In late Marineford Era 1497,
there were still several months until Captain Roger turned himself in. The former members of the Roger Pirates had disembarked one after another, retiring into obscurity and vanishing without a trace.
Sabaody Archipelago, Red-Light District.
At dusk, when most people had finished a day's work and returned home to enjoy some peace and quiet, the atmosphere here was only just beginning to liven up.
Inside a luxurious building at the center of the district, a long-haired young man in a trench coat reclined in an office chair with his eyes closed, resting. One hand supported the back of his head, and he looked thoroughly at ease.
Behind him stood a young white-haired girl. Her slender fingers pressed against his temples as her watery eyes gazed at his face, completely focused on massaging him.
The young man wore an expression of enjoyment. A stack of juice boxes sat beside him; all he had to do was beckon, and another black-haired girl at his side would immediately feed him.
Whenever he did not need food or drink, the black-haired girl would extend her pair of long, pale legs to serve as the chair's armrests, allowing him to use them as he pleased.
"Ah..."
Seeing the faint crease between the handsome long-haired young man's brows, the white-haired girl hesitated briefly before carefully leaning down to ask softly by his ear,
"Lord Austin, is there something you are dissatisfied with?"
"...Nothing."
He had suddenly sighed only because happy times were always short, and it was time to diligently grow stronger again.
This man enjoying life before them was Austin, who had left the ship over a month ago.
Austin freed himself from the little hands massaging him, propped himself up against the black-stockinged thighs, and sat upright.
On the table before him lay a black blade and a long spear.
The girls had maintained both weapons just as well.
"Oh my, Lord Austin, have these two girls failed to care for you properly?"
At that moment, the door opened and a young married woman carrying a small handbag walked in. She wore a bodycon dress that highlighted her eye-catching long legs and ample chest, fully displaying the allure of a woman her age.
Seeing Austin sit up, she assumed something had dissatisfied him and hurriedly asked.
Upon hearing that, the two girls serving Austin visibly tensed, their bodies stiffening.
Austin naturally noticed this, but he merely shrugged.
"Nothing of the sort, Madam Sammy. I just... wanted to stretch a little."
Madam Sammy froze for a moment at those words, then raised a hand to her face and revealed a seductive smile.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes seemed to say...
So you have finally made up your mind.
"Since you are in the mood, I will arrange a room right away."
"Huh?"
Austin blanked for a moment, then quickly realized Sammy had misunderstood. "No... Little Six and Little Seven are both wonderful, but this sort of thing should wait another couple of years."
Although his body already possessed the appropriate functions at his current age,
he had no intention of indulging himself at fourteen and ruining his health. What if it affected his strength and potential after adulthood?
Little Six and Little Seven were the names Austin had given them. Ever since Sammy, the "Mommy" of the Red-Light District, had handed them over to Austin in order to curry favor with him,
their futures had effectively been placed in Austin's hands, including their names.
That was right.
A young man had come to the Red-Light District!
The Red-Light District, also known as a brothel district, was a gathering place for prostitutes.
Sammy, its owner and the "Mommy" of all the women who made their living there, was a strong woman who had built everything from nothing.
She had taken in many fallen girls, female slaves, and unfortunate women, running this district through her own efforts.
But a large tree attracts the wind. As her territory expanded and her business grew, a string of problems followed.
The World Government's exorbitant taxes.
Certain Marine officers bringing soldiers to enjoy themselves without paying.
Pirates causing trouble...
One after another, people wanted to swallow her and her business whole. For the first time, this seemingly weak woman felt the helplessness of facing true power.
That was the sorrow of the weak.
Having recognized this, Sammy immediately changed her approach. She tried to sacrifice a pawn to save the carriage, seeking a backer with enough influence.
Even offering up the vast majority of her profits was far better than being devoured completely.
That was the wisdom of a small-time person.
And Austin, who had just left the Roger Pirates, seemed like a gift sent by heaven, delivered to her at precisely the right moment.
After a friendly discussion, a man who possessed only strength and a woman who needed only strength reached an agreement without the slightest difficulty.
As long as Austin acted as her protector, she could offer fifty percent or even more of her business's net profits as his compensation.
Moreover, as long as it fell within the scope of her businesses, he could enjoy every service for free.
Austin, who was looking for a place to settle down, considered it only briefly before gladly agreeing.
And so, for the days that followed,
Austin truly experienced what it meant to live like an immortal.
After receiving Sammy's full suite of services,
he enjoyed himself so much that even his resolve wavered. For a few moments, he wanted to stay here for the rest of his life and never leave again.
Fortunately, reason eventually pulled him back to reality.
Why else would she serve him fine food, fine drink, and beautiful women? Was it not all because of his reputation and strength?
A former crew member of the King of Pirates, a Great Pirate from the New World with a bounty worth hundreds of millions.
If he truly allowed himself to neglect his strength because of this,
then he would be a complete idiot!
So now, aside from coming to the Red-Light District for massages and food during his breaks, Austin spent most of his time training on an uninhabited island.
Although it was somewhat far from the Sabaody Archipelago, for Austin, who could teleport anywhere within his line of sight, it was only a matter of blinking a few times.
Once his Devil Fruit ability developed to the point where he could teleport without limits, his commuting time would shrink even further.
His training was simple as well. For now, there were only two areas.
Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Devil Fruit ability development.
If he could train these two major areas to their limits, Austin estimated that catching up to Captain Roger would not be far off.
Of course, Austin would not neglect his swordsmanship or marksmanship either.
Such an immortal-like life was simply Austin's normal routine.
He tipped back the remaining juice in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and rose to his feet.
Having grown to over two meters tall, he appeared exceptionally tall and imposing, at least in the eyes of the beautiful women.
Because they understood that, compared to wealth and territory, this young man who did not appear very old was the true foundation of their survival.
Sammy looked at Austin with the most instinctive desire a female felt toward a powerful male. The stronger a woman she was, the more so this was her nature.
Austin patted the heads of his two little attendants and walked toward the door.
"Well then, I'll be off. If anything comes up, call me anytime on the Den Den Mushi."
Austin smiled at Sammy.
Before you continue