On the deck, the Kuja Female Warriors looked heroic and formidable. They surveyed the merchant ship, which had lost its will to resist, with expressions of slight pride and entitlement.
This gorgeous yet fierce Pirate Crew forbade contact with men, but their very existence was enough to make many men lose the courage to resist.
Because their beauty was their weapon, enough to make enemies willingly surrender everything.
The current Captain, the young and charming Gloriosa, stood at the bow. The sea breeze blew through her light-colored long hair as she slightly raised her chin, enjoying the infatuated gazes from her subordinates and captives. A young Kuja warrior clutched her heart and sighed:
"Captain Gloriosa is truly too beautiful! Like a goddess of the sea!"
"Exactly! The Captain looked at me! Oh, I'm dying!"
"Long live the Captain!"
Gloriosa felt joyful listening to her subordinates' praise, a charming smile playing on her lips.
At this moment, a girl with two small braids who looked only about ten years old but had very lively eyes—Toritoma—ran over, holding a large stack of letters:
"Captain Gloriosa! These are the letters... uh... 'harvested' from the ship this time! However, most of them are addressed to first mate Shakky!"
The smile on Gloriosa's face froze for a second. She took the letters and flipped through them briefly, finding only a few for herself, while the stack for Shakky... was a thick pile, nearly ten times as many as hers!
"Again... it's like this again!" Gloriosa stomped her foot in anger, her Snake Staff thumping heavily on the deck,
"That cunning vixen! Why is her popularity always higher than mine!"
However, her pouting appearance, instead of drawing "sympathy" from her subordinates, triggered a burst of suppressed screams:
"Ah! The Captain looks so beautiful even when she's angry!"
"Like a cold gemstone! Radiant and noble!"
"As expected of our Captain!"
Gloriosa: "..." She looked at this group of "rebellious" subordinates, becoming even angrier. Yet, she was helpless. She could only huff, turn her head away, and secretly decide to seize more supplies and... letters than Shakky next time!
Meanwhile, at the center of the matter, first mate Shakky might be leaning against the gunwale, leisurely smoking and watching this farce with a faint smile on her lips.
The entire Kuja Pirates were filled with a powerful, confident, and slightly competitive yet happy and warm atmosphere... Inside the temporary base of the Pirate Alliance, the air was heated and tense. A low-level pirate came rushing in, crawling and scrambling.
"Boss! Good news! Our men found a merchant caravan that was just robbed by the Kuja! They confirmed the movement of the Kuja ship; they're active in that reef area to the northeast!"
Hearing this, Barnett's mouth split into a gruesome smile. He turned around and looked at the other two: "Did you hear that? The prey has appeared."
Mate's slender fingers lightly tapped the table, excitement gleaming in his compound eyes:
"Finally... I can't wait to see the 'World's Most Beautiful Woman' with my own eyes."
Warhammer shouted indistinctly while stuffing meat into his mouth: "My great hammer has long been thirsty! Hahaha!"
Barnett suddenly calmed down and said in a deep voice: "Don't be happy too soon. Don't forget, Sabaody is currently crawling with Marine eyes and ears. Our three-way alliance is too big a target."
He paused, a flash of cunning in his eyes,
"The main force will stay here to draw the Marine's attention. The three of us will each take a few of our most elite men, disguise ourselves as passing merchants... and personally 'visit' our prey."
Mate smiled sinisterly: "What a great idea... disguise, approach, and then... a one-hit kill. No, a capture."
Warhammer scratched his head: "Play merchants? How can I with my build?"
Barnett snorted coldly: "Idiot! Find a large cloak to cover up! Try not to speak! Whoever screws up, I'll chop them up and feed them to the fish!"
The group reached an agreement, and the conspiracy quietly unfolded in the night... The next day, the sun was bright and the sea breeze was gentle.
The Kuja Pirates' warship, the Perfume Yuda, was sailing on the calm sea, the deck filled with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
first mate Shakky leaned lazily against the gunwale, blowing a smoke ring, and said to Gloriosa, who was counting the treasures from the last raid:
"Gloriosa, after today's voyage is over, let's head straight back to Amazon Lily."
"But I haven't looted enough treasure yet! This isn't enough to trade for sufficient food the next time we come out!" Gloriosa muttered dissatisfiedly without looking up,
"And call me Captain! Shakky!"
Shakky sighed and flicked her cigarette ash:
"Alright, Gloriosa. But recently, too many pirates of unknown origin have gathered in the Sabaody Archipelago. I'm afraid a storm is coming. For everyone's safety, we'd better not get involved in this mess."
Gloriosa fell silent for a moment, looked at the Crew members laughing and talking around her, and finally nodded:
"...Fine. Today is the last day. We'll head back after the voyage."
Just then, an excited shout came from a Crew member on the lookout:
"Captain! A medium-sized merchant ship spotted to the front-left! Looking at the waterline, there must be a lot of cargo!"
Gloriosa's eyes lit up, immediately tossing her concerns aside:
"It seems the Goddess of Luck still favors us! This will be enough supplies for the return trip! Kuja Pirates, turn! Set out! Seize all the treasure for me!"
"Yes! Lady Gloriosa!"
The surrounding Kuja Pirates Crew members cheered, their eyes turning into heart symbols.
"Captain Gloriosa! So cool!"
...On the "merchant ship."
"Captain Barnett! They're coming! They're charging right at us!" A pirate disguised as a sailor reported excitedly in a low voice.
Barnett looked through a crack in the cabin window, a cruel smile of a predator seeing prey enter the trap appearing on his face:
"Hahaha! Excellent! Boys, act the part! If anyone slips up and scares away our beauties... I'll strip you naked and throw you into the sea to feed the Sea Kings!"
He turned and growled at the other two: "Mate, keep those drooling trash of yours in check! Warhammer, especially you, keep your head down and don't look around!"
Tsk, does he really think he's the boss? But for Shakky's sake, I'll follow your order this once.
Mate, cursing in his heart, glanced at Barnett,
"Boys, keep your heads down! Swallow your spit! Anyone who looks around again! I'll make sure you can't see anything ever again!"
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