Cocoyashi Village.

"Uncle Gen, I'm leaving the oranges here, okay?"

Nojiko, her blue hair shining in the morning sun and her figure undeniably captivating, placed a basket of ripe oranges at the doorstep of Genzo's house and called out inside.

"I got it," Genzo replied distractedly from within, still flipping through the newspaper, hunting for any updates on the Straw Hat Luffy—hoping for any trace of Nami.

Seeing his preoccupied state, Nojiko smiled warmly. Genzo was like a father to her and Nami.

"These oranges have such rich color... so full and juicy..."

Sora picked one from the basket, peeled it open, and gave Nojiko a teasing smile.

"Just like you, Miss Nojiko."

"You—who are you?"

Startled by the sudden appearance of the stranger, Nojiko stumbled back. Her eyes darted to the two women standing behind Sora—Anna in a maid outfit, and Shalria dressed the same but wearing a peculiar collar. Both stood silently like devoted shadows.

Nojiko immediately grew wary. These were not locals. She had never seen any of them in Cocoyashi before.

"You bastard, what are you trying to do to Nojiko!?"

Uncle Genzo came rushing out from the house, gripping a wooden stick, ready to protect her.

Before he could even swing, Anna stepped forward, effortlessly seized the stick, twisted Genzo's arms behind him, and slammed him against the wall.

Her body, now enhanced by a one-star physique rating, easily overwhelmed a regular civilian like Genzo.

"Uncle Gen!"

Nojiko cried out in alarm and tried to rush over, only to be caught and held in place by Sora with a single hand.

"You… you're the Godslayer, Sora?"

Pinned against the wall, Genzo's face turned pale as he recognized the man's identity. The news had spread across the world—Sora, the man who had slain a Celestial Dragon in the North Blue.

Even a quiet village like Cocoyashi had heard the name.

But to think he had come all the way to the East Blue, and to their village no less.

His gaze shifted to the girl with the collar—Shalria. If he wasn't mistaken, she was the same World Noble the reports said had been captured by the Godslayer.

And the girl pinning him down... wasn't that Anna, the princess of the Kachinov Kingdom?

Seeing both of them obediently standing behind Sora stunned Genzo even more.

The Godslayer Sora...

Nojiko's mind reeled as she stared at him in disbelief.

A man with a bounty of 1.5 billion... and now standing right in front of her?

"Nojiko," Sora said smoothly, "I came here because I want you to become one of my crew."

"If you agree, I'll let Uncle Gen go."

Become his crew...?

Nojiko was frozen. Even Genzo blinked, unsure he'd heard correctly.

Nojiko was nothing like Nami—no navigation skills, no combat talent. She had never even left Cocoyashi.

Yet Sora, the most wanted man in the world, had crossed the sea just to recruit... her?

Why? What was so special about her?

Nojiko didn't understand. Genzo didn't understand. Even Anna and Shalria showed the same blank expression.

The only difference was that Nojiko and Genzo were stunned, while Anna and Shalria were simply used to Sora's unpredictability.

After a long silence, Nojiko finally managed to speak, pointing at herself in disbelief.

"Sora-sama... I'm just a regular woman. I'm not cut out to be a pirate."

"So... I refuse."

It wasn't that she was afraid to leave home. She just knew herself. She didn't have the skills or strength to survive a pirate's life.

Sora merely chuckled as he looked down at her.

"Nojiko, I think you misunderstood me."

"I didn't come to invite you."

"I came to inform you."

"You will become one of my crew—and more importantly, you will become my woman. So you'd better start preparing yourself mentally."

To Sora, both Nojiko and Nami were non-negotiable targets.

In fact, he was quite eager to see what kind of reaction the two sisters would have when they eventually stood before him together.

The very idea of it... thrilled him.

"Your... woman?"

Nojiko's voice cracked, overwhelmed. She never imagined anything like this.

He didn't just want her on his ship—he wanted her. As his woman.

But why her?

She hadn't done anything. She wasn't famous. She wasn't strong. She didn't even know how to fight.

"You bastard! You won't get away with laying a hand on Nojiko—!"

Genzo roared in fury.

Had Sora been some ordinary good-looking man, Genzo might have considered it. But this man was a killer—hunted by the Marines across the world.

If Nojiko got involved, her life would be forever ruined. Genzo would never allow that.

Crack!

Without hesitation, Anna lifted Genzo by the head and slammed it into the wall.

Blood trickled down his forehead.

Sora's eyes narrowed. He turned slightly and shot Anna a glare.

He had no intention of hurting Genzo—he actually admired the man's protective nature.

Feeling his displeasure, Anna trembled slightly. She realized she had overstepped, and that she'd just earned Sora's ire.

"Uncle Gen!"

Nojiko cried out, terrified at the sight of blood on his face.

"Nojiko," Sora said softly, brushing her hair aside and gripping her flawless cheek gently, "what's your answer?"

He wasn't about to miss the chance to use fear to solidify her obedience.

"Please… please let Uncle Gen go..."

Held tight in Sora's arms, Nojiko pleaded through tears.

"You... you damn Godslayer... If you do this, Straw Hat Luffy won't—"

Genzo tried to play the only card he had left.

But the words died in his throat.

Sora had a bounty of 1.5 billion. Luffy's was barely 100 million.

The difference in power was too obvious. Even Genzo knew there was no comparison.

Sora gave a small, amused smile, releasing Nojiko. He walked to the orange basket, peeled one, popped a slice into his mouth, and sat down calmly on the floor.

"Don't worry. Even if Straw Hat Luffy doesn't come to me..."

He looked up with a smile.

"I'll go to him."

At his signal, Anna released Genzo and rushed to Sora's side, massaging his shoulders anxiously.

She knew she had messed up earlier.

If she didn't please him now, she'd be alone with him tonight—and without Shalria or Reiju around to share the load, she'd be in deep trouble.

Yes, she liked seducing Sora, but only when the others were there to split the attention.

Alone? She couldn't handle it.

_____

[You give me a power stone, and I will give you a mass release deal? And if you like this story, add it to your library and give me a review, and I will reward you with mass release.]