Secrets Between Girls

Driven by extreme unwillingness to accept defeat, Lucci suddenly straightened up and unleashed an even higher-level secret technique—Life Return!

His body swelled as if inflated, his muscles bulging as his bones crackled with an ear-splitting sound. His already tall frame shot up to an almost inhuman two and a half meters, and a savage aura like that of a ferocious beast radiated from him.

Iron Body: Fist Technique!

With the all-around enhancement brought by Life Return, Lucci's already terrifyingly thick right arm swelled another size.

His massive body became a blurred afterimage, instantly crossing more than ten meters. Carrying the terrifying force to shatter mountains and split stone, his fist smashed toward Adams's face.

Because of Adams's interference, Lucci had never obtained the Leopard-Leopard Fruit. Yet with his unparalleled talent, he had forcefully developed the Six Powers to a level far beyond its original limits.

As expected of the genius hailed as the strongest in Cipher Pol history. Even without a Devil Fruit, he had pushed his body this far.

Adams could not help sighing inwardly.

Still, admiration was admiration. His movements did not slow in the slightest.

Faced with that earth-shattering punch, Adams merely stepped back half a pace and steadied himself.

Then his right fist shot out like lightning that had lain dormant for ages. He used no technique at all—only pure, overwhelming strength.

Boom—!!!

The instant their fists collided, it was like two massive cannons firing at each other. A deafening blast erupted, and a terrifying ring-shaped shockwave exploded outward. The carefully laid stone slabs beneath their feet cracked inch by inch before collapsing into a huge crater.

Then—

Splurt!

Blood mist burst into the air!

The sleeve around Lucci's swollen right arm instantly exploded into scraps. The skin on his arm split apart, blood pouring down as the bones within gave off a clear, piercing sound of fracture. Extreme agony and disbelief filled his face.

Rumble!

A violent, visible ripple spread through the air. Lucci's massive, muscular body flew backward uncontrollably as though he had been struck head-on by a speeding sea train. He crashed fiercely into the shattered remains of trees that had just been ravaged by Rankyaku, rolling and bouncing more than a dozen times and smashing through countless broken trunks before finally collapsing helplessly to the ground. His body rapidly shrank back to normal.

Adams slowly withdrew his fist and shook his wrist as if he had merely done something trivial.

He strolled over to Lucci, who could only gasp painfully for breath, and looked down at him from above.

"You've grown quite a bit stronger. I hope that next time, you'll show me something more interesting."

After leaving behind those words, which could have been either encouragement or mockery, Adams's massive body shot into the sky and swiftly vanished beyond the horizon.

Lucci was left lying helplessly amid the ruins, searing pain and even deeper humiliation burning through his nerves. His fingers dug fiercely into the dirt beneath him, his nails splitting as blood mixed with the mud.

"...Adams..."

He forced out that name through clenched teeth, filled with unwillingness and... a trace of indelible awe.

With a creak, Adams pushed open the heavy, luxurious doors to his bedroom.

Yet the sight inside made him pause slightly.

Robin had somehow come over as well, and she was sitting together with Stussy, Perona, Hina, Kalifa, and even Stella.

The girls, each with vastly different styles and ages, sat in a circle together in surprising harmony. They chatted and laughed, the atmosphere so warm that they seemed like actual sisters.

What was going on? When had the relationships between them become so good?

A flicker of surprise crossed Adams's mind.

Just then, sharp-eyed Stussy was the first to notice him. Seeing the subtle expression on Adams's face, clearly at a loss over the situation, her lips immediately curled into a sly smile. In a cloyingly sweet voice, she teased,

"My, darling, you're back? Look, I've kept your harem in perfect order for you~"

"A... harem?!"

That word struck like thunder, instantly making the other girls flush crimson.

The candy in Perona's hand nearly fell to the floor, and two patches of red appeared on her pale cheeks.

Hina immediately became completely flustered, panic written all over her face.

Kalifa adjusted her glasses, the lenses gleaming as she tried to hide her embarrassment with composure. Yet her bright red ears gave her away.

Stella covered her mouth and chuckled, conveniently concealing the fleeting blush that crossed her cheeks.

Even Robin, who had just experienced such emotional upheaval, temporarily forgot her sorrow. She lowered her head in embarrassment, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers.

To be fair, every girl present had spent at least two or three years with Adams day and night.

In this world, children generally matured early, so naturally they understood certain things. Perhaps some hazy feelings had already quietly taken root without anyone noticing.

Looking at those faces as red as ripe apples, Adams helplessly rubbed his brow.

"Don't talk nonsense. It wouldn't look good, and there are still several children here."

Stussy rose to her feet and walked over to him with the graceful stride of a cat. Deliberately, she tapped his solid chest with her fingertip.

"My, isn't this something that was bound to happen sooner or later? Or are you saying..."

She drew out her words, her azure eyes sweeping across the other girls.

"You don't actually have those kinds of feelings for any of them?"

"Cough, cough!" Adams coughed from the sheer bluntness of her words, his gaze drifting slightly.

"Stop messing around. It's still too early to talk about something like that."

He tried to change the subject, glancing toward the other girls, who were sitting uneasily.

"Alright, you girls should head back first."

As though granted amnesty, the girls all lowered their heads and slipped past Adams with flushed faces like startled little rabbits, leaving behind a waft of fragrance.

As Robin passed by him, she slowed slightly and whispered in an extremely soft, quick voice,

"Thank you..."

Adams immediately understood and gave a slight nod.

After the girls left and the door closed again, Adams walked over to Stussy, who had calmly returned to the sofa. Crossing his arms over his chest, the well-defined lines of his muscles were faintly visible beneath his silk shirt.

"Tell me, what exactly are you up to? Why did you suddenly gather all of them together?"

Stussy lounged lazily against the armrest, looking up at his handsome face with a radiant smile.

"Of course it was because Robin just arrived, so I wanted everyone to get acquainted and bond a little~ After all, they'll become sisters sooner or later, won't they?"

She placed special emphasis on the word "sisters."

Adams sighed.

"That's something for who knows how many years from now. It's too early to think about it."

Stussy seemed to have caught hold of something. Her eyes lit up.

"My, does that mean... you're admitting it? Admitting that you brought them all to your side because you really do have certain other intentions?"

Adams looked at her sly expression and suddenly smiled. He simply bent down, bracing both hands on either side of the sofa and enveloping Stussy in his shadow as he stared straight into her eyes.

"Yes, I'm a greedy, womanizing scoundrel. What, did you only just realize that? Are you regretting getting aboard my pirate ship now?"

Surrounded by his intensely aggressive aura, Stussy did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, she deliberately put on a pitiful, vulnerable expression and blinked her large eyes.

"What use would regret be? A man as powerful as you is someone I can't resist anyway~"

Naturally, Adams was not fooled by her act. He straightened up, rubbing his chin as genuine curiosity appeared on his face.

"So what exactly did you tell them? They were only embarrassed just now. There wasn't much surprise or resistance... That doesn't seem like their usual personalities."

Given their personalities, none of them should have easily accepted such absurd talk of a "harem."

Stussy raised a finger and lightly pressed it against her rosy lips, revealing an unfathomable smile.

"That's a secret between girls, darling~"

Seeing how tightly she kept her lips sealed, Adams knew he would get nothing out of her. He could only let out a deliberately helpless sigh.

"Alright. Since it's a secret between ladies, I won't press you for it."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject. A dangerous yet captivating glint flashed through his eyes, and a wicked smile curved his lips.

"However... you helped me resolve such a huge potential problem. As the one benefiting from it, I can't possibly fail to show my appreciation. So... I should reward you properly."

Stussy instantly understood the implication behind his words. Remembering the specific nature of certain "rewards," even someone like her could not stop a blush from rising to her cheeks. She could not help spitting lightly in annoyance.

"Pah! You call that rewarding me? You're clearly rewarding yourself, you insatiable bastard!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Adams laughed heartily, his voice shaking the room.

"It's all the same! The process doesn't matter, as long as we're both satisfied with the result!"

Before his words had even faded, his powerful body had already lunged forward. Like a great lion seizing its prey, he gently scooped up the shrieking, giggling Stussy by the waist and carried her toward the inner room.

To be continued