"I know we just met." I said, "but any chance you're looking to join a crew?"
"Actually." Baccarat replied, tilting her head, "I just joined one not too long ago."
"I see." I said, deciding not to press further.
"But let's not dwell on that." she added smoothly. "Did you have plans for tonight?"
"No, but it sure seems like you have something in mind." I said. It was obvious we were flirting, which, given my current appearance, was a bit surprising to me. 'But then again, in a world this bizarre, nothing should surprise me.' I thought.
"Follow me." she said with a sly smile.
I did, but kept my guard up. You never know, this could all be a trap.
After a few quiet minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a narrow, two-story home tucked behind the livelier streets of Alubarna.
The door creaked open, revealing a warm interior. Dim lights lit the room just enough to make out a curved sofa, a polished table stacked with cards, and a decanter of something golden on the sideboard.
No traps.
She walked ahead. "Make yourself at home," she said without looking back, her voice dipping lower.
I followed, instinctively on guard… but also drawn in. The tension between us wasn't gone.
She turned to face me. No more teasing now. Just the silence of understanding. I stepped closer, hands moving to her waist, her fingers already finding the edges of my tie.
Clothes hit the floor.
And from there… what followed didn't need to be spoken.
A few hours later, I was getting dressed in silence, buttoning up my shirt slowly. Moonlight slipped through the curtains, casting a pale glow across the room. Baccarat lay in bed, still naked, lazily covered by the sheets. She watched me.
"You're leaving?" she asked, her voice soft.
I nodded. "Yeah."
She didn't respond right away. Just kept watching as I grabbed my shoes.
I stepped out into the cool night, closing the door behind me without another word. The streets of Alabasta were quiet, shadows stretching under the pale glow of street lanterns as I made my way back.
Later, I found Mihawk and Beckman waiting at our meeting poin.
"Well?" Beckman asked, cigarette dangling from his lips.
"We're all here. Let's go." I replied plainly.
We found a quiet place to settle for the night. The following day, we resumed our usual training routine. The sun was harsh, the sand hot under our feet, but none of that mattered, not when we were focused.
I could feel it the shift. My movements were sharper, my strikes heavier, my control stronger. The Haki of Armament was no longer just a burst of instinct like back at the base. It was becoming an extension of me.
I was growing stronger, and I knew it.
"So, Captain, what did you get up to last night?" Benn asked, taking a drag from his cigarette, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips.
"I met someone interesting." I replied simply, offering no further detail.
"And you?" I shot the question back at him.
"I had a good time with a few of the dancers. Real friendly girls." he said, exhaling a stream of smoke.
"Hmph." Mihawk grunted nearby. He hadn't looked up from where he sat, carefully cleaning Yoru, but he was clearly listening.
"And you, Mihawk?" I asked, glancing over at him. "How was that restaurant?"
He paused for a moment, running the cloth slowly along Yoru's blade. "Actually," he said coolly, "someone tried to recruit me."
[ Mihawk's POV — The Day Before ]
I had wandered through the streets, eyes scanning the buildings until one particular restaurant caught my attention, nothing too flashy, but refined. We had passed by it earlier while walking through the town. Now alone, it seemed the perfect place to eat in peace.
I stepped inside, took a seat near the corner, and ordered a simple dish. Nothing extravagant.
"Will that be all, sir?" the waitress asked politely.
"Yes. That's all." I replied, not bothering to look up from the table as she walked away.
Moments later, a voice interrupted the quiet.
"Excuse me, mind if I sit here? I'd like to have a word."
I looked up to find a man, probably around my age, sharp suit, composed demeanor, but something in his eyes told me he wasn't here for pleasantries.
"Why?" I asked flatly.
"It won't take long," he said with a slight smile. "May I?"
"Go ahead."
"I'd like to introduce myself." he said smoothly, folding his hands on the table. "My name is Gild. Gild Tesoro."
I didn't respond right away. I wasn't the type to pretend interest where there wasn't any.
"And what do you want from me?" I asked, just as the waitress returned. She set down my plate and a glass of wine. I gave her a brief nod, picked up the glass, and took a sip.
"I want you to join me." he said directly, his tone calm but firm. "More accurately, I want you, and the other members of your crew, to join my organization."
"And what exactly does this organization of yours do? And why would joining it be worth my time?" I asked, tone flat, uninterested, eyes half-lidded as I swirled the wine in my glass.
"To make us rich." he said with conviction. "To rise above everything and everyone. With people like you on my side, I'm sure I can reach that goal."
But I could tell, his confidence was genuine, but there was something else buried beneath. A hidden agenda. A lie tucked between his words.
"You're hiding something." I said plainly, taking another sip of wine. Then I placed the glass back on the table. "Whatever it is, I'm not interested."
Without waiting for a reply, I began eating.
He paused for a moment, clearly understanding the message. Then, without another word, he stood up, adjusted his tailored suit, and walked away.
[Caius' POV – Back to the Present]
"Gild Tesoro… I see." I muttered to myself, eyes narrowing slightly.