November 13, 1500, Age of the Sea Circle
A cold wind blew harshly, striking directly against the three people aboard the small sailboat. In the East Blue, at this time of year the winter chill could already be felt, although at least the sailing conditions still remained favorable.
Two days had passed since Orion had relapsed into his addiction of kidnapping people, and his two new subordinates were now following his orders, keeping the boat on course while he lay back on a deck chair, resting after his morning training session.
Orion pulled a stone from his pocket and, using his Art Coating ability, transformed it into a small bell, which he rang twice. Immediately, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard as Reira rushed forward in response to her "master's" summons.
Orion had taken his time "taming" Reira two days earlier, and he had finally managed to make her succumb beneath his whip, accepting her role as his subordinate. Now, Orion had her acting as his maid, assisting him with all sorts of mundane little tasks—and Reira was truly enjoying it.
Still, Orion hadn't gone so far in his sadistic efforts. Of course, he had not forced the beautiful young woman into having sex with him, since no matter how much of a masochist she might be, Orion could never do something that went against his most basic principles.
That being said, he wasn't opposed to some role playing in the future if Reira truly wanted it. But first, he wanted to win her heart and make her his lover, and considering the favorability displayed on the system's screen, it probably wouldn't be long before he took that step with the sensual pirate.
"Master, what can I do for you?" asked Reira, dressed in a classic maid uniform, the kind Orion had seen countless times in the anime of his past life.
Seeing that Reira was completely immersed in her act, Orion played along and replied casually,
"Give me a massage, my shoulders feel a bit stiff."
"Yes, master!" Reira answered, stepping forward and positioning herself behind Orion before beginning to massage him.
Although she was now role playing as Orion's maid, she didn't remain in this state continuously, since both she and Orion would quickly grow bored of it. Instead, they had tacitly agreed to maintain this dynamic for certain hours of the day, during which she could be ordered around at Orion's will, and even lightly humiliated by him.
The rest of the time, however, she remained in her "normal" form—the same one Orion had seen from the beginning—with her slightly arrogant and haughty tone. Orion found this stark contrast in Reira's behavior quite interesting, and it made the sea voyage far less dull.
In short, Orion and Reira had reached an unspoken agreement, and they were having a great deal of fun with their role playing.
On the other hand, Garride behaved far more cautiously around Orion. After waking up from his abduction, Orion hadn't needed to "persuade" him again to join his kingdom as a subordinate; the young man had cheerfully agreed to follow Orion, respecting his strength.
Now Garride called Orion "boss" and carried himself with an attitude even more servile than Reira's. Still, Orion had no intention whatsoever of role playing with this bizarre young man who always kept a rose in his mouth, so he simply treated him as he treated his other subordinates.
Orion's plan was for these two new recruits to eventually join Olive's pirate crew, which was beginning to gain some fame in the South Blue. After all, they were pirates, and perhaps that was the life they truly wanted to live. Under Olive's command they could not only hone their skills but also help his dear wife with her pirating endeavors.
Even so, Orion didn't intend to send Reira and Garride to Pacific Kingdom immediately, having decided instead that they would accompany him for a while longer. Traveling alone could be very boring, and it was good to have the company of these two eccentric pirates. Besides, Orion felt that his bond with them could still grow stronger.
It wasn't as if he wanted to do certain role plays with Reira… There were definitely more important reasons to keep them around…
"Mmm."
A nasal moan brushed against Orion's ear, and he felt Reira press her breasts against his neck, letting her entire weight sink onto him as she melted like clay.
Orion's breathing quickened slightly, and glancing sideways at Garride, he cleared his throat faintly and tilted his head a little, feeling the soft touch of the pirate girl against him.
"Mmm!" Reira's voice sounded again, as if she were perhaps enjoying the situation a little too much.
Orion remained silent, savoring the massage for a while, before deciding it was time to repay the favor and let Reira enjoy what she liked as well. At once his brow furrowed, and his expression turned icy.
Abruptly, he stood up from the deck chair he was sitting in and pulled a whip from his inventory.
"Damn bitch, you can't even give a decent massage?! I think it's time I gave you a new lesson!" Orion said aggressively.
Reira's body trembled visibly, and lowering her head with flushed cheeks, she replied,
"Yes, Master. Forgive my incompetence… Punish me."
From the side, Garride saw that Orion and Reira were once again about to start their strange daily activities, and with great tact he withdrew to give them privacy, focusing instead on keeping the sailboat steady on course just as Orion had ordered him. Behind him, the incessant sound of the whip could be heard.
…
November 14, 1500, Age of the Sea Circle
"Orion! Land ahead!" shouted Garride, who was watching the distance through a spyglass.
Orion, who had been training with his sword, stopped and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel while opening the system's map for a quick look. Seeing that the marker indicating Bello Betty's presence was nearby, Orion confirmed that they had reached the base of the Revolutionary Army's East Branch.
Bello Betty was the only Named Character in this place, and Orion had met her during the Sorbet incidents and the founding of the organization. She had been part of the Freedom Fighters and was one of the original members of the Revolutionary Army.
Even so, what caught Orion's attention the most about Bello Betty was her age, since she was only fourteen! And what was even more surprising was that she had already been part of the Freedom Fighters at just twelve years old.
She was without a doubt one of the most talented people within the organization, and her future was very promising. Orion had used an Insight Card to analyze her abilities and was surprised to find that her talent was quite high, even for a Named Character.
At present, she was the Vice Commander of the Eastern Army, which clearly demonstrated her remarkable talent. At first, Orion had wanted her to remain in the South Blue, together with Ginny. That way, Orion could build a closer relationship with her and add her strength to his kingdom. However, Dragon had decided that the best course of action was to send her to the East Blue along with Lara, so that she could learn to be independent and fully develop her talent.
Even though no one had explicitly said it, it was well known within the Revolutionary Army that Betty was being trained as the future Commander of the Eastern Army.
"Orion, what are our plans now?" asked Reira seriously from the side.
She was no longer in her "maid mode," which she so thoroughly enjoyed, but had returned to her normal behavior. Still, the arrogance with which she had interacted with Orion before had completely and involuntarily vanished, though she remained quite serious and formal.
"Now we'll go see some of my friends, and then we'll travel to the North Blue. There's no need for you to know the specific information," Orion said, without offering much detail.
Even though Reira and Garride were his subordinates now, and their high favorability indicated the possibility of betrayal was minimal, it was best not to reveal too much about the Revolutionary Army's activities.
Reira nodded seriously and didn't ask further, limiting herself simply to gazing into the distance, where an island had appeared on the horizon.
Meanwhile, a notification rang in Orion's mind, and a new alert appeared on the system's screen.
*Ding*
*The "Native Hunt" competition is taking place on Cavalieri Island in the Grand Line (Paradise). If you wish to participate, you must arrive at the location within the next 24 hours.*
Orion looked at the now-familiar notification, sighing over his inability to act. Even though he was much stronger now, he still couldn't change the world in any dramatic way. In places unknown to him, tragedies were unfolding constantly, and he only learned about the native hunts thanks to the system's periodic reminders.
If there was something Orion desired, it was to reach a level of power where he could erase this damned competition, though he was clearly far from achieving such a feat. With the World Government and the Marines behind them, the Celestial Dragons would not stop.
His master Roger had told him that after the incident at God Valley the competition had supposedly never been held again, but evidently the Celestial Dragons hadn't abandoned their despicable activities; perhaps they had only increased the level of secrecy with which they carried them out.
Orion tried not to dwell on it too much, since there was nothing he could do at the moment. Even with Kuma's help, he would not be able to reach an island in the Grand Line in time to stop the competition, and the system did not offer him the option to forcefully transport himself there, apparently only doing so when a highly compatible woman was involved.
Orion did not understand why the system had such restrictions, but he conjectured it was because the system considered that the risk he would face by going to a Native Hunt, compared to the rewards, did not justify his participation. After all, if Orion died, everything would end.
On the other hand, women with high compatibility seemed to have a special role within the system, and that was why Orion was allowed to take part in dangerous events despite the risks. Orion had not yet bound any companion as his "Main Wife," so he didn't know what changes would occur, but considering the rewards he had received when registering his secondary wives, he believed there would probably be a significant change at that point.
After sailing for another hour, Orion and his two companions reached the island where the Eastern Army's base was located. Orion did not bother taking the complicated route that led to the island's hidden port. Instead, he simply opened a door in the air, letting Reira and Garride step into the Pocket Dimension, then stored the sailboat inside the system's inventory and headed to the island on his own, as he usually did.
Once he reached the shore, he used Soru and dashed toward the center of the island while simultaneously deploying his Observation Haki to avoid triggering the multiple traps scattered throughout the terrain.
This was the main base of the Revolutionary Army in the East Blue, and as such it was kept in absolute secrecy. From the outside it appeared to be an uninhabited island, but if one managed to venture deep enough toward the center and pass through an underground rock formation, they could successfully reach the Revolutionary base.
Even so, the revolutionaries were always prepared to be discovered by the Government or the Marines, and they would not hesitate to abandon this base if that ever happened. The very establishment of the base had been planned with that possibility in mind.
Orion took out a Den Den Mushi and called Lara to inform her of his arrival and avoid any misunderstandings. After all, not everyone in the organization knew Orion, and if he suddenly appeared here without notice, it could cause serious problems.
Lara answered Orion's call and cheerfully told him she would send Bello Betty to meet him.
Once the call ended, Orion sped up toward the revolutionary base, and it only took him half an hour to arrive and find Betty waiting for him there.
"Orion! Here, over here!" said the young revolutionary, waving her hand happily.
Bello Betty had a very gentle and friendly personality, and she was beloved by everyone who came into contact with her. Orion did not know the girl's personal story, but members of the Revolutionary Army usually carried tragic pasts.
Most likely, the girl who had joined the cause at just twelve years old was no different, and that was precisely why it was so valuable to the other members that she always displayed an optimistic and lively demeanor. Her mere presence motivated them to work harder and fight for the cause, and it had to be admitted that even at such a young age, Bello Betty had incredible charisma. It was no wonder Dragon wanted to train her as a future commander.
Orion stopped in front of Betty, and before he could say a word, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Orion! I missed you so much! You have no idea how boring this place is, we do nothing but paperwork all day and there's no action at all. Can't you take me with you to your kingdom? I want to be with Ginny!" Betty spoke in a coquettish, honeyed tone, like a girlfriend demanding her partner's attention.
Feeling the soft sensation of Betty's body pressed against his chest, Orion couldn't help but sigh and think that she truly was incredibly talented, even at such a young age. Still, he knew what limits not to cross, so he simply freed himself from her embrace and placed a friendly hand on her head.
"How have you been, Betty? I missed you too, but I can't take you to the South Blue. Orders from Dragon," Orion said with a smile, gently caressing the girl's purple hair.
Bello Betty puffed one of her cheeks and put on an offended expression.
"Don't lie to me, I know that if you asked Dragon, he would listen to you. Even our Commander Lara says over and over that you're one of the pillars of the organization!"
Orion smiled bitterly and didn't try to refute Betty further, since she was right. If Orion really asked Dragon to transfer Betty to the South Blue, it was almost certain the revolutionary leader would agree. However, Orion had no intention of doing so, for he had changed his mind and now also believed that the best place for Betty to develop was in the East Blue.
Because of her talent, she needed to gain leadership experience, and if she were in the Pacific Kingdom, her talent would be stifled by the fact that there were too many gifted individuals there. In the South Blue, in its current state, Betty could only be a secondary figure, and her growth would be hindered. It was better for her to remain here and let her talent blossom. Perhaps there would be an opportunity in the future to recruit her into his kingdom once she had matured a bit more.
With that thought in mind, Orion showed a crafty smile and said,
"How about this, when you turn eighteen, if you can prove that you've grown in both combat power and leadership, I'll ask Dragon to let me take you to the South Blue."
Bello Betty immediately abandoned her "offended" posture and clasped Orion's hands, pressing them against her chest.
"Are you telling the truth? If you're lying, I'll never forgive you!" Betty said, her eyes shining as she imagined being able to return to Pacific Kingdom, where there were all sorts of fascinating things and people, so different from her current place of residence.
"Of course! It's a promise," Orion replied, stretching out his pinky finger with the intention of making a classic oath. But Betty completely ignored his gesture, instead raising both hands joyfully and once again throwing herself against him, grabbing his head and pressing it against her chest while she bounced with excitement.
After a few minutes, Orion finally managed to escape Betty's grip, and as he cleared his throat, he thought to himself that she truly was very talented. According to the system's information, she possessed a great gift for motivating and persuading people, and in this moment Orion genuinely felt that it wasn't difficult at all to be persuaded by this cheerful girl, though perhaps in his case it was a little different from how the system had evaluated it.
With Bello Betty as his guide, Orion entered the Eastern Army's base without any problems, and to his surprise, he was not led to the central barracks to meet with Lara. Instead, Betty took him directly to the dormitories.
Just as Orion was about to ask about it, they arrived at a room, and after the girl knocked on the door, both of them entered. Orion then found himself face-to-face with the leader of the Eastern branch of the Revolutionary Army, Lara, who was lying in bed, her entire body wrapped in bandages.
Orion raised his eyebrows in surprise, as he had not known she was in such a condition, and instinctively moved closer to examine her injuries. His skill in medicine had shaped his personality, and he could not look at a patient without wanting to check their condition.
Noticing Orion's automatic movements, Lara showed a friendly smile and said,
"Orion, it's good to see you. I'm sorry you have to see me in such a pathetic state, but I ran into some trouble during a mission not long ago."
Orion examined Lara's condition and managed to gather quite a bit of information from her wounds. Although her life was not in danger, her injuries were not minor, and she would probably remain bedridden for at least two more months.
Without hesitation, Orion purchased a Health Brownie from the system's shop and offered it to Lara.
"Here, this will help you recover faster. As for your condition, since when has it ever been shameful to be wounded on the battlefield? If anything, I'd like to thank you for your work," Orion said with a kind smile, which made the usually stern Lara blush slightly.
"Thank you," Lara said, taking the Brownie in both hands and eating it without hesitation, showing the trust she had in Orion.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Orion asked, curious about the incident that had left her in such a state.
Lara finished swallowing the Brownie, then sighed as the memories of what had happened nearly two months earlier resurfaced.
"It was a tragedy. We were operating in the Kingdom of Oykot, trying to prevent its destruction, but in the end, we weren't able to stop it," said the revolutionary leader with a certain sadness.
...
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