"Alright, enough fighting. I'll go first."
Kuke halted the squabble among the women.
He didn't give them a chance to speak.
"What? Do you think I lack the courage to undergo the Eternal Youth Surgery?" Kuke's commanding voice silenced them. "I'm the captain. I'm the man. You all just wait patiently."
With that, he pulled Belo Betty along.
Heading toward the surgery room designated exclusively for her.
Kuke lay down on the operating table.
"What's with the nurse outfit? Why are you dressed like that?" Kuke glanced at Belo Betty, puzzled by the formality.
And if you're going to wear a nurse outfit, at least wear it properly.
Not like usual, with everything half-exposed.
"This is the first time—it needs to be special."
Belo Betty donned her mask.
She activated her powers.
The Room surgical space extended from her palm, encompassing the entire operating room.
A mysterious energy glimmered on her scalpel.
The legendary Eternal Youth Surgery.
In just half an hour, it was over.
The cost was Belo Betty's entire life force.
A surgery that traded life for agelessness.
But with the system's bug, Belo Betty was immediately revived in perfect health.
Two hours later—
Kuke emerged from the surgery room, feeling refreshed, with Belo Betty following, her steps slightly wobbly.
Outside—
Everyone was waiting.
"Captain, how do you feel?" Charlotte Linlin's large, mischievous hands reached out to touch Kuke's perfect physique.
Slap
Smoothie smacked her hand away.
Charlotte Linlin's eyes narrowed as she glared coldly at her rebellious daughter, Smoothie.
"I don't feel much different."
Kuke assessed the changes in his body.
It didn't feel like much had changed.
Perhaps because he was still too young.
The effects weren't immediately obvious.
"But I do feel a change. I feel like I can live for a very, very long time," Kuke concluded, somewhat uncertainly. "Next month, who's up?"
This time, silence fell over everyone.
Though they had fiercely argued earlier—
Now, no one was willing to step forward.
Reiju fully understood the loving atmosphere of the Sun and Moon Pirates.
"Becoming a member of the Sun and Moon Pirates has to be the best thing that's ever happened to me," Reiju thought, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Kuke surveyed the women on his ship.
There were only about twenty crew members.
In two years, everyone could achieve eternal youth.
Achievement points had also surpassed one million.
Everyone's combat strength was steadily rising.
All of it was good news.
"Let's head to Fish-Man Island."
Kuke remembered Princess Shirahoshi, who was still on Fish-Man Island. Once she awakened the power of the Sea Kings—
In this era—
No one would be able to challenge the Sun and Moon Pirates or cause them any trouble.
And so—
The Sun and Moon Pirates once again vanished into the vast ocean.
With each passing month, another member of the Sun and Moon Pirates gained the eternal youth trait.
This time—
The Sun and Moon Pirates truly disappeared from the sea.
In the previous years, they had been quiet, but occasionally someone would still spot them on the ocean.
These past two years—
Almost no one had seen them at all.
In the Calm Belt—
Near the Amazon Lily, on a remote uninhabited island—
Inhabited by ferocious beasts.
Creatures whose strength surpassed many pirates with bounties over a hundred million.
The waters surrounding the island teemed with Sea Kings of various sizes.
On this uninhabited island—
Within a year or two, a palace had been built in its interior.
It became the territory of the Sun and Moon Pirates.
The Calm Belt's natural isolation made it difficult for anyone to find them.
All of this—
Was to allow Princess Shirahoshi closer proximity to the Sea Kings, potentially aiding her in awakening her powers.
It also served as the second base for the Sun and Moon Pirates.
An additional resurrection point.
This island, too, was part of the Sun and Moon Pirates' domain.
Every preparation was for the dawn of a new era.
Time flowed on.
…
"Only three months left."
Kuke calculated the time.
Only three months remained until the ten-year mark.
He sat atop the palace roof, overlooking the entire island.
In the garden below, Nico Robin was reading, exuding an increasingly mature allure.
Kuke smiled faintly.
He spotted Hiyori frolicking with the beasts near the island's edge, a dozen massive creatures, each the size of a house, trailing her.
She had become their master.
In the past two years, these beasts had trained in Haki, and each one was stronger than many formidable pirates.
"Hiyori's skills are getting sharper. Maria, you, the renowned courtesan, can't compare to her anymore," Kuke remarked, retracting his gaze.
Behind him, Black Maria, who was attending to him—
Pouted and said, "Captain, have you grown tired of old loves in favor of new ones?"
Kuke chuckled.
His eyes shifted to Makino in the nearby woods, gathering mushrooms.
He couldn't help but compare in his mind—
Which was better, a cook or a nurse?
The differences between the kitchen and the operating room.
He looked further.
At Princess Shirahoshi playing in the shallow waters.
The calm sea occasionally revealed Sea Kings as large as islands, their eyes filled with human-like emotions as they gazed at her.
Then his eyes turned to Reiju on the island's far side, searching for poisonous herbs.
Suddenly—
She emitted a radiant light.
Her transformation began.
"Such a transformation shouldn't be used in front of outsiders," Kuke remarked, averting his gaze.
He focused on the system panel.
Reviewing the current combat strength of all his crew members.
『The Sun and Moon Pirates—』
『Vice-Captain: "Phoenix Empress" Gion [Zoan-type—Bird-Bird Fruit—Mythical Model—Phoenix Form; Bounty: 』
Compared to ten years ago—
Her bounty hadn't increased much.
Firstly, the Sun and Moon Pirates had been very quiet these ten years.
Secondly, the World Government had deliberately suppressed all information about them, preventing their bounties from rising significantly.
Yet Gion's combat strength had reached 520,000.
Well above the minimum standard of 400,000 for an Emperor-class powerhouse.
Among the Marines' historic Admirals, Gion ranked as one of the strongest.
With the additional benefits of her fruit powers, her overall combat strength could rival opponents with 600,000 in strength.
Combatant: "Violent Woman" Charlotte Linlin [Paramecia-type—Soul-Soul Fruit; Bounty: ]
Charlotte Linlin had once been an Emperor of the Sea.
One of the ocean's most terrifying monsters.
Gifted with immense talent, now restored to her youthful state, she too possessed eternal youth.
Forever young.
In these ten years—
She had surpassed her former peak.
Her combat strength continued to grow, with more room to expand.
Now known as the "Violent Woman," Charlotte Linlin—
Had become one of the top officers in the Sun and Moon Pirates.
With the combined strength of Charlotte Linlin and Gion—
Either could establish themselves as an Emperor of the Sea.
Even without Kuke—
Both could dominate the New World.
They could lead the Sun and Moon Pirates to become the strongest crew on the seas.
Surpassing Whitebeard, the Beasts Pirates, and the Red-Haired Pirates.
Together, they served as Kuke's formidable right and left hands.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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