Congratulations, the Operation Was a Success

"It looks like we've shaken off the pursuers."

Under the cover of night.

The bright moonlight scattered from the sky draped the calm sea in a veil of silver gauze.

After sailing for an entire day, the Tiga slowly docked along the shore of a small uninhabited island that did not exist on any map.

Inside the captain's quarters.

Through the exquisite porthole, Kael gazed at the quiet night sky and sea, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Not bad at all."

"They actually dispatched five warships at once to capture us. Looks like Smoker really went all out this time."

"Unfortunately..."

"With the East Blue's decrepit warships, trying to catch the wind-riding Tiga is a little too wishful, isn't it?"

"Hahaha..."

Kael let out a hearty laugh, then picked up a bottle of sweet drink made from who-knew-what and raised it toward the other side of the desk.

"You worked hard, Little Tiga—the finest helmsman in the world."

"Hehe..."

On the other side of the desk, Little Tiga sat on a tall chair, his two little legs dangling in the air as they swung back and forth.

Seeing Kael raise his drink, he hurriedly picked up his own beverage with both hands and happily clinked cups with his captain.

Though he could not taste food or drinks, he liked this sort of behavior unique to humans.

"As long as I can help Captain Kael, it isn't hard work!"

Little Tiga, who had been busy all day, sipped through his straw and smiled happily.

Not far from the desk.

The kidnapped Tashigi was still unconscious, lying on Kael's bed and sleeping soundly.

After all, she was a future crew member, so Kael had generously given up his own little bed.

The kind-hearted girl had no idea that, without realizing it, she had already arrived on an island several hundred kilometers away from Loguetown.

But seeing Tashigi occupy his little bed for an entire day without showing the slightest sign of waking, Kael knew...

He would probably have to make do with the sofa tonight.

"This drug is ridiculously effective."

"Looks like that shop owner's advertising was at least honest."

Although the sofa might not be as comfortable as the bed...

Fortunately, Kael had the captain's quarters' recovery buff, so it would not affect his actual physical needs.

After the Tiga had been upgraded to a Level 1 ship, the facilities store in the dockyard system naturally opened up to Kael as well.

This captain's quarters was no longer just an ordinary room.

It was a magical place with its own recovery buff!

In Kael's words...

This was a pirate crew fountain that could not revive anyone!

[Facility: Captain's Quarters]

[Level: 1]

[Experience: 0/5]

[Description: An essential facility symbolizing the highest seat of authority aboard the entire ship.]

[Effect: While sleeping, restores 10% stamina and 10% mental energy per hour. Includes a small storage space.]

Those were the attribute panels for the captain's quarters where Kael and the others currently were.

At only Level 1, the captain's quarters were not particularly lavishly furnished.

There was only a desk and chair set, a safe with small-scale spatial storage capacity, an ordinary single bed, and a long sofa.

Those few pieces of furniture made up this magical room.

No matter how exhausted one's body or mind was, sleeping in this room for a night would immediately leave them full of vigor again.

And that was everything Kael had bought for five million Beli.

The facilities store divided all facilities into two major categories.

The first was functional facilities.

For example, a training room that allowed companions with character panels to gain experience...

A helm operation platform that could increase the ship's movement speed...

A chart room that could automatically draw maps as the ship moved...

Like the captain's quarters, these functional facilities all came with certain special abilities.

But at the same time, their prices were also relatively high.

Every functional facility cost five million Beli.

Upgrading a facility afterward would also require additional Beli.

And that Beli would only count toward the facility's experience bar; it would not affect the ship itself.

To upgrade the ship, he would need to spend extra Beli.

From this alone, it was clear that this so-called dockyard system was an absolute money pit!

The second type of facility, however, caught Kael's attention.

They were called production facilities.

There were plantations that could grow crops, ranches that could raise livestock and poultry, aquariums that could breed aquatic products, automated factories that could tighten screws...

These facilities had no fixed prices. Their cost was determined by the amount of space they required.

The sight of all these production facilities made Kael's heart race and his DNA boil with excitement.

Unfortunately, with the pirate crew's current limited numbers and no worthwhile projects...

Even if he bought these facilities, he would have no way to put them into operation.

What was more, the ship's level was still low, and the number of facilities it could carry was limited...

One slot had already been forcibly occupied by the captain's quarters, which had to be purchased first.

He would have to carefully consider his choices for the remaining two facility slots.

The night passed without incident.

Fresh dawn rose over the horizon, shining across the sea and stirring layer upon layer of golden waves.

Tashigi, who had slept for an entire day, felt the warmth of the sunlight, and her tightly shut eyes trembled slightly.

"Mmm~~"

With a soft moan, she lazily stretched her body on Kael's bed.

An unprecedented sense of comfort surged forth from her lower abdomen.

This was the ultimate effect of the captain's quarters' recovery function, allowing one to enjoy perfect sleep every night.

"Is it morning already?"

Raising a hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight, Tashigi finally opened them.

But what entered her view was an unfamiliar ceiling.

"Hm? Where am I?"

The groggy girl asked in confusion.

The next second, realizing something was wrong, Tashigi hurriedly sat up in bed.

Just then, the room's door was suddenly opened.

Creak—

"You're awake?"

Bathed in the morning light, Kael appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room.

"Congratulations, the operation was a success. You're a girl now."

He said with a smile.

"What!?"

"How is that possible!?"

Tashigi was startled.

Subconsciously, she raised her hands and touched her soft sides. Feeling the softness unique to girls, she abruptly snapped awake from her groggy state.

Wait...

Wasn't I already a girl!?

Pfft!

A flush suddenly spread across Tashigi's face, turning her red as a ripe apple.

Tashigi quickly lowered her hands and helplessly tucked them behind her back.

Then she looked up at Kael, who was laughing heartily, and immediately snapped in embarrassment.

"Y-You jerk! You can't tease girls like that!"

"Huh? Wait a second, you look kind of familiar?"

Her sleeping memories slowly began to awaken.

Tashigi's eyes suddenly widened in shock!

"Ah! I remember now!"

"You're that sword seller!!!"

As she recalled what had happened before she lost consciousness, fury immediately flared in the ignorant girl's eyes.

"You actually used a famous blade to frame me! Y-You... what exactly are you after?!"

As she spoke, Tashigi braced herself with one hand and nimbly jumped down from the bed.

But when she reached for her waist, she was shocked to discover that Shigure was nowhere to be found.

Without her beloved sword by her side, her combat strength would undoubtedly be greatly reduced.

Yet Kael, who had entered the room, completely ignored Tashigi's actions.

Holding a tray, he placed his breakfast on the desk.

Then he smiled at Tashigi.

"Don't be nervous, Chief Petty Officer Tashigi. The test is over."

"Unfortunately, you didn't pass."

"A test!? What test?"

Tashigi, who had thought she had been kidnapped, was momentarily stunned by Kael's words and immediately asked,

But Kael did not answer her question.

Instead, he began eating breakfast and called out toward the empty air.

"Tiga, please bring another serving of breakfast."

"Our Miss Tashigi has woken up."