Leaving

"Little Hades, you've grown taller again!"

Aboard the Perfume Yuda, Shakky looked toward Hades on the shore. A spark flashed in her eyes as she studied him closely.

Hades wore only a black coat, left open to reveal his muscular chest.

His purple hair fell to his shoulders. Even after two years on Beast Island, he still carried an innate air of nobility.

"Shakky, long time no see!"

Hades made no effort to hide his gaze as it swept over the most enticing parts of her body.

Shakky felt a flicker of heat and tensed slightly.

Little, am I? You'll find out soon enough!

Hades had a feeling he would never get Shakky to stop calling him that, and it irritated him. When he got the chance, he would teach her a lesson and let her experience just how much he had to offer.

Shakky was dressed as she always was, but her figure seemed even more alluring. She was lean, with curves in all the right places.

Over the past two years, Shakky had visited several times, hoping to fight Hades and test her strength.

She hadn't neglected her training, after all.

But against Hades, whose strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, she had lost. The gap between them had widened each time.

Most of the time, Shakky had been sailing the seas, plundering supplies and carrying out missions for the Rocks Pirates.

Perhaps influenced by Nyx, though, Shakky had chosen a different path from that of the Rocks Pirates' main fighters.

Those monsters were terrifyingly strong, at a level she could never hope to reach.

Instead, she had begun working with the intelligence network controlled by the Rocks Pirates, delving deeper into that field.

Nyx also held a place in the Rocks Pirates' intelligence network.

It was a smart choice. By staying in the shadows and keeping a low profile, Shakky could avoid becoming a target of the World Government and the Marines.

She could also be of greater help to Hades.

History had proven her choice sound: Shakky was still alive and well fifty years later.

They had met only a few times, but their relationship had grown steadily closer, especially since their last meeting, after Ananke had left.

Now Hades barely concealed what he wanted, and Shakky knew exactly what that was.

She had no intention of refusing. If anything, she looked forward to it.

The Kuja Tribe of Amazon Lily revered strength above all else. Each generation's queen was the woman with the greatest potential and the most power.

If someone could defeat the queen, she could take her place.

The belief that the strong ruled and the weak fell prey was engraved in Shakky's blood.

Someone like her could easily be won over by a man stronger than herself.

To Shakky, Hades was that man.

She had yet to become the calm, experienced woman who would devote herself to intelligence work in the future. She still bore the unmistakable mark of the Kuja Tribe and was nothing like the woman Hades remembered.

Hades knew things would fall into place as soon as he made his move.

But he was in no hurry. Pleasure could be a hero's downfall, and he was only just getting started. At the very least, he wanted to establish himself among the Rocks Pirates first.

"Then I'll be waiting, little Hades," Shakky teased as usual, playing on his desire as though hoping he might finally do something.

After taking a long look at Hades and Titan, who stood behind him, Shakky turned serious.

"Let me explain the plan. When we get close to an island, I'll drop you two off at sea with a small boat to take ashore."

"From there, you'll be on your own. This Eternal Pose points to Hachinosu."

With that, Shakky tossed down an Eternal Pose. Titan caught it securely, then swallowed it into Taotie Space for safekeeping.

"The Rocks Pirates happen to be recruiting again in March. You can use that chance to join them, but you'll have to earn your places yourselves. That way, no one can say you got in through connections."

Hades had grown so quickly that Nyx knew he no longer needed her protection. She had abandoned her plan to stay with the Rocks Pirates for several years to watch over him.

With his strength, finding his footing among the Rocks Pirates would be no great challenge.

Shakky also wanted to keep anyone from noticing the connection between the Kuja Pirates and Hades, so she would let Hades and Titan go while they were still at sea.

"But let me be clear: the World Government and the Marines will notice you. They've never stopped looking for you, little Hades."

As an intelligence operative for the Rocks Pirates, Shakky had spotted hidden Marine and World Government watchers on certain islands. They were likely there for Hades.

They were waiting for him to appear at any moment.

"They're bound to make a move when you do. Be ready. The Marines have been itching for action too, and you might be the spark that breaks the peace."

It was a friendly warning, nothing more. Shakky had every confidence in Hades and Titan's strength.

Unless the Marines sent someone with the strength of an Admiral, neither Hades nor Titan would be in mortal danger.

Most likely, they would send a Vice Admiral stationed at a nearby Marine base. If so, the Marines were in for a nasty surprise.

She knew just how monstrous the two men before her were.

Friction between the Rocks Pirates and the Marines had been mounting, though. One flashpoint might be enough to set everything off.

"That would suit me just fine! It'd be the perfect way to announce myself," Hades said confidently. Nothing spoke louder than a record of victories, and it would spare him some trouble when he joined the Rocks Pirates.

"I'll smash the heads of anyone who gets in our way."

Titan spoke with utter confidence as he gave his weapon a light swing. It was a heavy hammer, its head engraved with a fierce beast opening its enormous jaws. Then he rested it on his shoulder.