"Momousagi, you didn't leave?"
Ronn looked surprised.
Wasn't this crazy woman transferred from Marineford to the G-14 base?
So why was she back now?
Momousagi didn't answer.
In the stillness of the room, he heard only the faint rustle of clothes slipping to the floor.
Then a soft silhouette slid under the blanket.
The night stretched on, the distance between them fading into darkness.
The bed creaked gently until the pale light of dawn crept through the window and silence returned once more.
...
Morning.
After a long night, Ronn was still half-asleep when Rem's voice came from outside the door:
"Master, it's time for breakfast…"
"Huh?"
Ronn blinked awake and sat up in one sharp motion.
"You're really full of energy,"
came Momousagi's hoarse voice from beside the bed.
She was already dressed, giving him a meaningful look, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
"Not bad, not bad," Ronn said awkwardly as he threw on his clothes.
Dragon-kin physique—truly unstoppable. Even after a sleepless night he still felt fresh and strong.
Momousagi, on the other hand, moved stiffly; every motion carried a touch of fatigue, as if she'd just gone through a long, draining battle.
"I'm leaving. I'll come find you next time."
She gave a sultry smile, scattered a handful of Berries on the bed, and—just like before—leapt out the window.
Ronn stared at the money, torn between laughter and irritation.
What does she take me for?
Tch. Disgusting!
Still, while cursing her under his breath, his hands obediently counted the cash.
When he finished, he murmured, "System, extract the Ice Teigu."
At his words, a golden cup filled with icy blue liquid appeared in his hand—
the blood of a legendary dangerous beast from the far north.
Without hesitation, Ronn downed it.
A bone-piercing chill swept through his body, frost crawling across the floor.
Moments later the cold faded; he raised his hand and an ice spear crystallized in his palm.
"Not bad."
With a whoosh, the spear shot out, embedding itself in the wall.
Ronn nodded, satisfied. "I wonder which is stronger—the dragon-kin's ice magic, the Ice-Ice Fruit, or this Ice Teigu?"
...
After washing up, he stepped into the courtyard for breakfast.
Rem, Ram, and Tohru all had dark circles under their eyes; Lucoa yawned wide, bleary-eyed.
Even the black cat Yoruichi drooped her ears and gave him a disdainful glance as she passed.
"Rough night?" Ronn asked.
The three girls blushed and shook their heads.
Lucoa chuckled softly. "What do you think?"
Ronn froze, then blushed himself and looked down at his porridge.
Yeah… I might've been a little noisy last night.
The fact they hadn't banged on his door—truly saints.
...
After breakfast he sat at the counter and opened the day's paper.
"Kaido Has a Daughter?! Rumor Says Her Mother Is BIG MOM!"
"Yeah, right," Ronn muttered. "That woman couldn't possibly give birth to a dutiful child like that."
Next headline:
"Exclusive! The Real Reason Shiki the Golden Lion Attacked Marineford—Because of Roger?!"
"Why write it like a romance novel…" Ronn sighed, turning the page.
Then:
"Shocking! Admiral Akainu Once Beaten Senseless by Roger?!"
Below it, a photo of a battered Akainu.
Byline: Daily Life of a Man Who Loves Yellow Suits.
"Borsalino's really not afraid of getting his head kicked in," Ronn muttered.
Still, the article explained everything—why Kizaru had spent so much to buy the "Size-Changing Pills."
Story by Rayleigh, gossip spread by Kizaru; he'd paid nothing and got all the benefits.
A move straight from the stratosphere.
"If Rayleigh finds out, he's going to die of rage."
The bell over the door jingled.
Ding-ling—
Yu Tanzhi strode in, excitement on his face.
"Boss! A-Zi's eyes are healed—thank you!"
He moved as if to kneel, but an icy platform formed beneath his knees, stopping him short.
"No need for that," Ronn said with a smile. "A deal's a deal—and now it's complete. Sit down."
Yu Tanzhi hesitated, then took a seat at the bar.
Tohru brought over a bottle of wine. "Your drink, sir. Please enjoy."
"Thank you," he said quietly, though his eyes carried a trace of sorrow.
"Your tone sounds happy, but your eyes say otherwise," Ronn observed. "Something happen?"
Yu Tanzhi let out a weary laugh.
"I've gotten used to it. Now that A-Zi can see again, I've gone back to being that unnecessary guy. In her heart, there's only that brother-in-law."
He took a long drink. The burn of the alcohol brought brief relief, but not enough to dull the ache inside.
He was exhausted—not in body, but in heart.
Hearing A-Zi mutter her brother-in-law's name day after day had nearly driven him mad.
The man she adored was the same one who had, indirectly, wiped out his family.
Ronn sighed inwardly. As expected, a simp ends up with nothing.
At that moment, Lucoa stepped up beside him, her tone playful yet soft.
"I might know a way to change how things are between you two."
"Really?!"
Yu Tanzhi's eyes lit up, and he nearly dropped to his knees again.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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