Karina froze at Souta Kiryuu's threat, her heart sinking in despair. Could her singing really amuse a man like him? Would she even get another chance? She didn't want to be tossed into the sea and left behind.
"Souta-sama… can I call you Souta-nii?"
Nami reacted instantly, slipping into character like a cunning little kitten. She clung to Souta's arm, her wide eyes shimmering with tears, her face soft and pitiful. Anyone would feel protective just looking at her.
Karina blinked in shock at the sudden shift. Good heavens—this cat burglar had instantly switched into full performance mode.
"Souta-sama, I want to call you Souta-nii too~"
Karina abandoned the idea of singing and copied Nami instead, clutching his other arm, her tone even more syrupy, her smile sweet and calculating.
"…."
Nami shot Karina a cold glance. Their eyes locked for a moment, sparks of rivalry flashing between them. But both knew this wasn't the time for infighting. Survival came first.
"Actually," Souta chuckled, "I'd prefer if you called me… Papa Souta."
"Papa Souta~!" they chorused together without hesitation, their voices honey-sweet and their demeanor softer than silk.
"That's better." Souta smirked, rewarding them with a warm smile, encouraging them to double their efforts.
"Papa Souta, are you happy now? Will you help me deal with a pirate? Just a small-time East Blue scum worth twenty million berries."
Nami tightened her hold on his arm, pressing her body against him, her voice soft and pleading. For the sake of Cocoyasi Village, she would gamble everything.
"Papa Souta, I'll massage your shoulders!" Karina added quickly, less daring than Nami, but desperate to live.
"Not bad. Both of you are doing well. I'm… entertained." Souta leaned back, letting the two girls fawn over him. Their skills were clumsy compared to Baby 5 or Conis, but their raw earnestness had its own novelty.
"Papa Souta, please~ won't you help me?" Nami pressed harder, her eyes fierce with determination. If this man would eliminate Arlong and his crew, Cocoyasi Village—and all the villages nearby—would finally be free.
"Eliminating a twenty-million berry fish-man is nothing for me," Souta replied with a teasing smile. "But the price of my help is very high."
"Papa Souta, I'm begging you!"
Nami suddenly braced herself, seized his face, and kissed him.
Karina's eyes went wide. This cat burglar really dared to go that far? Did she need to follow suit, or risk being discarded into the sea? This wasn't how the game was supposed to be played!
"Papa Souta… is that enough?" Nami whispered, her cheeks burning. She had gone all in—if this didn't sway him, she would pay dearly.
"You realize if I help you, the World Government might assume you're connected to me. That could bring disaster to your entire village," Souta said casually, tasting her lips as if they were nothing more than a passing distraction.
"What… what should I do then?" Tears welled in Nami's eyes. She had almost forgotten who this man truly was—the world's most infamous criminal, the God-Slayer. Anyone tied to him was doomed. The Sorbet Kingdom had been annihilated simply for harboring one of his subordinates.
If he helped Cocoyasi Village, would it just bring the wrath of the Celestial Dragons upon them? The thought left her trembling.
"Relax. I'll deal with Arlong's crew quietly," Souta murmured, pulling her close, his arm slipping around her waist.
"Really?" Nami looked up at him, her heart pounding. For a moment, she saw not a monster, but a man—one who defied the Celestial Dragons and stood against the World Government. A villain to the world above… but perhaps a hero to the oppressed.
"I can't help it," Souta said with a half-smile, half-truth. "I like you."
Their eyes met, and Nami's heart skipped wildly. She quickly looked away, unable to face the intensity in his gaze.
Karina's mouth fell open. What was happening before her eyes? A world-renowned outlaw and an East Blue thief… connecting just like that? It was absurd.
"Come on. Let's go deal with Arlong's crew. After that, I head for Loguetown." Souta rose with a grin. For now, he had won Nami's heart. Later, when she grew stronger, he intended to claim her entirely.
"Papa Souta… what about me?" Karina blurted. She couldn't stand the thought of being discarded.
"Are you alone? If so, you can join us. Or… I can introduce you to the world's richest man, Gild Tesoro. With your voice, you could become a diva to rival Uta herself." Souta pulled the fox-like thief into his other arm. Even he was surprised—this little crook could one day rise to the level of a global superstar.
"The richest man in the world…?" Karina's eyes lit up. Stealing and singing—those were her two loves. Following Souta into battles and bloodshed had never been her dream. But becoming a world-class songstress? That was temptation beyond compare.
"Since you've both called me Papa Souta, you belong to me now. Don't go batting your eyes at other men." Souta gave each of them a playful swat that turned their faces crimson.
"So, will you leave on this little boat… or ride with Nami on my back?"
Souta's body shifted, scales glimmering as he soared into the air, transforming into a massive dragon wreathed in flames.
"A dragon… a real dragon! Can we really sit on you?"
Both girls shrieked with excitement. To ride upon the back of the thirty-billion-berry God-Slayer—it was an honor beyond imagination.
"I'm going with you to Cocoyasi Village!" Karina shouted, abandoning all thought of her tiny ship. Riding a dragon was an opportunity no thief in the world could resist.
Together, the two girls hauled their treasures aboard Souta's broad back. For the first time in their lives, they took flight.
For Nami, the feeling was overwhelming. At last, she was returning to Cocoyasi with real hope. With Souta's power, Arlong's tyranny would end, and her village could finally know peace.
"Flying… it feels amazing!"
High above the clouds, Souta's body shimmered, vanishing into invisibility. The sudden shift nearly made the two girls scream, thinking they'd plummet.
"Invisible too?!"
Their eyes shone with awe. For thieves like them, invisibility was the ultimate dream. With such a gift, no treasure in the world would be beyond their reach.
From the moment they mounted Souta's dragon form, both their perspectives shifted. The so-called most feared criminal of the seas didn't seem so terrifying after all. He had let them ride his dragon back… something they never could have imagined.
Maybe—just maybe—this man wasn't a devil.