Chapter 29: The Golden Lion's Legacy and the Succubus's Trap!
On the Deck of the Vermilion Wing.
The waterway climbing the Reverse Mountain was turbulent, a river of white foam and raw power that defied gravity. The ship bucked and rolled, but the reinforced hull designed by Fishmen held true.
Suzaku sat cross-legged on the main deck, ignoring the spray of water. He was heartily devouring a massive plate of grilled Sea King meat that Rem had just brought him. The meat was tender, juicy, and melted in his mouth like high-grade wagyu, seasoned with spices from the East Blue.
He remembered the system description saying this item could "briefly and slightly enhance stamina recovery." But with his body now transformed by the [Vermilion Bird Bloodline] and tempered by High-Tier Haki, this small boost was almost negligible. It was like throwing a cup of water into a roaring furnace.
"The taste is really good, though," he praised, taking another large bite. "Rem's cooking is S-Tier."
He chewed thoughtfully, his mind replaying the battle with Shiki.
Now, he possessed all three types of Haki. His Conqueror's Haki was top-tier in terms of raw output, capable of knocking out thousands. His Armament Haki had reached High-Tier (Ryuo), allowing for internal destruction. And his Observation Haki had broken through to Mid-Tier during the desperate clash, granting him moments of heightened perception.
"It's a pity that the old Lion never used Conqueror's Coating," Suzaku mused, wiping grease from his mouth. "Even at the very end, he relied on his Devil Fruit. Perhaps his Haki had degenerated too severely due to age and injury. Or maybe he just underestimated me."
He sighed. "I couldn't steal any advanced techniques from him. What a waste."
This left Suzaku with a massive reservoir of Conqueror's Haki but no way to weaponize it beyond basic intimidation. He was a King with a crown but no scepter.
What puzzled him even more was the silence.
The Marines had clearly been tracking Shiki. Garp had been right behind them. Logically, defeating a legendary pirate who once rivaled Gol D. Roger should have been headline news across the world.
Yet, two days had passed. The newspapers delivered by the News Coo remained calm, reporting only weather anomalies. His bounty hadn't increased from the 150 million set after Loguetown. His Legend Points had only jumped a meager few dozen—likely from the surviving pirates spreading rumors—not the thousands he expected.
"It's almost as if someone deliberately suppressed the news," Suzaku muttered, eyes narrowing. "Sengoku? The World Government? They don't want the world to know a rookie killed a legend."
"Never mind." He rested his chin in his hand. "Once we enter the Grand Line, there will be plenty of opportunities to stir up trouble. Crocodile is waiting."
"Moreover," he grinned, feeling the heat in his veins, "my control over my power has become more precise. That's the real reward."
His gaze drifted to the oddly shaped fruit sitting on a nearby table, secured in a wooden box.
It was a Devil Fruit. It was pale gray, covered in spiral patterns that resembled never-ending wind vortices. It pulsed with a faint, gravity-defying energy.
This was the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (Float-Float Fruit). A trophy "dropped" from Shiki's treasury after the battle.
"Should I give it to Nami?" he pondered.
But he quickly shook his head.
"Nami's current physical strength is far from enough to control such a top-tier Paramecia Fruit. The strain would kill her. Besides, her role is Navigator, not a frontline combatant. She needs a fruit that aids her weather science, like the Goro Goro no Mi or something wind-related."
Then... what about Rem?
Suzaku's eyes lit up.
Rem was an Oni. Her physical stats were naturally high. She was a melee fighter who lacked mobility. If she gained the power of flight and telekinesis... she would become a flying tank.
"Like adding wings to a tiger," he whispered. "Perfect."
Thinking this, he no longer hesitated. He grabbed the heavy Devil Fruit and walked towards the kitchen.
In the Galley.
The kitchen was spotless. Rem was meticulously wiping down the stove, humming a soft tune. Hearing footsteps, she immediately stopped, turned, and stood at attention with perfect posture.
"Lord Suzaku," she said, bowing slightly. "Why have you come? Do you have any instructions? Or is the Sea King meat not to your liking? Shall I prepare dessert?"
"No, no, your cooking is super delicious!" Suzaku waved his hand with a smile. "I came to give you a gift."
He placed the box on the table and opened it.
"Rem. This is the Float-Float Fruit. It allows the user to levitate themselves and non-living objects. It belonged to Shiki."
He looked her in the eye.
"Do you want to eat it?"
Upon hearing that it could enhance her strength, Rem nodded vigorously without a second thought. Her blue eye burned with determination.
"Rem wants it!" she declared. "Rem also wants to become stronger! Rem was useless against Shiki's fleet until Albedo-sama stepped in. Rem wants to better protect Lord Suzaku!"
Seeing the maid's serious expression—like a soldier accepting a mission—Suzaku felt a warmth in his heart, mixed with a touch of amusement.
He handed her the Fruit.
"Rem, you don't always have to be so strict with yourself. I consider you family; you are the first companion to venture out with me. If anyone should be protecting, it should be me protecting you."
"Family..."
Rem repeated the word softly. Her cheeks flushed a light pink. The concept was still foreign but incredibly pleasing to her.
"Rem understands, Lord Suzaku. But Rem will still work hard! For the family!"
She took the Fruit. It looked heavy and unappetizing. Without any hesitation, she opened her mouth and took a large bite.
Crunch.
"Ugh..."
Immediately, her entire small face wrinkled up. Her nose twitched.
The taste of a Devil Fruit was truly indescribable—like rotting garbage mixed with paint thinner. A torture to the taste buds.
But remembering that this power could help Lord Suzaku, she forced herself to swallow. She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and ate the entire fruit, peel and all, leaving nothing behind.
"Bleh..." Rem stuck out her tongue, shivering.
"How is it?" Suzaku asked, leaning in with curiosity. "Do you feel any changes?"
Rem closed her eyes. She felt a strange yet incredibly natural connection awakening within her, a new sense that extended beyond her skin. Gravity, once a constant law, now felt like a suggestion.
She opened her clear blue eye. It seemed to hold a new depth.
"Lord Suzaku," she said seriously. "Rem feels a new power... the ability to reject the earth."
As she spoke, she raised her hand.
Float.
Several kitchen utensils—a heavy iron spatula, a carving knife, a ladle, and even the heavy soup pot—slowly lifted off the counter.
They hovered lightly and steadily in mid-air, as if gently supported by invisible hands. They bobbed up and down in rhythm with her breathing.
"Rem feels like she can control more," she said, her voice filled with a focused delight. "Much larger objects. The table. The stove. Maybe the ship."
She turned to Suzaku, her eye bright with gratitude.
"Thank you, Lord Suzaku! With this, Rem will definitely be able to crush your enemies from above!"
"Good. Practice carefully. Don't drop the pot on your foot," Suzaku laughed.
He turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving the floating maid to her experiments.
After only a few steps on the deck, a thought suddenly struck him.
"Wait a minute."
"Rem can fly now. I can fly with my Vermilion wings. And Albedo has wings..."
He looked up at the sails.
"On the entire ship, only Nami can't fly. And she's the Navigator, so she stays on the ship anyway."
He couldn't help but chuckle, stroking his chin.
"The Flying Pirates? That title of Golden Lion's would be more fitting for us now, wouldn't it? We have full aerial superiority!"
The Navigation Room.
Suzaku wandered around the ship for a bit, idly making his way outside the navigation room. He leaned against the doorframe, watching Nami.
She was intently steering the ship, her eyes glued to the currents ahead. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Nami," he asked casually. "There's something I've never understood... why are we still climbing this Reverse Mountain? It's been two days since we left Garp."
He gestured vaguely.
"I thought, normally, it should be a 'whoosh' to the top, and then a 'splash' right into the Grand Line, right? Like a rollercoaster?"
Nami, hearing this, covered her forehead with one hand in exasperation. Her other hand remained firmly on the helm, fighting the water.
"What kind of 'normal' are you talking about?!" she retorted, rolling her eyes. "This isn't a theme park ride, Suzaku!"
She pointed at the massive red wall of the Red Line looming above them.
"Going against the current along the Red Line from the East Blue means traversing the entire vertical length of the calm belt barrier! Do you have any idea how high this mountain is? It pierces the clouds!"
She sighed.
"If it weren't for the swift current of the canal pushing us up, it would take weeks! We are actually making record time! We're halfway there!"
"Ah? Is that so!" Suzaku scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. "I see. I thought anime logic applied where travel time is skipped."
"Get out!" Nami yelled, throwing a compass at him. "Go sleep or something! Stop distracting the driver!"
"Aye, aye!"
Suzaku caught the compass and placed it back on the table before retreating.
"Since we're only halfway, there's no point in rushing," he muttered to himself. "I might as well go back and catch up on some sleep. Fighting Shiki was tiring."
Thinking this, he turned and went back to the Captain's quarters.
The Captain's Cabin.
Click.
Suzaku pushed open the heavy wooden door.
As soon as he stepped inside, his steps abruptly halted. He blinked, wondering if he had walked into the wrong room. Or perhaps a different genre of story entirely.
The cabin was dim, lit only by the golden sunlight filtering through the portholes.
Lying diagonally on his bed—his bed—was a graceful, curvaceous figure.
Who else could it be but Albedo?
But it wasn't just Albedo.
She wasn't wearing her usual white dress or her black armor.
What she was wearing was... precisely that exceptionally revealing black string swimsuit he had "impulsively" picked out for her back in Loguetown.
The fabric was minimal, barely containing her generous curves. It emphasized the whiteness of her skin, the darkness of her wings, and the dangerous allure of her hips. Her long raven hair fanned out on the sheets like a dark halo.
She lay on her side, one hand propping up her head. Her golden vertical pupils were glowing with a hazy, ardent light, staring unblinkingly at him as he entered.
It was a trap. A very, very effective trap.
"Welcome back, Lord Suzaku," she purred, her voice husky.
Suzaku's heart skipped a beat. His throat went dry. He forced himself to remain calm, though his eyes were glued to the sight.
"Albedo..." he said, his voice cracking slightly. "What are you... doing?"
"Testing the equipment," she replied smoothly. "You said we would need swimsuits for the sunny weather. It is sunny today."
She smiled—a smile that promised ruin.
"And I thought... perhaps the Supreme Being requires a nap? The bed is warm."
Suzaku walked towards the bed, intending to scold her (or maybe just ask for a pillow). "Albedo, this is inappropriate for a—"
Before he could finish, a hand suddenly reached out.
It wasn't gentle. It was precise, strong, and fast. She grasped his wrist with a grip that could crush steel.
Yank.
An irresistible, skillful force pulled him.
"Wha—?!"
Suzaku felt the world spin. The ceiling and floor swapped places.
Thump.
He lost his balance and tumbled onto the soft mattress.
Warm body heat. A faint fragrance of vanilla and musk. And the sensation of soft, dangerous curves pressing against him.
He looked up. Albedo was hovering over him, her black wings creating a tent of shadow, enclosing them in a private world. Her face was inches from his, her eyes burning with desire.
"Caught you," she whispered.
Suzaku's mind buzzed, static filling his thoughts.
It's over, he thought, his resistance crumbling like a sandcastle at high tide. Who could resist this? She's a Succubus! It's literally her job!
Albedo... you really are... making things difficult for me.