Evening painted the casino-ship Gran Tesoro in gold and crimson light as Esdeath marched Vice Admiral Gion—Momousagi—into the King's training arena. A swirl of frustration still lit the Marine's eyes; being kidnapped by a pirate offended every shard of her pride.

"Still wondering what I'm up to, Vice Admiral?" Esdeath adjusted her cap, the brim Momousagi had bent during her earlier struggle. "As I said, you will work aboard our ship… unless you choose the simpler path."

Momousagi scowled. "You think the Navy will ignore this? Hand me over now and beg for mercy, pirate."

"Begging doesn't suit me." Esdeath tipped her head toward the shoreline, where Rhett Vane played a leisurely round of golf with Vice Admiral Chaton. "See my captain over there? Impress him—impress me—and perhaps you earn a different fate."

Momousagi's gaze hardened. "Name your stakes."

"A duel. If you defeat me, you walk away. If I win"—Esdeath's smile chilled the air—"you act as boatswain for the King and swear loyalty to Captain Vane."

Momousagi hesitated. The terms were lopsided, yet her own mission to capture Vane and his crew had already failed. "Fine," she said at last. "But should I win, your surrender must be unconditional."

"I will not lose," Esdeath replied simply.

---

The Frozen Arena

Half an hour later the 'King' had cleared the waves of Gran Tesoro's bow. Esdeath reached out, and a rolling sheet of ice sealed a stretch of ocean into a glittering platform. Momousagi drew Konpira, her treasured meitō blade , its edge humming with Armament Haki.

Momousagi opened with a sweeping arc meant to split the sea; the slash carved a trench through the ice, yet Esdeath's body vaporised into frost, re-forming behind her opponent untouched.

"Logia?" Momousagi gasped. "No… something else."

"Close enough," Esdeath answered, her fist crackling. A punch landed square in Momousagi's gut, sending her skidding across the rink. Pain flared, but the vice admiral forced herself upright, pink hair whipping in the wind.

She launched Shigure-style thrusts, each stroke coated in ebony Armament Haki. The blades connected—then passed harmlessly through Esdeath's body of snow. Momousagi tried Observation Haki, predicting a faint shift of intention, and finally managed to graze Esdeath's shoulder. The wound froze over instantly and sealed itself.

"You see the problem," Esdeath murmured.

Momousagi's heart hammered. Konpira was a blade revered for cutting meteors; yet each hit left no mark. She feinted, then unleashed her strongest technique, Rabbit Moon Sever, aiming to cleave Esdeath in two.

Esdeath let the strike pass through her, stepped forward, and drove a knee into Momousagi's ribs. Ice blossomed out, locking the vice admiral's arms and legs. She collapsed to her knees, sword slipping from numb fingers.

"Vice Admiral," Esdeath said softly, "your courage is real. Your options, however, are not."

---

Breath frosting in front of her, Momousagi glared upward. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes—pain and rage, not weakness. "This fight was never fair."

"War seldom is." Esdeath crouched, voice lowering. "But you fought well. Serve Captain Vane for now, and when the Navy comes knocking you will at least be alive to greet them."

Momousagi's jaw clenched. "Temporary… cooperation," she managed, tasting the bitterness of each word. "I am still a Marine."

"Then consider it a truce until fate deals its next hand." Esdeath touched the ice, freeing Momousagi's right arm. "Welcome aboard, Vice Admiral."

Momousagi took Konpira back with a trembling hand. The glare she offered Esdeath held no surrender, only promise of a rematch.

High above, spotlights from Gran Tesoro swept the sea in lazy arcs. No alarms rang. On this ship of gilded dreams, powerful people simply wagered higher stakes—and tonight the house paid Esdeath in victory.

---

100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter

200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters

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