Chapter 57 / Chapter 58

"Still, you've been moving fast. I'm sure you'll become one of the Shichibukai before long."

Next, Chris went over the more important matters, such as cooperating with the Vinsmoke Family and obtaining the treasure map of the great pirate Rocks...

After listening to Chris, Momousagi shook her head, a look of wonder crossing her exquisite face.

"You've been through so much lately. You could write a whole book about it."

"Compared to you, I feel like I've done a terrible job. I've barely made any progress."

Momousagi looked at Chris and said with a wry smile, "Sakazuki hasn't had any assignments that would take him out, so I can only keep waiting."

"As for recruiting people, I've been in touch with Hina lately. There's a good chance I can win her over."

"She's quite strong. If she joins our side, she'll definitely be a tremendous help in the future."

Chris nodded in agreement. "Colonel Hina, the Cage-Cage Devil Fruit User. She's certainly strong, with plenty of potential."

"Once you become an Admiral, you can promote her. She'd be more than capable of serving as a Vice Admiral."

Next, Momousagi filled him in on her own situation.

Both of them stuck to the important matters, without wasting words.

"We shouldn't talk for too long. Let's leave it at that."

Chris looked at Momousagi and said calmly, "From now on, let's stop meeting in person. If anything comes up, contact me by phone. It'll be safer."

Momousagi nodded in agreement. "I'm sure you'll already be one of the Shichibukai the next time we speak. I'll be waiting for your good news."

"I'm off."

The moment he finished speaking, he vanished without a trace.

Without any hesitation, Momousagi leaped down and left as well...

Somewhere in the North Blue.

Eleven thirty at night.

Moonlight poured down like water, bathing the Chris in a glow as bright as day.

By then, the crew had all returned to their rooms and gone to bed early.

With a whoosh, Chris suddenly appeared on deck without drawing the lookout's attention.

Chris was about to head off and continue his training.

But then he noticed a beautiful woman standing at the very front of the deck.

It was the gentle, graceful Reiju.

After a moment's thought, Chris set aside his training and walked straight toward her.

This gentle, lovely beauty was worth taking a little time to check on.

If he hadn't seen her, that would have been that. But since he had, he ought to at least ask how she was doing.

Whatever Reiju was thinking about, she was so absorbed that she didn't even hear Chris's footsteps.

"Is something wrong? Why are you still awake so late?"

As calm as ever, Chris asked her directly.

This time, Reiju snapped out of her thoughts, a flustered look crossing her breathtaking face.

She smoothed her pink hair and slowly turned around, speaking with a slightly awkward smile. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to look at the moon."

"Chris, did you just get back?"

Click!

Chris stood beside Reiju and lit a cigarette, gazing ahead as he said evenly, "I just got back. I saw you here, so I came over to check on you."

"Tell me. Is something bothering you?"

Reiju knew that Chris smoked.

He simply didn't smoke much, so she rarely saw him do it.

There was no denying it: a strong man looked handsome no matter what he did.

At that moment, the sight of Chris smoking beneath the moonlight...

He really was incredibly handsome!

And on top of that, Chris, who was obsessed with training, had suddenly taken the time to ask about her.

Reiju was deeply touched. As she looked at Chris, her beautiful eyes shone.

A faint smile crept unbidden onto her flawless face, making her look utterly beautiful...

(Folks, the picture above is Hina. I won't go into much detail about her here, since she'll come up again later. Also, the only reason I wrote this scene with Reiju is that I really love this gentle older-sister type, so I arranged it for her (*￣︶￣).)

"It's nothing, really. I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air."

Reiju rested her delicate hands on the railing and lifted her head to gaze at the boundless night sky. "The moonlight is so beautiful tonight. It's enchanting," she murmured.

Chris took a drag on his cigarette and shrugged, backing off to draw her out. "True. You're not my subordinate, so I really have no say over what you do."

"We're partners. It's perfectly understandable that you'd want to keep a few secrets."

There was no way Reiju's earlier flustered expression could have escaped Chris's notice.

It made him curious. Something must have happened to upset her so much that she couldn't sleep.

If it had been any other woman, Chris would have simply turned around and left. If she didn't want to talk, so be it.

But when it came to Reiju, he was patient and willing to listen to her troubles.

Hearing Chris say that, Reiju immediately grew flustered and hurried to explain.

"That's not it! I'm part of this crew too. It's not what you're making it sound like."

Reiju rolled her eyes at him and chided, "You! I thought all you cared about was training, and that you didn't understand people at all."

"But now I see you're pretty clever at playing these games. I'd feel bad if I didn't tell you."

Chris exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked at the beauty beside him, a rare, faint smile appearing on his face. "Go ahead. I'm all ears."

Reiju smoothed her hair and lowered her head slightly as she began explaining everything.

"Here's what happened. It all started with Oliford."

"After we wiped out the White Ghost Pirates, I reported what happened."

Reiju lifted her head a little and glanced at Chris before turning her gaze toward the sea. Looking somewhat embarrassed, she said, "After that, my father had a lot to say."

"He said that once you become one of the Shichibukai, the Vinsmoke Family should form a marriage alliance with you."

"I won't go into the rest. That's more or less the situation."

Chris fell silent. He finally understood what was going on.

He wasn't surprised by it.

Judge was far too cold-blooded. As long as he could fulfill his lifelong ambition—to conquer the North Blue—

There was nothing he wouldn't do. Even sacrificing his own children wouldn't bother him in the slightest.

So it was hardly unusual for Reiju to become a sacrifice for her family.

It was terribly unfair to her, but what could she do?

Phew...

Chris exhaled his smoke and turned to Reiju, his expression serious. "Your father has already lost his mind."

"He'd give up anything to conquer the North Blue."

"Now that he's seen my strength, he's chosen to work with me and placed all his hopes on me."

"So, for the sake of his goal, he'll definitely listen to me and support me without conditions."

Chris took a drag on his cigarette and reassured her. "You really don't need to worry. Once I become one of the Shichibukai, I'll talk to him. I guarantee he'll listen to me."

"Honestly, I think you have a pretty good life right now. Compared to Germa, you have friends here who care about you, and all sorts of new things to experience."

"Why worry so much? Just stay here with peace of mind and enjoy yourself. That's enough."

Chris flicked his cigarette butt into the sea and shrugged. "As long as Judge wants to conquer the North Blue, he'll keep you here. He won't make you go back to that cold, heartless place."

"Everything is going so well. I don't understand what you're worrying about."

It was clear that Chris truly cared about Reiju.

When had he ever said so much?

Never!

There was no other reason for it. Reiju was simply a truly wonderful woman. That was all.

It all clicked.

After listening to Chris's lengthy explanation, Reiju's eyes lit up.

Everything suddenly became clear, and she worked it all out.

The worries in her heart vanished at once, leaving only overwhelming delight.

As she looked at the man beside her, a different sort of feeling filled her eyes—something complicated that she couldn't describe or explain.

In the end, it became a sweet smile, her eyes curving as she said, "Chris, I suddenly feel a little sleepy. I'm going back to rest."

"You should get some sleep soon too. Don't always train so late, all right?"

Hearing the joy in Reiju's voice, Chris knew her worries had completely disappeared and her good mood had returned.

"I can't sleep if I go to bed too early. I'll train a little longer, then turn in."

"All right, staying up late is a woman's worst enemy. Go get some rest!"

Reiju looked at Chris and blinked her beautiful eyes, her breathtaking face brimming with happiness.

"Then I'm off to bed. Good night~~"

With that, she headed toward her room, her light steps showing just how good a mood she was in.

Chris watched her retreating figure in silence for a while, then headed straight to the Training Room...

Four days later.

"Report..."

"Good news, everyone! We've entered the East Blue! Good news, everyone..."

The lookout's announcement rang out from the lookout platform, loud and bursting with excitement and joy.

Needless to say, the lookout also knew this was the last sea. Once they finished sailing through the East Blue, they would enter the most mysterious sea of all.

The Grand Line!

At the good news, the entire crew erupted, shouting and yelling without restraint.

"Whoo! We've finally reached the last sea!"

"I'm so happy! I'm so excited I want to punch someone! Who's going to let me take a swing?"

"Piss off! Why don't you punch yourself in the face?"

"Oh man... I'm too happy! I can't take it. I'm going for a piss first."

"Enough talking! Jump up and shake it, all of you!"

"Could you stop shoving me? Fuck!"

(I love Reiju so much that I wrote a little extra about her. Please bear with me! Also, we've finally reached the last sea. What will happen here? Things are going to get exciting. After all, everyone is very familiar with the East Blue. The show is about to begin, so stay tuned ︿(￣︶￣)︿.)