『Ding! Bond successfully formed with Mikita. Acquired ability: Kilo-Kilo』

『Benefit: +16 Constitution, +16 Vitality, +16 Spirit per hour. Note: Two-Star Combatant – Bonus Effect x2』

Looking at the peacefully sleeping Mikita beside him, Sora smiled and pulled the blanket over her.

Thanks to the assist from the giant Sea King, Mikita's affection had already risen to 80—an impressive gain.

Out on the bow, Sora laid back in a deck chair, lost in thought.

Sure enough, in this world of pirates where might makes right, strength was the ultimate aphrodisiac.

He didn't mind Mikita's admiration of power. After all, admiring strength was only natural. Even he wanted a powerful partner by his side.

No one really wanted to be with a weakling.

Unless you were like Sora—confident in your own absolute dominance.

...

The next morning.

Boom! Boom!

BOOM!!!

Sora, who had been sleeping with Mikita, was jolted awake by a series of loud explosions.

He stepped out onto the deck and found Nojiko happily standing at the rail, tossing explosions into the sea to fish.

Sora shook his head speechlessly, decided not to interfere with the troublemaker, and went back to his room to curl up with Mikita again.

Nojiko had already been dragged away by Makino by her ear for waking everyone up.

Thirty minutes later.

"Sora's really planning to be an emperor…"

"He works fast…"

"She's one of us now?"

Kaya, Makino, and Nojiko stared at Mikita, now dressed in the same t-shirt and hotpants as them, ready for training. The girls exchanged glances in disbelief.

None of them had expected Sora to break Mikita—arguably the hardest one to tame—in one night.

They'd all had a taste of Mikita's arrogance during their previous meal deliveries.

Makino turned to Nojiko and said, "Weren't you with Sora last night?"

Nojiko's acquisition of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit had already become public knowledge among the crew—thanks to her blowing up half the ocean at dawn. It was impossible not to know.

Everyone was ready for that news… except Mikita.

Seeing Nojiko wield explosive power, Mikita's heart was a mess.

Part of her mourned her fallen comrades.

The other part felt relief that she was now Sora's woman—spared from being killed for her fruit like the others.

Her usual pride began to fade. In its place: admiration and submission toward Sora.

He might be terrifying as an enemy—but as her man, he was absolutely reliable.

The only issue? He had a lot of women…

"Someone as strong as Sora… there's no way I could tie him down," Nojiko murmured, her face turning red as she recalled his words from the night before.

Makino and Kaya didn't know how to respond. After all, they too had experienced firsthand just how powerful Sora was.

At the bow, Sora looked up and smiled as Reiju stepped out.

"Reiju, from now on, I'm putting you in charge of their training—and teaching them Armament Haki."

"Two hours of physical conditioning a day, two hours of Haki training," Reiju replied without missing a beat. "The rest, they can arrange themselves."

Under Sora's guidance, Reiju had already mastered basic Armament Haki. Teaching Mikita, Nojiko, and the others wouldn't be an issue.

"Sure thing, Master," Reiju said with exaggerated sarcasm, dragging out the word deliberately to express her irritation at being dumped with the responsibility.

Anna and Shalria exchanged a glance. Reiju had just hijacked their exclusive nickname for Sora—but neither dared to speak up. Even together, they couldn't beat Reiju.

Sora chuckled. "When I have time, I'll teach you Observation Haki."

With that, he headed toward the prison section of the ship.

Two more potential crew members were still waiting.

"Alright," Reiju said as soon as he left. "Let's begin with physical training."

Since Sora entrusted her with the task, she would give it her full attention.

Mikita, still stung by having been one-shot by Reiju, pouted but quietly joined the others.

...

Inside the Divine Slave prison.

"Is there something you need, God-Slayer?"

Zala, the Thorn Woman, greeted Sora with a pleasant smile as he approached her cell.

The moment she first laid eyes on him, she had recognized who he was. That was why she hadn't resisted after Reiju captured her.

Against someone like Sora, she stood no chance.

Even Crocodile—the boss of Baroque Works—only had a bounty of 81 million.

If she couldn't defy that, how could she hope to resist someone worth 1.5 billion?

Sora sat down in a chair outside her cell and got straight to the point.

"Become my subordinate."

Zala, a veteran pirate with a 35 million bounty, wasn't the type to fall for vague words or manipulation.

Unlike Mikita—who was all boobs and no brains, easy to fool with a few smooth lines.

(Though to Sora, boobs and no brains was a very high compliment.)

"Well, well," Zala said with a sly smile. "I never imagined someone as exalted as the God-Slayer would take interest in little old me. I'm honored."

She casually pulled out a lady's cigarette and a match from who knows where, lighting it with practiced ease.

Sora eyed her tall figure—nearly 1.87 meters—and couldn't help but find the term "little lady" laughable.

Blowing out a smoke ring, Zala looked at him and asked her final question:

"If I'm not mistaken… being your subordinate probably comes with sleeping arrangements, doesn't it?"

Considering Sora was constantly surrounded by beautiful women, Zala didn't even need to guess.

"You're not wrong," Sora replied bluntly.

"My, how refreshingly honest," Zala chuckled. "In that case… would you mind telling me what all those explosions this morning were about?"

Sora smiled faintly.

"Oh, that was Nojiko—testing out her brand-new Bomb-Bomb Fruit while fishing."

Brand new?

Mr. 5 had only been killed yesterday.

And now one of Sora's women had his Devil Fruit.

So… he really did have a way to steal Devil Fruit powers and reassign them?

Which meant if she refused…

Wouldn't she end up just like Mr. 5?

Zala was stunned—and silent.

After a long pause, she finished her cigarette, looked at Sora, and smiled:

"Then… please be gentle with me, Lord God-Slayer."

...

_____Important_____

Within 24 hours, give Power Stones—500 for one chapter per hour, 400 for one chapter every two hours, 300 for one chapter every three hours, 200 for one chapter every four hours, or 100 for one chapter every five hours. Do you think that's a fair deal?