After a few hours, the sun began to dip below the horizon. There was a warm, golden glow over the deck of the Miss Love Duck. The crew had regrouped and all were in the dining room. Kaya, Alvida, Mikita, Honey, Nojiko, Vivi, Marianne, Zala, Robin, Saphir, Conis, Raki, Maya, Kalifa, Ashivra, and Perona were all gathered with Uta and Conis.
Ben looked around and smiled. He thought his crew was getting bigger. He thought in terms his harem was getting bigger. "It feels good to have everyone back in one piece," Nojiko said with a relaxed smile.
"Everyone is also in perfect health," Kaya reported as she looked at Ben.
"And with new faces, too," Honey chirped as she looked toward Uta and Carnia.
Ben stood at the center of the group. He looked at Uta, the adopted daughter of Shanks and Carnia, a cunning thief rivaling Nami. He smiled at them. "I'm truly glad you both decided to join us. Uta, Carnia, welcome to the crew," he said.
Carnia let out a dry laugh and crossed her arms. "Honestly, Captain Ben," she said. "It was a no-brainer. Between joining you and freezing to death out there in the tundra and running from a crazy bandit, I'll take the warm ship any day," she said.
"The Miss Love Duck is certainly a warm ship," Mikita remarked.
"She is the best," Marianne said with a smile on her face.
Carnia looked around. She thought this ship was different from the others she had been on. They were right, there was a warmth in this ship.
Uta looked down. A soft, grateful smile tugged at her lips. "Thank you for having me. I really had nowhere else to go. But," she paused as she looked at the gathered women. "Is it really okay for me to stay? I don't want to be a burden," she added.
"Of course it is," Ben said firmly. He thought the reason why Shanks had left her was because he wanted to protect her; however that made things worse. He was going to get Uta during the time skip but she had come to him in a way. He looked around at the girls and thought he could rely on them but they needed to be stronger. He also needed to get stronger.
Uta bit her lip. "Are you not worried? About being pursued? Having me on board means they might come looking," she said.
Alvida stepped forward. She smirked. "My love, tell her. We aren't exactly on the World Government's Christmas list anyway," she said. "We stormed their strongholds to save our sister before, a few more pursuers won't change a thing," she remarked.
"He was very brave," Robin added as she spawned a pair of lips and kissed Ben.
"And they all came from me, my sisters," Robin added. "Thank you all, you are all the best," she added.
The girls all nodded and smiled.
Uta looked around at the confident faces of the girls and felt a weight lift off her chest. She realised then that these weren't just pirates, they were something closer. She looked at Ben and winked at him.
"Speaking of pursuers," Kaya said. "That Psycho P mentioned someone was after Uta specifically. Do we know who?" she asked.
Ben nodded, "Mad Treasure. He's a hunter with a connection to a man named Gild Tesoro," he responded.
"Tesoro…" Robin mused. She tapped her chin with her finger. "That name rings a bell. The owner of Gran Tesoro? The massive golden ship that functions as an independent casino city?" she asked.
"That's the one," Ben confirmed. "He's incredibly wealthy. But there's a reason he's obsessed with gold or money. Years ago, his lover was taken from him by a Celestial Dragon. He had to watch her being led away with a chain around her neck, treated like property because he didn't have the money to buy her freedom. It broke him. Now, he thinks money is the only power that matters," he explained.
A heavy silence fell over the deck. "That is so tragic," Conis said.
"To lose someone like that to those monsters," Nojiko remarked.
"But why is he after Uta?" Maya asked as she looked between Ben and Uta.
"Money and power, most likely," Ben replied. "Uta's voice is a treasure in itself, and Tesoro wants to own everything that has value," he added.
Uta smiled. "How do you know that?" Uta questioned.
Ben's eyes widened. "You are beautiful and your voice is so alluring so I thought you could sing," he said.
"Sexual harassment," Kalfa said.
"That was a good answer," Zala remarked.
"He is smart," Maya added.
"When he uses his brains," Raki said.
"Hey," Ben said.
The girls giggled.
"That was a good answer," Uta replied as she smiled.
Carnia cleared her throat. "Speaking of business, Captain Ben," she said in a sultry tone. "I still have some unfinished work. I need to handle it before we get too far," she added.
Ben thought about what she could have wanted to do. "We can come with you," Ben said.
Carnia smiled. "Thank you Captain but it is nothing dangerous, I just want to return some contracts and get some money," she said. "Trust me Captain," she said.
"Okay, go ahead," Ben said. "Just make sure we stay in contact. We will give you a specialised Transponder Snail so we can reach you," she said.
"Like the one Belo Betty has?" Saphir asked.
"Yes, something similar, it should be a two-way street, though," Alvida interjected. "We need to know where you are if things get hairy," she added.
"Agreed," Zala said. "Can't have our new sister getting lost," she said.
Kaya leaned toward Ben. "Giving out specialised 'gifts' already? Pervert," she muttered.
Ben thought of a gift. He should also give her a devil fruit as well. Ben smiled and leaned and kissed Kaya on the cheek. "Good idea," he said as his lips touched her.
Kaya went red. "Ben, not in public," Kaya said as she pulled back.
Uta still looked a little troubled. "I still feel like I'm bringing trouble to your door," she said.
"Then we'll go somewhere where the door is very hard to kick down," Ben smiled. "Next stop is Amazon Lily. We'll be safer there," he added.
"Sexual harassment," Kalifa muttered once again. She adjusted her glasses as she looked at Ben.
"What is Amazon Lily?" Conis asked curiously. She had not heard of that name.
Raki also looked curiously.
"It's a land where only women live," Robin explained. "An island of warriors ruled by one of the Seven Warlords, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock," she added.
"I've heard rumors," Mikita said as she shivered slightly. "They say she hates men so much she turns them to stone on sight," she added.
"She is very scary," Marianne added.
"They are the Kuja," Ben said. "A tribe of fighters who use Haki," Ben remarked.
"They sound like we will get along just fine," Raki said.
Carnia looked at Ben with a raised eyebrow. "And what about you? If it's a land of men-haters, won't you be executed the moment you step off the ship?" she asked.
"He'll be fine," Kaya said with surprising confidence.
"Totally fine," Vivi agreed as she smiled.
"If anything, they should be the ones who are scared," Zala added with a mischievous smirk.
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. He thought where did all this confidence come from. They're talking like he has already won over the deadliest woman in the world.
At that moment, the A.S.S. Models, HQ, BM, and Dorothy came through the stairs.
"Master," HQ reported. "Naomi andHelsing, have been secured in the prison rooms," she added.
Saphir blinked. "Wait, we have a prison rooms?" she questioned.
"How big is this ship?" Uta questioned.
"It is very big, that we have our own rooms," Vivi replied.
Mikita looked at Saphir. "We do now," Mikita laughed. "This ship keeps evolving," she added.
"When the Miss Love Duck underwent its last major upgrade, the brig was overhauled," BM explained. "The bars and walls are reinforced with Sea Prism Stone," BM added.
"But they don't even have Devil Fruits," Maya pointed out.
"Sea Prism is still the strongest material we have," HQ replied. "It ensures that even the strongest physical fighters can't just break the doors down," she added.
Vivi looked a bit guilty. "I hope I didn't go too far when we captured them," she said.
"You did what you had to, Vivi," Ben reassured her. Ben did think this was the first time they had to use the prisoner room.
"You did beat her and she was going to hurt you," Maya said.
"Dont feel bad," Raki added.
"She is the princess," Robin remarked as she smiled.
Ben thought she was still Vivi. Despite all the fights she still remains herself.
"How is Naomi?" Nojiko asked.
"Physically fine," BM said. "But her pride is wounded. She isn't happy about the loss," she added.
Perona, floating nearby. She had been an enemy not long ago, yet here she was. He really does just… take everyone in, doesn't he, she thought.
"You know," Ben murmured. "Usually, things, well, things tend to go a certain way with the women we meet. But they seem to genuinely dislike me, like Alpha. I guess this confirms it, not every girl is going to fall for me," he joked.
Alvida gave a predatory smirk. "Oh, my sweet, naive love," Alvida purred. "She's just resisting the inevitable. Give it time. Soon, she'll realise what the rest of us already know," she added.
"She's right," Mikita added with a confident grin on her face. "It starts with a scowl, then it turns into curiosity, and before you know it, she's asking Kaya for a check-up just to get near you," she added,
"It's a pattern," Robin remarked smoothly. "Resistance is the first stage of the process," she added.
Kaya let out a long, dramatic sigh. "You really are a hopeless pervert, Ben," she said.
"Our one," Nojiko added.
The rest of the girls laughed in unison
Ben thought he was not going to win this fight.
Honey then spoke and changed the topic. "We have three Life Gems now," Honey said.
"Apoo has the other one," Vivi noted. She thought they had lost one. "We need to get it back if we want the full set," she added.
"Oh, we'll get it," Alvida promised. "No one keeps what belongs to the Love Pirates," she added.
"He is going to get it," Zala added.
"I hear you there," Mikita said. They both looked at each other and nodded.
Carnia looked at the gems with interest. "What's the story with those? Just pretty rocks?" she asked.
"Special jewels," Nojiko answered. "The King of this archipelago offered a reward of 100,000 berries for their return. Apparently, they are used to create a legendary flavor of food for a grand festival," she said.
"Something about the local economy and tradition," Zala summarised.
"The villagers said the King is a good man," Saphir added. "He just wants his people to be happy," she added.
Vivi nodded. "He sounds like a noble man," Vivi remarked.
"I would not go that far," Ben said. "He did risk civilian casualty," Ben added.
"Sometimes it is necessary," Raki added.
"My love, it is getting late and you should be doing your Captain Duties," Alvida said.
"Captain Duties?" Uta questioned.
"I will go and see our guest and head to the Captain`s Room," Ben said as he got up. "I will let you have your girls talk," he added.
"Master, we will come with you," HQ said. BM nodded.
Ben descended into the brig, accompanied by HQ and BM. He walked down the third floor and entered Room 3R4. The air in the prison deck was cool and metallic. He stopped in front of Helsing's cell. The woman looked up.
"HQ, make sure she has fresh clothes and the same food we're eating," Ben ordered quietly. He turned back to Helsing. "I know you aren't happy being here. I don't like keeping people locked up, but until Lytton is dealt with, I can't have you interfering," he said.
Helsing looked at Ben. "You are not a bad looking man," Helsing said. "Maybe I can spend a night with you," she winked.
"What?" Ben questioned.
Helsing facial expression changed. "Like I would," she spat out. She smiled. "You think you've won? Lytton is smarter than you. He has an alliance," she added
Ben thought of an alliance. He could not remember an alliance he had. He thought it had to be someone they met. "With Scratchmen Apoo?" Ben asked calmly. He thought that was worth a shot.
Helsing paused. He thought he was not just a pretty face. She let out a bitter laugh. "Lytton fed that long-armed fool a pile of lies just to get him on board. He told him about a 'Greater Treasure' hidden in the heart of these islands, a treasure that doesn't even exist. Apoo is just a tool to crush you," she said.
Ben looked at her. "A fake treasure, huh? Well, it sounds like Apoo is going to be very disappointed. And usually, when pirates like that get disappointed, they turn on the person who lied to them," Ben said. "Apoo is not an idiot, he is scheming something right now," Ben added.
"Lytton is the smartest person here," Helsing said.
"No he is not," HQ responded.
Helsing looked at the two demons next to Ben. He looked terrifying.
"Where is my booze?" Naomi had shouted. She then looked up and saw Ben. "Ah, the handsome Captain is here," Naomi slurred, a lopsided smirk crossing her face. She leaned her forehead against the cool bars. "What are you planning to do with me, Ben? You've got me in a cage. Are you going to make me talk? Or is this where you try to break me?" she asked. She looked around and saw her bed. "This is pretty luxurious," she remarked.
Ben stepped closer. "I want you to join me, Naomi. I've seen what you can do," he said.
Naomi let out a dry, hacking laugh. "Join you? Just like that? Toss me a bottle and I become your loyal dog?" she said.
"No," Ben responded firmly. "I won't do it by force. I don't keep people against their will. That's not what the Love Pirates are about. Once we set sail from this archipelago, I'm letting you go. You can go back to Mad Treasure but he is captured, or you can find your own way," he added.
Naomi went quiet. She stared at him for a long beat, trying to find the lie in his eyes. "I am not sure if you are a fool or just incredibly arrogant," she muttered. "You think I'm just some prize to be won?" she asked.
"I think you're someone who deserves better than being a pawn for a man like Lytton," Ben replied.
"You're a fool," Naomi snapped. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. She looked up at him through the bars. "A complete and utter fool. In this world, you keep what you catch. You're letting a weapon walk right out the door," she said.
"Maybe," Ben said, turning toward the stairs. "But I'd rather have someone who wants to be here than a prisoner who's waiting to stab me in the back," he added.
Ben walked away. Naomi's voice trailed after him, softer now, fueled by the alcohol and the confusion. "You'll regret it, Captain, being that kind is a death sentence," she said.
HQ and BM looked at her. "Kindness is a weakness but he is not kind either," HQ remarked.
"Even if he is, we are there," BM said as their tails flickered.
Naomi looked at them and thought they were not normal. She walked up and sat on the bed. She thought her own bed was not this soft. "Who are you?" she questioned.