Chapter 141: Steamy Dinner. Second Awakening. (R-18)
Lakeman, flanked by Stussy and Shakky, made his way into the opulent dining hall.
As they settled into their seats, the soft sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
Robin, Hancock, and Lily entered gracefully, their skin still glowing from a refreshing bath after an intense day of training. Their damp hair shimmered under the chandelier light, and their alluring charm filled the room like fragrance.
The meal proceeded at a relaxed, indulgent pace, the clinking of silverware interspersed with light conversation and occasional laughter.
Lakeman, resting his elbow on the table, turned to Shakky and spoke calmly but with weight behind his words, "Shakky, I want you to build an intelligence organization—one that rivals, or even surpasses, Cipher Pol. Is that within your capability?"
Still mid-bite, Shakky paused, the question catching her off guard. She swallowed quickly, composed herself, and responded earnestly, "Saint Lakeman, you already control Cipher Pol. Creating another organization of equal or greater scale would demand immense resources, time, and talent. It's not impossible... but it won't be easy."
Meanwhile, Stussy also pricked up her ears.
Lakeman leaned back slightly, fingers drumming the table.
'She's not wrong,' he thought.
'But with another Devil Fruit awakening, I'll soon gain the ability to manipulate memory itself—steal and reshape it, overwrite loyalties, mold minds to serve me without question. At that point, making the entire Cipher Pol my personal tool will be far more efficient than building something from scratch.'
A quiet smirk tugged at his lips.