"AAAHHH!!!~"
A powerful surge of electricity ripped through Alvida's body. She screamed in agony, trembling violently before collapsing at Sora's feet. Her face turned as pale as a ghost, and her limbs twitched involuntarily.
Sora glanced at the battlefield. With Nami and Nojiko joining in, Buggy's crew was being wiped out at an accelerated pace.
He reached down, grabbed Alvida by the neck, and lifted her up to eye level with a smile.
"Alvida, from now on, you're my woman. That means absolute obedience. Understood?"
Alvida clutched his wrist with trembling hands and nodded frantically. "Y-Yes... Lord Sora…"
She had always admired strength—and the more dominant and overwhelming Sora showed himself to be, the more she found herself instinctively drawn to obey him.
Seeing her nod, Sora smiled faintly and pressed his lightning-charged fingertip against her forehead again.
"Ughn…" Alvida groaned, teeth clenched, but this time she didn't scream or resist. She endured the pain with all her strength.
Tsk tsk tsk… The more you shock them, the faster the loyalty rises. Was Alvida into the same things as Anna?
Sora smirked as he checked her increasing affinity.
Then, seeing that the battle outside was wrapping up, he carried Alvida into Buggy's ship's cabin.
Trembling in his arms, Alvida realized what was about to happen and shivered even harder.
She didn't expect Sora to waste any time and get right to the point...
...
[Name: Alvida]
[Affiliation: Pirate]
[Special Skills: None]
[Talents: None]
[Affection Level: 50]
[Combat Power: Three Stars]
[Devil Fruit: Smooth-Smooth Fruit]
[Yield: +15 Physical Stat...]
Sora skimmed her profile, then looked down at Alvida—now fully dressed, sitting by his feet, with a pitifully soft expression.
She really was beautiful.
Alvida held back her discomfort as she helped tidy up Sora's clothes. She took the initiative, afraid that any misstep would bring more punishment.
Being struck by lightning was no joke.
Ding! Selection complete. Gained Alvida's ability: Smooth-Smooth.
As the system message popped up, Sora glanced at her, amused. "Let's go."
"Okay." Alvida nodded quickly. She took two steps, then her legs buckled, nearly falling over.
Sora raised an eyebrow and scooped her up effortlessly, heading out the door.
Alvida's face flushed as she folded her arms over her chest and lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
The sudden tenderness from Sora caught her completely off guard.
On Buggy's ship deck, Nami, Nojiko, Mikita, and Aphelandra were playing cards and drinking.
They all knew how terrifying Sora's swordsmanship could be, so after clearing out all of Buggy's crew except the man himself, they just relaxed.
On the right side of the Clown Pirate ship, the Divine Slave towered above. Reiju, Hina, and the others leaned lazily on the railing, watching the card game below with idle interest.
Anna and Shalria stood near the cabin door, waiting for Sora to come out.
Bang!
Sora kicked the door open and walked out carrying Alvida.
Anna and Shalria hurried over, took Alvida from his arms, and brought her aboard the Divine Slave.
Every time someone new joined the ship, they'd give them a full scrub-down—according to them, it was just tradition.
Sora approached Mikita, glanced at her pitiful hand of cards, and shook his head with disgust. Mikita glared at him in response.
Then he turned to Nojiko. "Did you get that bomb formula you wanted?"
Nojiko, still holding her cards, shook her head regretfully. "He refuses to talk. Even Reiju tried... no luck."
Hearing their conversation, Buggy—bruised, beaten, and shackled with seastone—sneered.
Of course he wasn't going to talk. He knew the moment he gave up the formula for his special Buggy Bombs, he was a dead man. He'd withstood all of Reiju's torture just to stay alive.
Sora shot him a glance, then called up to the Divine Slave, "Hina, bring me Golden Week—Marianne."
"Understood," Hina replied.
She flicked away her cigarette, tossed it into the sea, and headed into the ship.
After daily training, there were a few people who rarely came up to the deck.
There was Robin, always studying history.
Then Kaya, busy with medicine. Jessica, experimenting with recipes. Conis, working on desserts. Makino, who loved brewing and mixing drinks. And Zala, aka Miss Doublefinger, obsessed with coffee.
And finally, Marianne—Miss Golden Week—who preferred to quietly sit by Makino's side, painting.
Makino's motherly vibe made Marianne feel safe and at home.
Reiju came down from the ship and stood beside Sora. "You're planning to use her palette ability to make him talk?"
"Exactly," Sora nodded.
Miss Golden Week's Color Trap ability had unique effects when she used it herself—even Sora couldn't replicate them. He had no talent for painting or color theory.
"Betrayal Black... Tranquil Green... Friend..."
"Color Trap: Confess!"
Holding her paintbrush and palette, Marianne walked up to Buggy and mumbled a few words. She painted a circle-like pattern on the ground beneath him.
"All done," she said simply, as if she'd just taken a stroll. Then she turned and walked back toward the Divine Slave, her small figure vanishing into the ship.
Cornis had just made dessert. Zala had fresh coffee. She needed to hurry back to enjoy them.
"Buggy, can you share your special bomb formula now?" Sora asked calmly.
Buggy looked up, perfectly serene, and replied, "It's actually in my room…"
Reiju's jaw dropped.
He had endured her entire torture session without giving in, and now—just like that—he confessed?
She turned to look at Marianne, who was struggling to climb the ladder back to the Divine Slave. In the end, Hina just lifted her by the collar and hauled her up.
Staring at the tiny figure disappearing into the ship, Reiju muttered, "Now I finally get why you once said Golden Week's power is kind of terrifying."
Nami, Nojiko, Mikita, and Aphelandra all nodded solemnly in agreement.
A power that could plant subconscious suggestions and make others act against their will?
Terrifying was putting it lightly. It was absolute mind control.
______________
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