The next day.
Queen's Road East, in the Goa Imperial Capital.
The weapon maid, Baby 5, was out shopping on the bustling commercial street with the big, fat Buffalo.
Buffalo was already carrying a bunch of shopping bags.
"Baby 5, I'm almost out of pocket money. I'm not lending you any more of what I have left. I want to buy myself something to eat!"
Buffalo, who treated Baby 5 like a big sister, clutched his wallet miserably and paid for another purchase.
Because of her personality flaw, Baby 5 was always getting tricked out of her money by all sorts of 'fiancés' in Dressrosa.
So Baby 5 barely had any money of her own.
Most of those 'fiancés' who 'needed' her had been killed by Doflamingo.
For the sake of those 'fiancés' who 'needed' her, Baby 5 had gone to Doflamingo to throw a fit more than once.
She'd even cursed him out in a fit of temper and attacked him.
"Buffalo, let's buy one more thing. Just one!"
"Ah!! It's the flagship store of the world-famous brand Heixiu Panda!!"
Baby 5 rushed into a luxuriously decorated clothing store, her eyes shining.
"No!! Baby 5! No!!! This brand is so expensive!!"
Buffalo could practically see his wallet emptying in an instant.
They might even run out of money and get kicked out.
The world-famous brand Heixiu Panda was the number-one brand in the Glass Kingdom, the [Birthplace of East Blue Fashion].
Not only did the Celestial Dragons love it, but even the suits of the Five Elders, the highest authority in the world, were custom-made by Heixiu Panda.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Heixiu Panda the world's number-one clothing brand.
Since the Celestial Dragons approved of it,
being expensive was a basic feature of the brand.
Buffalo feared his shriveled wallet wouldn't be able to afford even one outfit from Heixiu Panda.
With a heartbroken look, Buffalo entered the Heixiu Panda flagship store, which seemed like a hellish abyss.
He'd go bankrupt!
It was over!
Baby 5 had already fallen for all the luxurious, beautiful clothes, completely lost in them.
But the moment she saw the price tag, with its long string of digits, it was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her.
"How can it be so expensive~"
Baby 5 dropped to her knees, helpless, and burst into tears.
"A ten-million-berry outfit... Young Master Doflamingo definitely won't pay for this for me."
Baby 5 knew exactly how much money Buffalo had in his wallet. Even if they hadn't bought anything else, they still couldn't afford an outfit now.
"Hurry up and let's go, Baby 5!"
Seeing the 'arrogant' and 'cold' looks the shop assistants were giving them, Buffalo, a cadre under a Shichibukai, actually felt a little scared. Cold sweat seeped down his back.
Was this the 'intimidation' of the world's number-one brand?!
So terrifying!
Without money, even his courage was gone.
As for returning to his old line of work and becoming a pirate, he wouldn't dare.
This was the imperial capital of the Goa Empire, a powerful member nation of the East Blue, and he didn't dare cause trouble.
Just then.
"Beautiful miss, I need you to try on this dress for me so I can see how it looks. Would you?"
A gentle voice reached Baby 5's ears. Buffalo's eyes widened as he stared at the man who had suddenly appeared.
"Really? You really need me?"
Baby 5, who'd been 'heartbroken' just moments ago, felt as if she'd heard heavenly music.
Did someone really need her? And need her to try on the gorgeous clothes she liked?
"You're... His Majesty Wang Shi?"
Baby 5 turned around abruptly and saw an exceptionally handsome face. His warm smile struck her heart with a resounding 'thump.'
'So handsome! So warm! And he needs me~~'
Baby 5 instantly fell for Wang Shi's warm smile.
She was in love again, and again, and again.
She suddenly wanted so badly to become His Majesty Wang Shi's fiancée.
"That's right. I need you, Baby 5."
Wang Shi smiled faintly, looking every bit the perfect gentleman.
"I will, I will~"
The word 'need' had triggered her again and again. Baby 5's face flushed as she nodded repeatedly.
"Help this beautiful lady put on this dress."
Wang Shi gave a slight wave of his hand and ordered the professional shop assistants nearby.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The shop assistants were as polite and meticulous as servants from a great noble's household. They ushered Baby 5 into a luxurious fitting room.
Meanwhile, another shop assistant guided Buffalo to the snack area.
The big, fat Buffalo recovered from his shock and was immediately drawn to the delicious pastries and snacks.
"Baby 5 is so lucky. His Majesty Wang Shi, this big sucker—no, this good man—is paying for everything..."
Buffalo muttered as he ate the pastries and snacks. Then he accidentally said what he was thinking aloud. Terrified, he clapped a hand over his mouth and looked around in a panic, afraid Wang Shi had heard him.
He knew this King of Exile had a temper you didn't want to provoke.
After all, this emperor had exiled the royal families of five countries and wiped out the royal family of another. How could he possibly be a good man?!
Baby 5 came out after changing, her figure graceful and her pretty little face flushed.
There was no denying this girl was quite to Wang Shi's taste.
Most importantly, she was obedient and useful.
"You look beautiful. It suits you, Baby 5."
"I'll give you this dress."
Wang Shi praised her with evident admiration.
"Give it to me? Really? That's too much..."
"I need a beauty like you to bless my eyes and purify my soul..."
Wang Shi cut Baby 5 off. His large hand was already stroking her black hair.
"His Majesty needs me. His Majesty really needs me. I'm beautiful..."
Baby 5's body went limp. She fell right into Wang Shi's arms, her face flushed and her breathing growing heavy.
At the snack area, Buffalo stared dumbfounded at Baby 5 leaning against Wang Shi. The cream puff in his hand slipped back onto the table with a soft plop.
'It's over, it's over! Baby 5 got fooled again! And this time, it was by an empire's emperor, someone powerful and influential!'
Buffalo wailed inwardly. If Baby 5 insisted on staying in the Goa Empire,
Diamante and Young Master Doflamingo would definitely curse him out. He'd lost Baby 5!
He should've known better than to go out with Baby 5.
"I want you to become my consort. Are you willing, Baby 5?"
Feeling Baby 5's soft body against him, Wang Shi asked her outright.
As for whether Doflamingo would agree, that would depend on working out an exchange of interests.
Wang Shi had plenty of leverage over Doflamingo: Vergo, the G5 base commander, Sugar, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit user...
Of course, he might not need those powerful secrets. Once Wang Shi dealt with Germa 66, Doflamingo would take the initiative to discuss cooperation.
After all, even when Tesoro rose to power with the Gold-Gold Fruit he'd stolen from Doflamingo, Doflamingo still obediently went to cooperate with him.
There were no eternal enemies or eternal friends, only eternal interests.
As an underground broker dealing in the dark, Doflamingo couldn't afford to fight powerful enemies to the bitter end. That didn't fit his philosophy for growth or business.
He wanted to become an underground broker king, with resources and connections in his hands, holding the reins of great powers and monsters and manipulating the state of the world.
"I'm willing. As long as Your Majesty needs me, I'll do anything..."
Baby 5's intelligence dropped straight to zero. She agreed to everything Wang Shi asked without thinking.
The word 'need,' along with the words she longed to hear—'fiancée' and 'consort'—struck straight through her heart.