Chapter 42: Pandora's Killer Move!
Pandora felt that Roy and Amatsuki Toki's progress had been far too slow lately.
The hammock clearly had more potential for relationship development than the wooden bed—so it made a bold decision. The bed had to go.
Acting immediately, Pandora glanced at Roy and Toki, who were both sound asleep. Then it floated quietly toward the wooden bed.
Suppressing its heat completely, the little sun opened its mouth, bit into the bedframe, and began to drag the wooden bed out of the cabin—slowly and silently.
Aonami, Shirahime, and Sumimaru noticed the glowing orb emerging from the cabin and tilted their heads in confusion.
What is that fool doing now?
Pandora didn't care. It floated out onto the deck, hauled the wooden bed over the railing, and spat out a burst of flames.
"Fwoosh!"
The fire consumed the bed instantly. As it burned in midair, the remains dropped toward the sea below.
Pandora breathed another blast of flame, raising the temperature even higher. By the time the ashes hit the water, only a few charred fragments remained, floating aimlessly on the waves.
"Swim! Hurry and swim toward the West Sea!" Pandora barked at the three serpents. It didn't want any evidence left behind.
"???" Aonami turned her head and stared.
Has he lost his mind?
If the little sun destroyed something on the ship without permission, Roy would tear it apart!
"It's none of your business! Just swim!" Pandora snapped.
The three snakes exchanged looks, hissed in reluctant unison, and continued swimming toward the West Sea.
"Faster, faster! We need to get there before dawn!" Pandora urged.
The plan had seemed brilliant at first—burning the wooden bed to advance its master's happiness. But halfway through, it realized one crucial problem: it now had no excuse.
If Roy found out, it would be in serious trouble.
No, it had to leave the Calm Belt immediately. It needed an alibi—any alibi.
The happiness of its little master was important, yes, but not as important as surviving his wrath!
---
The next morning, West Sea.
On the sandy shore of a small island, the three massive serpents lay with their heads resting on the beach, sound asleep. Their long bodies floated lazily on the sea, still tethered to the giant ship by thick ropes.
Pandora squatted beside Redding, both of them whispering conspiratorially.
Last night, Redding hadn't slept at all.
Roy had fallen asleep with Amatsuki Toki—again. Though he found it torturous, he'd eventually drifted off, surrounded by her fragrance.
Redding, on the other hand, had stayed awake to watch the serpents. He didn't trust those creatures yet.
But what he ended up seeing was Pandora's ridiculous, chaotic plan.
Rather than scolding it, Redding decided to help cover for it. After all, he quite liked Toki himself—his disciple's "future wife," as he saw it.
Age difference? Irrelevant.
As long as Roy didn't fall for Linlin, Redding would support any other match—even if it meant intimidating kings into blessing the union.
"Let's just say a thief snuck aboard and stole the bed," Pandora whispered.
"You idiot. What kind of thief steals a bed? He wouldn't even touch the treasure chest." Redding pinched the bridge of his nose. "Besides, we're giants. What lunatic would try to rob us?"
Pandora's eyes darted around. "Then… let's say sea monkeys took it! They like stealing weird things!"
"Sea monkeys?" Redding blinked.
"Y-yeah, sea monkeys," Pandora said quickly. Of course, it had made that up on the spot.
---
Morning.
Pandora floated in front of Roy and Amatsuki Toki as they ate breakfast, forcing a grin.
Redding had conveniently gone into town, leaving Pandora to face the consequences alone.
"So… yeah. A sea monkey stole the bed."
Roy stared blankly. "Say that again?"
He grabbed Pandora under his arm. This nonsense was beyond belief.
If you're going to lie, at least make it sound half-convincing!
"It's true! A monkey that lives off stealing things! You have to believe me!" Pandora pleaded desperately.
"But they're just animals that steal. Couldn't you stop them?" Toki asked coldly, glaring at Pandora.
Of course, she could still share the hammock with Roy, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Pandora was behind this.
"I was asleep! When I woke up, they'd already jumped into the sea! I'm fire—I can't chase them into water!" Pandora protested pitifully.
Its glowing face turned innocent, eyes wide and shimmering.
Mistress, please believe me! Pandora only wants you to marry the young master!
"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you," Toki said softly, her tone embarrassed.
If that was the case, then she could only blame these mysterious "sea monkeys."
"Sister Toki, go rest for a while," Roy said. "We'll head to town later to buy supplies."
"Okay. You two talk." Toki nodded gently and walked toward the cabin.
She opened the door, stared at the hammock, and paused. Her expression was complicated.
Meanwhile, Roy crouched beside Pandora. "What exactly is a sea monkey?" he whispered.
Two possibilities flashed through his mind: either a type of brine shrimp… or a mythical creature.
But none of them fit what Pandora described. In the One Piece world, there were sea beasts—but none small enough to sneak into their quarters.
"It's just a sea monkey! Why are you asking so many questions?" Pandora snapped.
"Tell the truth." Roy's tone turned flat.
Pandora froze. "There's no sea monkey. I made it up. Please don't hit me!"
Roy sighed and pinched the little sun's face, stretching its mouth. "Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome, young master! I only did it for your happiness," Pandora replied weakly, its distorted grin full of mischief.
Roy smacked it lightly and let it go. Pandora floated off, rubbing its face in pain.
Roy entered the bedroom.
"Ah? Something wrong?" Toki asked quickly, sitting up in the hammock.
"Nothing. Just wanted to rest," Roy said, sitting beside her.
"Actually…" Toki hesitated, then gently placed a hand on his head.
"What is it?" Roy looked up at her.
She pulled him close, resting his head on her lap. "Roy… sister has always felt that you're the closest person to me."
"Don't worry. Everything's fine."
Roy blinked, speechless, his head resting against her thighs. He swallowed hard.
"Fairy girl… you're playing with fire."
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