Open Stratagem

Kane's lips curled up, but he did not immediately copy Black Maria's ability.

He took two steps back and looked at Black Maria. After nodding in satisfaction, he raised his hand and activated the Snow-Snow Fruit's power. A snow mirror immediately appeared before Black Maria.

Black Maria looked up and saw herself in the mirror: bright eyes, pearly teeth, skin whiter than snow, and an exquisite, elegant coiffure like a uniquely shaped cloud blossom blooming atop her head.

The two wooden hairpins, shaped like hooks and feathers, were slanted through her hair. Emerging from her golden locks behind her ears, they further accentuated her glamorous yet refined beauty.

As for the two strands of hair falling from her temples, they added a lazy yet playful air that she particularly adored.

So beautiful...

Black Maria realized that her reflection had blushed. She instinctively reached out to touch her face, only to find it so hot that panic welled up in her. She hurriedly looked away from the mirror, yet could not help stealing glances at it.

"Do you like it?"

Kane's voice suddenly rang out, pulling Black Maria from her swirling thoughts. She hastily replied:

"I-I like it very much. Thank you, Mr. Kane."

"I'm glad. To be honest, I was nervous too. I was afraid you wouldn't be satisfied."

"You must be joking, Mr. Kane. I am very satisfied."

As Black Maria bowed, Kane took the opportunity to open the light screen.

[Black Maria's favorability has reached 35. The first ability copy may begin.]

[Please select one of the following abilities to copy:]

[1. Zoan Devil Fruit · Ancient Zoan · Rosamygale Grauvogeli Tarantula Form (development level: 41%)]

[2. Boxing (Mastery)]

[3. Shamisen (Mastery)]

[4. Great Strength]

[5...]

He decisively chose the Devil Fruit ability. The smile on Kane's face became increasingly genuine, though he also felt somewhat conflicted.

Black Maria was still just a girl who had abruptly risen to a high position. She was not yet the violent big sister she would become thirteen years later, smoking, drinking, tattooed, and fond of torturing people.

If he could win her over to his side, she would not only provide considerable fighting strength, but at least she would not grow so twisted.

Just as Kane was wondering how to win her over, Black Maria suddenly spoke.

"Mr. Kane, I am afraid I should return now."

"Hm? You're leaving?"

Kane looked up in surprise, only to see Black Maria give him a proper bow before waving her hand and dismissing Spiderweb Space.

And out on the sea in the distance, a warship was gradually approaching.

Although Kane had notified Hina to stop shelling and await his orders immediately after killing Hanafusa and Sasaki,

Hina was clearly worried about his safety. She was slowly bringing the ship closer to provide support, just in case.

Seeing that time was running short, Kane hurriedly tried to persuade her.

"Black Maria, I actually don't want you to return to Wano Country."

"It is an honor to have Mr. Kane think of me."

Black Maria slowly rose to her feet and gently shook her pretty head.

"I came under Lord Kaido's orders to rescue Doflamingo and his men. Now that the mission has failed, I should naturally return to receive punishment.

"I can tell that Mr. Kane does not wish others to discover that you possess Devil Fruit powers. I will keep your secret.

"It is only a pity that I cannot drink and make merry with Mr. Kane. I merely hope that when we next meet, I may still play the shamisen for you."

"Black Maria, you're terrible, saying something like that..."

Kane's expression suddenly darkened as he gritted his teeth and uttered those words.

Black Maria, whose emotions were already roiling at the thought of parting, froze. She did not understand why Kane would say such a thing, but then she saw him sigh regretfully.

"If you leave just like this, then every day from now on, I will have to live in anticipation of our reunion.

"And thanks to you, I can only find a little comfort in the wonderful music you have left behind in my memories."

Black Maria immediately blushed and lowered her head, whispering:

"Mr. Kane, please don't say such things. I-I truly must go..."

With that, seemingly afraid Kane might say something else that would make her lose control, she wrapped her subordinates in spiderwebs and leaped onto Hanafusa's ship as though fleeing.

[Black Maria, favorability: 42]

Watching Black Maria's retreating figure flee in panic, Kane felt deeply moved and resolved to find an opportunity to whisk her away before Kaido led her astray.

"Hina does not understand. You just let her get away?"

The moment Black Maria left, Hina came aboard the pirate ship and questioned Kane as she watched Black Maria sail away.

"This time, Kaido forced her into taking the mission. She's a pitiful little girl."

"Little girl? What's little about her?!"

Hina gazed at the enormous figure in the distance, her eyes full of incomprehension as she looked at Kane.

"She looks even taller than Kaido!"

"You've seen Kaido?"

"Every Marine has to memorize Kaido's dossier!"

"She only looks big. She's still a little girl inside."

"You're just blinded by lust!"

"Wrong! This is universal love!"

"Go to hell!"

Hina launched a flying kick that sent Kane off the ship. She angrily returned to the warship, crunching her lollipop between her teeth.

Meanwhile, Kane, having been kicked off the ship, used Geppo to soar into the air. As he flew toward the warship, he frowned in thought.

"Something feels off... but what is it?"

Inside Tsuru's warship, Tsuru sat outside the cell with her brows tightly furrowed. The tall Grey Pigeon stood quietly nearby, her sharp gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

From the moment she received the warning until Kane sent word that the battle was over, Tsuru had felt a strange sensation lingering in her mind, but she could not make sense of it for the moment.

It was not until Grey Pigeon brought news that Black Maria had fled by ship that realization suddenly dawned on her. She fixed Doflamingo in the cell with a cold stare and demanded:

"You never told Kaido that I was the one escorting you, did you?"

"Fufufufufu..."

Doflamingo let out his signature laugh. He glanced sideways at Tsuru, a smug grin on his face.

"Old woman, I already told you. I never contacted Kaido.

"Besides, are you really that important? Why would Kaido need to know you were here? Fufufu..."

Tsuru's gaze remained icy, completely unmoved, as though Doflamingo's reaction had been within her expectations.

"No wonder only Hanafusa, the former Jack, and two Flying Six came. If Kaido had known I was here, he would never have been so careless."

Doflamingo seemed to have heard a joke and grinned.

"Old woman, if you think too highly of yourself, be careful not to step on a nail and pierce your foot..."

"Actually, you weren't confident Kaido would go all out to save you either, were you?"

Tsuru suddenly cut off Doflamingo's mockery. She walked up to the cell and looked down at him.

"A mere nobody active in the North Blue—what right did you have to make Kaido risk war with the Marines and use his full strength to rescue you?

"You understood that very well, which was why you deliberately concealed my presence when asking him for help.

"You even destroyed the Den Den Mushi after calling for help, all to prevent me from tracing the call and discovering that I was the one escorting you."

As Tsuru laid out her analysis, Doflamingo's laughter vanished. Yet he still looked at her with a cold smile, as though watching a performance.

Tsuru continued unconcernedly.

"I do not know what price you promised him, but whatever you could offer was certainly not enough to make him resolve to deal with me.

"Because he knows very well that if he does, he will be in serious trouble."

Grey Pigeon, standing beside her, could not help nodding.

After all, Tsuru was not merely the Marines' Chief Staff Officer. She was a close contemporary of Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and the other veteran Marine powerhouses.

Now that these veteran Marines held high positions, if Kaido dared to make a move against Tsuru, he would inevitably invite a powerful Marine counterattack.

"Fufufu... Old woman, what's the use of saying all that? Kaido still sent people."

Doflamingo raised his head and stared at the grave-faced Tsuru, baring his teeth in laughter.

"Not only did he send people, his subordinates were also killed by that man you value so highly.

"I knew long ago that you wanted to train that man. I also saw long ago that he was ruthless. Once he clashed with Kaido's subordinates, only one side would survive.

"Old woman, how does it feel to have the heir you chose forge a blood feud with Kaido? Satisfying? Fufufu..."

Grey Pigeon's expression changed drastically. She instinctively looked at Tsuru, only to see that Tsuru remained grave yet calm, seemingly unmoved by Doflamingo's words.

However, she did not see the barely noticeable trace of worry flash through Tsuru's eyes.

Because Tsuru had suddenly realized that before Doflamingo destroyed the Den Den Mushi, aside from Kaido, could he have...

Contacted someone else as well?!