[Ding! Mission completed: Conquer Hancock. Reward: Full Rasengan Skill Set granted!]
Sero, pulling back the curtains while holding his aching waist, froze in place.
So... the damn system required Hancock to kneel and "sing Conquered" before it would count the mission as complete?
He turned and looked at Hancock, still fast asleep in bed, and couldn't help but feel slightly, just slightly, like he was dreaming.
Last night, when Hancock had invited him into the room, Sero thought she had some dark secret to share with him.
He didn't expect her to share two dark secrets... physically.
At that moment, Sero had called it a scam.
But what came after was even more serious; his waist had been broken by Hancock.
Still, looking at the Rasengan in his palm, Sero felt... it was worth it.
"Mm? What's that sound, Sero?"
Disturbed by the hum of the Rasengan, Hancock blinked awake groggily and looked toward him.
Not knowing how to explain what a Rasengan was, Sero swiftly dispersed it with a flick of his wrist.
No need to get into that.
"It's just the sound of my heart beating... from being overwhelmed by your beauty."
"Ugh… you tease…"
Hearing that completely over-the-top response, Hancock's face lit up with joy. She giggled, giving Sero a dainty air-punch from across the room.
Her expression radiated pure bliss.
In this moment, Hancock felt this was the happiest she had ever been in her entire life, and even wished time would stop here forever.
"Huh? The News Coo's here with today's paper!"
From outside came the familiar cry of a News Coo.
Sero, a habitual reader, instantly bought a copy.
And wouldn't you know, it was front-page news:
The Navy had announced the public execution of Portgas D. Ace at Marineford in fifteen days.
"Fifteen days, huh…"
Sero frowned. That wasn't much time to prepare.
He had thought he'd have a month or two at least.
Now he had to speed up his plans.
"What's happening in fifteen days, Sero? Did something big happen?"
Hancock came over curiously and peered at the newspaper in Sero's hands.
Her eyes immediately widened in shock.
"Wasn't the last pirate the Navy publicly executed the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger?! How does Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, Ace, deserve the same level of treatment?!"
Hancock genuinely couldn't understand.
She knew a bit about Ace.
Like her, he had once been invited to join the Seven Warlords early in his career, but declined.
He later became Whitebeard's "son."
But that was it.
He was strong, sure, but nothing earth-shattering.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been defeated by a traitor and now be scheduled for public execution at Marineford.
"Maybe the Navy wants to reshuffle the New World... or maybe Sengoku just wants to go out with one last glory before retirement," Sero replied casually.
His eyes continued scanning the rest of the paper.
Most of it was fluff, except for one item of note: all eleven Supernovas were converging on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Which meant that soon, the Straw Hat Pirates would be scattered by Bartholomew Kuma.
And Luffy would end up on Amazon Lily.
Sero had a plan to alter that outcome.
First, he would make sure nothing happened between Hancock and Luffy.
Then, he'd bring Luffy directly to the Summit War in fifteen days.
He originally thought of just kicking Luffy into the sea to keep him out of trouble, but then remembered that only Luffy, Garp's grandson, could punch the old man in the face without getting executed.
So, yes, Luffy had to come along.
"Sero, you're planning to get involved, aren't you?"
Hancock suddenly spoke, as if their minds were linked.
She had a strong sense that Sero wanted in on this war.
"If someone offered me a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit as a reward to rescue Ace... do you think it'd be worth it, Hancock?"
Instead of answering directly, Sero posed the question back to her.
"A Mythical Zoan?! That's even rarer than a Logia-type Devil Fruit!"
As a Paramecia user herself, Hancock knew exactly how powerful those other classes of fruits were.
If she had a Logia-type, she was confident she could rival any Emperor.
If she had a Mythical Zoan, she might even become the fifth Emperor.
"I think... It's worth it," she answered firmly.
Then she realized what he was implying.
Someone had offered a Mythical Zoan fruit to recruit Sero to save Ace from Marineford.
Thinking of Sero risking his life, Hancock's heart ached.
"Let me do it. I'll go to Marineford to rescue Ace instead. That way, you won't have to take the risk. And you'll still get the fruit!"
"You little fool, what are you saying…"
Sero flicked her forehead gently, amused.
If he let her do the mission, the stupid system would probably count it as a failure.
"Listen, Hancock."
"When the Navy executes Ace, Whitebeard will come to rescue him. The Marines will be fully occupied."
"I just need to bide my time and strike with the right allies. There's a good chance we'll succeed."
"And if I can drag the other three Emperors into the war too, then I'll have a 100% chance of rescuing Ace and earning that Mythical Zoan fruit."
That last part had just occurred to Sero as he said it.
And instantly…
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag Kaido into the Summit War. Reward: Thunder Breathing.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag Big Mom into the Summit War. Reward: She gives the host a fat baby boy.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Prevent Red-Hair from showing up at the Summit War. Reward: Conqueror's Haki.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag Sabo into the Summit War. Reward: Dragon Claw Fist.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag Yamato into the Summit War. Reward: Raimei Hakke.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag the Beasts Pirates into the Summit War. Reward: Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Fengshen Pteranodon.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag the Big Mom Pirates into the Summit War. Reward: Skill, Elbaf Spear: Ikoku Sovereignty.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Prevent the Red-Hair Pirates from appearing at the Summit War. Reward: Guaranteed skill that forces Kizaru to raise both hands.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag the Revolutionary Army into the Summit War. Reward: One Emporio Ivankov.]
[Ding! Mission issued: Drag Dragon into the Summit War. Reward: Skill, Garp's Fist of Love.]
The flood of missions made Sero feel like he had a microwave buzzing in his brain.
The system had never issued so many missions all at once before.
He should have been thrilled; more missions meant more rewards.
But some of these rewards were... questionable.
Even borderline terrifying.
"Sero! Sero! Sero!"
"Huh? What's up, Hancock?"
Snapping out of his daze, Sero looked at her.
"No matter what happens… please let me stay by your side, always."
She didn't fully understand his plan, but she just wanted to stay with him.
She was confident that her strength would never drag him down.
"Of course."
Sero gently stroked her hair, satisfied.
The feeling of having someone by his side… was addictive.
Especially when that someone was the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Achoo!"
On the rooftop, Little Sparrow suddenly sneezed itself awake from a nightmare, where it was being chased by a stunning but venomous giant snake.
It had barely escaped with its life.
"Little Sparrow!"
Sero's voice called out.
But remembering how Sero abandoned it outside all night, Little Sparrow huffed and ignored him.
"Seafood breakfast's on me~"
Two seconds later, the bird's tiny eyes widened.
Anger?
Forget it, SEAFOOD BREAKFAST, HERE I COME!!
It flapped its wings and launched straight toward Sero.
"Sister!!!"
(No, this wasn't Little Sparrow calling Hancock.)
Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold had arrived.
They watched in shock as their regal, dignified sister followed behind Sero like a shy little wife.
Their expressions were full of mixed emotions.
It was like watching a beloved cabbage get devoured by a pig.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
"What? Little Sparrow, you're saying those two girls looked at you like they were looking at a pig?"
Their conversation left the two sisters utterly stunned.
A talking bird?!
And, wait, accurate pig reference?