One Piece : Wild Hunt

After fooling around in the bath for a bit, Thomas, followed closely by Caenis, made his way to the main dining hall. There, he found nearly everyone was already present. Lucy was even a little red in the face as she danced alongside Astolfo and a somewhat nervous-looking Usopp. The latter wasn't too good with women, but Lucy and Astolfo didn't seem to care as they forced him to accompany them.
Noticing Thomas, Lucy's smile broadened as she shouted, "Tom! Come and dance with us~!"
Though he would have politely refused under any other circumstance, Thomas only hesitated briefly before joining Lucy and Usopp atop the table. They were about to part for upwards of two, maybe even three years, so he set aside his usual inhibitions and decided to enjoy himself.
Seeing Thomas willfully submit to Lucy's antics, Nami remarked, "You're right. He really is behaving differently..."
Nodding her head, Vivi replied, "I'm not sure if he's just putting on an act, but he's a lot more...assertive than before."
Turning her attention to Vivi, Nami asked, "Oh? How so...?" in a curious tone. The faint blush on Vivi's face told a story in and of itself, but she was interested in hearing the specifics.
Instead of responding to Nami's inquiry, Vivi reached up to massage the heat out of her cheeks. It was just her, Nami, Robin, and the ever-silent Artoria seated together, but she didn't think it was proper to mention how she and Thomas had nearly knocked over a bookshelf when their make-out session got particularly 'intense.'
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, Robin cupped her right cheek as she playfully mused, "How enviable. It must be very 'fulfilling' to have a man as passionate as Tom as a lover..."
Catching Robin a little off guard, Vivi looked her in the eyes as she said, "I'm pretty sure you're one of the girls Tom had his eyes on from the very beginning. Since we'll be working together toward a common goal, I don't mind if you want to start a relationship with him..."
Contrasting the incredulous look on Nami's face, Robin maintained her usual smile as she closed her eyes and replied, "I would be lying if I said I hadn't given it some thought. Before my encounter with Tom, I had just about given up on my dream of locating the Rio Poneglyphs and learning the true history of the world. After all, it took more than twenty years just to ascertain the location of a single Poneglyph. Now, with some help from Astolfo, I could locate the remainder with relative ease..."
Opening her eyes, the corners of Robin's smile curled upward as she added, "If you're truly alright with it, I would like to, at the very least, express my gratitude to Tom for rekindling my hope. Where things go from there, I can only imagine..."
With a somewhat grouchy expression, Nami preempted Vivi's response by raising her glass to her lips and grumbling, "That man really does have the Devil's luck. Even when he's off having fun and partying, his future wife is basically helping him scout women for his harem..."
Smiling wryly, Vivi replied, "I'm not entirely sure that's the case. While it's true Tom plans to have relationships with multiple women, I don't think he intends to build a harem..."
Narrowing her eyes, Nami asked, "What else would you call a relationship between one man and multiple women?"
Without a moment of hesitation, Robin mused, "Polygamy?" in a teasing tone.
Adopting a deadpan expression, Nami resisted the urge to ask what the difference was. Instead, she asserted, "Regardless of what you call it, it doesn't change the fact Tom is incredibly fortunate. He works pretty hard, but the ease at which he accumulates wealth and power is ridiculous. At this rate, it really is just a matter of time before he rules the entire world..."
"Is that such a bad thing?" asked Robin, adding, "The World Government is beyond corrupt. Tom may not possess the disposition or desire to rule, but he has a robust sense of responsibility. That alone makes him better than the vast majority of Celestial Dragons..."
Nodding her head, Vivi appended, "That's kind of what I was alluding to. Rather than 'collecting' women to further his ambitions, Tom is the type of person to pledge his unwavering support to others. So long as they don't cheat on him while receiving his support, I don't think he would mind even if the majority of women he sleeps with moved on or fell in love with other people."
Recalling Thomas mentioning he wouldn't mind sleeping with her, even after she had wronged him, Nami found it difficult to refute Vivi's words. Like most men, Thomas didn't necessarily seek an 'emotional connection' with the women he associated with. He was certainly possessive, but so long as he wasn't in an active relationship with someone, he wouldn't care what they did, much less who they slept with.
Interrupting Nami's thoughts, Vivi added, "Though he presents himself as a 'scoundrel,' I believe Tom when he says he only needs one good woman to be happy. That's why, as his future wife, I've decided to support rather than oppose his relationships with other women. That way, I can protect him from those who only seek to take advantage of him while also forming sisterly bonds with those who intend to remain at his side..."
With Vivi staring directly at her when she mentioned people who only wanted to take advantage of Thomas, the pout on Nami's face intensified. She had a habit of charging men 100,000 Berries a piece if they managed to see her naked. To a similar end, she considered offering Thomas her first time in exchange for 300,000,000. She was certain he would give the money to her if she simply asked for it, but she hated feeling indebted to people...
Disrupting the trio's conversation, Chloe, having just arrived with Illya and Ruby, strolled over to ask, "What's with the serious atmosphere? Isn't this supposed to be a party~?"
Answering in the other girls' stead, Robin replied, "We're discussing the future. Would you like to join us?"
Deducing the true meaning of Robin's words, Chloe directed a half-lidded gaze at Thomas as she muttered, "The future, is it...?"
Adopting an apologetic smile, Vivi said, "I'm not sure what transpired during your conversation with Tom, but I'm certain he wasn't trying to offend or upset you."
Taking a seat, Chloe replied, "I'm well aware of that. I'm just annoyed because he tried to convince Illya and me to babysit tangerine girl and the Straw Hats while he fools around. Like, I get there are other things he wants to focus on, but we have an agreement. How does he plan to break free from Zelretch's influence when he cuts corners and takes long breaks from his training?"
Shaking her head, Chloe preempted the trio's responses by adding, "Forget it. This is supposed to be a going-away party. Let's make the most of the time we have left together."
Though the legal drinking age in Alabasta was only fourteen, Chloe would have consumed alcohol regardless. She didn't feel anything when she did it, but she had killed and assassinated well over a hundred people since arriving in the world of One Piece. She was also a bonafide Pirate, so she felt entitled to drink and make merry whenever the opportunity presented itself. If Thomas or anyone else had a problem with it, they could kiss her squarely on her copper-toned ass...
Seeing Chloe pour and down an entire pint in a single go, Robin exhaled a faint giggle before remarking, "Oh my~" in a playful tone. She knew Chloe was older than she appeared, but it was still surprising seeing her chug an entire pint of rum. The variety they were drinking hadn't been diluted, so it had a minimum alcohol content of 40%.
Testament to the alcohol's strength, a ruddy hue promptly spread through Chloe's cheeks as she filled herself another cup, asserting, "It's too early to be surprised. I'm just getting started...!"
Having made her way over, Illya attempted to stop Chloe before things got too out of hand, but her efforts were rewarded with a rum-tinged kiss. Their exchange drew the attention of Thomas and virtually everyone else attending the party. However, instead of attempting to stop them, the former decided it had nothing to do with him, eventually joining Zoro off to the side as things became increasingly chaotic...
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After getting blackout drunk, Thomas was unsurprised to find Caenis and Astolfo curled up next to him when he awoke. What did surprise him was the presence of Atalanta, Benienma, and Artoria. In other words, all of his Servants had crawled into bed with him and were currently naked.
Contrasting his expectations, Thomas felt uncharacteristically calm, albeit very confused. He doubted he would lay a hand on Benienma and Artoria, even while completely shitfaced, so he convinced himself they had simply crawled into his bed alongside everyone else. Thus, instead of worrying about them, he was far more concerned about the exposed bottom a few centimeters away from his face, its owner an easily deducible mystery as there were only two girls he knew with black hair...
Closing his eyes, Thomas attempted to recall the events of the previous night. He remembered doing karaoke and getting entangled in a drinking game that involved arm-wrestling, but that was about it. The rest of his memories were fragmented, but he could vaguely recall Benienma doing magic/party tricks with a wicker basket and Lucy getting upset when he tried to call it a night early...
Interrupting Thomas's reflection, Caenis softly inquired, "How long are you going to pretend to be asleep...?"
Without opening his eyes, Thomas calmly replied, "As long as it takes..."
Though he was fairly certain nothing had happened, the situation Thomas had found himself in was more than a little compromising. Robin had dark skin, so he was 99% sure the bottom before him belonged to Lucy. Thus, until she woke up and got off of him, he intended to keep his eyes closed and mind focused on other things.
Worsening the situation quite a bit, Thomas felt Caenis shift before a crisp smack echoed throughout the room. Immediately afterward, Lucy awoke with a start, shouting, "What the heck was that for!?" as she sat up, sitting squarely on Thomas's face.
"..."
With Thomas unable to speak, Caenis responded to Lucy's flare with a question, her voice carrying a teasing undertone as she asked, "Enjoying your seat?"
Though she was briefly confused by Caenis's words, the gears in Lucy's mind began to turn when she looked down to find a bare chest beneath her. She also felt something pressing into her special spot, so a faint red hue spread through her face as she answered, "I'm not sure..."
Restraining a laugh, Caenis adopted a wolfish grin as she mused, "Well, either way, you should probably move. Tom can only hold his breath for so long."
Realizing she might be suffocating Thomas, Lucy responded with a fairly innocent "Whoops," before promptly scooting forward. However, instead of getting off Thomas completely, she looked back at him to see if he was awake.
Seeing that Thomas's eyes were closed, Lucy remarked, "Looks like he's still asleep," before facing forward and focusing her attention on a specific part of his body. Lying on his back and being enveloped by naked women as he slept had caused a 'physiological' response in Thomas's body. Lucy sitting on his face hadn't helped, so he was currently at full mast without any blankets to cover it.
Leaving Thomas with questions he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to, Lucy asked, "Is this an adult penis? It's a lot bigger than the other ones I've seen. It almost looks like it's in pain..."
Before Caenis could respond, Thomas abruptly asked, "Mind getting off of me?"
Turning around, Lucy found Thomas looking up at her with a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. In response to his words, she asked, "Are you sure? I can help you, you know?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "Maybe once you've become Pirate King. We're about to part ways, so it's best not to overcomplicate things at the last moment."
With Thomas using her dream as leverage against her, Lucy furrowed her brows but ultimately climbed off him. She thought he would be excited to find her naked in his bed, but he apparently wasn't as 'wolfish' as she had been told all men were. She expected to be 'eaten up,' but Thomas barely even looked at her.
Instead of remaining upset, Lucy promptly regained her usual smile and said, "Fine, then. Once I become Pirate King, you'll have to show me the special hug Aunty Dadan told me about. It's a promise!"
Holding out her pinky finger, Lucy's smile became even broader when Thomas, albeit with a bit of reluctance, extended his hand to link their pinkies. The notion of having sex with Lucy still seemed wrong to him, but, given a few years to prepare, he was certain he could come around to the idea...
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(A/N: I wonder what it would be like to open your eyes and find an unfamiliar ass in front of you...?)

After a fairly awkward breakfast and helping transport supplies to the Going Merry, Thomas, Vivi, Caenis, Astolfo, Benienma, Atalanta, Robin, Illya, Chloe, Artoria, and Ruby stood on the shores of the Sandora River as they saw off Lucy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper. Vivi, Astolfo, and Chopper teared up quite a bit during the departure, but virtually everyone wore smiles as they vowed to meet again.
"There they go..." muttered Thomas, his eyes fixed on the quarterdeck where Lucy, Usopp, and Chopper continued to wave.
Resting her head against Thomas's bicep, Vivi replied, "I'm certain we'll see them again..."
Though he nodded his head, neither Thomas nor anyone else present said anything until the Merry had become a dot on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, the first to disrupt the silence was Caenis, questioning, "How much longer are we planning to just stand here?"
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Thomas replied, "This is long enough," before turning to Robin and asking, "You about ready to read your first Poneglyph...?"
As her smile became more prominent, Robin mused, "I've had twenty years to prepare. However, shouldn't we wait until this evening before making our move?"
Answering in place of Thomas, Astolfo adopted a massive grin as she revealed, "I discovered a secret access tunnel while I was exploring the underground waterway. Alubarna actually has a ton of secret passages and hidden chambers to explore."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Robin replied, "I see..." before looking to Thomas and questioning, "Will you be a gentleman and escort me~?"
Though he was originally planning to help Benienma set up an Enma-tei near their current location, Thomas didn't hesitate to reply, "Sure. I doubt you need one, but I don't mind accompanying you."
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Robin stared directly into Thomas's eyes as she remarked, "I'm actually a lot more vulnerable than I appear..."
Raising his brows, Thomas resisted the urge to express his doubts. Robin hadn't been made Crocodile's partner simply because of her knowledge and ability to read Poneglyphs. She had remarkable mastery of her Devil Fruit, so much so that she could effortlessly defeat the 'strongest' warrior of Alabasta in an instant.
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Robin mused, "You think too highly of me..." before shifting her gaze to Caenis and adding, "Compared to some of the other women around you, I'm fairly average."
Adopting a toothy grin, Caenis asserted, "You're a scholar. I'm a warrior. We may both be women, but our specializations are completely different. Comparing your strength to mine is just stupid. You won't find me pitting my knowledge of this world's history against yours."
Not expecting Caenis to be so 'reasonable,' Robin's eyes widened ever so slightly. She had a pretty good sense for other people's characters and thought Caenis to be the type that boasted unabashedly. It was rare for her to be wrong.
Worried that a fight might break out, Vivi promptly suggested returning to the palace. Thomas agreed with her, but as they were already at the site of the future Enma-tei, he had Benienma utilize her Inn Creation ability to construct an enormous bathhouse. Cobra had gifted him the ruined city of Erumalu as part of Vivi's 'dowry,' so Thomas intended to turn the former Green City into a metropolis even greater than Alubarna and the port city of Nanohana...
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With the amenities of the Enma-tei drastically exceeding even those of the Royal Palace, nearly everyone chose to stay behind when Thomas, Vivi, Robin, Astolfo, and Artoria returned to Alubarna. There, after Vivi informed her father that the Enma-tei had been established, the group made their way into the underground waterway, spending nearly two hours to reach their destination, a large chamber with ornate yellow walls and reflective blue tiles that contained a large, purportedly indestructible blue cube.
Seeing a Poneglyph for the first time, a genuine, almost child-like smile developed across Robin's face. She wasn't exaggerating when she said she had just about given up on her dream to ascertain the true history of the world. It was impossible for a single woman to oppose the entirety of the World Government, and she didn't trust the Revolutionary Army. Thus, she almost couldn't believe that one of the stones she had spent much of her life searching for was standing right in front of her...
Interrupting Robin's daze, Thomas asked, "Do you think these tiles are made from the same substance as the Poneglyphs? They have a similar color."
Looking down, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Robin's eyes as she replied, "You're right..." Then, with a playful smile on her face, she looked back at him and asked, "Want to try punching one?"
Returning a smile, Thomas replied, "I had something a little different in mind," as he pulled out the EMIYA Install Card. The Trace ability allowed him to analyze the structure of objects down to the molecular level. Then, using Material Transmutation and Projection Magecraft, he could replicate the material to produce nearly indestructible weapons and armor.
Seeing Thomas pull out his Install Card, Robin discretely pulled out her own, concealing it in her sleeve and palm. She wanted to believe she could trust him, but twenty years on the run had made her 'very' cautious around other people.
Oblivious to Robin's thoughts, Thomas installed the EMIYA card before approaching the Poneglyph and placing his hand on it. The moment he did so, various images appeared in his mind, almost like he was looking out at the world from the perspective of the Poneglyph. Unfortunately, perhaps due to his limited Mastery and Affinity, Thomas couldn't make sense of the massive influx of information. As a result, he experienced a feeling similar to the frustration one would feel when trying to remember the name of a person or place they should know but couldn't recall.
Retracting his hand from the Poneglyph, Thomas looked down at the tiles beneath him as he said, "They really are the same material. The molecular bonds are so strong that they adhere to each other in a process similar to cold welding. If someone wanted to steal or relocate this Poneglyph, they would need to move this entire structure, not just the primary cube."
"That's one way to prevent theft," mused Robin. Then, after slipping her Install Card back into her sleeve, she approached the Poneglyph, placing her hand on it as she asked, "Would you like me to read it aloud...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "While I'm interested in the true history of this world, I'm not a very patient man. I'll wait until you've translated all the Rio Poneglyphs before asking for the specifics."
Shifting his gaze to Vivi, Thomas added, "The real people you should be asking are Vivi and her father. I'm sure they'd like to learn the secret their family has been protecting these past eight hundred years."
Though it was imperceptible to everyone present, Robin furrowed her brows when she heard Thomas's words. She wanted to retort that the Nefertari Family hadn't been protecting the Poneglyph, but she honestly wasn't sure. Given what she had learned from Thomas, there was a good chance that the Nefertari Family had secretly been standing in opposition to the World Government since the Void Century.
Shaking her head, Vivi answered, "I'm fine with remaining in the dark, at least for the time being. However, once you've concluded your journey, I'd like to know everything..."
Adopting an affectionate smile, Thomas approached Vivi, extending his hand to caress her head as he whispered, "You're so fucking adorable..."
Though she wasn't really upset, Astolfo issued a pouty, "Awww..." before asking, "What about me? Am I not adorable...?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Thomas gestured for Astolfo to come over so he could caress her alongside Vivi. He then noticed that Artoria was staring at them with a deadpan look on her face, but, as he was still a little perturbed by her inclusion in their group, he suppressed the urge to invite her over to join them...
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With Robin committing the Poneglyph to memory and Thomas's journal making a perfect copy of the text, the group returned to the Royal Palace for a quick audience with the King before returning to the Enma-tei. Cobra had already dispatched a preliminary workforce of six-thousand people to assist in reclaiming and eventually settling the city, but they still had a lot of work to do.
Unfortunately, unless Thomas paid off their debts, the Yokai within the Enma-tei could not leave its grounds. He had already done so with a few Oni, forming the Enma-tei's security forces, but he couldn't force them to do manual labor. His Bounty also prevented him from drawing too much attention to himself, so his options were to leave the reclamation to the people of Alabasta or abide by Benienma's suggestion to contract a group of merchants to operate outside the Enma-tei.
Since he would eventually need to create a fleet of ships to 'explain' how he was able to transport goods between the various Enma-tei, Thomas decided to follow Benienma's suggestion, investing 3.8 billion Berries in a small fleet of ships and enough people to crew them. This included a red-haired woman that reminded Thomas of Baiken from Guilty Gear. The two had strikingly similar appearances, but the woman was named Wang Zhi, a former smuggler-turned-Pirate Lord who eventually became an Oni due to introducing and spreading firearms throughout Southeast Asia. She even smuggled goods for Oda Nobunaga, putting her on a similar level as many 'modern' Heroic Spirits.
Though Wang Zhi alone had cost him nearly a billion Berries, Thomas believed her to be a sound investment as she possessed Voyager of the Storms and a form of Presence Concealment that applied to all ships within her fleet. By flipping themselves over, her ships could enter the Boundary between Hell and the Mortal World, a method remarkably similar to how people entered 'Davy Jones' Locker' in the Pirates of the Caribean movies. Their reflections could still be seen in the water, but they were impossible to interact with unless you had a similar ability to cross Boundaries.
With Wang Zhi's help, it only took three weeks for the area between the Enma-tei and the Sandora River to be transformed into a fully functional port, complete with several warehouses, a wharf, and a drydock. The rest of the city took much longer to reclaim, but the process gradually sped up as people from all over Alabasta migrated over to benefit from the Enma-tei's provisionally free food and baths.
In a mere three months, Erumalu went from being a half-buried ghost town to the fifth most populous city in all of Alabasta. During that time, Thomas remained hidden within the Enma-tei, dividing his time between training, supplying Mana to Caenis, and coordinating the formation of his burgeoning information network with Robin. Through her, he learned that most islands in the Grand Line, even Alabasta, had an underground family or Mafia managing the black market. Baroque Works had taken over that position during Crocodile's reign, but now that he was absent, there were a lot of people attempting to make a move on Alabasta.
Fortunately, as Cobra was concentrating forces in Nanohana, most of the people wishing to create a foothold within Alabasta were forced to sail up the Sandora River, invariably finding themselves at the revitalized Erumalu and, shortly after that, the doors of the Enma-tei. In their eyes, the latter was a prime choice for a base of operations, so Thomas, having changed his appearance and adopted the alias 'Tenno,' was rapidly gaining infamy in the underworld by crushing anyone that attempted to encroach on his territory and benefit from Alabasta's imminent economic boom. He even received a delegation from one of the Six Underworld Emperors, the one responsible for shipping, 'Deep Ocean Current' Umit.
Though Umit's group threatened to scuttle Meng Zhi's fleet if they didn't yield 30% of their total earnings, Thomas ignored their warning. Instead, he ordered Meng Zhi to sink any merchant or pirate ship lacking a permit to conduct trade in Alabasta's territorial water. This kicked off a miniature war between Thomas's and Umit's forces, but as the latter was never able to secure a foothold in the region, their skirmishes were 'very' one-sided. Umit had developed a unique method of Coating that allowed his ships to travel great distances under the sea, but, even with numerous Fishmen in his crew, his men were absolutely no match for Caenis, who, after sinking more than a hundred ships, earned the epithet 'Humanoid Sea King'...
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(A/N: Sasuga, Tenno-sama...)

Following Chloe's departure, Thomas apologized to Illya for his hurtful words before leaving to get some fresh air. He really was sorry, but, at the same time, he couldn't help feeling incredibly frustrated with how things had played out.
Ignoring the glowers of the Royal Guardsmen he passed, Thomas made his way to the palace library before finding a place to lie down.
Despite his efforts to appear proactive and assertive, Thomas was, at the very core of his being, an introvert. He had grand aspirations and liked to imagine himself possessing unflinching convictions, but he wouldn't have become a borderline recluse if he possessed the confidence and strength of character to improve his situation. Not without some divine, or perhaps demonic, intervention...
Instead of reading any of the books around him, Thomas manifested his logbook/journal out of thin air. It recorded most major and minor events in his life and sometimes provided insights he might have overlooked due to his mental and emotional state. Thus, rather than simply mulling over his thoughts and replaying the encounter in his mind, Thomas read what the journal had to say on the matter.
To Thomas's surprise, what awaited him when he opened the journal were the words, 'Things not going according to plan is one of the spices of life. Knowing how a story will progress and end before it reaches the epilogue isn't very interesting.'
Removing the pen from the journal's spine, Thomas threw caution to the wind as he wrote, 'I asked you to send me to the world of One Piece, not some bastardized reality made convoluted by the existence of Magic and Install Cards. I know you like fucking with people, but this isn't what we agreed to.'
Though he regretted the words as he wrote them, Thomas didn't think he was in the wrong. His agreement with Zelretch was to help the man 'after' attaining his goals. Instead, his journey was constantly being derailed by events and people that had nothing to do with the world of One Piece. All because he wasn't a 'complete' asshole.
As he wasn't expecting a response, Thomas's eyes briefly widened when a line of text began to form in the journal. However, when he saw what it had to say, his expression morphed into a deadpan with half-lidded eyes...
'No one is forcing you to assemble Install Cards or render aid to the Prism Pirates.'
"Bullshit!" shouted Thomas. "What else was I supposed to do!? Tell them to fuck off and ignore them!?"
Resisting the urge to throw the journal as far as he could, Thomas grit his teeth and awaited Zelretch's response. What he read left him equal parts exasperated and incensed, as the elderly vamp simply replied, 'That's for you to decide.'
Snapping the journal shut, Thomas tossed it aside and began massaging his forehead. He knew Zelretch was technically correct, but what kind of person would he be if he ignored world-ending stakes and pretended it had nothing to do with him?
"I should have asked to go to Pokemon or something..." groaned Thomas.
As if to call him out on his bullshit, a door-like portal opened a few meters away from Thomas. What awaited him on the opposite side was a world reminiscent of the Detective Pikachu movie in terms of graphical fidelity. The people appeared perfectly normal, but there were realistic Pokemon riding on their shoulders or following behind them in a relatively modern setting...
Furrowing his brows to their limit, Thomas muttered, "You're an asshole..." in a low, somber tone. He may have been able to leave his previous world behind without hesitation, but there were too many things binding him to the world of One Piece for him to simply abandon it. Vivi was chief among them, but she was far from the only person he had made promises to...
In response to Thomas's words, the portal promptly snapped shut. In its place, a crystal clear sphere plopped onto the carpeted floor, followed by a piece of parchment paper.
Though he was tempted to ignore them, Thomas eventually exhaled a sigh before getting up and retrieving the sphere. It was surprisingly light and warm to the touch but otherwise resembled a normal crystal sphere. As for the piece of parchment paper, it said, 'Though you may have been whining like a temperamental child, there is some merit to your claim that the present situation is a violation of our original agreement. However, as you have chosen to remain in that world, this sphere, the Cradle of Desire, is the only compensation I will provide. Its power is paltry compared to a Grail, but it can grant its user power, wisdom, or courage. But only one, so choose wisely.'
Reading Zelretch's message, Thomas honestly wasn't sure how to feel. The Cradle of Desire was undoubtedly a boon, but he felt as though he was being bribed to stop complaining. Beyond that, he was supposed to be attaining strength for himself. Should he really be accepting handouts from a man who egged him to his core...?
For the briefest of moments, Thomas considered smashing the Cradle of Desire on the ground. Instead, he plopped down on the chaise lounge he had previously been lying on, staring blankly at the crystalline sphere as he considered whether to select power, wisdom, or courage...
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas softly muttered, "So, my choices are to be Ganon, Zelda, or Link..."
With that image in his mind, Thomas held up the crystalline sphere and added, "Courage it is..." before closing his eyes as the globe lit up like a small sun. A surge of heat rushed over his body but quickly faded, leaving Thomas wondering if the sphere had actually done anything.
After giving himself a quick once-over and testing the quality of his Mana, Thomas muttered, "I don't feel any different..." in a confused tone. He felt calmer than he had been moments prior, but it wasn't like he had stopped feeling angry or exasperated.
As he had a convenient method of checking his condition, Thomas picked up the journal and opened it to the page depicting his profile. He made a habit of checking it nearly every day, so he would notice if something was different.
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[Profile]
Name: Thomas D. Jensen
Species: Human, Mana Progenitor
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Height: 213.9cm
Weight: 138kgs
Blood Type: O
Likes: Nefertari Vivi, Thick Thighs, Personal Time
Dislikes: Plot Twists, Meddlesome Vampires
Talents: Opportunistic
Natural Enemy: Himself, Mature Little Girls
[Parameters]
Strength: E(18)
Endurance: D(20)
Agility: E(15)
Mana: EX(*)
Luck: EX(*)
NP: Unknown
[Class Skills]
N/A
[Personal Skills]
Wayward Traveler(EX), Mana-Mana-no-Mi(EX), Valor(E), Monstrous Strength(C), Lesser Regeneration(C), Cooking(D), Reinforcement(C), Material Transmutation(D), Rune Magecraft(E), Elemental Magecraft(E)
Valor(E): The ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion, and fascination. It also has the bonus effect of increasing melee damage depending on the user's emotional state.
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Though his Parameters hadn't changed much, Thomas noticed that the 'flavor text' of his Profile had changed a fair amount. His Likes, Dislikes, Talents, and Natural Enemies had all been updated. However, the most notable change was the absence of the Self-Doubt Personal Skill. In its place, while only E-Rank, he now had a Skill called Valor...
"Can something like self-doubt really be erased with such ease?" asked Thomas, his voice calm despite experiencing a sense of incongruency. It reminded him of the time he had been prescribed medication for anxiety, minus the dull-headedness and desire to sleep.
Interrupting Thomas's reverie, Vivi abruptly entered the library, calling out, "Thomas, are you in here?" in an audibly concerned voice. She had heard his outburst a few minutes prior and decided to come and check on him.
Though a part of him still wanted to be alone, Thomas rose to his feet and called out, "I'm over here," revealing his location. In response, Vivi hurried over to his side, a concerned look on her face as she tentatively inquired, "I take it things didn't go well with Illya and Chloe...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas surprised himself by answering, "It's fine," and actually meaning it. Now that he had calmed down, he recalled that Ruby, Chloe, and, to a lesser extent, Illya were necessary if he wanted to break free from Zelretch's influence. Attempting to pawn them off onto others and consequently antagonizing them probably wasn't the wisest decision he could have made.
Acknowledging his mistake, a wry smile developed across Thomas's face as he extended his hand to caress Vivi's head, adding, "Selfishness really does blind people to the things right in front of them..."
Though she had no idea what Thomas was talking about, Vivi returned a smile and stepped closer to him, linking her hands around his waist as she asserted, "I'm sure they'll forgive you." in a faint but certain tone.
Adopting a more relaxed smile, Thomas embraced Vivi as he replied, "If not now, then after I assemble the remaining Install Cards. I imagine it's pretty difficult to stay mad at the person who helped restore your friend's world..."
Realizing that Thomas was making a joke, a faint giggle emanated from Vivi's throat. Then, with slightly narrowed eyes, she looked up at him and said, "There's something different about you today. Did something else happen?"
Instead of going into detail about what had transpired, Thomas answered, "I received a bit of compensation..." before bending down to plant a kiss on Vivi's lips. She was a little surprised by his actions but didn't hesitate to lean into him, enjoying the moment even as Thomas's hands gradually slipped from her waist to her bottom...
...
..
.
As was often the case when Thomas returned to their shared bedroom, Caenis 'greeted' him with a curt, "You're late," while lying on her side in a way that left nothing concealed.
"You're not wrong," replied Thomas, adding, "I got a bit sidetracked after my conversation with Illya, Chloe, and Ruby."
Rising to a seated position, Caenis raised her left brow as she remarked, "What the hell happened to you? You're still making excuses, but your expression and body language are different than normal..."
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Caenis sprang from the bed and appeared before him in an instant, right hand outstretched as if she were about to flick his forehead. The only reason she stopped was because a magical barrier had appeared around his body, indicating he wasn't simply an imposter.
Retracting her hand, Caenis asked, "What happened? Did you finally teach those brats a lesson...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "Not yet," before changing the topic by asking, "Have you eaten anything today?"
Looking down at Thomas's waistline, Caenis mused, "Technically...though you couldn't exactly call it a proper meal."
As Heroic Spirits didn't need to consume food for sustenance, Caenis was more than satiated after Thomas's continuous 'Mana Transfers.' She even felt a little engorged, though she would never admit it.
Nodding his head, Thomas said, "Then let's hop in the bath. Afterward, we'll get dressed and head to the main dining hall. Tonight might be the Straw Hats' last night in Alabasta, so Vivi is inviting everyone to partake in a banquet."
Narrowing her eyes, Caenis remarked, "You're acting really bizarre this afternoon...since when do you tell people what to do rather than asking them?"
Placing his hand on Caenis's shoulder, Thomas began guiding her toward the bath as he asked, "Would you rather me get on my knees and beg...?"
Snorting through her nose, Caenis retorted, "Sure. Just don't be surprised when I kick you in the face..."
Catching the white-haired horsewoman off guard, Thomas ruffled her hair as he said, "Don't tempt me..." with a slight smile. He didn't exactly have a foot fetish, but if it were Caenis, he wouldn't mind suckling her toes.
Taken aback by Thomas's words and actions, Caenis didn't immediately elbow him in the gut. She did, hard enough to knock the wind out of him, but there was a brief moment where she looked up at him as if he were a completely different person...
...
..
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(A/N: Valor apparently has the hidden trait of making people seek death...)

Chapter 90: Preparing to Part