powerful physique of a Zoan type, but it also possessed an almost immortal ability.

Unfortunately, he was Whitebeard's beloved son, so Lin Yu could not kill him for the time being.

However, the Summit War might be a good opportunity.

Next was Doc Q's Disease-Disease Fruit, which also had the effect of dispelling illnesses.

As for Mansherry, the princess of the Tontatta Tribe, Lin Yu planned to capture her as a pet.

Something as overpowered as the Heal-Heal Fruit could only be kept in his own hands.

Having thought that through, Lin Yu had an idea.

"Miss Kaya, I'll find a way to get you the Devil Fruit ability you want."

"Next, I may have to let you treat me a little."

Lin Yu swept Kaya up in his arms and walked toward the captain's cabin with a smile.

Since he had decided to take Kaya in, he naturally would not pretend to be a good person.

Looking ahead and behind, acting timid and overly cautious—that was not his style.

"M-Mr. Lin Yu..."

Thinking of what was about to happen, Kaya froze in Lin Yu's arms, her body trembling slightly.

Things were moving way too fast.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This guy really is planning to teach Kaya Swordsmanship."

Reiju shook her head, her face red.

Back then, Lin Yu had also carried her straight into the captain's cabin to teach her Swordsmanship. He had not hesitated in the slightest.

"Hmph, I told you already. This is tradition!"

Charloss said as if it were only natural.

"I wonder if Kaya can endure it. Lin Yu's Swordsmanship is incredibly strong..."

Makino pressed her lips together.

"Then Sister Makino can go help her. It's not like it's your first time anyway."

Nojiko said sourly.

Lin Yu had never asked her what kind of ability she wanted.

"Hmph. With Young Master's strength, it would be useless even if all of you went together."

Anna, who understood Lin Yu best, gave a light laugh.

Among the people on this ship, only she and Charloss knew just how terrifying Lin Yu's Swordsmanship was.

The moment Anna finished speaking, several ship's ropes suddenly extended from the God Slave and tightly bound the girls.

Having already experienced this sort of thing, Reiju, Nojiko, and the others froze, their pretty faces turning crimson.

Then Reiju, Nojiko, and the others all looked at Anna and roared:

"Anna, you jinx!"

Anna curled her lips.

"My fault...?"