Before Departure

I'm not late, am I?

Kaya pushed open the tavern door and went inside.

Bathed in moonlight, this open-air tavern needed no artificial light, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Kaya glanced around and saw Rocks sitting at the bar, Shakky and Gloriosa stood in front of the liquor cabinet.

Yes, there are only three people present.

"No way, the Rocks Pirates have already disbanded?" Kaya smiled and walked over.

"As you can see, many people left after the fight..." Gloriosa slammed her fist on the table. "When you're in this business, not a single one of you has any sense of loyalty!"

"Speaking of which, we have to thank you for saving us, Kaya." Shakky smiled gently, a slight upturn to her lips.

Kaya noticed that the two women were wearing midriff-baring clothes and had several bandages around their waists, indicating that they had been injured by Bright.

He didn't see it that way: to save them.

Even if he doesn't show up, Bright won't waste time finishing him off, and as long as Bright heads toward the Execution Platform, he'll eventually run into him.

So Kaya didn't respond to this, but simply sat down next to Rocks and said, "Bring me a drink, put it on Rocks's head."

"Hey!" Rocks was speechless.

"Okay, Blue of the Sea craft beer." Shakky placed an unopened bottle on the table. "The most expensive one, Rocks for supporting my business, Rocks~"

"Damn it!" Rocks exclaimed in exasperation. "You bastard, Kaya, nothing good ever comes out of your sight!"

"That's called 'circumstances make Superstar.'" Kaya poured himself a glass of wine, the liquid a deep blue, which indeed swayed like ocean waves as it swirled in the clear glass.

"You've become quite the smooth talker lately," Rocks said, taking a deep breath before letting it slip away in exasperation.

"What's wrong with Rocks?" Gloriosa looked at Rocks with a puzzled expression. Was Rocks like this before? This guy never gives up.

Rocks didn't speak, he just took a sip of his drink.

"Can I say?" Kaya smiled faintly.

"... Yes!" Rocks suddenly slammed his glass on the table, speaking before Kaya: "Something's about to happen at the Valley of the West Blue God Valley!"

Next, Rocks recounted the incident at God Valley, although he had learned about it from Kaya.

After hearing this, Gloriosa and Shakky were shocked.

"Human Hunting? I thought that was just a rumor..." Shakky pondered.

"Conquering a country in three years? Are there that many non- Affiliated Nation on the high seas?!" Gloriosa scoffed. "Besides, this doesn't seem to concern us, does it?"

Rocks remained silent, while Kaya examined the wine bottle.

Seeing this, Gloriosa knew something was wrong and quickly said, "You're going? Please! What kind of pirates are always thinking about how to fight the World Government!"

"Don't you find it interesting?" Kaya smiled meaningfully, not forgetting to pour Rocks a glass of wine.

Upon seeing this, Rocks remained silent for a long time, for reasons unknown, before finally sighing, "The God Valley... is my homeland! My wife and children are there!"

Silence fell over the tavern after these words were spoken.

Did he really say it out loud because of the current special circumstances? Kaya wondered silently.

These words made Gloriosa and Shakky understand why Rocks was acting this way tonight, a side of him they had never shown before.

Otherwise, would they consider the daytime battle a loss? The pirate camp would have won big!

There's no reason for Rocks to be in a bad mood.

"Rocks..." Shakky crossed her arms and said leisurely, "Exposing one's weaknesses is a major taboo in the world of pirates."

"Hmm! How about this, we can pretend we didn't hear anything!" Gloriosa's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, everyone else rolled their eyes.

Rocks waved his hand. "Now you understand, right? I absolutely have to go to God Valley."

"And what about Kaya? Is it for the same reason?" Shakky looked at Kaya, who seemed to be admiring a wine glass.

"No, I'm not like Rocks. I have no family in this world, and I'm going there for another purpose," Kaya replied, setting down his glass.

"Rocks knows?" Shakky looked at Rocks.

"I don't know." Rocks shrugged nonchalantly. "Nobody knows anything about this guy."

"If that's the case..." Gloriosa hesitated for a moment.

Since this is the playground of the Celestial Dragons, the guards must be extremely tight, possibly even more difficult than the daytime battle.

If only Rocks and Kaya go, even if those two are as strong as monsters...

But no matter how I think about it, it doesn't feel right.

Even if she and Shakky went together, they probably wouldn't be of much help.

And speaking of strength...

Gloriosa's eyes suddenly flashed; she had personally witnessed Kaya instantly kill the Marine Admiral Bright.

She didn't know exactly how strong Kaya was, but if she were to make a bold analysis, he wouldn't be much worse Rocks.

"Kaya, what's with your Quincy power?" Gloriosa asked in a cryptic tone.

"Hmm?" Shakky looked at Gloriosa with a puzzled expression, as if she didn't understand why she suddenly said that.

"Are you very interested?" Kaya looked up at her.

"I saw how those Quincy performed; they were even stronger than the warriors of my Amazon Lily, yet they were originally just small-time pirates." Gloriosa had clearly made up her mind. "I'm going to God Valley too!"

"Looks like I'll have another companion." Kaya dripped blood into the wine glass on the table.

The red blood mixed with the blue liquid, swirling slowly like a whirlpool, before solidifying into a nebula-like shape.

Shakky wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Glug!

Gloriosa swallowed the wine in one gulp, her tall body trembling violently.

Shakky and Rocks were both staring at her.

Not long after, less than half a minute later, Gloriosa put down her glass, then looked up, her face emerging from the shadows.

"Incredible, what amazing power!" Gloriosa said slowly.

A letter lit up in the depths of her eyes.

Gloriosa – the Schrift "L" represents love!

"Wait! This ability?!"

Gloriosa suddenly looked at her hands, her face showing surprise and a deep sense of joy.

That was an expression that defies description.

It's like someone lost in the desert for three days and three nights finally getting a refreshing drink of water; it's like a prostitute struggling to meet her work targets suddenly having 100,000 soldiers appear to help her boost her performance; it's like Luffy's grandmother was actually from the Sengoku...

Oh, that analogy isn't quite right!

"Love, those struck by your power will fall instantly in love with you and become completely subservient to your control. The power of love, isn't it amazing?"

Kaya smiled and offered an explanation.

Rocks nearby, looked on in astonishment. "Mind manipulation? Could that ability even work if used by an ugly person?"

"Rocks, what do you mean!" Gloriosa suddenly pounced, her expression as fierce as a tigress.

"He wasn't talking about you!" Shakky grabbed the flailing Gloriosa.

Suddenly, Gloriosa knelt down and wept bitterly.

This sudden change left everyone stunned. Just as Rocks was wondering if his words had truly hurt her, she sobbed.

"Finally! Finally! Finally!"

"At this moment, my charm has finally surpassed Shakky's! Everyone will fall in love with me."

"It's me! I am the most beautiful woman in the world!"

So that's what you're obsessed with!

"... She's clearly very happy." A bead of cold sweat trickled down Rocks's forehead.

"Is this ability really that amazing? Doesn't Rocks need it?" Shakky grinned mischievously.

"I won't give it to him." Kaya glanced at Rocks, "Because if I did, the competition would instantly lose its suspense."

"What kind of competition?" Shakky asked with interest.

"To become the King of the World!" Kaya chuckled. "King, is it you or me?"

"Hahaha! This is truly exciting!" Rocks laughed wildly. "But before that, we must first dethrone the old king!"

Shakky stared at Kaya and Rocks, thinking to herself, "They really are two monsters..."