According to the original story, Shakky’s beauty was legendary—almost causing both the Roger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates to fall head over heels, completely captivated by her charms.
This had even led to mixed opinions about the “Future Pirate King’s” reputation among the fans.
“Heh…” Recalling those past complaints from netizens, Ron couldn’t help letting out a soft chuckle from the depths of his throat.
It really was completely absurd, through and through!
“I didn’t think the Kuja Pirates were such big shots.
Was there any need for Rocks to have everyone go out and welcome them?”
“Welcome them?” Kaido’s voice carried clear confusion.
He shook his head.
“Rocks didn’t tell anyone to go welcome them.”
Hearing that, the smile on Ron’s face vanished instantly.
“Then why the hell did you kick my door open?”
Far from feeling guilty, Kaido raised his voice a few notches, bursting with an excitement he took completely for granted: “Are you stupid, Ron?!
I called you so you could come with me to gaze upon Shakky’s beauty, of course!”
The corner of Ron’s eye twitched slightly, and he rolled his eyes hard inwardly: Aren’t you just such a good buddy?
Remembering your brother whenever something nice comes up.
“Go, go on by yourself.
I’m going back to sleep,” Ron let out a long yawn, a physiological tear even welling at the corner of his eye.
Shakky—it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen what she looked like before.
She was just alright.
To him, she wasn’t stunning enough to make him give up his morning nap.
As if he had just heard pure heresy, Kaido’s eyes widened.
He leaned in closer with total disbelief: “Hey, Ron, are you serious?”
Ron had already climbed right back into bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin.
His entire face relaxed into pure, comfortable bliss.
Nothing felt better than going right back to sleep after being woken up early in the morning.
Seeing that Ron was treating him completely like thin air, Kaido didn’t force the matter.
Instead, the corner of his mouth stretched into a meaningful grin: “Just you wait, Ron.
The moment you see Shakky, you’ll regret it.
You’ll regret what a huge mistake you’re making right now.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah~ I sure hope that day comes.” Ron gave a perfunctory reply, his eyes already closed.
Aboard the Saber of Xebec, on the deck.
The first rays of morning sunlight poured unobstructed over the wide deck.
The sea breeze, thick with the scent of salt, brushed across every face.
The Kuja Pirates had already boarded.
Walking at the front, Gloriosa kept her chin slightly raised, trying her best to maintain a proud, composed posture.
Yet half a step behind her, that other presence made all of Gloriosa’s aura completely insignificant.
The moment Shakky took her very first step, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button on the entire deck.
The gazes of the Rocks Pirates’ crew members were helplessly drawn toward that figure.
“Hey, Shakky!
You definitely got my love letter, right?
You must have been deeply moved after reading it!” Amidst the crowd, Gansui was the first to shout at the top of his lungs, his voice trembling with unrestrained excitement.
Hearing his voice, Shakky tilted her head slightly and looked toward Gansui.
With just that simple gesture, her long eyelashes fluttering softly and a faint curve rising at the corner of her lips, her subtle expressions seemed to brighten the entire world by several shades.
Gansui’s heart skipped a beat, as though an invisible hand had gripped it tight before melting it into complete mush.
His mouth opened and closed.
Staring blankly at Shakky, an unnatural flush rose to his cheeks, and he completely lost the ability to think.
“Yes,” Shakky answered softly, her voice gentle.
“It was truly unforgettable.”
Gansui forgot even to breathe, his chest heaving violently, before he roared at the top of his voice: “Please…
please marry me, Shakky!”
Shakky, however, shook her head gently, the smile at the corner of her lips unchanged: “I decline.”
“Ah…” Far from being discouraged, Gansui clutched his hands over his chest and let out a heartfelt sigh, “Even her rejection is so beautiful~~~”
“Hey, Shakky, why don’t you come with me instead?
I definitely won’t let you down,” Golden Lion said, his eyes burning as he stared fixedly at Shakky.
Still keeping her polite yet distant smile, Shakky gave a slight bow: “I’m sorry, Shiki-kun, but I cannot do that.”
She then let out a soft sigh.
Being excessively beautiful really brought far too many troubles.
“Jihahahaha…” Golden Lion burst into loud laughter as expected.
“You really make it impossible for anyone to stay mad at you!”
The trouble with being too beautiful was probably that no matter how she turned someone down, they could never truly get angry.
Shakky’s gaze drifted slightly and landed on the tall figure sitting on the ship’s railing.
“Newgate, long time no see,” Shakky’s voice softened a bit.
“You’re still as majestic as ever, aren’t you?”
Under the gaze of those eyes and the greeting of that voice, even Whitebeard’s breath hitched slightly.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
An awkward, unnatural expression flashed across his face before he forced a stern look and growled gruffly, “Bastard, what nonsense are you saying?”
“‘You’re still as majestic as ever, aren’t you?'” A sarcastic voice drifted over from the side.
Stussy crossed her arms, pursing her lips into an exaggerated pout as she mimicked Shakky’s exact tone word for word, her eyes dripping with mockery.
“Hehehe~~~” Shakky covered her mouth and giggled softly, but did not tease him any further.
Walking ahead of Shakky, Gloriosa’s face was completely dark.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, the veins on her forehead throbbing faintly.
What kind of joke is this…
she roared through gritted teeth in her heart.
I’m terrifyingly beautiful too, so why…
why hasn’t a single person greeted me!
Shakky~~~~ You bastard, you’re far too beautiful!
“Ooh~~”
Amidst this atmosphere, a shrill, mocking voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
“Kaido, you little brat, you’re so young and yet you’re already lovesick~~~”
Having his feelings exposed, Kaido snapped his head around and glared fiercely at Linlin, his voice rushed in defense: “What are you talking about, Linlin!
I am not!”
“My, my~~” Linlin looked at him with an amused expression, her eyes scanning back and forth across his flushed face before she broke into a wide grin.
“Blushing now, are we?
Mamamama~~~”
“I am not!” Unable to handle Linlin’s teasing, Kaido turned around and walked away to put some distance between them.
“Mamamama~~~~!” Linlin merely burst into loud laughter.