Why... Choose Me?

The faint light of dawn dispelled the last trace of nighttime chill from the harbor, bathing the magnificent Red Port in a pale golden glow.

Dawn held Stella's hand as they walked across the docks, which had already begun bustling with activity.

The sailors and dockworkers who had risen early showed no surprise at the sight. They merely glanced over before returning to their work.

In this prosperous hub of the world, holding hands with a stunning beauty was hardly a shocking sight.

Those world nobles wearing bubble helmets, swaggering through the streets with dozens of slaves in tow—that was the norm.

People were more astonished by Stella's beauty, which remained impossible to conceal even through her haggard appearance, and envious of Dawn's "good fortune" and "wealth."

Dawn's gaze swept over the densely packed ships at their berths, as though he were choosing a suitable means of transportation. Flying across the Calm Belt with his Devil Fruit ability was still somewhat beyond him.

All kinds of sailing ships, hybrid-powered vessels, and even a handful of pure steamships came into view. He needed a ship capable of crossing the Calm Belt—sailing ships were the first to be ruled out.

He felt somewhat helpless. As for how to travel from the Grand Line to the Four Seas, the original story had revealed very little beyond risking a crossing through the Calm Belt.

The currents of Reverse Mountain only flowed one way, allowing passage in but not out. Krieg and his crew had certainly found some other way to return from the Grand Line to East Blue, but it was not a method Dawn could currently know or replicate. The Calm Belt had become his only option—and also the riskiest one.

After carefully inspecting his choices, his gaze settled on a medium-sized steamship. It appeared to be well maintained, and its smokestack stood silently, showing that it possessed a power core independent of wind. This was the one.

Having chosen his target, Dawn did not hesitate. Holding the ever-silent Stella's hand, he stepped steadily onto the steamship's deck.

On deck, the sailors on night watch were leaning against the railings with weapons in their arms, chatting about nothing but human trafficking, confirming the ship's purpose.

With a thought from Dawn, his ability activated silently. An invisible field of darkness spread beneath his and Stella's feet, swallowing every faint sound they made as they walked. They moved as though through a silent painting, drawing no attention whatsoever.

Black Hole

A profound darkness surged from his palm and coiled around the sailors like a living creature. Before they could cry out, a powerful gravitational force yanked them from the deck and dragged them into an extradimensional space that had long since been emptied.

The watchmen awoke instantly to the agony of being crushed by darkness. Their eyes bulged as they tried to release shrill screams from their throats, but every sound vanished like stones sinking into the sea, mercilessly absorbed and erased by the surrounding darkness. They could only let their consciousness sink into eternal darkness amid soundless, unbearable pain.

Dawn's expression remained calm as he led Stella through a meticulous search of the ship's cabins. Whether it was the crew quarters or the captain's cabin, he handled them in the same manner.

One life after another was silently swallowed by the darkness in sleep, without even causing a ripple. The entire process was efficient and quiet, alerting none of the other ships in the harbor.

Stella followed closely behind him, watching him remove obstacles with such cold efficiency. Her delicate body trembled slightly, yet she continued biting her lower lip without saying a word.

After confirming that the entire ship had been thoroughly cleared out, Dawn brought Stella to the engine room at the bottom of the vessel. Machinery roared here, enormous boilers radiated heat, and thick nautical charts were pinned to the walls.

Dawn stepped forward and carefully flipped through them. When his fingers brushed across a chart marked with a special route, surprise flashed in his eyes before turning into relief.

The chart clearly marked a route beginning near Red Port, crossing through a section of the Calm Belt labeled "low risk," and eventually reaching West Blue. This was exactly what he needed!

"Looks like I got lucky."

After remarking on it, Dawn walked over to the control console.

When he had stowed away from Drum Island to Spring Queen City, he had traveled aboard a steam-powered passenger ship. He had quietly observed and learned the basic operating techniques long ago. He skillfully started the boiler, built pressure, and worked the helm.

The steamship let out a low rumble as it slowly pulled away from its berth, nimbly turned its bow, and sailed out of the busy Red Port docks. Following the direction indicated on the chart, it headed toward that terrifying sea said to be windless and wave-free, yet home to enormous Sea Kings.

The harbor gradually shrank behind them before finally vanishing from sight. Only after confirming that they were completely far from that troublesome place did Dawn slowly let out a breath he had held for a long time.

Only then did he truly have the leisure to focus on the unusually quiet woman beside him.

He turned, his gaze falling on Stella. She seemed to sense it, forcing a faint smile onto her lips, though she could not hide the fear deep within her eyes.

"Why haven't you said anything?"

"You aren't mute, are you? Tell me your name."

Although he already knew who she was, he still needed to go through the motions.

Stella lowered her head nervously, her voice soft and carrying the obedience unique to slaves.

"My name is Stella."

"Mm. My name is Dawn."

After giving his name, Dawn asked again,

"Then why did you stay silent the whole time just now?"

Stella lowered her eyes, her voice growing even softer.

"The owner... taught me that as a slave, I can't speak casually without my master's permission, in case... I offend my master."

Dawn did not believe a single word of that explanation. He clearly remembered that in her original fate, when she was dragged away by the Celestial Dragons, she had still bid farewell to Tesoro.

That so-called "not being allowed to speak" was merely the distance and distrust she used to protect herself when facing an unfamiliar "master." That was perfectly normal, Dawn thought. After all, they had only known each other for a few hours.

He did not expose her lie. Instead, he went along with it.

"I see. I don't have that many rules. You can speak whenever you want."

As he spoke, before Stella's eyes suddenly filled with disbelief, he took out a key. With a click, he easily unlocked the slave collar restraining her fair neck.

The cold metal collar fell onto the deck with a dull clang. Stella instinctively touched the red marks left on her neck by prolonged friction. Something seemed to shatter in her eyes, while a glimmer called "hope" and "self" struggled to gather once more.

She stared blankly at Dawn, as though trying to find the purpose behind this abnormal act on his face.

"I'm about to set out on a long journey,"

Dawn said without acknowledging her shock.

"I need some help. Traveling the seas alone for long distances is always inconvenient."

The fingers Stella used to touch her neck trembled slightly. Gathering her courage, she looked directly into Dawn's deep blue eyes.

"Why... choose me?"

She wanted to know what this powerful, handsome, yet strangely acting young man had seen in her.

Dawn's answer was so direct it was practically shameless, without any embellishment or evasion.

"Because your figure and face are both exactly my type."

His gaze swept openly over her graceful curves.

"I fancy you. I want you to be my wife."

He did not weave any hypocritical tale of sympathy or noble salvation. At their first meeting, what could he have known of her inner self beyond this beautiful outer shell?

More importantly, in a world where slavery was openly practiced, he, as the buyer, possessed absolute authority over his property. Stating his desire outright suited the logic of the moment far better than hypocritical lies.

"Ah!" Stella had never expected such a blunt, even rude answer. Inexperienced as she was, her face instantly flushed crimson, and her heart pounded like a drum.

She instinctively covered her chest with both hands and staggered back a step, her spine striking the cold metal bulkhead. Stammering, she could not form a complete sentence for a long while.

"Y-you... you... I..."