Chapter 339: The Appointment of the Flying Six and the Swimwear Segment
The pain from the hangover made Eric's head feel like a mush, and his good-looking eyebrows furrowed slightly. At that moment, a cold finger gently smoothed out the furrowed brows, and Eric's slightly painful expression also eased away along with the crease in his forehead.
"Water..." His brain unconsciously made a request, but was stopped by a pair of full, luscious lips.
The sensation of being squeezed all over, the sweet drink in his mouth, and the faint fragrance around him made Eric immediately wake up.
"Mm?" He forced his heavy eyelids open, and saw a woman smiling gently at him.
"It's Esdeath… you scared me."
A sense of relief surged through him, and his eyelids seemed to be bound by a heavy weight, about to droop again.
"Oh?" Esdeath raised an eyebrow, "So, who did you think it was?"
A chill ran up Eric's spine, and his internal crisis management system immediately triggered the highest level of loud alarms.
Feigning sleep deprivation, Eric buried his head, rubbing his cheek forcefully, pretending he didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?"
"Heh..." Esdeath let out a laugh that felt like a tickle, then ran her finger through Eric's hair, deeply inhaling, "Ah... it's Eric's scent."
"Uh... I don't think I took a shower last night..." Eric tilted his head back, desperately trying to create more distance between them.
"No, this scent is just perfect..." Esdeath extended both hands, pulling Eric's head closer forcefully, an intense pressure suddenly pushing him back into her softness.
"Hey, hey, hey??" A muffled voice came from her chest, making Esdeath feel a tingling sensation all over her body.
"Hu..." After a while of this behavior, Esdeath finally showed a satisfied expression, "Eric's nutrient supply has been completed."
Eric mumbled with a dark line on his forehead, "I'm not a cat…"
"Where are you going?" A fierce light flickered in Esdeath's scarlet eyes, as she grabbed Eric, who was about to get up.
"I, I, I..." Under Esdeath's predatory gaze, Eric began stuttering uncontrollably.
"Bang!" Esdeath flipped over suddenly, pushing Eric into the soft bed, her white teeth biting the other ear that Kurumi didn't bite yesterday, "No leaving!"
...
"Are you leaving today?" Gan Ford looked surprised.
"Yeah." Eric supported his waist with his hand and explained, "I have to chase after my dreams, I can't stay in one place for too long."
He then gave a signal to Gin , who brought out a package from behind.
"This is the seed of plants from the East Blue. I paid attention to the plants in Apayado and specifically brought food seeds that don't exist in Apayado from the East Blue."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Gan Ford received the package with trembling hands.
"There are more than a hundred types of plants, and the planting methods for each ingredient are written here." Eric pulled out a notebook from his chest, "But these are just East Blue's planting experiences, for your reference."
"Apayado will always remember your kindness!"
Seeing that the members behind him had boarded the ship, Eric said his final goodbye, "We are heading back to the East Blue. May we meet again one day!"
Weipa seriously responded, "When Kurei arrives here, I must visit the East Blue!"
"The East Blue has many strong people, you better not slack off in your training."
"Definitely!"
"Weipa!" Kamachi ran out from behind, "They didn't take all the gold, there's still a lot of gold they deliberately left behind!"
"What...?" Weipa turned and looked at the already distant ship, "These idiots."
Perona, with a face full of tears, said, "Why leave so hastily when there's still so much gold left behind…"
"That gold is for Kurei." Eric curled his lips, "Besides, you won't get much gold."
"Wh-what?! How could this be?" The expression on Perona's face clearly showed her dismay.
"Because that gold has always belonged to us. We just came to take it today."
Ignoring the rolling Perona, Eric turned to ask, "Da Vinci, how's your progress with the 'Bloodline Factor' research?"
"I've completed the fusion of the 'Bloodline Factor,' integrating the genes of two animals, combining their strengths and... flaws."
"Ah?"
"I perfectly mixed the 'Bloodline Factor' of a cat and a dog. It has the loyalty of a dog and the agility of a cat, but…"
"But…?"
"It's extremely curious, and likes to eat *."
"…Can't you remove that flaw?"
"Sorry, I'll have to remold it." Da Vinci spread his hands.
"Eh? It could have been a companion for Carla u."
"I'm not a cat! I'm an Overcomer!" Carla u's white fur stood on end, and the purring from her belly sounded like a drumbeat.
"Yes, yes," Eric responded dismissively.
"Damn it!"
"Hahaha," Wendy laughed bitterly, comforting the angry Carla u.
Da Vinci assured them, "With the experience of the first experiment's failure, the next 'Bloodline Factor' fusion will definitely succeed."
Eric encouraged, "Of course, you're a genius among geniuses!"
"Eric-kun's words are so sweet. I'm going to the lab now!"
Eric glanced at Robin, who was deep in thought in the corner, "Have you finished decoding the historical texts of Skypiea?"
"Mm..." Robin hesitated and then asked, "Captain, do you want me to tell you what I decoded?"
"...No." Eric shifted his gaze, "I don't need the power of ancient weapons."
Robin was surprised, "Captain, you can read the historical texts?"
"I can't understand those strange drawings, but I can tell from your expression that you don't want to tell me the real contents."
"…"
"I won't force you to do what you don't want to do, so you can trust your captain as much as possible."
"…Thank you, Eric."
The newly appointed disaster Jack slapped the shoulder of the shark muscle and said, "From today, you're one of the Flying Six!"
"Heh." Shark Muscle grinned, glancing at the other Beast Pirates members, "You're appointing me to the Flying Six like this? A lot of people won't be happy."
"Then beat them." Jack widened his eyes and loudly announced in front of everyone, "Listen up! Today only, anyone who can defeat Shark Muscle in a one-on-one fight can kick him out of the Flying Six and take his place!"
"Is what you said true, Lord Jack?!"
"Then I'll defeat Shark Muscle today!"
Many of the Beast Pirates were eager to try, the blades in their hands clanging, eager to drink Shark Muscle's blood.
"Jack, you've really made things difficult for me." Shark Muscle took the Samehada off his back, "Bang," smashing the ground in front of him.
"I believe in your strength," Jack said, looking down at him, "Shark Muscle, don't disappoint me."
The pirates, blinded by their status, didn't care about the gap in strength. The Beast Pirates always valued strength above all else.
Whoever had the bigger fist and greater strength had the higher status!
"I'll go first!" Dopon jumped out from the crowd. Since Caesar hadn't developed the artificial Devil Fruit machine yet, he hadn't consumed the artificial Devil Fruit to gain the ability to turn into a hippopotamus.
Dopon wielded two daggers and charged at Shark Muscle.
"Your attack is too predictable!" The Samehada wrapped in white bandages sliced through the air, the whistling sound smashing both daggers away.
"What...?" Dopon was stunned.
"Don't space out~" Shark Muscle's second strike followed, the sharp spikes cutting through Dopon's muscles, slashing him from top to bottom, sending him flying backward.
The members behind Dopon caught him, and those nearby rushed over to examine his injuries, sucking in a cold breath.
A huge gash almost split his body in half, some flesh hanging loosely, blood gushing from the wound, and parts of his intestines were visible through the gaps.
"Ship doctor!" The pirates, accustomed to severe injuries, quickly shouted for the ship's doctor.
Shark Muscle forcefully swung his shark muscle, clearing the meat and blood that had stuck to the spikes, "Continue, next one."
With a screeching sound, another challenger rushed at Shark Muscle.
On the nearby building, King and Queen stood on high ground, overlooking the arena.
"Is it really okay to let Jack do whatever he wants?" Queen still treated Jack like a child, "He's only been the big banner for a while, and now he's appointing someone to the Flying Six. What about my face?"
"Well, the position of the Flying Six was still vacant, so letting him appoint someone strong isn't a problem," King mocked, "Jack's just filling a gap in the Flying Six for you!"
"What did you say?! Perverted interrogator!"
Queen's neck wobbled as she moved.
Flames began to ignite on King's head.
The fiery clash of words between King and Queen continued on the tall building.
As the battles continued, Shark Muscle continued to absorb his opponents' stamina and conquer their will, sending it through the sword handle to Shark Muscle. At this point, Shark Muscle was like an unrelenting monster battling without exhaustion.
"Shark Muscle… isn't he tired?" One of the challengers lay on the ground, panting, unable to believe the amount of damage around him.
"He's like an undying monster…" Another one echoed.
"Any more challengers?" Shark Muscle wasn't without injury, his coat torn by sharp blades, some blood seeping through. However, with the shark muscle's fast recovery, the wounds hidden under his coat were already healed.
"Since there are no more challengers, Shark Muscle
will be part of the Flying Six!" Jack loudly declared.
No one objected to Jack's appointment. On the sea, pirates respect the strong. Power is the only truth, and Shark Muscle's immense strength had won their respect, and they had no words left to oppose.
"Jack really dug up a talented person." King acknowledged.
"Hmph."
After a week of sailing, the Fearless arrived at the third island of the seventh route—Sassou.
Eric had also unintentionally avoided the "little fangirls" chasing him and reached this summer island.
Because of the report from half a month ago, the pirates of the seventh route quickly rushed to their destination, and the pirates who had been resting on Sassou quickly disappeared.
After a long time at sea, the members aboard the ship were accumulating fatigue, and this was a good opportunity to let everyone rest and give Eric's eyes a break.
The crystal-clear sea, the dazzling warm sun, the scalding golden sand, and the women in swimsuits...
Under the sunshade, Eric hid his lecherous gaze behind sunglasses, scanning the women on the beach a smile that seemed to be understood by all.
"Brother-in-law, your smile is a little..." Kurome shrank her neck, "Like a pervert."
"…"
"I remember Eric likes to look at Esdeath..." Akame started reminiscing.
"Don't, don't do that, Akame!" Eric begged, "I was wrong, I'll treat you to the food on this island later!"
"Glug" Akame swallowed the saliva that had built up and nodded, accepting Eric's bribe, "Deal."
"Sister, why don't you tell us your brother-in-law's hobbies?" Kurome clung to Akame, trying to extract information.
Using food to bribe the foodie Akame, Eric secretly glanced at Kurome's swimsuit behind his sunglasses.
It wasn't a bold bikini, but a black sports swimsuit decorated with white lace, youthful and vibrant, yet still tempting.
Feeling Eric's gaze, Kurome shrank her body back but then boldly pushed her chest forward, "Brother-in-law, how does my swimsuit look?"
"Simply perfect!" Eric gave a thumbs up, "The sports swimsuit looks amazing."
"Ha…" Kurome lowered her shoulders, "Why praise the swimsuit?"
"Uh…" Realizing his mistake, Eric quickly corrected himself, "It's because you're wearing it that the sports swimsuit looks so good! It's not the swimsuit itself, it's you who makes it perfect!"
Kurome blushed, "Wh-what…"
[Kurome's affection level increased, bond level unchanged.]
At this moment, Miku , wearing a daring and enticing purple bikini, ran over while shouting, "Darling~" and bouncing the ball.
Eric's gaze was immediately pulled toward her, the large, smooth skin of her chest attracting his attention, with her white, tender thighs swaying back and forth, creating waves of temptation.
"Tch…" Kurome clicked her tongue from the side.
Narrator: Cuteness is nothing in the face of sexiness!
"Come play volleyball!" Miku flashed a pure smile as she grabbed Eric's right hand.
"You guys play," Eric thought: 'It's more interesting watching you guys play volleyball.'
Akame spoke the words Eric was thinking: "Eric thinks it's more interesting watching you play volleyball."
Eric: "…"
"I see…" Miku looked disappointed.
"That's why we came to the beach, to let you guys rest and have fun!" Eric tried to lessen the negative impact of Akame's words.
"Ah, actually, it's for your unspeakable purposes, right~" Kurumi's teasing voice came from behind.
Eric shot Kurumi a "don't expose me" look, but his gaze couldn't leave her: the black bikini base, maximizing elements like temptation and charm, combined with her snow-white skin—Kurumi truly is a seductress!
(END CHAPTER)
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