After the Deed, He Brushed Off His Clothes and Left, Leaving Neither Himself Nor...

"All expenses are on me, Oak!"

After returning to Hachinosu, Rocks immediately gathered everyone for a banquet to welcome Gloriosa's arrival.

Thus, the drunken Oak once again shouted that bold declaration about covering the whole bill. When the tavern owner presented the tab after the feast, he did not hesitate to sign... Kaido's name on it.

He slapped the bill against the owner's chest, then staggered out of the tavern before shouting,

"Settle it tomorrow!"

As for who would settle it tomorrow, naturally, whoever's name was on the bill would pay.

Humming a little tune, Oak strolled down the street in high spirits. Every member of the Rocks Pirates had a place to live on the island. Normally, everyone lived their own lives without interfering with one another, only gathering when Rocks called them together.

Oak naturally had such a place as well. Though it was not a luxurious estate like those of the official members, it was still a decent little courtyard. He was heading back there now.

However, when he reached a pitch-black corner, a huge shadow suddenly enveloped him, and a large hand reached out to grab him.

"Who is it?"

Though drunk, Oak still retained a measure of clarity. He immediately noticed the attack, but just as he was about to retaliate, he caught a familiar fragrance. His movements paused, and he was then pulled into a soft embrace.

"Big Sis Linlin, so it was you!"

By the scent alone, Oak already knew who was holding him.

"Long time no see. I really missed you, Big Sis!"

His mouth was saying sweet things, but his body was anything but idle. He vigorously rubbed his head against the softness holding him.

"Mamamama, so you still remembered me, little brother? I thought you went out and got your soul stolen by some vixen, forgetting where you'd left your big sister long ago!"

Linlin's pleasant laughter rang out, her tone filled with teasing, along with a faint hint of jealousy.

"How could that be!"

"I always remembered you, Big Sis Linlin. I even dreamed about you!"

Oak immediately swore solemnly after hearing that.

"You lie so easily!"

However, Linlin was dissatisfied. She shoved him away and poked his forehead with a finger.

"Then why did you ignore me all day today? Instead, you kept circling around that woman Gloriosa. I think you're just abandoning the old for the new. Now that you've got someone new, you've forgotten me somewhere far away. And here I was, treating you so well. I cared for you for nothing!"

As Linlin spoke of his behavior today, how he had spent the entire night hovering around Gloriosa, she bent down at a ninety-degree angle to look at him, a half-smile on her face. It was obvious that she was extremely displeased.

As for why she had to bend down ninety degrees, it was because even if Oak jumped, he might not be as tall as her legs. If she stood upright, Oak would not even be able to see her face.

Oak felt awkward. He had merely been unwilling to give up and wanted to try his luck, to see whether he could poach Gloriosa away from Roger.

Of course, he did not dare say that to Linlin. His little eyes rolled, and an idea came to him.

"Gloriosa had just joined us, so as an old member, I naturally had to look after her more at her first banquet. It made you misunderstand, Big Sis Linlin. Don't worry, I'll definitely stay farther away from that woman from now on."

"I swear it!"

As he spoke, he raised three fingers.

Only then did Linlin's expression soften somewhat.

"Hmph!"

Yet she was still displeased with him.

"What have you and Rocks been doing these past few days? You keep saying you missed me, but you didn't even tell me when you left. You had me worrying for days!"

Linlin snorted and leaned closer as she questioned him.

Oak instantly understood after hearing that. This was the real reason she had come looking for him tonight; everything before had merely been a prelude.

"Didn't Rocks explain it at the banquet? We received intelligence that Punk Hazard might have information about the Great Hammer Warband, so we went there. Then the others accompanied me to find two things."

"One was the Devil Fruit ability I ate, and the other was my Seven Star Sword. Big Sis, isn't my Seven Star Sword great?"

Oak repeated the explanation he had given at the banquet. It was basically the complete truth, except for the parts concerning Pluton, which had been concealed.

Before returning, the four of them had already agreed that no one besides the four directly involved could be told about Pluton.

As for why, it was naturally to guard against the possibility of traitors within the crew.

After spending so many days together, and especially after Oak had provided him with so much information, Rocks had come to partly believe that Ochoku might be a traitor. That was why they needed to keep something in reserve.

With that in mind, Oak handed his Seven Star Sword to Linlin, trying to change the subject.

"Really?"

Linlin was only half-convinced by his words. She always felt that they were hiding something from everyone, but after Oak repeatedly swore that it was true, she finally reached out and took the Seven Star Sword.

"Mamamama, what a fine sword!"

Sensing the demonic aura within the blade and recalling Oak's introduction of it at the banquet, Linlin carefully admired the Seven Star Sword.

"Do you want me to turn this sword into a Homies too, like my Napoleon?"

"That way, it'll be much more convenient for you to use in the future!"

Oak hurriedly shook his head at her suggestion.

"Thank you, Big Sis Linlin, but let's forget about turning the Seven Star Sword into a Homies. I'm afraid that if we do, I'll never be able to become one with it again!"

Oak's reason for refusing was simple: who knew whether the Seven Star Sword could still merge with him after becoming a Homies?

And once it became a Homies, the Seven Star Sword would forever be under Linlin's control as its ability user. At that point, whether it would still be his was anyone's guess.

Naturally, he would not make such a losing deal.

"Hmph, then forget it!"

Linlin clearly understood his second concern as well. She snorted unhappily and tossed the Seven Star Sword back to him, then grabbed him by the collar.

"Little brother, since you say you missed your big sister so much, shouldn't you come home with me tonight?"

She blew lightly into his ear in a seductive tone, and Oak swallowed helplessly before nodding in agreement.

"Let's go!"

He then followed her back to the manor castle on the island.

That night, Oak maintained his Vampire Beast Form the entire time. Looking at his size, which was now roughly equal to Linlin's, he finally held his head high for once. He was no longer a tiny horse pulling a huge cart.

It was not until the next morning that he left while rubbing his sore waist, once again brushing off his clothes and leaving after the deed was done, leaving neither himself nor... that.