One Piece : Wild Hunt

Though the Feilong was much faster than other ships its size, Thomas and Co were barely a quarter of the way to their destination after a week on the sea. They had more than enough supplies to last an entire month, but Thomas was becoming restless after getting used to doing paperwork and always being busy.
Fortunately, just as Thomas was beginning to feel as though he had a case of cabin fever, a News Coo arrived with his monthly subscription and a thick stack of Bounty Posters. Before perusing the latter, he opened up the newspaper to find a bold headline, stating, 'ENIES LOBBY ATTACKED!' in all caps. There was also a picture of a beaten and bloody Lucy standing amid a crowd of Marines, seemingly releasing a warcry as she stood over the body of a man Thomas recognized as Rob Lucci.
"What the fuck?" muttered Thomas, his mind unable to comprehend how the Straw Hats found themselves at Enies Lobby. The Water 7 Arc wasn't one he remembered clearly, but he was fairly certain their main reason for assailing Enies Lobby was to save Robin. With the latter safely concealed, the only explanation Thomas could think of was that Franky had captured to obtain his knowledge of Pluton.
Reading through the article, the only things Thomas learned were clearly propaganda. It accused the Straw Hats of attempting to assassinate the Mayor of Water 7, taking advantage of the Aqua Laguna to devastate the city, hijacking the Sea Train, and 'massacring' hundreds of brave and loyal Marines at Enies Lobby.
Though Thomas did not doubt that Lucy had inadvertently killed people, she wasn't the type to perpetrate a massacre. Zoro had fewer inhibitions, but his mastery had reached the point where he could decide when and when not to cut through an object.
Setting aside the paper, Thomas began flipping through the updated Bounty Posters. His Bounty hadn't changed in the slightest, but there were quite a few new Bounties worthy of mention. This included Chiron, who had been assigned a Bounty of 992,000,000 after being recognized as Drake's second-in-command, but the most notable listings were those of Lucy, Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Franky, and, most surprisingly, the 'Dead Only' Bounty of Nami...
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Lucy smiling and making peace signs]
Dead or Alive
"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Lucy
Bounty: 280,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Using a Devil Fruit to Commit Criminal Acts
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Zoro grinning like a demon with a sword in his mouth]
Dead or Alive
"Pirate Hunter" Roronora Zoro
Bounty: 140,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Maiming Hundreds of Marines
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Usopp wearing David's outfit]
Dead or Alive
"Slingshot" Usopp
Bounty: 30,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Chopper in his Monster Point, hands covered in blood]
Dead or Alive
"Monster Doctor" Chopper
Bounty: 75,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Utilizing Illegal Drugs, Using Chemical Weapons on a Civilian Population, Using a Devil Fruit to Commit Criminal Acts
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[WANTED]
[Censored photo of Franky striking a pose]
Alive Only
"Streaking Cyborg" Franky
Bounty: 88,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Streaking, Illegal Body Modifications, Stealing Government Property
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Nami wearing traditional Shandoran garments]
Dead Only
"Lightning Tyrant" Nami
Bounty: 500,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Attempted Assassination, Hijacking the Sea Train, Attacking Government Officials, Assaulting Marine Officers, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Theft, Burglary, Extortion, Using a Devil Fruit to Commit Criminal Acts
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Seeing the ring of drums framing Nami's head, Thomas had an expression of genuine disbelief as he asked, "How the fuck did she acquire the Goro-Goro-no-Mi...?"
Though he always suspected the Straw Hats would eventually encounter Enel, Thomas never expected one of the most powerful Devil Fruits in the entire world to fall into Nami's hands. The only explanation was that Enel had been killed, causing his Devil Fruit to respawn somewhere in Skypiea.
Considering Enel found the Goro-Goro-no-Mi in Skypiea, it wasn't too difficult to believe that it would respawn there. What Thomas couldn't believe was that Nami, of all people, had found it. He knew she had an affinity with weather and lightning, but this was far too ideal an outcome to be coincidental...
Raising his eyes skyward, Thomas imagined he could see the wrinkled face of Zelretch smiling down at him. At the same time, he imagined how his future encounter with Nami would go. She never struck him, but she was prone to violent outbursts even as a fairly ordinary person. With the power to command lightning...well, it wasn't difficult to imagine why she had been given the moniker 'Lightning Tyrant.'
Deciding to look at the silver lining, Thomas muttered, "At least now I don't have to worry about them lacking firepower..."
As the Goro-Goro-no-Mi was a Logia that gave the user the power to transform into, manipulate, and emit lightning, it was one of the few Devil Fruits considered to make the user 'invincible.' It was hard-countered by Lucy's rubber body, but any other person would be overwhelmed by the fruit's ability to pump out lightning exceeding 200,000,000 Volts. If that didn't work, the user could simply escape at the speed of lightning, a velocity that could only be exceeded by the wielder of the Pika-Pika-no-Mi.
"Read anything interesting?" asked a voice from behind Thomas.
Turning around, Thomas found Chloe standing behind him in an outfit not all that dissimilar to Caenis's bikini+jean-shorts combo. The notable differences were that she had on a pair of thigh-high striped leggings and, unlike Caenis, she didn't have much to show even when wearing scant attire.
Furrowing her brows, Chloe asserted, "You just thought something very rude, didn't you...?"
After putting up with Chloe's antics for more than four months, three of which were spent cohabitating within the Imperial Suite, Thomas barely had a reaction to her appearance and accusation, replying, "Despite the changes we've introduced to the timeline, Lucy and the Straw Hats still ended up attacking Enies Lobby. Nami also came into possession of the Goro-Goro-no-Mi, a Devil Fruit that allows her to become and manipulate lightning."
Raising her brows, Chloe remarked, "Sounds OP," before picking up the discarded newspaper. She had gotten along fairly well with Lucy during their short time together, so she was curious to see what the article said despite knowing it was 90% nonsense.
With a reading rate exceeding 20,000 words per minute, Chloe grasped everything written in the article in a single glance, her face forming into a frown as she remarked, "These bastards don't hold back when it comes to laying out accusations, do they...?"
Exhaling a faint sigh, Thomas held up one of the many Bounty Posters as he said, "If only that were the case with my Bounty..."
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Thomas with obsidian-black skin covered in glowing, circuit-like patterns]
Dead or Alive
"Steel-Body" Thomas Jensen
Bounty: 71,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Grand Larceny, Assaulting a Marine Officer, Resisting Arrest
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Adopting a mischievous grin, Chloe playfully remarked, "You have no one but yourself to blame for being such a 'good guy.' From the perspective of the Marine higher-ups, you probably aren't even considered a legitimate threat. I mean, you literally marched the Marines attempting to catch you out of the city, all to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas set the Bounty Posters aside, responding with a lazy, "Yeah, yeah..." before meeting the pink-haired imp's gaze and asking, "So, what's up? Today's Sunday, so we shouldn't have any training or lessons."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe revealed, "I was playing Mahjong with Caenis, Astolfo, and Ruby when things started getting a little heated. I came outside to get some fresh air and noticed you talking to yourself. I thought you might have finally lost it, so I came over to check. Now that I'm here, it looks like I was worried for nothing."
Exhaling a tired sigh, Thomas turned and leaned against the railing of the ship, staring out at the seemingly endless blue sea as he muttered, "There really isn't much to do when sailing from island to island, is there...?"
Making herself a little too comfortable, Chloe joined Thomas in leaning against the ship's railing with their elbows touching as she said, "Well, if the information we've acquired is accurate, Tokyoku should be similar to Japan in the late 1900s. They even make their schoolgirls wear bloomers during gym class."
"..."
Looking down at the pink-haired nymphette, Thomas waited for Chloe to return his gaze before remarking, "You're such a degenerate..." in a dull, accusatory tone.
Instead of refuting the claim, Chloe narrowed her eyes and grinned from ear to ear. Though she had a keen interest in the relationships between men and women, most of her 'experience' was with other young girls. She enjoyed teasing Thomas, but nowhere near as much as she liked messing with Illya, Miyu, and several other girls from her world.
Bumping into Thomas's shoulder, Chloe teased, "Maybe I wouldn't be so focused on other girls if I had a strong, kind-hearted man to depend on..."
Shaking his head, Thomas retained a cool head as he replied, "At this point, I barely even feel like aiming for my original targets. I might have considered it if you used a Spell or Devil Fruit to age yourself up, but I'm not exactly hurting for intimate partners..."
Exhaling a tired sigh, Chloe propped her head up on the palms of her hands as she muttered, "Illya and I are presently the same age as your little Princess. If the Straw Hats end up training for two years, we'll be eighteen by the time you start getting serious..."
Turning her eyes up at Thomas, Chloe added, "Other than Shirou, there aren't a lot of guys we can 'entrust' ourselves to in this world. Even if we found one, would you really allow a guy to move into the Imperial Suite and share the same bath with your other women?"
Without missing a beat, Thomas replied, "There are baths in each room for a reason. There is also nothing 'requiring' you to stay in the Imperial Suite. It's just safer and more convenient..."
Adopting an uncharacteristically somber expression, Chloe's voice was barely a whisper as she asked, "So, that's it, then? We're completely legal back in our world, mentally mature, and fully willing, but you still won't lay a hand on us? You're going to make us find some random guy or have us wait until the end of your adventures to experience something you get to experience every day?"
"..."
Instead of immediately responding to Chloe's words, Thomas rose from the taffrail and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew he wasn't exactly being 'fair.' In fact, back in his previous world, he would argue in favor of legal lolis being able to enter into physical relationships as the alternative didn't make sense. It was as nonsensical as that female politician from GATE attempting to talk down to and lecture the character Rory Mercury despite the latter being a 961-year-old Demigoddess...
"Tell you what..." said Thomas. "If you can get Illya's, Miyu's, and Shirou's permission, I'll no longer make a fuss over your appearance. Deal?"
Without hesitation, Chloe slapped the taffrail and replied, "Deal!" with a massive grin on her face. She originally had no plans to pursue Thomas seriously, but his perpetually expanding Mana capacity was beginning to drive her crazy. Being around him and his Servants was like having a vast buffet in front of her but only being allowed to eat oatmeal. Sure, it might be her 'favorite' oatmeal, but variety was the spice of life...
Seeing Chloe abruptly vanish into thin air, a wry smile developed across Thomas's face. He felt like his toe had slipped over a line he himself had drawn, but he didn't let it bother him. Chloe had made some reasonable points, and now that he had decreased his height to a comparably tame 190cm, she didn't appear nearly as tiny as she used to...
With such thoughts in his mind, Thomas mused, "At least Benienma will be happy..." Not just because she was suddenly in the running as one of his bedmates, but because he would definitely be going to Hell if or when he died...
...
..
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(A/N: Don't worry, Thomas. One day, you too will have a big boi Bounty...)

A few minutes after her abrupt departure, Chloe appeared on the deck of the Feilong with Illya, Ruby, and Astolfo in tow. Thomas spotted them, but it wasn't until Astolfo summoned Griff that he understood their intentions.
Approaching the trio, Thomas asked, "Seriously? You couldn't wait a few more weeks...?"
Though his words were directed at Chloe, the first to react was Illya, who, upon hearing him, abruptly yelped before covering her beet-red face with both hands.
"..."
Grabbing Illya by the arm, Chloe shepherded her toward Griff as she replied, "We'll be back in a few days. Don't slack on your training just because I'm not around to supervise you!"
Finished with what she had to say, Chloe directed Illya to climb on Griff's back while Astolfo hopped and skipped over to Thomas, freeing him from his statuesque state as she nuzzled against him and said, "Even if it's only for a few days, I'm going to miss you..."
Reciprocating the pinkette's embrace, Thomas habitually replied, "I'll miss you as well..."
Adopting a broad smile, Astolfo jumped up and linked her arms around Thomas's neck before kissing him. She would prefer it if he accompanied them, but she also wanted to help Chloe and Illya. The former would have a much easier time convincing Shirou and Miyu if Thomas wasn't present, so Astolfo was willing to part with him for a few days to help her friend.
Sufficiently pepped, Astolfo released her hold on Thomas and teased, "If you miss me, stand on the bowsprit and shout my name at the top of your lungs. I'll fly over like a meteor empowered by our love if you do."
Knowing it would be harder for her to leave the longer she delayed things, Astolfo gave Thomas a kiss on the cheek before hurrying over and joining Chloe, Illya, and Ruby atop Griff. Then, with one final wave, she flicked Griff's reins and had him take off into the sky, racing toward the horizon at a breakneck speed.
While following the group's departure with his eyes, Thomas's expression gradually morphed into a deadpan. He was used to Illya being skittish around him, but her previous response was...different. He hoped it was because she was anxious about him potentially sleeping with someone that looked like her, but his 'intuition' told him a different story...
Momentarily forgetting about the existence of 'flags,' Thomas muttered, "Let's just hope Miyu was able to seduce her brother..."
...
..
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With the departure of Astolfo, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby, daily life aboard the Feilong became markedly quieter. Thomas still had Caenis, Benienma, and Artoria to hang out with, but even the former was a little testy without her usual conversation partners. She was the type that 'really' enjoyed talking and messing with people, so, in the absence of Astolfo, she began tailing Thomas a lot more than usual.
While Thomas enjoyed spending time with Caenis, having her heckle him during training and continuously disrupting his magic training was a little annoying. However, as he knew she just wanted attention, he didn't mind it too much. Rather, as silly as it sounded, it made him feel like they were an actual couple.
Fortunately, as much as she enjoyed heckling Thomas, Caenis likewise enjoyed hunting Sea Kings. The Feilong spent most of its time traversing the Sea of the Boundary, but Meng Zhi would periodically have it return to the surface to get her bearings. During those times, Caenis would go for a swim, returning within an hour or two with a Sea King in tow.
As capable as Meng Zhi's crew was, their average strength wasn't much higher than a Marine from Headquarters. There were outliers, such as Meng Zhi herself, but the majority of her 308-person crew would struggle to defeat a Marine Ensign. Sea Kings were far beyond their means to deal with, so having Caenis onboard was a tremendous boon. They had more than enough supplies for the entirety of their journey, but Sea King meat was a delicacy only the strong and affluent could typically afford. Eating it not only filled you to the brim with energy, but if you consumed enough, it would even make you stronger.
With Benienma taking over the ship's galley, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that everyone aboard the Feilong was eating like Kings. The best food was reserved for Thomas, but no one dared to complain openly. Doing so was a good way to get chucked overboard by Meng Zhi, dooming them to return to Hell. As such, Thomas didn't have to worry about them betraying or openly antagonizing him for at least fifty years, the span of Meng Zhi's provisional contract. If he completed his journey sooner and migrated to a different world, they would be free to do as they pleased...
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..
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During one of the Feilong's trips to the surface, Thomas was waiting for Ceanis to return from her fishing trip when he noticed a group of News Coos flying overhead. He doubted there would be any news of the Straw Hats for a while, but he enjoyed keeping up to date on current events.
After purchasing one of the papers, Thomas waited for the News Coo to depart before flipping it open to read the headline. Unsurprisingly, it had nothing to do with Lucy and the Straw Hats. Instead, it was another bold-faced article discussing the appointment of a new Shichibukai to replace Crocodile.
Seeing a 'very' familiar face on the cover, Thomas remarked, "I'm not sure if I should feel relieved or concerned..."
Beneath the emboldened headline was a picture of Drake, standing with her arms crossed in the middle of a large group of predominantly female Pirates. Curiously, though he had never met most of them, Thomas was fairly certain he recognized many of the people in the photograph, two of which were pink-haired women he suspected to be Jewelry Bonney and Sanji's sister, Vinsmoke Reiju.
Speaking of Sanji, he was one of only three men present among the people in the photo. However, rather than a suit or a chef outfit, he was wearing his personalized Raid Suit, Stealth Black. As for the other two men, one was Chiron, while the other was a tall, middle-aged man with slicked-back green hair and an expensive-looking pink suit.
Reading through the article, Thomas's suspicions were proven correct when it mentioned that Drake had forged an alliance with Germa 66 and Gran Tesoro. The latter was rumored to have accumulated 20% of all the money circulating in the world, while the Germa Kingdom had one of the most powerful standing armies. Thus, had she not agreed to become a Shichibukai, it wasn't difficult to imagine Drake being declared the Fifth Emperor of the Sea...
Eyeing the various pink-haired women in the photo, Thomas couldn't help wondering if Drake was attempting to collect them. Alongside Bonney and Reiju, there were five other pink-haired beauties. Thomas had no idea who four of them were, but he recognized the pinkette closest to Drake as the woman who possessed a Devil Fruit that could steal people's luck. Among the One Piece community, this was considered one of the most powerful Devil Fruits in the entire series. Unfortunately, the person who consumed it was an arrogant fool. If not, she would be invincible...
Interrupting Thomas's introspection, a large section of the sea began to bubble up, a tell-tale sign that Caenis had killed something far below the surface. However, as it would take her a while to surface, Thomas made himself comfortable, contemplating his future course.
With the Summit War looking less likely with each passing day, there was a good chance that Blackbeard had never obtained the Yami-Yami-no-Mi. As a result, Thomas had no idea how future events were going to play out. There was even a chance that Lucy and Co would immediately set sail for the New World after reaching Sabaody Archipelago. If that happened, the two years he set aside to expand his influence would be for naught...
While it was difficult to imagine the Straw Hats succeeding in the New World without their post-timeskip powerups, the fact other members of the 'Worst Generation' were able to find success implied they would be fine. They might not be able to take on people like Big Mom and Kaidou right out of the gate, but their growth during the Whole Cake Island and Wano Arcs demonstrated it only took them a few weeks to transcend their limits completely. They just needed the proper motivation.
Deciding that the smartest decision was to focus on improving himself, Thomas set aside the newspaper, rose to his feet, and leaned over the taffrail. Ceanis would be returning any minute, so while the crew of the Feilong focused on processing her catch, he planned to challenge her to an underwater wrestling match. One of the places he planned to establish an Enma-tei was Fishman Island, so learning to endure the pressure of the deep sea and fight underwater was integral to ensuring he wouldn't be at a disadvantage against even the most tenacious of Fishmen...
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With two weeks passing since the departure of Astolfo, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby, Thomas concluded they were probably waiting for him on the island of Amazon Lily. He was half-tempted to have Meng Zhi sail past it, but he wasn't the only one missing Astolfo. Thus, as the Feilong entered the Kuja Tribe's territorial waters, Meng Zhi ordered it to return to the surface only to find a large, predominately red ship being pulled by two serpents a few hundred meters away.
As Thomas spent most of his free time within the Feilong's quarterdeck, he immediately recognized the modified galleon as the ancestral ship of the Kuja Pirates. He promptly informed Meng Zhi of this, who, rather than telling her men to stand down, ordered them to prepare for battle.
Since he had promised not to interfere with Meng Zhi's handling of her ship and crew, Thomas used the time before the ships were in range to ready his countermeasures against Hancock's power. His Valor Skill had the effect of counteracting mental interference, pressure, confusion, and fascination abilities, but it was only E-Rank. Thus, so as not to embarrass himself in front of the 'most beautiful woman in the world,' he prepared a headband bearing the Teiwaz(Warrior) Rune.
With the effect of enhancing a warrior's courage and making them, at least temporarily, fearless, Thomas was hoping the Teiwaz Rune would make him immune to Hancock's petrification ability. If not, there was a very good chance he would spend a brief period as a statue. He likely wouldn't be aware of the passage of time while petrified, but the thought of being turned to stone wasn't the most pleasant...
Fortunately, while both ships uncorked their cannons, making it clear they were prepared to fire, neither unleashed the first volley. The Feilong was smaller than the Perfume Yuda, the name of the Kuja Pirate's ship, but it had more than five times the firepower. The Kuja Pirates also preferred using their strength to conquer their opponents, so they would only open fire if their would-be victims attempted to strafe or broadside them.
Just as Thomas believed things might end peacefully, several bow-wielding members of the Kuja Pirates began unleashing volley after volley of Haki-infused arrows. Each arrow was strong enough to pierce concrete or even dent steel, so the members of Meng Zhi's crew would have been in a lot of trouble if not for the magical barrier that briefly came into view each time an arrow impacted its surface.
Before Thomas could think to try and mediate, Meng Zhi unsheathed her custom Zhanmadao, thrusting it toward the sky as she shouted, "Open fire...!" in a commanding tone.
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(A/N: As expected from a tribe that reveres the strong xD...)

After an afternoon of reviewing migration forms and approving expense requests, Thomas decided to take a break in the Imperial Suite's private bath, a large, square-shaped tub that could easily accommodate 40-50 people with room to spare.
As everyone living in the Imperial Suite had access to the bath, Thomas was unsurprised to find Robin and Astolfo getting their backs scrubbed by two of the suite's rotating personnel, a duo of fairly young-looking kitsune with fox ears and tails. Thomas was originally against having them work in the bath, but, as the girls could apparently accumulate 'merits' by serving high-ranking guests, he eventually relented.
Noticing Thomas's presence, Astolfo adopted a bright smile and called out to him while Robin waited for him to approach before calmly inquiring, "Another tiring day~?"
Having gotten used to communal bathing, Thomas sat beside Robin and Astolfo without batting an eye, answering, "We're getting pretty close to 100,000 residents." in a casual but audibly fatigued tone. He really wasn't cut out for administrative work, but he was doing his best to lessen the burden on Vivi. She had been given the position of Viceroy by her father, making her the 'official' Governor of Erumalu. Compared to her workload and responsibilities, his were fairly light.
Nearly as soon as Thomas sat down, a marginally more mature-looking kitsune entered the bath, hurrying over to help wash his back. This was typically Benienma's 'responsibility,' but the dutiful sparrow was currently away, serving as one of Vivi's bodyguards while she hosted an economic conference.
While the somewhat nervous-looking kitsune gave his back a thorough cleansing, Thomas carried on a conversation with Robin and Astolfo. The former had originally offered to serve as his assistant, filling the same role for him as she did with Crocodile, but Thomas ultimately refused. Instead, he made her the acting Okami of the second Enma-tei, utilizing her insight as a member of the Underworld to bring their practices and policies up to speed.
Once their bodies were thoroughly scrubbed down and rinsed, Thomas and the two girls entered the bath while their attendants went to ready sake, ice, and Tamago. Instead of sitting apart, however, Thomas relaxed with his arms spread wide, allowing the duo to nestle close to him. He and Robin had yet to have sex, but she would occasionally 'surprise' him with her Devil Fruit's abilities. Once, after learning it was his birthday, she even sprouted a mouth on her palm, using it to give him the most confusing yet stimulating hand-turned-blowjob he had ever received...
While tracing her finger along Thomas's chest, Robin asked, "Since we're about to reach 100,000 residents, does that mean you'll be leaving soon?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I want to set up a few more Enma-tei before our relationship with the Underworld worsens. One of the islands Astolfo scouted has a modern setting and an underground fighting arena. It's also fairly close to Karakuri Island, the birthplace of Dr. Vegapunk, so I plan to check it out and see if I can't acquire some modern or 'futuristic' goods."
Even without Thomas referring to it by name, Robin immediately knew which island he was referring to, remarking, "You must be referring to Tokyoku Island. There is a substantial Marine presence in the area, and I heard the people there aren't very welcoming to outsiders."
As he had already done his homework on the island, Thomas replied, "That's true under normal circumstances, but they make an exception for those attempting to enter the Underground Fighting Arena. So long as you can pay the entrance fee and are willing to sign a waiver, they'll let pretty much anyone enter the country. Then, once you become famous, you can move about as you please."
Having heard the rumors of Tokyoku's passion for celebrities and idolatry, Robin didn't attempt to dispute Thomas's statement. Instead, she asked, "Who will you take with you? I initially assumed you would sneak into the country with Astolfo, but it seems you have something different in mind."
Hearing Robin's words, Astolfo blurted out, "I'm going with you...!" in an assertive tone. The thought of being left behind was unbearable, so she immediately adopted a pouty expression to pull at Thomas's heartstrings.
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Thomas pulled both girls closer as he muttered, "As if I could leave you behind..." Then, before Astolfo could respond, he silenced her with a kiss, soothing and exciting her simultaneously.
With Astolfo temporarily becoming as meek as a kitten with a full belly, Thomas caressed her head as he responded to Robin, stating, "Caenis already has a substantial reputation, so I was thinking of registering her for the arena while playing the part of a Sponsor. What do you think...?"
Blinking in surprise, Robin admitted, "I honestly expected you to seize the spotlight for yourself. Haven't you been looking for an opportunity to test your strength?"
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas said, "Be that as it may, my greatest asset is the people who support me. If I can help Caenis attain her Ascensions, I'll have a lot of leeway moving forward."
Returning a smile of her own, Robin mused, "How thoughtful..." before resting her head on Thomas's chest. Then, in response to his previous question, she stated, "It's a reasonable plan. While the Emperors of the Underworld are presumed to possess great strength, no one knows their actual capabilities. If Caenis claims the title of Champion yet treats you with deference during 'negotiations,' it will drastically affect how others perceive you..."
Inserting herself into the conversation, Astolfo remarked, "It also gives Caenie a chance to beat up bad guys. Then, once her excitement reaches the peak, Master can give her a big, fat reward..."
Punctuating her words, Astolfo grasped Thomas's semi, gently kneading it with her fingers as she narrowed her eyes and licked her lips. Her 'switch' had been flipped since Thomas kissed her, so she was eager to move the discussion from the bath to the bedroom. If not for the rule prohibiting it, she would have already pounced.
Never one to disappoint his women, at least when he had the option to avoid it, Thomas planted another kiss on Astolfo before releasing his hold on the two girls and responding, "I've got time..." in his best attempt at a smoldering tone. Fortunately, as his mastery over his Adaptive Trait had increased quite a bit in the past few months, he could even give someone like Vin Diesel a run for his money if he wanted.
As an indicator that his efforts weren't for naught, Astolfo closed her eyes and trembled. When she subsequently opened them, a glossy sheen was present as she whimpered, "I don't think I can wait much longer..."
Finding Astolfo's behavior adorable, Thomas planted one final kiss on her forehead before turning to Robin and asking, "How about it? Want to come along?"
Though she appreciated the invitation, Robin ultimately shook her head, answering, "I still have work to do. I only came to bathe because Astolfo asked me to accompany her. Feel free to invite me again the next time our paths cross like this..."
Adopting a faint smile, Thomas replied, "Something to look forward to..." before promptly rising to his feet with Astolfo tucked under his left arm. She enjoyed being carried like a Princess, but she 'preferred' being thrown over his shoulder or carried like a sack of potatoes as she wriggled about, laughed, and cupped her cheeks with a silly grin on her face...
Following Thomas's and Astolfo's departure with her eyes, Robin waited until they ascended the stairs to the second floor before exhaling a tired but audibly steamy sigh. If Thomas had pressed a little harder, she would have readily accompanied him. Unfortunately, while he had become more assertive, he wasn't quite as bold as she would like him to be.
Interrupting Robin's thoughts, the kitsune carrying sake approached her to ask, "Does Okami-sama plan to stay in the bath, or should we take the sake to your room?"
Regaining her smile, Robin replied, "The heat appears to have gone to my head, so please prepare a cold compress. As for the sake...please place it in a bucket of ice and set it near my desk."
Bowing respectfully, the kitsune attendant replied, "As you will, Okami-sama," before quickly scurrying off to carry out Robin's orders. As she and the other kitsune did so, Robin exhaled another prolonged sigh, this time sinking into the bath until she was blowing bubbles beneath the water...
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In preparation for his visit to Tokyoku Island, Thomas informed both Vivi and the King, the former completely clearing her schedule so they could spend at least a week together before his departure. He wasn't planning to be gone for more than a few weeks, but Vivi insisted they spend time together since there was no way of knowing what incidents might occur on his journey. If he received news that the Straw Hats were in need of assistance or encountered a powerful foe with an Install Card, his return could be delayed by weeks, potentially even months.
As he enjoyed relaxing and spending time with Vivi, Thomas didn't even attempt to argue with her. Instead, he gave her a ring made of the same material as Poneglyphs, assuring her that, no matter what happened, he would always return to her. Alabasta may not be his place of birth, but so long as he knew Vivi was waiting for him, Thomas considered it his home.
Spurred by her indestructible ring and Thomas's promise, Vivi practically locked him in her room for the better part of their week together. Caenis and several others came to check on him, but that just resulted in them getting pulled in to join them.
Fortunately, not that he minded knocking Vivi up, one of the first spells Thomas had learned from Chiron was a contraception spell. He looked forward to becoming a father one day but didn't plan on having kids until he was nearing the end of his journey. He might have considered it if Vivi asked him to impregnate her, but other than insisting that he cum inside her, she never 'expressly' mentioned wanting to become a mother.
Just in case, Thomas had some of his semen frozen and preserved so that Vivi could bear his child even if something happened to him. There was no guarantee that she would want to, but after spending so much time together, Thomas was fairly certain she would at least consider it. She and Benienma had become friends, and, during their time together, the ever-faithful sparrow had gone to great lengths to implant the notion of preserving his lineage in the dutiful blunette's mind...
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After tying off some loose ends, Thomas, accompanied by Caenis, Astolfo, Artoria, Illya, Chloe, and Ruby, boarded Meng Zhi's flagship, the Feilong. It was a three-masted ship with unique red sails, but its most prominent features were its pagoda-like quarterdeck, draconic bowsprit, and the more than one hundred cannons lining its hull. It also had wheels and numerous ports for oars, so it could even sail through the Calm Belt if Meng Zhi felt so inclined.
As he would be entering Tokyoku as Caenis's sponsor, Thomas decided to enter via the port rather than trespassing using Astolfo's Hippogriff. Their chosen route would also take past Amazon Lily, so he intended to offload Illya and Chloe, at least for a short while, as they sailed into the Marine-infested region. Karakuri and Tokyoku were only a few hundred kilometers away from both Marineford and Impel Down, so sailing through the region with two of the world's most infamous lolis was practically pleading for an Admiral to race over and apprehend them...
Coincidentally, Tokyoku and Karakuri also happened to be near Sabaody, a place the Straw Hats 'had' to stop at before entering the New World. If a major event such as the Paramount War occurred, Thomas wanted to be in a position to act. Though, considering he hadn't received even an iota of news pertaining to Blackbeard, his expectations were low...
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(A/N: Inb4 Thomas 'forgets' to pick up Illya and Chloe on his return trip...)

Chapter 93: Mistakes and Idleness go Hand-in-Hand