One Piece: Global improvement system

May 8, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle

Christina entered the house and immediately saw Orion. He was with little Ina, checking the condition of her scars after the latest hormone treatment from Ivankov.

"Orion, look! The burns on my face have almost completely disappeared!" said Ina with a big smile, looking at her reflection in a small handheld mirror.

"That's right! They're no longer visible to the naked eye, and they'll only get better from here on out!" Orion replied, trying to encourage the girl's positivity.

He had noticed Ina's complex emotions regarding her burns and knew that although she often remained silent and acted cheerfully, she was deeply worried about them.

It was obvious—after all, she was just a child, and although she tried to stay strong, she couldn't help but feel sad whenever she saw the burn scars that covered much of her body. Especially because those scars reminded her of the tragic death of her mother, who had died protecting her from the rain of fire conjured by the powers of the Mera Mera no Mi of the pirate Blake.

"This year I'll be able to wear a dress for my birthday! Hehehe!" Ina said with an innocent smile, which caused Orion's heart to ache.

He felt deep sorrow for the torment this little girl had to endure at such a young age, and hearing her say those words was undoubtedly a punch to the gut.

"Of course, Ina. When the time comes, we'll throw a huge party, and I'll declare the day a national holiday!" he said in an imposing tone, making a funny expression that made Ina laugh out loud.

"And could we invite Miss Iva? She said she could put on a show for us called Drag Queen or something like that!" Ina clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling at the thought that her idol Iva would perform at her birthday party.

Orion's lips twitched involuntarily at the girl's words, but he didn't want to discourage her, so he had no choice but to accept her proposal, already thinking that he'd have to talk to Iva and mention that a drag show might not be the best idea for a children's party.

"Mmm, but Iva probably won't be around for your birthday, Ina. She's leaving before the end of the month," Orion said, reminding the little one about the departure date of their new allies.

Ina was currently six years old and would turn seven in August, while Dragon and his people would leave Pacific Kingdom before the end of the current month, which was May. So it would definitely be impossible for Ivankov to attend her birthday party as she hoped.

As for the Revolutionary Army's plans, they had already begun to take shape, though not finalized entirely. To start, Dragon had been appointed the leader of the organization, while Orion occupied the role of vice-leader. However, Orion's participation in the organization wouldn't be in an active sense, as he wouldn't always be available to follow Dragon's orders. Instead, he would act independently as a wild card, always trying not to interfere with the main operations and doing everything he could to help whenever possible.

Orion's status within the Revolutionary Army was the vaguest of all members, and he could almost be seen as a kind of consultant/sponsor most of the time. Still, Orion had agreed to participate in major operations if necessary. The rest of the time, he would move freely, maintaining regular communication directly with Dragon or Kuma.

In addition to Dragon and Orion's roles in the new organization, it had also been decided that Ivankov would be the commander of Division G, whose base was located in the Grand Line. In the remaining four Blues, there would be four other commanders drawn from the current high-ranking officers, including Kuma and Ginny.

It had not yet been decided which Blue they would be assigned to, but the idea was that one of them would remain in the South Blue and take charge of the Revolutionary Army branch in this region as commander. Since both of them had been living in the South Blue, it was considered that one of them would be the best choice to take on the role there due to their familiarity with the area.

On the other hand, Orion had proposed that the organization's base in the South Blue be located in his kingdom, as that would allow him to keep its members under his protection. Although Orion wasn't yet powerful enough to guarantee absolute protection from any danger, he was convinced that within his territory, the organization would have a much better chance of developing without problems.

After all, it was a remote and inaccessible island, mostly protected by the Mysterious Mist, which made it a good secret base for the Revolutionary Army, allowing them to settle there with Orion's permission without drawing too much attention.

Both Dragon and the other high-ranking members of the organization had accepted Orion's proposal, so the person eventually designated as the South Blue commander would end up living in his kingdom, whether that be Kuma or Ginny.

Ina heard Orion's reminder about Iva's departure and immediately puffed out her cheeks, clearly offended, even though it wasn't something the extravagant drag queen could control.

Seeing her like that, Orion couldn't help but laugh with amusement and said,

"How about we throw a big farewell party for Iva and the others and celebrate your birthday early? Just this once."

Ina immediately raised both hands and accepted Orion's proposal with great joy. At that moment she noticed Christina, who had entered a moment earlier and was standing silently at the door, watching them with a tender look.

"Christina! We're going to celebrate my birthday early!" Ina said as she skipped over to Christina, who welcomed her with open arms.

Orion watched the interaction between the two and thought it was truly remarkable how Christina's attitude changed when dealing with children. It was something he'd noticed even during their days in Sorbet. Every time the serious Marine captain interacted with a child, her expression completely transformed, and her classic sternness—usually as rigid as a mask—vanished without a trace, leaving only the image of a kind and approachable young woman.

Christina probably hadn't even realized the change, since she was rarely around children, and the transformation happened involuntarily. It was just another one of the adorable traits of this complex woman who pursued justice with such seriousness.

Suddenly, Giolla entered the room and picked up little Ina in her arms, lifting her into the air, which made the girl burst into laughter.

"Orion, Christina wants to speak with you privately. You should go into the Pocket Dimension. It's important," said Giolla as she carried Ina toward the girl's room.

"Let's go, Ina. It's time for you to go to bed!" said the beautiful artist, leaving Christina and Orion alone. Only Ina's voice could be heard faintly as they walked away.

"Are they going to fight naked like you did with Orion?"

"That's right, Ina, so it's best not to disturb them. Basic manners, remember that for the future."

"Okay~"

Orion's forehead filled with black lines upon hearing the words of the retreating duo, and he thought he might need to talk to Giolla about Ina's education in the future. Meanwhile, Christina's cheeks were completely red, and she felt very flustered. She had rarely experienced such a strong sense of embarrassment.

Orion saw her expression and said with a smile,

"Do you want to go into the Pocket Dimension to talk?"

Christina nodded, flustered, without saying a word, and Orion immediately opened a door in the air, through which both entered the small parallel dimension where they would have all the privacy they needed.

In the quiet living room of Giolla's house, a door opened again in the air, and a man bound in ropes was thrown out, crashing violently to the floor, seeing stars for a moment.

This was the captain of the Maro Pirates, who had been in Orion's custody for months. He had been captured alive to be used when exposing the corruption of Rear Admiral Nakamura, but with everything that had happened in the last few months, Orion and Christina hadn't had time to deal with that matter, and this wretched pirate captain had remained imprisoned inside Orion's Pocket Dimension.

In any case, Orion felt no sympathy for this kind of criminal and believed that his imprisonment conditions were far better than what someone of his ilk deserved.

Inside the Pocket Dimension, Orion and Christina stood face to face, looking at each other in silence. Orion was simply waiting for the beautiful woman to speak, without pressuring her, while Christina was gathering all her courage to say what she had been keeping in her heart for a long time.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Christina looked up, gazing into Orion's eyes, and said with conviction and nervousness,

"Orion! I want to be by your side!"

After uttering the words she had been suppressing, Christina felt great relief, but also great panic. It was the first time in her life that she had experienced romantic feelings for someone, and of course, it was also the first time she had made such a confession.

Almost unconsciously, she lowered her head again, closing her eyes and waiting for Orion's response. And after a few seconds of not hearing anything from him, her anxiety grew, fearing the worst.

Fortunately, Orion didn't make her wait long. As soon as Christina had confessed, he smiled and started walking toward her, and just a few seconds later, he reached her and placed his hands on her trembling shoulders. For her, the wait had felt like an eternity, but in reality, it had only been a few brief seconds.

"Christina Kelly, I want to be by your side too!" Orion said without hesitation, and without overthinking it, he embraced her tightly.

Christina's heart was pounding so hard it seemed like it might burst from her chest. She felt Orion's body wrapping around hers, a wave of warmth spreading through her entire being. Then, that warmth transformed into a tingling sensation, and she began to move nervously in Orion's arms.

"I might not always be able to stay by your side, but I promise I'll do my best to love you as you deserve," Orion whispered into the beautiful captain's ear, making her tremble slightly.

Then, Orion released her, creating a bit of distance between them, and to Christina's surprise, he gently lifted her chin with his hand and leaned in to kiss her tenderly on the lips.

"Mmmm..." Christina moaned softly, enjoying her wonderful first kiss with all her heart.

She never would have imagined, just months ago, that she would one day experience this kind of feeling. But now that it was happening, she was grateful to fate for putting Orion in her path.

In a way, she even felt a bit thankful toward Nakamura, since without his depraved plan to control her, perhaps she and Orion never would have had the opportunity to grow this close.

The kiss didn't last long, but it was etched into Christina's memory like a brand. When their lips finally parted, she looked at Orion with eyes full of desire and said in a soft voice,

"Be gentle, Orion. It's my first time."

Immediately, Orion felt as though his body had been injected with stimulants, and his breathing grew more intense. He had several system buffs that enhanced his natural libido, and normally the only reason he could keep his desire in check was due to his high mental resistance from his passive ability "Strong Mind."

However, this time, there was no need to restrain himself, and Orion let all his desire run free. He picked Christina up in his arms and carried her to the large bed within the Pocket Dimension, laying her down gently, as if handling a delicate and priceless treasure. Then he began undressing her slowly, savoring the moment without any rush, while also removing his own clothes.

Christina's naked body was gradually revealed, like a work of art unveiled for the first time. Her skin was as white as milk and completely smooth despite her years of military training. Orion once again marveled at the logic of this world, where a swordswoman like Christina could have such soft hands without a single callus.

Finally, Orion admired Christina in all her glory. Her breasts weren't as large as Giolla's, but they were beautiful and alluring. Orion couldn't help but bury himself in them as he ran his hands over her body.

She, on the other hand, placed her hands on her beloved's head, running her fingers through his straight hair as she felt his touch on her virgin body. Orion was in no hurry to consummate his relationship with Christina, taking care to make her feel comfortable with kisses and caresses.

He descended to her most private place and began kissing her sensually, skillfully using his tongue to send waves of pleasure through the inexperienced young woman, who arched her back in ecstasy and involuntarily pressed his head between her toned thighs, strengthened over the years in her pursuit of justice.

It was curious to her that the body she had trained for years solely to become more powerful could be attractive to the one she loved—who was now showing his affection and desire for her in the most direct way.

Christina's body trembled violently, experiencing this strange, ecstatic sensation for the first time. Suddenly, she felt her body temperature rise again and looked lovingly and longingly at Orion, who had finished his southern expedition and returned to the beautiful mountain range of her chest.

"Mmm, Orion…" Christina tried to say something, but her mind couldn't find the right words; she could only utter her beloved's name and express her feelings in the most physical way possible.

Orion stole another kiss, and the two kissed passionately. Finally, Orion gave the final push, and their connection was complete.

It was Christina's first time experiencing the wondrous world of romantic intimacy, and because of that, Orion didn't go too far on that first night. The two enjoyed each other's love for a few sweet hours, exploring their bare bodies with great pleasure and completing a full metamorphosis in their relationship.

In the early morning hours, a door appeared in the air, and Orion and Christina stepped out of the Pocket Dimension hand in hand. The beautiful woman's cheeks were flushed, and she walked closely beside her beloved; her way of interacting with him completely changed. After all, they had taken the most important step any couple could take, and their status was no longer the same.

Orion looked at the system screen, where new notifications had appeared:

* Your skill "Marital Happiness (Level 1)" has increased by one level *

*You have registered Christina Kelly as your concubine *

*Christina Kelly has successfully been transformed into a Pseudo Named Character *

The "Marital Happiness" skill, which had been stuck at Level 1 for years, had finally leveled up—leading Orion to believe that perhaps it was impossible to level it up without also increasing the number of companions.

Meanwhile, Christina had been registered on the system screen as a Pseudo Named Character, and her name now appeared on the companions screen, labeled as "Concubine." Currently, only two women were registered here: the newly arrived Christina, and Giolla, who was listed as "Secondary Wife."

Orion still didn't fully understand how the companion registry worked, but he had gathered some information over the years. For example, he knew that his companions could be categorized as concubines, secondary wives, and main wives—although he wasn't sure if these were the only possible categories. He also knew that one of the main factors for registering someone as a main wife was a high compatibility level.

For instance, Christina's compatibility was 66%, which Orion considered fairly high, though he didn't know how that percentage was calculated. On the other hand, so far he had only found two women with compatibility over 90%—Ginny and the mysterious woman Nico Robin, about whom the system had issued a mission, even though he had never met her.

Reading the term "Pseudo Named Character," Orion recalled the only other person he had encountered with that label: Gloriosa.

It had been a long time since he last saw her, back when they escaped from Guanhao, and he wondered how she was now. In the future, Orion wanted to go find her, to reunite with her once more, and perhaps recruit her to his kingdom. But for now, that wouldn't be possible.

While Orion was reading the information on the system screen, Giolla appeared from her room, clearly just waking up after a few hours of sleep. Upon seeing Christina, she approached and embraced her warmly, pulling her away from Orion, who had no choice but to watch as the beautiful artist hugged her and said,

"Christina! Welcome to the family! How about moving in with me starting today? That way it'll be more convenient when…"

Orion shook his head at Giolla's enthusiastic attitude and felt grateful that she had been his first companion. Her relaxed nature and friendly personality were especially welcome now that there was a second loving companion in his life. If Giolla had been controlling or difficult, things likely would have been much harder.

Meanwhile, hearing Giolla's words, Orion thought it was time to make arrangements for Christina's future in the kingdom. Obviously, she wouldn't return to the Marines and had decided to stay and officially join Pacific Kingdom.

After taking the final step and officially becoming a couple, they had talked in bed about their future.

The idea was for Christina to take charge of the kingdom's troops, becoming the person with the most military authority after Orion. She had experience as a Marine captain, and her strength was far above that of an average captain in the Navy's branches, so Orion was convinced that she was the best person for the job.

Christina had no objections and was eager to begin this new chapter as head of Pacific Kingdom's military forces. Not only would she be able to pursue her dream of helping those in need, but she would do so alongside the man she loved, which was simply the best outcome she could have hoped for.

Meanwhile, Orion remembered the harassment Christina had suffered at the hands of Nakamura and Yarisugi. He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with a dangerous glint. In that moment, he silently sentenced the pair of corrupt Marine officers to death.

...

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