Back home, Karl carried Ann to her room and tucked her in. The kid had been grinding hard lately—good. Power is earned.
Out in the courtyard, he'd barely sunk into the lounge chair when Enel wandered in, chewing on an apple like he owned the breeze.
"Captain."
"What is it, Enel?"
"A few World Government rats tried sneaking into our training grounds. I zapped them unconscious." He twirled the apple, eyes cold. "These bugs are annoying. Want me to erase them?"
With Jaya Island under heavy development, it wasn't just the Marines sniffing around—CP had been sending feelers too.
"World Government, huh? Don't waste time. Any CP agents caught on the island—deal with them on the spot. If spies show up again, call down Judgment first and ask questions never. The guards can clean up the mess."
Karl had expected snoops. He just didn't particularly care.
"Yehahaha—got it." Enel's smile turned feral, and he strolled off.
…Strange. Why weren't Hancock and the others back yet? They couldn't be fighting—Daphne's not that dumb. Right?
Karl dozed off in the chair until the soft rustle of silk woke him. He opened his eyes to see Hancock in the doorway. A sea breeze lifted the hem of her cheongsam—classic lines, a hint of poetry in motion.
He reached out, drew her by the waist into his arms.
"Ah! Lord Karl, stop fooling around—this concubine has news!" she squeaked, cheeks blooming.
"Mm, no fooling. I'll just hold you. Talk," Karl said, breathing in her perfume.
"Hmph. Fine!" Hancock gave him a sidelong glare, then lifted her chin. "This concubine agrees—and we three sisters have a pact. If you dare chase more women, we will… deal with you."
She made a very pointed, very delicate gesture that made Karl sit up straight.
"Whew—message received! I swear, no one else. With three wives as stunning as you, why would I look anywhere else?"
"Remember your words," she murmured, ears pink. Her own boldness seemed to catch up with her a beat later, and she quickly folded her hands.
Karl coughed. "Ahem—where are the other two?"
"Daphne-sister and Aili-sister had business. Someone named Diamante came to fetch Pica back. Aili-sister even drew two vials of that Diamante's blood—for research, I think. They told me to come home first." Hancock paused, then brightened. "Oh! This concubine bought gifts for Father, Mother, and Sister Lujou. Come see if they're suitable!"
She tugged him inside. A big bundle sat on the table—apparently, "a few gifts" meant "half a market."
"Look, this dress is for Sister Lujou. You think she'll like it? And these are for Father and Mother…" Hancock rattled through each choice, excited yet nervous, desperate for his family to approve.
Warmth spread in Karl's chest. With a wife like this, what more could a man ask? He pulled her into a hug.
"They'll love them. Honestly, just bringing you home will make them happy. They'll be thinking, 'How did this rascal land such a wife?'"
"Then… that's a relief. I didn't know their tastes, so I bought a bit of everything," she said shyly.
"I'll stow them in the space bracelet. We'll hand them over on Tiger Roar Island."
He swept the entire bundle into his storage.
"Yo, yo—watch the public displays," Daphne's voice chimed as she and Aili stepped in, each with her own bulging package. "What if Ann sees?"
"You misunderstand! This concubine did nothing improper with Lord Karl!" Hancock declared, flustered, and click-clacked away on her heels.
"Ann conked out after training," Karl said, amused. He eyed the bags. "And you two… bought what, exactly?"
"Women's secrets," Daphne said sweetly. "Just store them."
"Yes, ma'am." He slipped both into the bracelet.
"Oh—Aili, did you really draw Diamante's blood?" Karl asked, remembering Hancock's note.
"Yep. He didn't even ask why. Two vials. Superhuman types—Stone-Stone and Flutter-Flutter. Heh." Aili's grin had a wicked edge.
"You're that confident already?" Karl asked. Not to doubt her, but Devil Fruit replication wasn't exactly child's play.
"Logias and Mythical Zoans still need time. But standard Zoans and many Paramecia? I'm close." Aili puffed her cheeks, smug as a peacock.
"That's huge." Karl nodded, impressed. "They headed out?"
"Pica left with Diamante," Daphne said. "On the way out, Diamante asked to rent a warehouse and storefront for Doflamingo. I approved."
"Hah. The flamingo's got good instincts."
"Underground emperor—hardly a rookie," Daphne replied, then clapped her hands. "Alright, chef. We've been out all day—we're starving."
"Oh! That reminds me—the salt I brought from Water Seven!" Karl brightened. "From the receding 'Sea Gods' tide."
"The miracle salt?" Aili asked.
"That's the one. Let's find Karin. Roasted meat with this salt is magic."
"I'll grab Hancock," Daphne said. "You check on Ann. Tonight—beach barbecue!"
"Then I'll fetch Karin. Feast tonight, and tomorrow… we set off for Tiger Roar Island."
By nightfall, the beach was roaring with laughter again. No one was happier than Karin—one taste of the "Sea Gods' Salt" and she was already planning a Water Seven trip to stock up and invent new dishes.
Tomorrow, the sails would turn homeward.
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