Beside the flickering campfire, Malverick watched the little girl munching on grilled fish, and couldn't help but smile.
What an interesting kid…
"Slow down. There's plenty left—no one's going to steal it from you."
The girl looked up at him, blinking innocently.
"Captain, do you need me to eat slower?"
Malverick chuckled and shook his head.
"No, no. Eat however you want. Just enjoy it."
He couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
Abandoned by her own mother in the forest—told she was not needed—that single phrase had shaped Baby-5's entire life.
Back when he'd watched the anime, he'd always had a soft spot for that loyal little maid.
And now that fate had brought her to him… well, there was no way he'd let her fall into Doflamingo's hands.
Keeping her myself sounds much better.
After the meal, Malverick took her into a small inn.
Her clothes were in tatters, and she needed a bath and new outfit.
Half an hour later, a freshly washed little girl stepped out of the bathroom wearing a clean, mini-sized maid dress.
Perfect, Malverick thought with a smirk.
She looked just like the image he'd always had of her.
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
"How about it? Want to come with me?"
"Mm-hmm. Okay!"
After spending just a short time together, Baby-5 could already feel it—
This man needed her.
And just like that, Malverick gained a new subordinate—without even trying.
"Alright," he said, "since you'll be with me from now on, you'll need a proper name."
"Baby-5" didn't exactly sound dignified.
He thought for a moment, then smiled.
"From now on, you'll be called Alice."
A fitting name for a maid, he thought.
The little girl—no, Alice now—nodded happily, accepting her new name.
Then Malverick pulled out the Weapon-Weapon Fruit, the very fruit that was supposed to belong to her fate, and handed it over.
"Go ahead, eat it. This power is yours."
She took one bite—and her face twisted in disgust.
"B-bleh… it's so gross!"
Malverick burst out laughing. "Hahaha! One bite's enough. Toss the rest."
He handed her a candy and popped it into her mouth to chase away the bitterness.
"Now, try using your new power. If you don't like it, I'll get you a better one later."
With the Dark-Dark Fruit at his command, Malverick could swap or absorb any fruit power at will—his subordinates included.
Under his patient guidance, Alice soon began to master her ability.
Her arms, legs, even her hair could transform into various weapons—a power both versatile and dangerous.
"Good. You're learning fast," Malverick said with approval.
"Oh, right—this is for you too."
He pulled out a large orange cannon—Pumpkin, the Romantic Battery.
It was the first Imperial Arm he had ever drawn, though it hadn't suited him much.
But for Alice, it was perfect.
"Thank you, Captain!" she said brightly, hugging the oversized weapon that was nearly as tall as she was.
"From now on, don't call me 'lord.' Call me captain."
If he was going to conquer the Grand Line, a real pirate crew was essential.
"Understood, Captain!"
"Good girl. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we're heading somewhere important."
He patted her head gently and laid down to rest himself.
But just as he closed his eyes, his smartphone started buzzing.
He didn't even need to check—there was only one person who called him this often.
Sure enough, when he tapped the green button, Hancock's beautiful face appeared on the screen.
She and the others had already returned to Amazon Lily—but the island had recently run into a bit of trouble.
The current Snake Princess had fallen ill with Lovesickness.
Like Shakky and Gloriosa before her, the only cure was to leave with her beloved.
Unfortunately, the man she loved turned out to be a greedy scoundrel—he'd flirted, stolen, and ended up dying in a casino.
So by the time Shakky and Gloriosa arrived, the poor empress was pale and heartbroken.
"Malverick," Hancock said softly, her eyes glistening, "you… you won't ever abandon me, right?"
Before he could even answer, two familiar voices shouted from off-screen—
"He better not!"
Rayleigh and Shakky stepped into view, both glaring at the camera.
"Hancock, don't worry," Rayleigh said with a grin. "If that brat ever dumps you, I'll haul him back myself and tan his hide!"
Malverick nearly choked when he saw them on the screen.
Just as he was about to respond, Alice leaned over curiously, eyes wide.
"Captain, what's that shiny box?!"
And just like that—boom!
Hancock's entire expression froze.
Her eyes welled up as she stared at the unfamiliar little girl beside Malverick.
"Malverick… you already have a child?! You… you don't want me anymore?!"
"Wait—what?! No! Hancock, listen—she's not—"
Before he could explain, Rayleigh snatched the phone.
His eyes bulged as he saw Alice on the screen.
"You brat! What the hell is going on?!"
"Old man, are you senile?!" Malverick shot back, exasperated. "I'm eighteen! How could I possibly have a ten-year-old kid?!"
"Fourteen years of my life were spent with you, remember?!"
Only after he explained everything from start to finish did the misunderstanding finally clear up.
"Alright, Hancock," Shakky said gently, "you heard him. Stop crying already."
Then she turned back to the camera.
"By the way, Malverick, Gloriosa and I decided to train Hancock to become the next Empress of Amazon Lily."
"Do you have any objections?"
"None," Malverick said at once. "It suits her perfectly."
Not just an empress—he knew Hancock was destined to become the Pirate Empress, one of the strongest women on the seas.
He wanted her to reach that future.
"Good. Then rest easy, all of you," Shakky said before ending the call.
The next morning, after breakfast, Malverick and Alice set out once again.
With the Vivre Card as his guide, it didn't take long for him to locate Germa 66.
"Captain, what's that?" Alice asked, pointing at the enormous mobile fortress crawling across the sea below.
"That," Malverick said, grinning, "is going to be one of my territories."
He placed Alice safely inside a dark vortex for protection and then spread his wings, soaring down toward the massive structure.
"Vinsmoke Judge!" Malverick's voice boomed across the fortress.
"It's been over a year. Tell me—have you thought over my offer from back then?"
Down below, where clone soldiers were drilling in formation, Judge's expression darkened immediately.
~----
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