Talk Interests with the Mature, Ideals with the Immature!

Shaya was in no hurry to "train" Doll.

For the first month, Shaya had genuinely devoted himself to teaching Doll the techniques of Rokushiki!

He taught Doll advanced Rokushiki techniques such as Paper Arts: Soft Mud, Paper Arts: Martial Body, Paper Arts: Afterimage, and the Rokushiki secret technique, Rokuogan...

As well as the ultimate physical arts secret technique he had developed beyond Rokushiki—Power Erasure!

Doll was utterly shocked. It was her first time learning that among the Celestial Dragons, the World Nobles, there were actually terrifying experts who had mastered Rokushiki!

Perhaps because Doll was still young and held such a low rank, she was not qualified to know the World Government's secrets, much less meet the Five Elders! (Meeting the Five Elders required at least the rank of Rear Admiral. Those below that rank had to immediately withdraw whenever the Five Elders were present.)

Thus, in her eyes, Celestial Dragons were still the stereotypical figures who wore bubble-like transparent helmets and cumbersome Celestial Dragon outfits resembling spacesuits—helpless weaklings who were arrogant beyond measure...

And someone like Shaya, an anomaly among Celestial Dragons in ordinary people's eyes, directly stirred the curiosity of the young girl within Doll. This was all part of Shaya's plan. A girl's affection for a man always began with curiosity...

Next, Shaya methodically taught Doll advanced Rokushiki techniques. However, true Rokushiki geniuses like Rob Lucci were rare even throughout the entire World Government system. So, under Shaya's instruction, Doll's improvement was not particularly fast. It nearly shattered the confidence of this genius girl from the Marines.

"Don't be nervous. You're already outstanding."

Whenever Shaya saw Doll getting distracted, he would lean close beside her, lower his voice, and comfort her.

With Shaya's immense charm, strength, and status, Doll's face was always flushed red after every lesson he gave her...

Then, when Shaya saw that he had teased Doll enough, he would use the excuse that today's instruction was over and send her back to the villa to rest alone...

Shaya's approach was all about restraint—creating a feeling of intimacy and distance between himself and Doll, keeping her heart constantly wavering between hope and loss.

This guidance continued for another half month. By then, Shaya and Doll had become incomparably familiar with one another, as though only a single layer of paper remained unpierced between them...

Shaya was not in a rush about that. The more critical the moment, the more slowly one had to seize the opportunity. In Shaya's view, timing was extremely important...

And so, another half month passed.

That day, after once again teaching Doll advanced Rokushiki moves, Shaya sat alone in the Figarland garden as usual, slowly savoring the red wine in his glass...

"Saint Shaya, why are your brows always so tightly furrowed?"

Just as Shaya was savoring the wine's fragrance, a slender figure leaned against his side without his permission.

"Doll, why aren't you resting at this late hour?"

Shaya turned to look at the delicate, pitiable girl beside him. A trace of tenderness flickered in his eyes as he asked.

"I couldn't sleep tonight..." Doll looked at Shaya and asked in confusion, "Saint Shaya, do Celestial Dragons have troubles too?"

"Haha, there is no one in this world without troubles."

Shaya chuckled softly before answering.

"Forget ordinary Celestial Dragons..."

"Do you think the Five Elders, the world's highest authorities, have no troubles?"

"We mortals are merely pitiful people trapped in our own trivial affairs, unable to escape! You, me, the other Celestial Dragons, even the Five Elders..."

Shaya swirled the red wine in his glass and sighed.

"Saint Shaya, are you always this sentimental?"

"What is it that troubles you?"

Leaning against Shaya's side, Doll asked softly.

"Not exactly..."

"It's just that nighttime makes one especially sentimental!"

Shaya first shook his head. Then, as though recalling something, he gently held Doll's delicate face and asked in a low voice, "Doll, if I wanted to create a world that could save all humanity! A true utopia where every person in this world could live happily—would you be willing to stay by my side forever?"

"..."

Doll froze. She seemed shaken by Shaya's grand ideal. Only after a moment did she lightly nod and agree. "Of course! You are a Celestial Dragon, and Doll is a Marine Lieutenant Commander under the World Government. Serving you unconditionally is my duty!"

"Doll, you know that isn't what I want..."

"If one day, I am no longer a Celestial Dragon, or if I stand against the World Government, would you still support my ideals as you do today?"

Shaya held Doll's delicate face and spoke gently.

"I..."

Doll was stunned. She had never considered the things Shaya had said.

"Hehe, just pretend I never said any of that today."

Seeing Doll hesitate, Shaya released her delicate face and deliberately began smoking a cigar in dejection, puffing out clouds of smoke. As he exhaled, he did not forget to speak in feigned sorrow. "I thought you were the special one. I thought you would understand me..."

"Mm! I-I will always stand by Saint Shaya's side!"

Looking at Shaya—powerful yet helpless-eyed, extraordinarily talented yet alone—Doll suddenly felt a sense of mission rise within her heart. She believed that her purpose was to help Shaya pull himself together and assist him in completing his ideal world...

And so, Doll could not help but pull Shaya into her embrace and speak earnestly.

Got her.

As Shaya looked at Doll, whose eyes were as clear and gentle as those of a girl in love yet filled with determination, he thought to himself with absolute calm.

Yes, everything was under Shaya's control...

There was no helping it—over the past few months, Shaya had built far too perfect an image for himself!

Born a Celestial Dragon, yet refusing to sink into depravity alongside the others! Like a lotus rising unsullied from the mud!

Ambitious and driven, yet possessed of lofty ideals! Always lonely, always mysterious...

Most importantly, he was brilliant, high-born, and young with money to burn!

Who wouldn't get dizzy over that?

Even femboys would be moved! Ahem...

"What a fucking scumbag!"

Elsewhere, inside a room in the villa, Stussy used Observation Haki to take in every move Shaya and Doll made. Unable to contain herself, she cursed inwardly.

He discussed interests with mature women whose worldviews were fully formed, women who had experienced countless things and would not be easily swayed! Then he discussed poetry and distant horizons, lofty ideals, with innocent young girls in the throes of first love!

Heh, calling Shaya a scumbag was practically a compliment...

Even if Shaya weren't a Celestial Dragon, he could still work his way through a crowd of women with this trick alone!

Just as Stussy was cursing Shaya, he had already wrapped an arm around Doll and led her into the room. Before the lights even went out, Shaya had already pressed himself on top of her...

Well, young people really were something else!

That Extra-Cash Scholar had said one thing that was absolutely right!

Smooth—truly, incredibly smooth!