"Lady Baby 5 is just too beautiful!"
"I swear, if I proposed to her right now, do you think she'd say yes?"
A pirate gazed dreamily at Baby 5's figure standing on the bow of the ship, hearts practically popping out of his eyes.
That comment, however, made another pirate nearly choke in fear.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"Do you have any idea? Anyone who's ever proposed to Lady Baby 5 hasn't lived past the next day!"
Nope. No way. I need to put some distance between myself and this idiot before I get caught in the crossfire…
Muttering under his breath, the terrified pirate shuffled a few steps to the side.
"What's there to be scared of? We're not even in Dressrosa right now. Even if I die, at least I'll have a few months of romance first!"
The first pirate's bold words earned him a reluctant thumbs-up from the one trying to distance himself.
You… you're insane, but impressive!
But before he could say another word—
Sharp pain struck the back of his neck. His body went limp, only to be gently caught and laid down on the deck by a strong pair of arms.
And he wasn't alone.
The other love-struck fool dreaming of proposing to Baby 5? Same fate.
No one noticed a thing.
It wasn't that they couldn't take the ship by force—it's that…
Luo Lan didn't want anyone on board to get the chance to send out a warning.
---
"Ian, Hina and I will head below deck now," Luo Lan whispered. "You stay here and keep watch."
"If anything stirs below and Baby 5 starts to act, that's your cue."
"You remember your killer line, right?"
Ian nodded seriously.
With a wave, Luo Lan and Hina led the team quietly into the lower levels of the ship.
Once they were gone, Ian crouched behind a bulkhead near the bow, eyes glued to Baby 5's back, a goofy smile spreading across his face.
---
Down below, the operation went smoothly.
All areas were cleared except for the lowest-level slave hold—without triggering a single alarm.
But topside, things were starting to change.
Baby 5, tired of the ocean breeze, turned around and began walking toward the ship's interior.
Ian's smile vanished. Show time.
He stepped out and blocked her path.
"Who the hell are you? I don't remember you being part of the crew!" Baby 5 snapped.
"I… I…"
LuonLan had clearly told Ian the killer pickup line. It was simple—just a few words.
But in that moment… Ian's face flushed deep red. He couldn't say a damn thing.
If Luo Lan had been there, he would've kicked him straight into the ocean.
So embarrassing!
In a flash, a massive black scythe was at Ian's throat.
Only then did Ian realize—it was Baby 5's right leg, transformed into a deadly weapon mid-kick.
She was holding that pose flawlessly, her leg stretched high.
And Ian, in that split second, couldn't help but admire her legs.
Damn… my future wife's got some seriously long legs…
Drool leaked from his mouth.
But Baby 5's next words brought him crashing back to reality.
"Not talking?"
"Then I'll make sure you never talk again."
The transformed blade edged closer to his throat.
Just 0.01 millimeters left.
"I need you!"
"…What?"
Time froze for Baby 5.
She stood completely still, like she'd been hit by a petrification spell.
The scythe-leg halted in midair.
"You said… you need me?"
"Yes. I need you. Please… marry me!"
The black scythe melted back into that elegant leg.
"M-M-Marry me?!"
"When?"
Crimson blush bloomed across Baby 5's cheeks.
---
Ian was stunned.
Luo Lan had said that line was guaranteed to work, but…
This effective?!
Twenty-plus years of being single, and it turns out women are this easy to win over?!
"Maybe… in a few days?"
"Why not today?"
Ian blinked.
So eager?!
"Of course!"
But before Ian could say more, Luo Lan's voice echoed behind them.
Ian and Baby 5 turned to see Luo Lan and Hina returning from below.
"No need to wait. It's happening today. Right here, right now!"
Luo Lan clapped his hands decisively.
Baby 5 didn't even care who Luo Lan was or how he came out of the ship. All she cared about was—
When can I marry this man in front of me?
Hina stood frozen, dumbstruck.
She knew about Luo Lan's plan for Ian…
But they'd only been gone for a few minutes!
And by the time they came back—wedding bells?!
This is beyond ridiculous. This is absurdity's final form!
Luo Lan, already prepared, sent someone to fetch supplies from their mini-submarine.
With a bit of quick decorating…
The atmosphere turned festive in no time.
A simple wedding ceremony later, and the newlyweds were escorted into their freshly decorated honeymoon suite.
Mission complete. Operation success.
---
The next day.
After transferring all the slaves to the Danaan, Luo Lan gave Ian a solid beating.
Then they set sail for home.
Why the beating?
Because the moment Ian woke up, he started showing off with Baby 5.
And didn't stop.
Literally didn't stop.
The look on his face?
Unbearably smug and shameless.
Luo Lan couldn't take it anymore and knocked some sense into him.
---
On the bridge of the Danaan,
Hina looked troubled.
"Luo Lan… you stole one of Doflamingo's people. He's not going to let this go."
But Luo Lan just shrugged.
"First off, news of the slave ship raid won't even reach Doflamingo for a few days."
"Second, if he wants to send someone to investigate, that'll take at least a month. From the New World to the East Blue? That's no quick trip."
"Third, he won't trace this back to us easily."
"And even if he does… it'll be months later. By then?" Luo Lan smirked. "We'll be too strong to care."
Hina nodded. That part made sense.
With the speed at which their strength was growing, in a few months…
Doflamingo would no longer be a threat.
"But he will send people to East Blue to investigate. That means we can't keep operating here."
"No problem." Luo Lan waved her concerns away. "Once we get back, we'll send Smoker to the South Blue instead."
If they came poking around East Blue?
Fine. Operations would move to the South.
When they showed up in the South?
Too late. They'd already moved to the West.
And then the North.
And of course, the Grand Line.
Thanks to the Danaan's top speed of 50 knots, they could stay ahead of pursuit forever.
No matter how hard they chased, they'd always be one step behind.
Always.
---
A/N: If you want an early updates, you can visit my Ko-Fi as I update there much early.
Currently at Chapter 78 for free chapters on my Ko-Fi and at Chapter 280 for advance chapters.
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27