Before long, Zack returned with Monet in tow.
She stopped a few steps away and bowed slightly.
"Captain Marco."
Marco studied her calmly. Monet was beautiful—delicately so—but beauty alone had never been enough to sway him.
"You want to join the Phoenix Pirates?" he asked bluntly.
"Yes," Monet answered without hesitation.
Marco's gaze sharpened. "Why?"
A faint blush crept onto Monet's cheeks as she lowered her eyes.
"Because… I wish to remain by Lord Marco's side and serve you."
Marco blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Was my reputation really this effective?
Still, caution quickly returned. He knew exactly who Monet had once been.
"That's all?" he pressed.
"Mmm." Monet nodded, reverence flickering in her eyes. She lowered herself to one knee, her movements deliberate, her posture subtly alluring.
"I am only a weak woman," she said softly. "And Lord Marco is the strongest man I have ever met. I wish to stay by your side and serve you."
Marco's frown deepened.
"You're not trying to use a honey trap, are you?" he asked flatly. "Are you staying close to me to avenge Doflamingo?"
Monet froze for a heartbeat—then nodded honestly.
"Yes. I did think about it," she admitted. "Law killed Young Master. I wanted revenge."
Her voice softened, tinged with frustration.
"But with my strength, killing Law on my own is nearly impossible. That's why I chose to stay."
Marco shook his head slowly.
"If revenge is your goal, the Beasts Pirates would suit you better. Their power would help you just as much—maybe more. And Doflamingo's death involved me as well. If you want vengeance, I'm standing right here."
Monet shook her head firmly.
"No. I don't blame Lord Marco."
She met his eyes, serious now.
"I know everything. Law saved many of the Phoenix Pirates, and that's why you agreed to help him. The root of this lies with Law. He is my target—not you."
"As for the Beasts Pirates…" She let out a quiet breath. "Young Master used to talk about them. They're monsters—strength worshippers. If I went there, I'd likely be torn apart."
Then she smiled—gentler this time, almost sincere.
"Honestly, I've been happy here. The Phoenix Pirates are kind. No one has treated me as something to be taken, simply because they're strong."
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
"If I were among the Beasts Pirates, I doubt I'd still be whole."
Marco watched her carefully. Confidence radiated from her words, but so did fear, and relief.
His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
"So," he said lightly, "you want to serve me. How exactly do you plan to do that?"
Monet's gaze softened, a hint of heat flickering within it. She stepped closer, her arms lifting to rest lightly around his neck as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"If Lord Marco is willing to give me a chance," she murmured, "I'll treasure it with everything I have."
Marco rose slowly from his beach chair. Even he wasn't immune forever.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
Over the following days, Marco and Monet became inseparable. Though Monet was a Snow-Snow Fruit user, her temperament was anything but cold—she was enthusiastic, attentive, and proactive, employing every trick she knew to please him. Marco, of course, didn't refuse her affection, and those days passed in an uncharacteristically comfortable haze.
Fruit Island lived up to its name. The island's inhabitants specialized in cultivating all kinds of fruit, making it the Phoenix Pirates' primary storage hub.
Once they docked, the crew dispersed across the island to gather supplies, while Monet remained by Marco's side, accompanying him like a capable—and striking—personal secretary.
Before long, First Division Commander Zack hurried over, a letter in hand.
"Captain Marco, this just arrived. It's an invitation from the Beasts Pirates."
"Kaido…" Marco murmured, memory stirring. After their battle, Kaido had mentioned inviting him as a guest. At the time, Marco had agreed casually, without much thought. He took the letter and unfolded it.
The contents were brief and direct—an invitation to Wano Country for a meeting. Nothing more.
"He's not planning some kind of Red Wedding, is he?" Marco muttered, eyes narrowing.
The thought faded almost immediately. This was the world of pirates, where overwhelming strength rendered most schemes meaningless. Against someone at his level, ambushes were little more than jokes.
Zack, however, spoke with a grave tone.
"Our intelligence says Kaido didn't just invite us. The Red Hair Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates received invitations as well."
Marco paused, genuinely surprised.
"So he's calling a Yonkos meeting? Inviting all three at once to Wano?" He let out a soft chuckle. "Looks like awakening his Devil Fruit really boosted his confidence."
"Should we attend?" Zack asked quietly.
After a moment's thought, Marco nodded.
"Yes. We'll go. Once supplies are gathered, we'll decide who accompanies me."
"Understood." Zack bowed slightly and left.
When they were alone again, Marco turned to Monet, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Monet, I'll ask you one last time. Are you truly determined to join the Phoenix Pirates?"
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. After everything they'd shared, she hadn't expected the question. Still, she nodded firmly, a trace of hurt flashing through her eyes.
"Yes, Lord Marco. I've already made up my mind."
Marco nodded in return.
"Then it's settled. From now on, Fruit Island will be under your management."
"W–What?" Monet stared at him, stunned. "Lord Marco… I wanted to stay by your side and serve you."
Marco smiled, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"There's no need for that. You're joining the Phoenix Pirates—where you serve doesn't change that."
Despite the intimacy they'd shared, Marco had no intention of keeping Monet close to the core of his command.
She had once been a spy of the Donquixote Family, skilled in deception and infiltration. Even though Doflamingo was gone, his remnants still lingered in the shadows. Marco wasn't willing to gamble on absolute loyalty, nor did he have the time to investigate her lingering connections.
Assigning her to Fruit Island was the optimal choice—important enough to test her sincerity, yet distant from the Phoenix Pirates' inner circle.
Control, after all, was best exercised with distance.
Hearing this, a trace of disappointment flickered in Monet's eyes. Her voice softened as she asked,
"Is it because of my identity, Lord Marco?"
"You already know the answer," Marco replied calmly, his gaze steady and unreadable. "So why ask?"
Monet's expression dimmed. She hadn't expected that, even after everything that had happened between them, Marco had never truly lowered his guard. Over the past few days, she had served him diligently, attentively—during their intimate moments, he had even spoken words of affection, words that made her believe she had drawn closer to him. Yet once it was over, he became distant again, as if nothing had changed.
So this was how it was.
For a fleeting moment, Monet questioned herself. Had her charm failed her? Or was this simply how men like him were?
But reason quickly caught up. Marco was a Yonko—someone who stood at the summit of the seas. Women would never be scarce for him. Trust, however, was another matter entirely. How could she have expected to earn that so easily?
Still, Monet didn't want to leave his side.
She had investigated him thoroughly. Marco had no woman beside him, no partner who shared his life. That was precisely why she had wanted to become that person. Taking a breath, she spoke earnestly,
"Since Young Master's death, I've had no contact with the Donquixote Family. If Lord Marco doubts me, you may have someone monitor me at any time. If they attempt to contact me, I'll report it immediately. I can even act as an intelligence channel for you."
"No need," Marco refused at once, a faint, amused curve appearing at his lips.
"Conspiracies and schemes are toys for people like Doflamingo—those who lack real strength. When you're weak, you're forced to rely on tricks. If I truly wanted to deal with the remnants of the Donquixote Family, I could send any division commander and be done with it."
Then he looked at her, his eyes carrying a sharp, teasing glint.
"And the more desperately you try to stay by my side, the more suspicious it makes you. Sharing a bed with me doesn't mean you become my woman. More than desire, more than companionship—I trust my brothers."
His tone softened slightly, but his words remained firm.
"If you truly want to stand beside me, then prove it through your actions. Work for me. Over time, I'll see your sincerity for myself."
After a brief pause, he added evenly,
"And if you choose to leave, I won't stop you. We're pirates—coming and going is your freedom."
Having said so much, Marco turned away.
Monet lowered her head, knowing there was nothing more to argue.
"Yes," she said quietly, bowing. "This subordinate will prove her sincerity. I will manage Fruit Island properly and will not disappoint you."
Marco gave a slight nod and walked toward the Moby Dick.
Before long, news spread through the New World like wildfire: Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Yonko, had formally invited the other three Yonko to a banquet in Wano Country.
The seas were shaken.
The Yonkos represented the greatest power in the world aside from the World Government—monsters standing at the absolute peak of piracy. At Marineford, the Whitebeard Pirates alone had demonstrated a force capable of terrifying the entire world.
If all four were to gather in one place… no one could predict the consequences.
Even though the other Emperors had yet to respond, rumors and conspiracy theories spread uncontrollably, like shadows crawling across the sea.
The world held its breath.
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