[~1100 Words]
<<—⚡ ⚓ 💄 🍑🍷⚓⚡ — >>
"Hm? Pirate King?" James tilted his head slightly. "What does him wanting to be Pirate King have to do with me?"
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"Ah—no. If I kill him, he won't become Pirate King. So I suppose it does concern me, just a little."
"You—!"
Monet's chest rose and fell sharply with anger. In her agitation, she instinctively pressed a hand to her body—only to realize her clothes had been changed.
"My clothes…"
"Relax," James said calmly. "The angel maids changed them for you."
He offered her a reassuring smile. Naturally, he omitted the detail that he had been present the entire time—there was no reason to provoke her further.
Monet let out a small breath of relief, though the wariness never left her eyes. She still regarded James with deep suspicion.
"You're extremely beautiful," he added casually. "It's understandable that you'd remain on guard at all times."
He intended to trigger her peculiar reaction again.
But this time, it didn't work.
Instead, panic flickered across Monet's face.
She subtly felt around herself, then twisted her body slightly—only to realize that every single means of contacting the outside world was gone.
James noticed instantly.
"Don't bother looking," he said with a cold smile. "Since you've been captured, how could I allow you to contact Doflamingo?"
Monet froze.
She understood her situation completely now.
If humiliation and submission were the only outcomes… then death was preferable.
"I won't submit to you," she said quietly. "Kill me."
She leaned back against the soft couch, eyes resolute, posture unyielding—as though nothing in this world could sway her anymore.
This kind of stance might provoke twisted desire in certain people.
But James knew better.
She meant it.
Monet truly possessed the resolve to die for Doflamingo.
And that resolve had a reason.
Thirteen years ago—when Monet was seventeen—she and her younger sister, Sugar, had been caught in a catastrophe. Both should have died that day.
Doflamingo saved them.
Monet was not blindly loyal—she was grateful. For that debt, she was willing to deceive, harm innocents, or even sacrifice herself without hesitation.
Both sisters had long since prepared themselves for death.
It wasn't fanaticism.
It was repayment.
So that's it, James thought.
That aligns with the official data cards… which means it's likely accurate.
If he killed Doflamingo outright, there was a high chance he would permanently lose both Monet and Sugar.
From a utilitarian standpoint—
That was a net loss.
Baby-5, by contrast, could be recruited with a few sentences.
Violet was similarly simple—she had already served her enemy to protect King Riku.
Monet was different.
James hesitated briefly.
He knew she wouldn't submit today… but what if?
"You have a younger sister," he said calmly. "Her name is Sugar, right?"
Monet's eyes snapped back to life.
"You despicable bastard—what do you want to do?"
For a split second, fear flared.
Then she shook her head coldly.
"Heh. Sugar and I are people who should have died long ago. Even if you threaten her life, I will never submit."
"And besides," she added firmly, "the Young Master will never be defeated by you. He is the man who will become Pirate King!"
"Is that so?" James replied lightly. "Don't be so certain."
"What if I exchanged Doflamingo's life… for yours and Sugar's?"
Monet didn't answer.
But her trembling eyes answered for her.
James chuckled softly.
Letting Doflamingo go was impossible.
But imprisoning him—keeping him alive as a living headline inside the Divine Kingdom's prison?
That was entirely feasible.
And his former status as a Celestial Dragon might prove useful later.
"Think carefully," James said. "I hope you make the right choice."
With that, he turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Monet spoke again—her voice no longer as rigid as before.
"Don't say anything… until you actually catch the Young Master."
James didn't turn around.
"I hope this is the last time I hear you call him that," he said coldly.
"Think carefully. When I stand before you tomorrow—with Doflamingo's head—"
"How will you greet me then?"
The words struck like ice.
Monet bit down hard on her lower lip, so hard that faint blood seeped through her pale skin.
No matter how she tried to convince herself, she couldn't ignore what she had seen.
James's Azure Dragon form was terrifyingly similar to Kaido's.
And Doflamingo feared Kaido.
Which meant—
This time, he truly might be doomed.
Not long after, angel maids returned with a nourishing meal and placed it beside Monet.
"Miss Monet, if you're hungry, please have some freshly made red-date porridge. Lord God personally ordered it."
Lord God…
Monet paused.
If she wanted to turn the tables, she needed to understand James thoroughly.
Before Doflamingo fell, she would continue to hold her position.
Composing herself, she asked calmly,
"Lord God… is that man just now?"
The angel maids covered their mouths and giggled softly.
"Yes~ Lord God is—"
They gave her a concise introduction to James: his rise, his authority, his Divine Kingdom.
Then they began praising her—her beauty, her elegance—and praising James's wisdom, power, and generosity.
They spoke endlessly.
Too endlessly.
Each compliment struck Monet's most vulnerable point—her love of being acknowledged for her appearance.
Before she realized it, she was flustered, overwhelmed, unable to interrupt their enthusiastic "sales pitch."
For a caged canary, this was intentional.
Introduce James as the center of everything.
Make every experience revolve around him.
Over time, admiration would take root unconsciously.
[Note: Fictional content only. Do not imitate.]
(This mirrors principles similar to Stockholm Syndrome.)
After leaving Monet's chamber, James headed straight north—to the Divine Goddess Pavilion, where all his women resided.
The aftereffects of developing his Azure Dragon abilities had yet to fade.
Without hesitation, he summoned the seven blonde Divine Concubines—
Conis.
Kaya.
Kalifa.
Moda.
Jessica.
Mikita.
And Sola, the mermaid.
He planned to spend the entire day with them in bed.
After all—
Recovery was important.
<<—⚡ ⚓ 💄 🍑🍷⚓⚡ — >>