"Sister, it seems the rumors are true after all."
"I see... so Sue is really gone?"
The news had spread through the slave quarters, or rather, through the slaves themselves. It concerned the three sisters—Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold—who had lost what could be considered their only true ally in Mary Geoise.
But it wasn't a story of death. Sue had simply been dismissed from her duties and forced to leave Mary Geoise.
Very few who were brought to Mary Geoise ever managed to leave unscathed. The Celestial Dragons routinely abused, injured, and even killed not only slaves, but also servants and guards with proper social standing, treating it as their due.
For most slaves brought to Mary Geoise, their journey ends as corpses.
If they're lucky, they might be cast out when their masters grow bored, or sold off at the slave market. Even that counts as a "lucky" escape here.
Sue, an acquaintance of Hancock and her sisters, left Mary Geoise in what felt like a forced departure, stripped of her status as a Celestial Dragon's "wife." She escaped unharmed, with all her limbs intact.
Of course, this should be a cause for celebration. She made it out safely, and she's finally free from the Celestial Dragons' control.
It's the best possible outcome, something most slaves and those in similar positions can only dream of.
Yet for Hancock and her sisters, the situation feels complicated.
Of course, as their friend, I wanted to celebrate their happiness. But at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling of being left behind, of having lost the only people I could truly trust.
It all started when we were forced to perform as entertainment for the Celestial Dragons. We shared the stage for what they called "amusements," and that's where we danced the Kuja Sword Dance together—something I hadn't done in years. My heart swelled with nostalgia and joy.
We became close friends almost instantly.
After that, despite serving different Celestial Dragons and being slaves, we found ways to meet often, mostly through the Sword Dance. Our time together grew more frequent.
During our rare moments of freedom, we'd share memories and dream about all the things we wanted to do once we escaped this place.
For Hancock and the others, who had no allies and never knew a moment's peace, those times were truly precious. I'm not exaggerating when I say they were priceless.
"It's good she left on good terms. Sue will manage just fine... I heard she used to be a bounty hunter."
"But she was involved with the Kuja before all this... What a strange life she's led."
"Maybe the pirate life just wasn't for her. Can't blame her."
Despite their casual banter, my two sisters couldn't quite hide their sadness.
Sue managed to escape Mary Geoise safely because she was a 'Wife'. But what about us...?
Slaves have no rights whatsoever.
They aren't allowed to quit, and their safety is never guaranteed. At the whim of a Celestial Dragon, they could be thrown into life-threatening spectacles or cruel amusements... and die as a matter of course.
They were replaced as soon as they died, treated like disposable commodities.
The loss of their strength, their value in the Sword Dance with Sue, left them uncertain about their future. But more fundamentally, Sue's departure forced them to confront the question anew: 'Were they truly destined to remain trapped here forever?'
Since childhood, they had trained relentlessly to become proud warriors of Kuja. Yet, after being carelessly captured by human traffickers, they had endured endless humiliation in this place.
Even with slightly improved treatment, could they accept being kept here like livestock, their lives forfeit to some random whim until death finally claimed them? How could they, who had once dreamed of becoming Kuja warriors—perhaps even the Empress herself—bear such a pathetic existence?
No. Such a lack of ambition would betray their comrades back home and the friends they had made here.
'But... the chance to slip this collar and escape? That's just a pipe dream. Still... if such an opportunity ever arose, even by some miracle...'
Then... I'll seize it. Without hesitation.
I'll get out of here. I'll see my friends again. My comrades.
And this time, I'll finally claim the glory I dreamed of as a child.
Even with the weight of the collar still pressing on her shoulders, Hancock's eyes burned with an unwavering resolve. Gazing toward a future she stubbornly believed in, she renewed her determination.
Meanwhile,
Another person, hearing Sue's story, felt both relief and renewed resolve:
"Sue-san left Mary Geoise... and she took Stella with her?!"
His name was Gild Tesoro.
Due to certain circumstances, Stella, Sue's attendant, and a man who shared a deep connection with her had both been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons.
Separated and unable to meet freely, their feelings for each other never wavered. Months ago, they had unexpectedly reunited and had been stealing secret moments together whenever they could, with Sue's help.
It all started when Sue first turned a blind eye, giving them the gift of time together. Ever since, he owed her a debt for repeatedly creating opportunities for their stolen rendezvous.
Of course, he had personally thanked her countless times.
And now... another immense debt had been incurred. Sue had freed Stella—the woman he loved—from Mary Geoise.
Of course, it saddened Tesoro deeply that he could no longer see Stella. The loneliness was crushing.
But he found solace in knowing that Sue, someone he trusted completely, had taken her away from Mary Geoise. It was far better than leaving her in this dangerous place, where life could be snatched away at any moment, or worse, where she could suffer unspeakable horrors.
Sue-san is trustworthy. With her, Stella will be safe...
Still, Tesoro refused to settle for that. Now that Stella was out of harm's way, it was his turn. He had no intention of spending the rest of his life trapped in this wretched place.
Trying to escape through conventional means would be impossible. He'd either be caught and killed, or worse, subjected to tortures beyond death.
His chance would come someday. He had to be ready to seize it when it did.
No, even more important... I need to think about what happens after I escape this place.
Tesoro quietly reflected on his journey: meeting Stella at the Human Auctioning House, working tirelessly to buy her freedom, and ultimately becoming a slave himself.
When the time came to purchase her, he hesitated to taint her freedom with dirty money. He resolved to clean up his act, earn an honest fortune, and buy her outright.
But just as he reached the required amount, a Celestial Dragon casually snatched her away.
If only I'd had more money back then... Neither of us would be suffering like this now.
He could have bought her freedom right away.
Even now, I couldn't bring myself to think of making her happy with dirty money, ill-gotten gains. She wouldn't smile if the money came at someone else's expense.
But without money, I was powerless. In this world, those without it are simply trampled by those who have it—a brutal truth.
Sue herself had once said something similar.
A while ago, during a casual conversation about how Stella and I met and stories from my past, she suddenly asked, "Was I wrong? Should I have resorted to dirty deeds, even crime, to get the money to save Stella?"
It was a question I'd pondered for ages, one I still couldn't answer myself, yet I blurted it out to her anyway.
Even now, I couldn't bring myself to want to buy her happiness with tainted money, and I wasn't even sure I could succeed. But without money, she would undoubtedly be miserable. Only money could save her from that fate.
It was a maxim that seemed to embody this cruel reality perfectly.
"Money isn't everything in the world, but you need money for everything in the world," I thought.
She'd said it with a playful wink, "Don't go spreading it around too much—I might use it in a book someday!" But deep down, I knew she was right.
You can't live on idealism alone. You can't survive, fight, or protect what matters without money.
Power, status, and yes, money, were all essential. In this unfair world, to stand tall and protect everything you hold dear... even if it sounds vulgar, you need those worldly forces to make it.
What if obtaining those resources required methods that couldn't be praised?
Would Stella really turn her back, give up, and allow someone she cared about to suffer?
No. That was impossible.
Tesoro firmly rejected the thought in his heart.
In the end, there's no clear-cut answer. Money itself isn't clean or dirty. What truly matters is the actions of those who use it and those who are used by it. What flows from it, what consequences arise...
He took a deep breath, organized his thoughts.
He no longer clung to the naive belief that he'd do anything for money, that money could solve all problems. Yet the undeniable truth remained: money was power.
Money wasn't everything, but without it, nothing was possible. With it, possibilities expanded, and the ability to protect what mattered grew.
Someday, he'd protect the person he cherished when they reunited, or repay the immeasurable debt he owed to someone.
"...That's right. Someday, I'll get out of here. I'll show them. And..."
This time, he wouldn't let the happiness that had once slipped through his fingers elude him again.
He'd seize it with the power of money, the power he lacked back then.
Renewing his resolve, Tesoro wiped the faint smile from his lips and resigned himself to life as a slave, for now.
His Celestial Dragon master had forbidden him from smiling without permission.
Until the day he shattered these absurd shackles and claimed his freedom, Tesoro resolved to endure this silent battle.
---
"S-Sensei! Thank goodness! You're safe!"
"Easy there, Eddie-chan. Easy, easy. Calm down. I'm right here."
Knowing things might get emotional, I reserved a private room at an izakaya—smart move, me.
After a few weeks of intensive training under Rayleigh and Shakky's care, Stella and I finally returned to the island that had once been our base. It had been a full year since we'd last set foot there.
Before even reaching the shore, I contacted Eddie-chan, my editor, via Den Den Mushi to let her know we were safe. Now, we were reuniting for the first time in a year, officially under the guise of a "business meeting." Stella stayed behind since it was work-related.
As expected, Eddie-chan was beside herself with worry. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears and threw her arms around me. "Oh, Eddie-chan, there, there," I said, patting her back. "Did you grow a little taller?"
I'm sorry for just sending a single letter before being snatched away by those Celestial Dragons. That was all I could manage—everything happened so fast.
But Eddie-chan aside...
"Why is Morgans here too?"
"Kuwahahaha! Long time no see, Sue! Don't be so cold, especially after everything we've been through. We're friends, aren't we?"
This bird showed up uninvited.
I'd contacted Eddie-chan separately, planning to meet with him later. But for some reason, he suddenly appeared at my meeting with her today.
He claimed Eddie-chan had given him permission... Well, it's fine by me, as long as she's okay with it.
After letting Eddie-chan cry for a while, I had her calm down and give a detailed report about what happened in the Holy Land and the "experiences" she'd had there, both to help her settle down and to get a proper account.
Eddie-chan, who had been so worried, finally learned the truth—that nothing had actually happened to me. 'Well, nothing happened to me personally, but I did witness some pretty messed-up stuff...'—and seemed relieved.
After that, we settled into a leisurely chat about our future plans over a delicious izakaya meal.
During my year in Mary Geoise, I'd accumulated a mountain of ideas for stories. In fact, I'd already started writing some while I was with Shakky and the others, and I even had several drafts ready to submit.
I thought Eddie-chan and the others would be surprised when I told them, but to my disappointment, the opposite happened—I was the one who ended up being surprised.
That's because Morgans had already predicted it. He'd assumed I was already working on something new.
"You're the kind of person who can't help but spill out whatever pops into your head," Marigold said. "If someone like you were cooped up in a place brimming with inspiration for too long, wouldn't you inevitably come up with one, two, three, or even four new ideas for stories? And once you're free, you'd be itching to bring them to life, right?"
"That's what I've been hearing from Sensei ever since he left for Mary Geoise," Marigold added.
She seemed to have me pegged perfectly. As expected of her. I felt a twinge of defeat.
Well, if she understood me so well, I might as well tell them about the stories I'd written.
Truth be told, some of them were... a little too out there. I wasn't sure if they'd be publishable.
Lately, Eddie-chan's place had become more cautious, avoiding anything too edgy to protect their reputation. I wasn't sure if my stuff would make the cut.
Still, I kept writing until I'd finished, driven by the writer's compulsion Morgans had pointed out: once an idea takes root, I simply can't help but see it through.
When I submitted four new stories at once, Eddie-chan was delighted and eagerly skimmed through them. But I could tell she was uneasy. "Hmm..." she murmured, frowning thoughtfully.
"These two seem perfect for us," she said, pointing. "I think our readers would really enjoy them, maybe even welcome them. But the other two... they're quite dark, actually, very dark."
"So, that's the kind of inspiration you got while you were in the Holy Land?" Morgans asked.
"Well, I saw and heard a lot of things there..." I trailed off. "I'll leave the details to your imagination."
"I see. Ms. Eddie, would you mind if I took these two? I'd like to see if my publisher is interested."
"Huh? Morgans-san, 'your publisher'? You mean... the newspaper?"
"No, World Economic News has a separate publishing house that puts out regular books. I'll pass them along. Sue's first new work in ages, and such a unique, unconventional story at that... they'll be thrilled."
"Are you sure? Some parts might not sit well with the Marines... I mean, why am I saying this after writing it?"
"Not a problem at all. Unless it's a direct critique of the government, it's well within the bounds of picaresque fiction and dark humor. We're not afraid of something like this. Honestly, I wish it were even more daring."
That bird's still as fearless as ever.
In the end, we decided to split the four new stories, entrusting two to Eddie-chan and two to Morgans.
The two I gave to Eddie-chan were classic, straightforward tales of justice:
One was about a dashing young nobleman with an unwavering sense of justice. Hearing rumors of a crime, he'd disguise himself as a commoner, infiltrate the streets, uncover the truth, and single-handedly storm the mastermind's lair, tearing through everything in his path.
Later, when the villains were dragged into court, brazenly denying their guilt and demanding "evidence," he'd reveal the cherry blossom tattoo he'd displayed during his raid, declaring himself the key witness. Cornered, they had no choice but to face justice. It was a thrilling tale of good triumphing over evil: The Cherry Blossom Justice: Judge Gol's Spectacular Trials.
The other story follows an ordinary girl who suddenly finds herself caught up in a bizarre incident. While being chased by the Marines, a band of pirates scatters their stolen treasure across the town, including a cursed Demon Jewel. When the townspeople pick up the cursed treasure, a series of calamities are unleashed. To protect her town, the girl eats a Devil Fruit hidden within the pirates' hoard, gaining extraordinary powers. As the magical girl "Maji Maji☆Ririka," she confronts the disasters brought by the cursed treasure, rival beauties burdened by tragic fates, and the true mastermind behind the chaos.
Meanwhile, the two stories I gave to Morgans were dark and unconventional.
One was The Lethal Professionals, a dark hero tale about shadowy figures who avenge the powerless—those who have lost loved ones to corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants but lack the means to retaliate. For a modest fee, these dark avengers punish evil from the shadows, becoming lethal instruments of justice.
The other story, Loan Shark Taurus-kun, is a dark ensemble drama about a loan shark who charges exorbitant interest rates—fifty percent every ten days. The characters are all equally rotten to the core, and the story explores the tragicomic human dramas that unfold between the lender and his debtors, each grappling with their own desperate circumstances.
Both Morgans and Eddie-chan seemed determined to make these stories my comeback project, and they left the meeting brimming with enthusiasm.
Morgans picked up the entire tab at the izakaya, as generous as ever.
A few days later, I heard that all four stories had been approved for publication.
Eddie-chan's story getting the green light was one thing, but Morgans's too? World Economic News's publishing arm is surprisingly bold.
...Maybe next time I'll casually pitch them those ideas that got rejected at Eddie's old company? Like the one about the Demon Child or the orphan thief gang. I bet they'd love those.
To be continued...