NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Marriage
[bonus]
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Kitaro's bold declaration, "Let's get married," echoed through the palace hall, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.
"You...what did you say?! Marry?!"
Hancock was completely taken aback by Kitaro's bold proposal. Her heart raced, and her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. This man was actually proposing marriage? As expected, this guy had ulterior motives towards her!
Kitaro's eyes flicked briefly to Hancock, the Pirate Empress, standing with her usual air of superiority. He knew it wasn't time yet—there were more pressing matters at hand, and acting prematurely would only disrupt his plans. But that didn't stop him from setting his sights on her. She would be his, eventually.
The key was patience, something Kitaro had mastered. Everything has its moment. For now, she was an essential piece in his game, and he would let her believe she held the upper hand.
Before Hancock's thoughts could run wild, Kitaro quickly clarified, raising his hand. "No! Not marriage in the romantic sense—I'm talking about our alliance, a marriage of our clans."
"Marriage of clans? What do you mean?" Hancock frowned, trying to understand his intent.
"I mean it literally. A union between the Uchiha clan and Amazon Lily. It would be mutually beneficial for both of us."
"Beneficial? How?" Hancock, regaining her composure, asked with interest.
Kitaro leaned in, his voice persuasive as he painted the picture. "First, it would bring our people closer. Second, you've already seen the abilities of my clan. We're born with unique powers. When the men of the Uchiha clan unite with the women of Amazon Lily, the offspring will be incredibly strong—naturally gifted warriors."
He spoke with such conviction that Hancock found herself considering the idea. As much as she despised the man's audacity, there was truth to his words. The abilities of the Uchiha clan were extraordinary—far beyond that of most Devil Fruit users. If children were born with such powers, Amazon Lily's strength could skyrocket within a decade.
Her ultimate goal was always to protect her people. As a Warlord of the Sea, she held temporary protection under the World Government, but she knew all too well how fickle they could be. If they ever stripped her of her title, Amazon Lily could become a target overnight. Strengthening the nation was paramount.
"And what do you want in return?" Hancock asked, now more serious.
Kitaro smiled, sensing the shift in her tone. "My request is simple. The children born from this union would be a part of the Uchiha clan."
"Absolutely not! That's impossible!" Hancock's voice rose in outrage as she stood up, her eyes blazing with fury. The idea of handing over children born in Amazon Lily to another clan was unthinkable.
"Wait! Don't get upset. Let me finish," Kitaro quickly interjected, his calm demeanor keeping Hancock from storming out.
"Go on, then," Hancock snapped, crossing her arms.
Kitaro continued. "I'm not saying they would abandon Amazon Lily. What I'm suggesting is that while they would be part of the Uchiha clan, their nationality and loyalty would still belong to Amazon Lily. Think of it like the Uchiha clan planting roots here. They would belong to both."
Hancock's sharp gaze softened slightly as she considered his words. "Explain."
"Simply put, these children would be Amazon Lily citizens, but also part of the Uchiha clan. It would be similar to noble families in other nations—they would hold dual identities. The Uchiha clan would integrate into Amazon Lily, and together, we'd train these children to become the strongest warriors."
Hancock sat back, pondering the proposal. She realized that this arrangement would allow her to command the children while benefiting from the Uchiha clan's knowledge and power. It was a clever solution, and one that might ensure Amazon Lily's future strength.
"So, I would still have the authority to command them?" Hancock asked cautiously.
"Of course," Kitaro nodded.
Hancock was quiet for a moment before finally responding, "Very well. I agree."
"Thank you, Lady Hancock," Kitaro said, relieved. He had worked hard to negotiate this alliance, and now, the path forward seemed clearer. His mission was on track, and the future of the Uchiha clan was brighter than ever.
Kitaro couldn't hide the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he and Hancock finalized their agreement. The Kuja, known for being a land of powerful and fierce women, would soon be subject to his designs.
His thoughts shifted darker, more calculating. "So native, so...primitive," he thought. This world, its customs, its people—they're all beneath me. Everything here will fall under my control. There's no way I'll ever allow someone to stand above me in the future.
He glanced at Hancock, the so-called Pirate Empress, a woman whose power and beauty inspired awe in even the strongest of men. She had her pride and her people, but to Kitaro, she was just another pawn in the grand game he intended to dominate.
As they sealed their pact, he silently vowed that soon enough, all of this would be his to command. The Uchiha will reign supreme, and he would be the one to lead them into a future where everything—everyone—bowed to him.
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"By the way, Lady Hancock," Kitaro continued, changing the subject, "when are you planning to set sail next?"
"Why do you ask?" Hancock narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Kitaro smiled. "Didn't I mention that we should work together to find gold?"
"Gold? You can't be serious," Hancock scoffed. She had thought his earlier mention of gold was just an excuse for a gamble.
"I'm very serious. I know of a place with a vast amount of gold."
"Really?" Hancock's interest was piqued.
"Absolutely."
"If that's the case, why haven't you taken it yourself?"
"Timing. Before, we could've taken it quietly. But now, with our alliance in place, we should share the rewards. The Uchiha clan believes in repaying kindness with gratitude."
Hancock rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "It's hard to believe anything you say."
Despite her skepticism, the mention of treasure was too tempting to ignore. With more funds, she could further arm Amazon Lily and improve the lives of her people. No pirate, not even the empress of Amazon Lily, could resist the allure of treasure.
"If what you're saying is true, we'll depart tomorrow morning."
"Agreed," Kitaro replied, confident that this was the next step in his plan.
[Ding! A new mission Triggered: Funding Crisis]
[Mission Objective: Obtain huge funds for the family.]
[Mission Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan]
...