In a dim corridor, Stussy fled forward in a slight panic.
She glanced back from time to time. A handsome, sunny young man with a brilliant smile, his entire body emitting Holy Light, was pressing closer step by step.
It was as if no matter how she ran, she couldn't shake him off.
"Stussy, stop struggling. Obediently immerse yourself in my happiness!"
Tentacles, pure white as if made of light but covered with special magical patterns on their surface, shot rapidly from the young man's hands.
Stussy looked terrified and used every means possible to flee forward.
Finally, she successfully escaped the pursuit of these tentacles and arrived in an empty room.
"That kid York, isn't he a bit too creepy?"
Stussy supported herself with her hands on her knees, panting slightly in the room.
"Saying my ability is creepy... you really break my heart."
York's gentle voice suddenly resonated from all directions. Stussy raised her eyes in horror.
To her dismay, the walls, originally made of stone, had unknowingly turned into writhing tentacles covered in magical patterns.
Stussy whipped her head around; the path she came from was blocked as well, and York himself was about to walk right up to her.
Embarrassed and angry, Stussy launched a counterattack at York, but her fist was caught by him.
The young man's strength was beyond her imagination; once her fist was caught, she couldn't break free at all.
Stussy tried her best, but in the end, she could only watch helplessly as the countless patterned tentacles drew closer and closer.
...
With a scream, Stussy suddenly sat up in bed.
She nervously observed everything in the room, confirming without a doubt that it was her bedroom.
With one hand on her forehead, palm covered in sweat, Stussy sighed lightly: "So it was just a dream."
As she calmed her emotions and prepared to lie down and go back to sleep, she suddenly sensed something strange.
"Why wasn't it Newgate..."
A blush appeared on Stussy's face, her eyes complex.
"Could it be..."
"No! Impossible! I absolutely refuse to admit it!"
...
Since returning from the International Charity Alliance Monastery, York's new bounty came out very quickly.
660 million Berries!
Only 60 million Berries more than before, but the description in the newspaper was much more exaggerated.
Phrases like "the most evil ability in history," "the desire demon who forces people to die from exhaustion," and so on.
In short, all sorts of negative comments related to succubi and incubi were almost all pinned on York's head.
For a moment, York really couldn't figure out if the World Government was saying his fruit ability was evil, or if they were advertising him as a real-life incubus, urging pirates who wanted to have a happy time with an incubus to come find him quickly.
"Probably the latter."
York guessed.
Sailing on the sea was very boring.
Many pirates kept goats or women on their ships. The use... well, those who knew, knew. They could be used to relieve stress or as emergency food.
Now, an ability user appeared who could bring people happiness anytime, anywhere. Regardless of whether he was male or female, just for this fruit ability alone, he was worth snatching onto one's ship.
Not to mention York wasn't bad-looking. In this world where the average male appearance score was below 60, York's looks were easily a solid 90 at minimum.
Even if he didn't become a pirate, he could absolutely become a superstar idol.
Therefore, some pirates who swung both ways might very well want to do something to York himself.
"Well, soldiers block the enemy, earth blocks the water (come what may)."
Since obtaining the Happy-Happy Fruit, York knew this day would come sooner or later.
There was no hiding from it. The best way was to kill!
Kill until everyone was afraid!
Kill until everyone only dared to beg him for happiness, not daring to dream of controlling him, and the crisis would resolve itself.
So, after reading the newspaper, York found Rocks again and requested to learn advanced Haki applications.
The outcome...
No different from last time. He was sent flying by Rocks' sword slash, flying across half the town.
However, slightly better than last time, York didn't lose consciousness.
He watched helplessly as Rocks gave the order to heal him. Although the pirates on the island were somewhat restless due to that newspaper, seeing that York was still awake, coupled with Rocks' order, in the end, no one dared to do anything.
In the evening, York, having recovered some mobility, did the same as last time.
He climbed up to the right eye socket of the skull mountain, released the Holy Light and tentacles covering the entire island, and absorbed life force from all the pirates on the island to heal himself.
None of the pirates resisted. Almost all of them stood in the streets welcoming the Universal Holy Light, allowing the tentacles to wrap around their bodies.
"Happiness~ Feels so good~~"
Seeing the whole island immersed in a sea of happiness, Stussy, standing at a window in the skull mountain, had a complex expression.
"Will I become like that one day too?"
"No! The one I love is Newgate! I will never succumb to York's ability!!"
...
In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
During this half-year, Rocks did not initiate any more operations.
It seemed that the money snatched from the International Charity Alliance Monastery last time was too much; since it hadn't run out, there was no action.
York himself didn't care about operations. He was here to learn advanced experience and strengthen himself at the same time.
Not going out on operations allowed him to focus on improving himself with peace of mind.
And during this half-year, by constantly being sent flying by Rocks and then using Holy Light to cover the island and heal himself, although York hadn't learned Conqueror's Infusion that quickly, he successfully learned Rocks' sword technique.
Gripping the long sword at his waist, stepping into a bow stance, facing the sea ahead, York exhaled and shouted.
"Draw Sword Slash!"
A common long sword made by pirates on the island was unsheathed. Without attaching any Haki power, it blasted a huge wave out of the sea ahead like a cannon bombardment.
"Oh! You kid actually learned it?!"
Seeing this scene, Rocks was clearly a bit surprised.
He hadn't expected that in just half a year, his signature swordsmanship would be learned by this kid.
York sheathed his sword and smiled at Rocks.
"How about it? Do you feel fear? Are you afraid to teach me anymore?"
"Wahahahaha! Me, feel fear?! Don't be too arrogant, kid!!"
Rocks instantly drew his sword and slashed York away.
Just like before, York instantly flew across nearly half the island, his consciousness almost fading into a coma.
This move almost made York misunderstand that his growth over the past half-year had made zero progress.
Until one day, a new member applying to join the pirate crew dispelled York's doubts.
"Is this Hachinosu? It's too dirty and chaotic."
A woman with pale orange wavy hair, an exquisitely beautiful face, a graceful and tall figure, carrying a snake with her, stepped onto the land of Hachinosu.
The pirates on the island caused a huge commotion because of her arrival.
"It's the Pirate Empress! Lady Gloriosa!"
"Oh my god! She actually came to this island! Am I dreaming?!"