Solo Pirating - Chapter 93

Chapter 93

7th of May, 1522

Whole Cake Island

“More cake!” bellowed Big Mom, her voice booming through the grand hall of Whole Cake Island. The room was a flurry of activity, her countless children and henchmen scurrying to meet her insatiable demands. The air was thick with the sweet scent of confections and the underlying tension that always accompanied her unpredictable moods.

Tamago strode confidently toward the throne, the rhythmic click of his cane against the marble floor announcing his presence. His monocle glinted in the candlelight as he approached, bowing deeply. “Mama,” he began, his voice smooth and unflinching, “I bring a proposal that could greatly expand our influence.”

Big Mom’s eyes narrowed, her curiosity barely piqued. She leaned back on her towering throne made of confectionery delights, tapping her fingers impatiently. “Speak, Tamago. You know I don’t have patience for idle chatter.”

“A marriage, Mama,” Tamago said, his words hanging in the air like a tantalizing promise. “Gecko Moria, the new king of two countries, seeks an alliance. He has hidden his true strength well.”

Big Mom’s expression remained unimpressed. “Moria? That weakling? Why should I care about him?”

Tamago’s smile widened, revealing a glint of cunning. “Mama, he defeated Jack the Drought. I saw the fight : he easily overpowered him.”

A hush fell over the hall. Katakuri, standing nearby with his arms crossed, frowned deeply. His sharp eyes flicked to his mother, concern etched in his features. Another one of his sisters being married off without having a say in it. But he remained silent, knowing better than to challenge Big Mom’s decisions openly.

Big Mom’s eyes widened, the spark of interest finally ignited. “Jack? Kaido’s Jack?” She leaned forward, her massive form casting a shadow over Tamago.

“Yes, Mama. And that’s not all,” Tamago continued, his voice steady and confident. “According to my sources, Caesar Clown, Dr. Hogback, and Trafalgar Law, the user of the Ope Ope no Mi, are all part of his crew.”

Big Mom’s predatory grin spread across her face, her eyes gleaming with newfound interest. “The Ope Ope no Mi, you say? Now that’s intriguing. This marriage could bring immense power to our family.”

Tamago nodded, feeling the shift in the room’s atmosphere. “Indeed, Mama. Moria’s alliance could secure our dominance in ways we never imagined. His victory over Jack is proof of his newfound strength and cunning.”

Big Mom’s laughter echoed through the hall, a chilling sound that promised both celebration and chaos. “Very well, Tamago. Make the arrangements. This wedding will be an event the world will never forget. And once w integrated Moria's subordinate to our family, well…”

As Tamago bowed and stepped back, Katakuri’s frown deepened, but he held his tongue. The gears of Big Mom’s empire were turning once more, and another sister’s fate was sealed.

He would personally go to tell the good news to Moria.

— — — — — — — — — —

7th of May, 1522

Alabasta

The War Room - well, the meeting Room where Isabella, Robin, Absalom and Bege frequently met - was a place of shadows and whispers, where the fates of kingdoms were decided under the flickering light of ancient chandeliers. The heavy mahogany table at the center bore the weight of maps and strategic plans, its surface scarred from countless deliberations. Nico Robin sat elegantly at the table, her dark eyes sharp and calculating as she nodded at Capone Bege's latest directive.

Robin was dressed in a strict secretary outfit that hugged her curves provocatively. Her black pencil skirt clung tightly to her hips, ending just above her knees, while her white blouse, buttoned low to reveal a tantalizing hint of cleavage, contrasted sharply with the sheer black stockings that emphasized her long legs. Glossy, high-heeled pumps clicked softly against the floor as she shifted in her seat, drawing a quick, appreciative glance from Absalom, their immediate superior. The outfit was as much a tool of her trade as the papers before her, designed to please Moria and maintain her own influence within the complex hierarchy of their alliance. And, she had to admit…she enjoyed the way Moria looked at her, his gaze of desire and dependence. Despite his monstrous appearance, he had a way of growing on her, making her feel both powerful and protected, indispensable and liked for herself. Accepted. Belonging.

"We need to finalize the deal with Drug Peclo regarding the portal," Bege said, his voice steady and commanding. She found it funny, how his voice was commanding…except when he was in front of Moria.

Isabella von Carstein, her long white hair cascading down her back, looked up from her notes. Her red eyes, always calculating, scanned the room before she spoke. "I've secured Peclo's agreement in principle, but he demands assurances regarding the security of his operations. We need to demonstrate that aligning with us will protect his interests and expand his influence."

Robin nodded thoughtfully, her mind already working through the necessary steps. "We can allocate a portion of our forces to guard his territories and offer him trade rights in Alabasta and Dressrosa. That should suffice."

Absalom, the beastly figure and their boss, leaned forward, his expression stern. "Ensure that Peclo understands the importance of this alliance. And its…asymmetry. He needs our portal, we don't need him."

Isabella gathered her papers, her movements fluid and graceful, giving Robin a brief, knowing glance before exiting the room. "I'll finalize the details and ensure everything is ready for tomorrow's meeting with Neptune," she said, her voice fading as she disappeared through the door.

The War Room fell silent, the weight of their responsibilities settling over the remaining trio. Robin rose from her chair, her high heels clicking against the stone floor as she made her way out. Her path led her through the Seraglio, a lavish corridor adorned with silken drapes and soft lighting. Here, the contrast between power and pleasure was stark, the air thick with the scent of exotic perfumes.

She paused briefly, watching Mikita train with Selena Whitefang. Mikita’s once cheerful demeanor had hardened under Selena’s brutal tutelage, her movements now sharp and precise. Selena, with her predatory grace and red hair flowing like fire, barked commands that Mikita followed without hesitation.

Continuing her journey, Robin arrived at the portal between the Seraglio and the West wing. The shadows swirled as she stepped through, the world around her dissolving into a dark, inky void before reforming into the familiar, eerie corridors of Thriller Bark.

Ascending the stone steps, Robin moved with a fluid grace, each step causing her skirt to tighten around her hips, accentuating the seductive sway of her ass. Her movements were deliberate, every step highlighting the taut curve of her buttocks, perfectly framed by the clinging fabric. The rhythmic click of her heels echoed through the corridor.

Reaching the top, she entered Moria’s office, closing the heavy wooden door behind her. Caesar Clown, with his wild, unruly hair and manic eyes, stood to one side, his hands twitching with excitement. Dr. Hogback, hunched and eerie, fiddled with instruments on a nearby table, his skeletal grin ever present. Nami, dressed in a slutty nurse outfit, was the epitome of dark eroticism. Her tight, white dress clung to her voluptuous form, the hem barely covering her thighs, while the deep V neckline exposed her ample cleavage. She moved with a professional air, and she was unusually serious.

Robin’s gaze was immediately drawn to the prosthesis that Caesar and Hogback were adjusting on the table. It was a hand of silver, sleek and futuristic, with intricate designs etched into its surface. She recognized the runes, symbols Nami sometimes used to alter reality, glowing faintly along the fingers and palm. The craftsmanship was exquisite, a blend of advanced technology and ancient magic.

Moria grunted, extending his stump towards the new hand. With a careful precision, Caesar attached the prosthesis, the runes flaring to life as it connected. Moria flexed his new fingers, testing their movement. The hand responded seamlessly, each digit moving as naturally as if it were flesh and bone.

"Good," Moria muttered, his attention still focused on his new appendage. He glanced at Robin briefly, acknowledging her presence with a distracted nod. The novelty and functionality of the hand absorbed him completely.

Caesar, his face a mask of manic satisfaction, proclaimed, "It works perfectly. We can proceed with the next phase."

Nami, her demeanor uncharacteristically serious, added, "The hand is linked with your soul, Lord Moria-daddy-sama, ensuring it will always obey you. However, it is not entirely merged with it, so there should be no danger in proceeding."

Moria extended a shadow tendril, opening a coffer that rested on a nearby pedestal. Robin’s eyes widened as she recognized the contents within. It was the Suna Suna no Mi, the Sand-Sand Fruit, resembling a spherical tan barrel cactus with two stubby arms pointing upwards. The fruit had the typical swirl pattern on it and a green T-shaped stem protruding from the top. The right side of the stem was longer and curled slightly.

She had heard of objects consuming Devil Fruits before, but a prosthetic? The concept was both revolutionary and terrifying. Her eyes remained fixed on the silver hand, now lying dormant but brimming with untapped potential.

Hogback approached with a gleam in his eye, holding the Suna Suna no Mi carefully in his bony fingers. With meticulous precision, he placed the Devil Fruit near the base of the prosthetic.The runes on the hand flared to life, glowing a fierce, eerie green. The fruit seemed to dissolve into the hand, its energy transferring into the metallic structure. The room held its collective breath as the transformation occurred.

Moria watched with a dark, intense gaze, his anticipation palpable. The moment the process was complete, he flexed the fingers of his new hand, testing the weight and responsiveness. A sinister smile crept across his face as he made a deliberate gesture with his wrist.

Instantly, sand began to pour from the palm of the prosthetic, swirling around his arm before cascading to the floor. With another flick of his wrist, the sand rose into the air, forming a miniature tornado that spun violently in the center of the room. The whirling sands moved with a life of their own, obeying Moria’s every command. His smile grew wider, revealing rows of sharp, predatory teeth.

·

"Magnificent," Moria hissed, his voice dripping with malevolent satisfaction. He manipulated the sands effortlessly, shaping them into various forms—first a spiraling pillar, then a slashing blade. The raw power at his fingertips was intoxicating, and he reveled in the display of his newfound abilities.

[Gecko Moria]

Class: Prince of the Abyss

Jobs: King of Alabasta, King of Dressrosa, Prince of Germa

Fruit: Kage Kage no Mi, Partial Suna Suna no Mi [Prothesis, Object-Bound]

Dourikis: 22,969/32,000 → 23,969/32,000

Potential: SS

Fate: SS

Physique : 8,301

Will : 5,791

Soul : 8,877 → 9,877

Turning to face his subordinates, Moria's expression softened slightly, a rare moment of gratitude crossing his monstrous features. "Thank you, all of you. This power... it is beyond anything I could have imagined. Tell me, what do you desire as a reward?"

Hogback and Caesar exchanged a glance before Hogback spoke, his voice eager yet restrained. "We have already been granted unlimited funding for our experiments, Lord Moria. That is all we could ever need."

Caesar nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of scientific discovery. "Indeed, the resources we have now are more than sufficient for our work."

Nami, standing slightly apart from the two men, gave a mischievous smile. "I'll come back for my reward later, Lord Moria. A girl has her needs, after all." She winked before turning to leave, her hips swaying provocatively as she exited the room, followed closely by Hogback and Caesar.

Robin found herself alone with Moria, the atmosphere between them charged with a mix of professional respect and underlying ease. She stepped forward, her heels clicking on the stone floor, and began her report.

"The preparations for tomorrow's meeting with Neptune are complete," she began, her voice steady and measured. "He has indicated a strong inclination to accept our offer of protection. This would mark the first kingdom to swear allegiance to you without you being its direct ruler."

Moria's eyes gleamed with interest. "Excellent. And the letter from Big Mom?"

Robin took a deep breath, her mind racing with the implications of the alliance. "We received a positive response regarding the proposed marriage. She agrees to the union, which will solidify our alliance and strengthen our position considerably."

Moria's grin widened, his delight evident. "Perfect. With Neptune's allegiance and Big Mom's support, our power will be unparalleled."

Robin nodded, feeling the weight of their ambitions pressing down on her. "Indeed, Lord Moria. The path ahead is fraught with challenges, but these alliances will give us the strength we need to overcome them. Additionally, the logistical use of the third portal between the South Blue Line and North Blue is going well. It's proving to be a significant advantage in moving our forces and resources swiftly and efficiently."

Moria's new silver hand brushed against her cheek with surprising gentleness. "You have done well, Robin. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I trust you completely."

Robin smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across her face. The compliment meant more than she could express, a rare moment of vulnerability and connection between them. She felt a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose in her role within Moria's empire.

"Thank you, Moria," she replied softly.

Moria's eyes gleamed with a new intensity. "There's something else, Robin. Big Mom has many Poneglyphs, including a Road Poneglyph. We will try to read them, whether she agrees or not."

Robin's eyes widened with excitement, her smile growing as wide as a child's in a candy shop. The prospect of accessing such valuable and ancient knowledge was beyond thrilling. Her heart raced at the thought of the secrets they could uncover, the power they could wield with that information.

"A Road Poneglyph," she whispered, almost in reverence.