Sky God Kingdom, God's Shrine.
After Dragon told Yake that Blackbeard had defected, Yake had been considering whether he should try to talk Whitebeard around. But after thinking it over, he decided against it. They would naturally meet during the Marineford War. Even Shanks, the user of the Face-Face Fruit, could not persuade him—how could a junior like Yake possibly manage it?
However, Yake had already prepared for an all-out war. During the Marineford War, the Ark Pirates would shine brilliantly and become one of the Four Emperors of the New World in one fell swoop.
"Judge, come here for a moment!" Yake picked up the Telephone Snail and called Judge.
After a while, Judge hurried over.
"Lord Yake, what did you need me for?"
"How is the Railgun research progressing?" Yake asked indifferently.
"Lord Yake, the Railgun's development has basically succeeded, but it can only be used once. Our current metal materials cannot withstand the Railgun's impact. I... I really have no solution for that." Judge spoke with cold sweat pouring down his face. More than two years had passed and he still had not developed what Yake wanted. He feared Yake would take his life in a fit of rage.
The materials were not good enough? Wasn't there shape-memory metal? Yake thought of the Vinsmoke Family's combat suits, but at present, they seemed to only be wearable directly and could not transform into small capsules. Something really was missing.
Wapometal!
Yake remembered. It was a product of the Munch-Munch Fruit user, a shape-memory alloy known as Wapometal Alloy. After Wapol was sent flying by Luffy, he had accidentally created this metal while wandering about. He later used it to rise through the ranks and get rich, become king again, marry Miss Universe, and reach the pinnacle of life.
That made things easy. He could just capture Wapol and turn him into a tool. Yake revealed an evil smile that made Judge shudder so badly he nearly wet himself.
"Alright, this isn't your fault. I'll solve the materials problem. Go work on the Pluton blueprints project first!" Yake dismissed Judge. Judge scrambled away as fast as he could. Rather than stay with this walking disaster, he would rather do research.
"System, let's draw!" Yake remembered that he still had ten lottery draws. He might as well use them now and see if he could get something good to boost the crew's strength.
"Drawing... Congratulations, you have obtained 500 million Beli, Devil Fruit Enhancement Card, Armament Haki Enhancement Card, Observation Haki Enhancement Card, Conqueror's Haki Enhancement Card, and thank you for participating ×5."
His luck was unexpectedly good today. The Enhancement Cards were not useful for the moment. Yake's Devil Fruit ability was already powerful enough. More importantly, if he wanted to use them on his subordinates, he could only enhance a Devil Fruit before someone ate it to obtain an enhanced Devil Fruit ability. He could only save them for now. He used the Conqueror's Haki Enhancement Card on himself first and kept the others. Once Luo awakened Armament Haki and Observation Haki, he would boost Luo's strength.
Yake raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. His arm instantly turned pitch-black. Then he began stacking buffs. Hardening was the most basic one, of course, followed by Ryuo and emission. Finally, he guided Conqueror's Haki to coat his arm.
"Wow, the effects are maxed out!"
Black-purple and red streams of energy intertwined around Yake's arm, while crackling blue electricity danced around it. One punch would give Luffy an instant Gear Fifth addiction. Should he try hitting himself? Yake shook his head and decided against it. He was afraid he would punch himself to death. [doge]
Robin strolled into Yake's room. Seeing him waving his fist around, she thought to herself that the captain was acting up again.
"Yake, what are you doing? What did you need me for?" Robin asked irritably.
"Listen to you. Can't I ask for you if there's nothing wrong?" The moment Yake saw Robin, the Haki on his hand vanished completely, and he quickly beckoned her over.
"Robin, hurry, hurry, hurry. Sit over here—I've got something good for you to see." Yake patted the cloud chair beside him, signaling for Robin to sit down and make herself comfortable.
"Captain, it's broad daylight. I'm warning you, don't get any crooked ideas!" Robin said so, but her body obediently sat down beside Yake anyway.
"What are you thinking? Look at this." Yake took out a stack of Poneglyph Rubbings and set them on the table. Robin's gaze was immediately drawn to them, and she grabbed the Poneglyph Rubbings to examine them.
"Th-this is... so many Poneglyphs. Where did you get them?" Robin was overjoyed. She felt that she had taken another step closer to the truth of history.
"Hahaha, I have my own intelligence sources... Uh, alright, the Revolutionary Army collected them and made a deal with me. Once you translate them, I still have to send them a copy." Under Robin's gaze, Yake had no choice but to stop boasting. He felt somewhat embarrassed; he had not expected Robin to see through his little trick.
Robin could not help but laugh inwardly as she watched Yake's restless hands. Smiling, she leaned close to his ear and gently breathed into it.
"Captain, you collected so many at once. How would you like me to reward you?"
Robin's fair, slender fingers lifted Yake's chin.
"Gulp."
Yake swallowed, unable to resist wrapping an arm around Robin's slim waist as he declared righteously.
"Come on, I can take anything! I can handle it!!!"
Robin chuckled softly and slowly moved closer to Yake's lips, closing her eyes. She was a little nervous too, but in the end, she pressed her red lips to his. Then she ran away like a little rabbit, her heart pounding wildly. Although she and Yake were already very intimate, this was still her first kiss with him. So this was what kissing felt like?
How could Yake possibly be satisfied with just a light kiss? Robin had finally taken the initiative, so the experienced Yake pulled her into his arms amid her cry and gave her a passionate French kiss. He did not let her go until she was dazed and breathless.
Robin hurried to one side, wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth, and straightened her slightly disheveled clothes before gradually calming down. Yake's hand had actually slipped straight into her ample chest and even given it a squeeze.
Robin shot Yake a shy, angry glare, grabbed the Poneglyph Rubbings, and fled in a hurry. Yake's smug laughter echoed through the room.
Robin had barely run out the door when she discovered Reiju standing outside.
"I saw everything~" Reiju smiled teasingly. Robin and Yake had finally taken that step, so she could rest easy. That way, she and Yake would not have to sneak around anymore...
"You... you and him did that long ago?" Robin guessed something. Reiju's curled eyebrows suddenly did not seem so cute anymore.
"I never said that~"
"Hmph, that lecher Yake!" Robin left in embarrassment and anger.
Only after seeing Robin disappear into the distance did Reiju slowly enter Yake's room.
Yake was lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting. Reiju naturally leaned against him.
"Captain, it has been confirmed that Dragon has left the Sky God Kingdom."
"Very good, Reiju. Oh, right, there's something I've always wanted to ask you."