Idle Level-Up in One Piece

Gloriosa slowly stood up, her head lowered, not daring to look Klein in the eyes. Her heart was full of anxiety and fear...

She was scared. Her mind couldn't help but wander—what would he do to her next?

Something shameful?

Or, like the rumors on the high seas, would she end up as a toy for him like those slaves?

If that was the case...

That would be her bottom line. She'd rather die than submit!

Shakky behind her had similar thoughts, her mind in a jumble. She hadn't expected Gloriosa to make that decision on her behalf just now.

Her head was spinning.

"What's your name?" Klein asked, even though he already knew.

Gloriosa bit her lip, her face pale. "Glo...Gloriosa!"

Her clear voice trembled uncontrollably. She had no idea what kind of future awaited her now.

But...

She was alive. And while alive—there's still hope.

Klein reached out, and though Gloriosa instinctively turned her head to dodge, he still grasped her chin and tilted her face upward. He smiled and said:

"Didn't you say you wanted to be the greatest queen of Amazon Lily?"

"I can make you strong. I can even make you eternally youthful. But first…"

"You'll have to behave. I hate disobedient people."

"You're a smart woman. Don't do anything stupid. Or the consequences… will be severe."

He was dangling a carrot. Whether they accepted it or not didn't matter to Klein—his attitude wouldn't change. If they pleased him, maybe he'd toss them some rewards. Even the tiniest scrap from his hand would be more valuable than treasure.

That oppressive, dominating gaze and presence made Gloriosa's heart skip a beat.

Klein's eyes flicked around. "The others are waking up too. I hope you behave."

"My name is Moretti Klein. From now on, in public, you'll address me as Lord Klein."

"In private... call me Master. Understood?"

"...Understood." Gloriosa slowly steadied herself, though unease lingered in her chest about the days ahead.

Next to her, Shakky was as pale as a sheet. Cold sweat trickled down her delicate face, and her bright eyes dimmed.

When Klein stepped in front of her, a chill swept through her entire body.

"And you," Klein said, staring at her lowered head. His invasive, hungry gaze devoured her without restraint. "From now on, you belong to me—Moretti Klein. Understand?"

"..." Shakky was speechless, completely lost. This wasn't the composed and fearless woman she'd later become—the remnant of the Old Era.

No—right now, she was just a greenhorn, following Gloriosa on her first voyage.

Klein didn't care.

Morals?

Justice?

Don't joke. This is the pirate world—whoever has the bigger fist, makes the rules!

In this entire ocean, how many cultured people could you even find?

Laws and order?

Useless here.

Only strength mattered!

And...

Before he "got his cheat," maybe Klein would've worked hard toward becoming a branch captain.

But now?

Now that he was "cheating," of course his ambition and confidence would grow.

The female warriors around them started waking up.

The first thing they did was draw their bows again, aiming deadly arrows at every vital spot on Klein's body—until Gloriosa shouted, "Stand down!"

"Lady Snake Princess…" some of them protested in confusion.

Gloriosa gritted her teeth. "From now on, I swear loyalty to Lord Klein."

Her declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

"Nani?!"

"Snake Princess, how could you make such a decision?"

"How can the queen of Amazon Lily possibly—"

"Enough!" Gloriosa barked, releasing a wave of powerful presence that silenced the others. "None of us are a match for Lord Klein!"

"I'm doing this for your sake!"

In that moment, the female warriors were moved to tears. In their naïve worldview, their Snake Princess had sacrificed herself for their lives.

They immediately entered self-hypnosis mode—completely touched.

Klein said, "Pick a few of your trusted followers and come aboard. The rest can return to Amazon Lily for now."

With that, he turned and leapt onto the warship, just as the Marines onboard were regaining consciousness.

Klein looked at Os. "Pull up beside that pirate ship and arrest everyone on board."

"Yes, Mr. Klein." Os swiftly gave the order. Soon, the rebel pirate Pick and his crew were all captured.

The Perfume Yuda drew closer. Gloriosa selected several trusted warriors and, under the teary-eyed gazes of the others, boarded the warship with them.

Klein glanced at the snake wrapped around Gloriosa's arm—it looked almost identical to Boa Hancock's pet.

"Os, prep a few rooms for them."

"Yes, sir."

"Gloriosa. Come with me."

At his words, Gloriosa shuddered, her gaze darkening as if the world itself dimmed.

Was it really about to happen...?

Like a walking corpse, she followed behind Klein. Her body felt frozen—as if she had stepped into a world of ice and snow.

Fear crept in.

If he forced her... how would she resist?

Could she resist?

Against someone like Klein?

But if it really came to that… she'd never allow herself to be defiled.

She'd rather die!

Her thoughts were in chaos.

—

Inside the warship's office.

Klein crossed his legs, propping them on the table as he looked at her with amusement. "No one's around. You know what to call me, right?"

"..." Gloriosa stayed silent, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

The room was thick with tension.

After a long inner struggle, she bit her lip and forced the words out: "...M-Master."

It felt like all her strength left her the moment she said it, her whole body slumping.

Klein scratched his ear. Not only was it lacking that "clip-tone" sound from his previous life, but her voice also carried a trace of resentment—reluctant, unwilling.

Still, first steps are always hard.

"You want to be the greatest queen of Amazon Lily? You're far from strong enough."

"Do you want to get stronger?"

His tempting voice lit a spark in Gloriosa's heart. Without hesitation, she answered, "Yes!"

"If you behave, I don't mind teaching you stronger combat techniques. But if you don't…"

"Not only will you suffer, your followers—and Amazon Lily itself—will be destroyed."

Of course, that was just a threat. Klein wasn't a good man, but he wasn't a mindless killer either.

Worst case, he'd just make himself king of Amazon Lily, develop the island a little, and turn the women into... workers. To make money for him.

Like... massage therapists.

The legit kind, mind you—not that kind of business.

He had some standards.

Though...

If the price was high enough, who knows?

Maybe only the World Government could afford that level of "temptation." But let's not go that far yet.

Everyone has a breaking point.

And Gloriosa was smart enough to know this was the "sugar" after the stick. But she had no choice.

As Klein said—"In this ocean, the weak don't get to choose."

She had to get stronger!

"Of course, there's one other way to earn your freedom," Klein shrugged. "But you've got no money."

Amazon Lily? Basically a primitive tribe—no money, no resources.

All they had were women...

Just women.

"Go cool off. And talk to Shakky while you're at it." Klein waved her away.

Gloriosa's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected him not to force himself on her.

Wait... was she not attractive enough?

Her brain spun. For the first time, she started doubting her own charm.

After she left, Klein chuckled.

"A forced melon may not be sweet… but it'll still quench your thirst."

"But hey, I'm not that thirsty. Not yet."

"Let's take it slow. Train them well. Then they'll be fun to have around. At least the ship won't be boring anymore."

—

On the deck.

Os faced the Marines and roared angrily, "We're too weak! Just one burst of Conqueror's Haki and we were all knocked out! It's disgraceful!!"

"We absolutely cannot become dead weight for Mr. Klein!"

"That's why we need to train harder and get stronger!!!"

Embarrassment, frustration, and shame were etched into every Marine's face.

Utter humiliation.

Knocked out by sheer presence? Unforgivable.

"OOH!!"

Fired up, the Marines began training like madmen.

Gloriosa glanced at them from the side. "So these are Klein's soldiers, huh? Disciplined, organized… The Marines really are different."

"No wonder they became the biggest force in the seas."

"I've got to get stronger too. Only then can I take control of my own fate."

She remembered again—Klein's hand around her neck, her life in his grasp.

That feeling of powerlessness... it was unbearable.

She still couldn't understand—

How could someone who looked about her age... be that strong?

It defied logic!

It defied everything!