"Fate…?" Elena stared at the green sword-mark branded on White Ghost's chest. "Isn't that just… something you people decided for yourselves?"
Jin didn't answer right away.
He crouched, picked up the broken halves of the Seven-Star Sword, and weighed them in his hand.
The material was excellent.
Waste not. Melt it down and reforge it later.
Behind them, the others were already heading down the mountain without being told. Nobody needed orders—when the captain started handling "personal matters," subordinates learned when to disappear.
As they walked, Zan Gao laughed quietly to Senor Pink.
"Told you. That woman? Boss was never letting her go. Heh-heh-heh."
Senor Pink exhaled smoke, looking helpless. "You're enjoying this way too much."
After a long silence, Elena finally lifted her head.
"If it's fate… then I'll go with you."
Jin's mouth curved. "Good."
For a heartbeat, the smile sharpened—private satisfaction flickering through.
Perfect. Saves me the trouble of leaving her behind… and letting her fall into someone else's hands later.
He didn't say it aloud, but the thought was clear.
No way I'm letting this be 'conveniently' stolen by some future swordsman's senior disciple. That guy doesn't deserve her.
Elena went back to the village to say goodbye to the locals who had rushed over after the shrine collapsed. Their faces were pale—uncertain whether to fear her, blame her, or worship her—but in the end, they let her go.
When she caught up again, she asked softly from behind, "You can tell me who you are now, right?"
Jin rolled his shoulders. "Me? A free man. I've got a ship being built. After that—world travel."
Elena's expression tightened. "…A pirate?"
Jin shook his head. "No. A traveler. I go where I want, see what I want, take what I want."
"That sounds like a pirate," she muttered.
He chuckled. "Call it whatever you want."
At the port, the others were already waiting on a small boat.
Elena stepped aboard beside him.
Jin snapped his fingers.
A controlled wind wrapped the sail like an invisible hand, and the boat slid forward smoothly without oars.
Once they were far enough from shore—
Jin transformed.
A golden dragon burst upward. One claw gently cradled the boat without crushing it, lifting it into the air as if it weighed nothing.
Their destination—
Water Seven.
Water Seven – The Shipyard
The Galley-La shipyard rang with metal and hammer blows.
Clang—clang—clang.
Iceburg stood in the center of it all, directing work personally.
"Barry! Fix that section! Reinforce it again!"
Workers shouted confirmations, hauling parts into place.
Behind Iceburg, an old woman drank cheerfully from a bottle, watching him with amused eyes.
"My, my," Kokoro said. "Iceburg… since when did you start working with your own hands again?"
Iceburg sighed, not turning around. "Kokoro Granny… this ship belongs to that man. I can't afford to be careless."
Ever since Tom died, Kokoro had basically made alcoholism a lifestyle. Nobody could talk her out of it.
Kokoro took a long swig and smirked. "That's true. You'd better treat a man like that properly."
Then her tone shifted—still lazy, but sharper under the haze.
"And what about that troublesome fellow? Have you decided what to do?"
Iceburg fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he said quietly, "I might have to use violence."
"Glug-glug." Kokoro drank again and laughed. "That's kindness, in its own way. That boy is a walking headache. Sending him away together with the problem… isn't the worst outcome."
Iceburg lowered his gaze. "I don't have a choice. It's the best option."
Back at the Hotel
"This is what the Blue Sea's cities look like…?"
Urouge, Wyper, and Enel stared at Water Seven's layered canals and towering structures like they were dreaming.
Huge. Dense. Alive.
They returned to the hotel… and found it strangely empty.
Ain and the others were nowhere in sight.
Jin waved a hand. "Alright. Free time."
Then his eyes sharpened slightly.
"Zan Gao—train those three."
He nodded at Enel, Urouge, and Wyper.
"They're too weak right now."
Zan Gao thumped his chest proudly. "Leave it to me, boss!"
Enel and Urouge obeyed instantly. Even Wyper—stubborn, proud, hostile by nature—lowered his head.
He'd seen Jin's power.
There was no such thing as "refusing" a monster like that.
Soon people scattered around the city.
Elena lingered, watching Jin.
"What about me?"
Jin grinned like a shameless bastard. "You? Do whatever you want. You're my woman—your job is staying beautiful."
Elena rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't get stuck. She turned and walked toward the room prepared for her.
"I'm taking a bath. Try not to say something disgusting while I'm gone."
By afternoon, the others started returning one by one.
"Jin—!"
Stella sprinted in the moment she saw him and hugged him hard.
Jin's gaze heated instantly.
"You're back," he murmured.
Stella's face went pink. She nodded shyly. "Mm…"
Ain and the others noticed the blue-haired woman standing nearby.
"…And who is this?" Ain asked, eyes narrowing.
Jin laughed loudly. "Ahahaha—let me introduce you! This is also my woman: Elena!"
"Shut up!" Elena snapped, instantly offended. "I'm here to watch you. If you lose your mind to that power, I'll drag you back by force!"
Ain's eyes slid toward Jin with a look that translated perfectly into one word:
Scum.
Jin raised both hands. "Alright, alright. Relax. Where are Brook and Uta?"
Stella answered gently, because Stella always answered gently.
"They're in a backstreet tavern. They said they're not coming back tonight."
Jin nodded. "Fine. Then we eat here."
They sat down for dinner.
Somehow, in less than an hour, the women were already chatting like they'd known each other forever.
Jin leaned back and watched them.
Stella's softness.
Ain's mischief.
Elena's sharp-tongued pride.
And the two younger girls—
He didn't let his gaze linger.
No. Even I'm not that kind of animal.
Noticing his stare, faces warmed.
Stella met his eyes calmly—warm and steady.
Ain looked away, pretending not to notice.
Elena glared at him, then looked away too.
Jin laughed suddenly.
"What more could a man ask for?" he said. "I'm satisfied. With you all… I'm satisfied."
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.
Jin went into Stella's room without hesitation.
Ain watched him go—resentful, sharp, unmistakably jealous.
Elena rolled her eyes again, ushered the two younger ones to bed, and shut her door.
Late into the night—
Jin looked down at Stella sleeping against him, completely exhausted.
He exhaled quietly. "This damned bloodline…"
He tucked her in carefully, then slipped out.
Observation Haki swept lightly—
His mouth curved.
He walked straight to Ain's door.
Tonight, she didn't bring the kids. Finally… an opening.
He slipped in quietly.
Ain was in bed.
Jin climbed in behind her.
He knew she was awake—her presence gave it away.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and murmured, "Still angry?"
Ain didn't answer. Still pretending.
But her heartbeat was already betraying her.
Jin chuckled. "Brat."
He turned her over gently, leaned in, and stole a kiss.
Ain's eyes flew open—then her hands grabbed his neck like she'd been waiting all day.
The room went quiet after that—only the rustle of sheets, breath, and the muffled ache of jealousy finally melting into something softer.
Much later, Ain lay against his chest, cheeks flushed.
Jin held her with one arm, a cigar burning low in the other.
Ain looked up at him.
Now he was truly her man too.
Yes—he was shameless and greedy.
But he never abandoned his women. Not one.
"…Wait." Ain's expression shifted when she felt him move again.
She opened her mouth—
Jin's cigar slipped from his fingers.
His breathing turned rough.
He leaned over her again.
Ain's eyes widened. "W-wait, Jin—!"
Too late.
The following days passed in a steady rhythm.
During the day, Jin accompanied the women around the city—shopping, sightseeing.
He corrected Shirohiko's swordsmanship.
Zan Gao increased weight training for the "Skypiea trio."
At night, sometimes Jin slept in Ain's room, sometimes in Stella's.
Elena's gaze toward him grew stranger each day—sharper, more conflicted.
Until one night—
Jin slipped into Elena's room.
She fought him. Bit him. Swore at him.
It didn't matter.
What kind of body did he have?
Steel balloon. Dragon physique.
In the end—
Elena went quiet. Breathing uneven. Eyes furious, and yet… no longer pushing him away.
Time passed.
Iceburg's deadline was almost up.
Jin had checked the ship himself.
Nearly finished.
That night, Brook and Uta's Water Seven concert opened.
Everyone went.
Except Jin.
Iceburg came to the hotel, spoke quietly with him, then left.
Jin sat for a moment, thinking.
That man…
That pervert…
…was a good shipwright.
And he understood machinery.
So Jin used the night.
He kidnapped Franky.
Then sent Franky's little brothers to report to Iceburg.
And walked away, carrying Franky like a sack.
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