Watching Kaya, the elegant, fair-skinned noblewoman, Nami the Cat Burglar, and Nojiko, the orange farmer, felt a little inferior.
"I... I'm Nami, from Cocoyasi Village in Konomi Province."
"This is my sister, Nojiko."
"We're talents recruited by His Majesty Wang Shi."
Nami, who often went out to sea, showed a pirate's boldness. She suppressed her slight inferiority and put on the proud expression of someone valued by Wang Shi.
She was Nami Two-Gun of Cocoyasi Village, the Fish-Man Double Slayer who had been intimate with Wang Shi!
"Hello, Miss Kaya. I'm Nojiko."
Nojiko, with her dark skin, greeted the polite Kaya warmly.
Thinking of Wang Shi's embrace, Nojiko felt confident too.
She, Nojiko One-Gun, would never be worse than anyone else!
"Were you also recruited by His Majesty Wang Shi to serve as ladies-in-waiting to Empress Sally?"
Kaya's eyes lit up. Perhaps these sisters would be her future colleagues.
"Ladies-in-waiting to Empress Sally?"
"No, we're talents recruited directly by His Majesty Wang Shi!"
Nami answered at once. Wang Shi had said that he'd taken a liking to her navigational talent and planned to train her to become the Goa Empire's chief navigator, accompanying him on visits to Affiliated Nations around the world.
At the thought of safely sailing around the world and drawing her own maps, Nami grew incredibly excited.
Most importantly, hearing the title "chief navigator" made her think the pay must be good.
Then she could earn money while pursuing her dream.
It was the perfect job.
"Talents? What are you good at?"
Kaya was a little disappointed. These two girls could accompany Wang Shi, while she seemed destined to stay by Empress Sally's side.
"I'm a navigation prodigy, and the Goa Empire's future chief navigator."
"And my sister Nojiko is His Majesty Wang Shi's chief nutritionist and gardening specialist."
Nami's eyes gleamed mischievously. She was determined to outshine Kaya's "noble air."
When you were out in the world, you made your own titles.
Nojiko stared at Nami, wide-eyed.
That was too much bragging!
Chief nutritionist and gardening specialist? She'd never heard of that.
She was just a farmer who was good at growing oranges and a few flowers and plants.
"You're both amazing!"
"I only know a little medicine."
Hearing titles like chief navigator and chief nutritionist, Kaya was immediately intimidated.
She'd never imagined that these two girls who looked like country bumpkins could be so capable.
No wonder Wang Shi had recruited them.
Now it was the little rich girl Kaya's turn to feel a little inferior.
Could her meager medical skills really impress His Majesty Wang Shi and Empress Sally?
Escorted by guards, the three women made their way into the offices inside the palace.
Wang Shi had already told the Guard Army about the three girls.
So there was no trouble, no one giving them a hard time or looking down on them.
In the emperor's office,
Wang Shi was reviewing information about the major pirate crews and forces in East Blue.
As for ordinary government affairs, of course he left those to Empress Sally and the noble officials.
Wang Shi's main tasks were to grow stronger through training and increase the military strength of the Goa Empire.
"Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village, Moonlight Province, must supply swordsmanship talent to the Goa Empire."
"Zoro goes without saying. He'll become a great swordsman in a few years."
"So what if he wants to challenge the World's Greatest Swordsman? If he stays by my side, will he ever run short of powerful opponents?"
"That white-haired Saka's not bad either. In the original timeline, he lost an arm saving Zoro, then later went to Aska Island and obtained the Seven-Star Sword."
"If he was strong enough to save Zoro, his talent probably isn't bad."
"I'll make sure he gets proper training."
"And then there's Baratie, the sea restaurant doing business in the waters of Sasba Kingdom."
"Invite them to do business in Goa waters in the name of the Goa Empire. It's all the same to them where they do business."
"Red Leg Zeff, Vinsmoke's third son, Sanji..."
"Could be a good way to provoke Judge and get Reiju's attention."
As Wang Shi looked through the files, he noted that the Goa Empire still had pirate crews like the Alvida Pirates, the Buggy Pirates, and the El Drago Pirates within its territory.
It was time to free up his hands and deal with them.
But Clockwork Island, occupied by the Poker Pirates, was actually inside Sasba Kingdom's borders.
Still, Sasba Kingdom wouldn't dare complain if he crossed the border to capture pirates.
Wang Shi tapped his desk, thinking about what to do next.
There was no rush to deal with King Ba Dodeshinai of Flaws Kingdom.
The man still employed Germa 66's army and was constantly plotting, but he didn't dare make the first move.
In that case, Wang Shi would capture the pirates first.
He didn't mind reporting pirates willing to submit to Marine Headquarters and asking for their wanted posters to be withdrawn.
Otherwise, they could become Wang Shi's pirate slaves, fighting for him until they died.
As Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya entered Wang Shi's domain, he noticed them.
"I didn't expect them to arrive so soon!"
Wang Shi smiled. He'd asked Kaya to recover, and Nami and Nojiko to take care of things in their village. Yet they'd reported for duty in barely ten days.
And by coincidence, they'd arrived together.
As the three women entered the lavish palace,
even though Nami had found a little confidence in herself around Kaya, she still felt nervous in front of Wang Shi.
Nojiko and Kaya were nervous too.
After all, this emperor was the King of Exile who had conquered four kingdoms.
"Don't be nervous."
"From now on, you'll be female officials of the Goa Empire."
Wang Shi smiled gently, and his warm tone put the three women slightly at ease.
"Nami, next you'll study with the court navigator and familiarize yourself with the maps and routes of East Blue and the rest of the world."
"On our next voyage, you'll be setting sail with us."
"Nojiko, from now on you'll be the nutritionist and fruit-and-vegetable gardener aboard my Exile Emperor."
"I plan to transplant some orange trees and other crops onto my ship. You'll be responsible for looking after them."
"As for you, Kaya, start by studying under the court physician."
"Once I've seen how well you do, I'll decide whether you should stay by Empress Sally's side or set sail with us."
Wang Shi efficiently assigned duties to all three, without wasting a moment.
The girls still needed some training before they could live up to his expectations.
At present, they were flat-chested, dark-skinned, and weak. They were completely unfit for conquest.
"Yes..."
The three women arrived quickly and left just as quickly. They hadn't expected to be entrusted with important duties so soon.
But Wang Shi's crisp, decisive orders and his blend of domineering force and gentleness really were captivating.
On the road outside the palace,
"Kaya, you'd better work hard. Otherwise, you might not get to sail with us and visit the world!"
Nami was delighted. Wang Shi really hadn't lied; he'd arranged things for them just as he'd said he would that day.
Nojiko only relaxed once she heard she'd really gotten the nutritionist and gardening jobs. She felt more confident than ever.
"I'll do my best."
Kaya clenched her fists, giving herself a pep talk.
She'd much rather go to sea and see the world than stay in the palace with Empress Sally.
She really wanted to see the islands and thrilling adventures Usopp had bragged about.