Do I Need a Reason?

In his speeding new car, Saint Jalmack's Son excitedly touched his face. The gains from this day had truly been enormous.

First, with this car, he could easily travel around Mary Geoise, survey the roads surrounding it, and determine possible escape routes.

Second, he had obtained information about Nico Robin. Spandine was eagerly currying favor with him, so he could secretly protect Robin.

"Why would someone as noble as Saint Jalmack's Son be interested in Nico Robin?"

Back then, in the small garden at headquarters, Spandine had regretted asking the moment the words left his mouth. Did Saint Jalmack's Son need a reason? Did he need to explain his reasons to a minor figure like Spandine?

"Because Nico Robin stole something important from me." Saint Jalmack's Son answered casually. "Five years ago, I was also on Ohara, aboard a Navy ship. I went to Ohara to watch the fireworks."

"Oh!" Spandine hurriedly applauded. He remembered that incident; he had been the one who arranged it. "The fireworks of a Buster Call were a sight not to be missed! So it was then, on the way back, that island..." Spandine racked his brain. That was right—Robin had suddenly appeared aboard a ship sailing from a small island.

"Bring Nico Robin before me unharmed," Saint Jalmack's Son told Spandine. "I want her to know the consequences of stealing from me. If the Navy wants to kill Robin, then you must help Nico Robin escape. In any case, I grant you the authority. Make sure this credit belongs to CP9."

"Yes! I will revise the wanted poster immediately. Nico Robin must be captured alive."

Spandine did not doubt him in the slightest. Saint Jalmack's Son was clearly favoring the Enies Lobby CP9 led by Spandine, and that made Spandine beam with delight.

Then, while happily receiving his new car, Saint Jalmack's Son also took the opportunity to tour headquarters' archive room. Besides personally watching some precious battle recordings and Devil Fruit ability development tutorials, he casually took a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia with him.

The only regret was that there were only a few Devil Fruits to view in headquarters' Devil Fruit vault. Aside from the Celestial Dragons occasionally coming to claim them, useful Devil Fruits had all been given to the military to strengthen its combat power. The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia could identify most Devil Fruits, but it was not necessarily completely accurate, since Devil Fruits were named solely based on abilities displayed by their users, and countless Devil Fruits remained unknown.

A few days passed, and soon the entire Holy Land of Mary Geoise had grown accustomed to Saint Jalmack's Son's car. He drove around with terrible manners, charging recklessly everywhere and honking at people. Most infuriatingly, he even brought female slaves in his car, deliberately making those three female slaves smile more happily than the Celestial Dragons. In the entire Holy Land, only Saint Jalmack's Son could be so arrogant.

The Celestial Dragons' complaints gave the Gorosei another headache, but Saint Jalmack's Son was fairly sensible. After the Gorosei called him, he stopped doing such things. After all, such behavior was tasteless, even for a Celestial Dragon. Once he had achieved his goal, Saint Jalmack's Son did not keep doing it.

Now, whenever Saint Jalmack's Son appeared in his car, the Celestial Dragons on the street scattered in an instant. If he hit them, he hit them—who would not dodge? Whenever the air car approached a checkpoint and rhythmically tapped its horn a few times, the guards would immediately throw open the gates with a rumble.

"Master, this is so much fun!" The Boa Sisters sat in the car. They had never experienced driving around for pleasure before.

Hancock wore a Seastone helmet on her head, while Sandersonia and Marigold's long tails coiled together across the back seat, filling even the spacious cabin.

Saint Jalmack's Son drove all the way to the edge of the world and looked down over the sea of clouds.

With a clang, Hancock threw her spiked helmet onto the ground, revealing her long hair and captivating eyes. Once she removed her armor, she stood atop the hood with her snow-white, slender legs, her long hair flowing loose. The evening breeze lifted the ends of her hair, and her stunning beauty was reflected against the clouds glowing across the sky.

"Master, the sunset is so beautiful."

"Isn't a sunset just there to set you off?" Saint Jalmack's Son laid on the flattery without restraint. He cupped Hancock's cheeks and gazed into her eyes. "The sunset reflected in your eyes is even more beautiful!"

Whenever this happened, Marigold and Sandersonia pretended to be petrified. Can't see it, can't see it.

After undergoing brutal training, they were no longer weak little girls.

Hancock could freely control petrification and undo it. She had also rapidly improved her Haki, learned many techniques from Saint Jalmack's Son's "Shadowless," and mastered her own ultimate technique, "Perfume Femur."

Marigold and Sandersonia could already control the degree and specific parts of their snake transformations as easily as Cairns, though they still could not completely eliminate their features. Their snake tails gradually shrank into legs, but Marigold turned fat, with a huge belly like she was ten months pregnant, while Sandersonia's head became a full size larger than her shoulders. Their pupils were still snake-like, and whenever they opened their mouths, they would stick out long tongues shaped like snake tongues.

"Master, can Life Return really fix this?" Marigold and Sandersonia nearly cried every time.

"It can." Saint Jalmack's Son leaped onto the hood in a flash. "Look!"

Saint Jalmack's Son began using Life Return, controlling his body as it changed. First came his stomach, gradually swelling until it became even larger than Marigold's belly. When he looked down, he could no longer see his feet.

Marigold was delighted. "Bigger, bigger! Even bigger! Hahaha!"

Then his head began expanding in ring after ring.

Sandersonia was delighted too. "Bigger than mine! Hahaha!"

Saint Jalmack's Son hopped twice on the ground, with one enormous head and one enormous belly. Had I turned into... Doraemon?! Even he found it hilarious, while Marigold and Sandersonia laughed without stopping.

"Mastering Life Return may be the only way to remove the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon without leaving scars."

"We'll definitely master it!"

They had so much fun outside that they could not bear to return, and night fell. Marigold and Sandersonia turned into giant snakes again, coiling together and wrapping the two of them up. The group cuddled together in a soft, comfortable bundle, counting the stars in the sky.

Marigold and Sandersonia were full of hope about regaining their beauty, and they fell asleep sweetly.

Hancock nestled against Saint Jalmack's Son's chest and said happily, "If this is a dream, then please don't wake me."

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait another year." Saint Jalmack's Son spoke with deep apology. "To free all the slaves in Mary Geoise, I need your strength."

"To receive Lord Miming's favor, even if I had to die immediately, I would have no regrets." Hancock gently pressed a finger to Saint Jalmack's Son's lips, but he kissed her instead.

The enormous snake tails gently wrapped around them like blankets.