Bonus chapter unlocked by your Power Stones!
...
[Come to think of it, that CP9 agent Kalifa really does have top-tier specs. Black stockings, blonde hair, glasses, cool office-lady vibes, secretary aesthetic, icy demeanor—the whole bundle. Even in a world packed with beautiful women, she's quite sexy.]
[In certain ways, her charm doesn't lose to the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.]
[At least, that's how it plays in the manga and anime. I'm not sure if the real Kalifa here will be the same.]
[If she is, maybe I should invite her aboard the Flameblade Pirates. Yes, she works under the Enies Lobby apparatus, but once Spandam ditches her to save his own skin, I might get my window to extend an offer.]
[Whether she accepts… that's another matter.]
[Hm… worth a try. If she agrees, she's welcome on deck. If not, she can fend for herself. Wonder if, in this timeline, the Spandam duo will get her killed.]
Boa Hancock: "In certain ways, more alluring than me? Arton, are you mistaken?"
Whitey Bay: "So he likes a blonde, glasses-wearing, cold secretary in black stockings, huh… I don't have the blonde, but stockings and glasses? Easy. Cool older-sister aura? I can do that too."
Stussy: "A blonde secretary? Fufufu… that rather plays to my strengths."
Smoothie: "As a Longleg, if I slip on black stockings, I should be even more tempting to him."
Monet: "Secretary work—I have some experience. As for the rest, I'll just have to put in the effort."
Baccarat: "I served as Tesoro's aide. That counts as a secretary, doesn't it?"
Makino: "Feels like Arton just published his tastes. Girls who aren't 'Empress-level' beauties will pivot straight toward the blonde-glasses-black-stockings-cool-secretary lane."
Viola: "Should I dress that way too? No… as long as I can dance on Arton's lap, that should be enough. His works about me have plenty of those scenes."
…
Water 7.
Kalifa's lips curled into an attractive smile. She slid her pale right hand up through her smooth blonde hair, traced the rim of her gold-wired glasses, and let her fingers settle on the gloss of her thigh. "Black stockings, hmm? It has been a while."
"Perhaps I should pick up a few pairs… just in case."
"And fishnets—stockings and bodysuits. I'll need those ready too." She wet her lips, musing under her breath.
Since she'd already decided to board Arton's ship, preparations were only natural. Knowing he'd shown interest in her made Kalifa quietly pleased. After all, even if her CP9 identity made Arton wary at first, that interest raised her odds of being allowed aboard.
She thought back to her time as Mayor Iceburg's secretary. To avoid drawing attention, she'd lived in tidy, modest business attire—pure, proper lines. As for the black catsuit and black stockings Arton mentioned in his diary… she'd barely worn them at all. Black uniforms were CP9's calling card, and while embedded in Water 7, she'd deliberately kept her look far from her CP9 silhouette.
But if she really is going to Arton's crew… those outfits clearly won't be the right fit anymore.
Chapter 376 — Kalifa's Wardrobe Run
"To board Arton's ship, I really should dress exactly the way he described. Black catsuit, black stockings, black fishnets and the like."
"Right—what about white? I wonder what Arton thinks of white. If I wear a white bodysuit paired with white stockings… would that catch his eye too?"
"Maybe I should prepare several different styles. As long as they don't stray from the seductive route, he'll probably like them all."
"Mm… seductive… which reminds me—should I stock up on bolder lingerie as well?"
"Do it. Power comes at a price."
"If I can get a powerful Character Template from Arton, letting him see me in something daring isn't out of the question."
"Besides, with his personality, even if I'm not ready to sleep with him, he won't force me. At most, he'll sneak a little advantage—like enjoying Kaya's lap pillow."
"Compared to that incompetent, disgusting harasser Spandam, a boss like Arton is miles better."
"Since bold lingerie is on the list… I should also pick up some daring swimsuits!"
"As a way to tempt Arton, swimsuits feel more natural than underwear. And they carry less risk. With a swimsuit, I just need to go swimming. Underwear only shows up in… ambiguous scenarios."
"Arton's self-control is solid—but in his eyes I'm a woman who, in certain respects, rivals the Pirate Empress's charm. If I show up in nothing but lingerie and the air turns thick with ambiguity, who's to say he'll keep holding back?"
"So if I'm going to show him something, swimsuits really are safer. Even the bold ones."
"At least the mood won't tip straight into something steamy."
"And if we're at the pool, Nami, Carina and the others might be there too. With witnesses around, the odds of Arton doing anything to me drop even more."
Kalifa murmured to herself, but her decision was already set. She'd resolved to hitch a ride on Arton's great ship and admitted he seemed like a decent man—flirtatious, yes, but decent. As for how intimate she'd get… that still needed careful thought and prep. For now, she'd only allow him a few light advantages.
As for those "mid-lane solo, top-lane solo, and even bot-lane solo" scenes in her smutty albums… Kalifa still needed mental conditioning—and a proper, in-person read on Arton—before going anywhere near that.
"This man… when we actually meet, I mustn't let myself be sweet-talked into those lines like the me in those books."
"That's not a proper fight—it's pure stamina combat in that arena. And 'bot-lane solo' even has 'front' and 'back' versions… Does he really want a rear-entry duel with me?"
"That has to hurt, right? And could the real me even… accommodate him the way the drawings claim?"
"Hiss… it—it would definitely hurt, wouldn't it?!"
Even this usually-cool beauty flushed as the images spun in her head. "Nope. Stop. Enough." She'd already promised herself to quit replaying those ultra-bold scenes.
"I need a distraction."
"Right, clothes shopping."
"I'm going now."
Kalifa rose from her seat, opened the door, and headed straight for the nearest boutique.
...
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code SANTA for 50% OFF!