Chapter Thirty-Eight: Like a Dream

The Grand Line truly lives up to its name—on this journey, several groups of pirates crossed our path. They all dismissed this unremarkable-looking ship, attempting to rob us, and of course, it was always their misfortune. Thus, the title "Violet Emperor" began to spread. Rumor had it the Violet Emperor was a person with a clear sense of right and wrong: as long as you didn't provoke him, he couldn't be bothered with you, but if you lacked sense, you could only blame yourself.

Naturally, none of the pirates we encountered were famous. The difference between the first and latter halves of the Grand Line is astonishing. In the first half, Devil Fruit users are rare, but the further into the latter half you go, the more common such powers become.

Then there is Haki—here, almost every pirate who practices martial arts can use it to some extent. Some are stronger than others, but all are far superior compared to the first half, where Haki is more myth than reality, except on Amazon Lily. Here, without some life-saving skills, you could easily perish. Camus was rather merciful to the few ships we came across, taking few lives; the Violet Emperor would simply destroy their vessels. If you encountered a formidable Sea King, however, that was just bad luck—these creatures are noticeably stronger and larger than in the first half. Once, we ran into a giant squid blocking our course, estimated to be over a thousand meters across. Ice Phoenix, none too pleased, simply froze it solid and shattered it—an awe-inspiring yet bloodless display. Even Camus was taken aback; she hadn’t just frozen its surface, but its blood and nerves as well, turning it utterly to ice before smashing it to pieces.

Soon, we were two days out from Beast Island. The sea stretched endlessly, unnervingly calm. Camus lounged in a deck chair, basking in the sun, while Ice Phoenix sat nearby, absorbed in a book. Camus had once glanced at the title—“Advanced Rules of Love”—and was surprised. She was reading about romance because he’d once called her a violent woman, and Camus had told her he didn’t like that type. If she was trying to improve their relationship by studying such books, he ought to be moved to tears. Camus decided to let her be; it was good for Ice Phoenix to become more gentle. After all, with her overwhelming strength, no one could restrain her if she ever lost control.

Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the distance ahead—the sky darkened, wind and waves rising. Several kilometers off, a vast swath of black clouds flashed with lightning. Camus frowned; a storm was coming. Detouring would delay them by a dozen days, and though he had time to spare, he disliked wasting it.

He got up and walked over to Ice Phoenix, who was still engrossed in her book, seemingly oblivious to the weather. But Camus knew she was well aware—celestial beasts of her caliber are acutely sensitive to the world’s spiritual energies. Neither of them feared the storm, but avoiding the rain was always preferable.

He gently tapped her shoulder. “Ice Phoenix, let’s go to the cabin. The wind will pick up soon.”

She nearly raised her fist in reflex, but his words left her secretly pleased.

The ship itself was strikingly modern, with sleek lines and impressive speed. The cabin was spacious, fully equipped with sofas and beds. Ice Phoenix, walking in first, claimed the bed, leaving Camus a bit disgruntled—she always slept on the bed while he took the sofa.

Camus sometimes reminisced: it was better when she was in her bird form—small, adorable, and never in the way. He’d mentioned this a few days ago, and Ice Phoenix ignored him, leaving him at a loss. On reflection, he realized why: she wasn’t a human but a celestial beast who had worked hard to take human form for cultivation. Asking her to revert to her smaller form just to save space would deeply wound her. Understanding this, Camus regretted his thoughtlessness, and when he saw her downcast expression, he said nothing more, only hugged her tightly. Perhaps his words had hurt her more than he realized—she struggled fiercely, but Camus, thinking she wanted to leave, only held her closer. Finally, they both lay still as he whispered an apology. Ice Phoenix cried in his arms for a long time, letting him go only after he made numerous promises. Since then, the bed had been hers alone, and Camus had to make do with the sofa. What he didn’t know was that his apology and that tight embrace had made Ice Phoenix fall hopelessly for him. Though she didn’t quite understand love, she knew that being with Camus filled her with joy and she never wanted to leave him.

“Hey, come sit here,” Ice Phoenix teased, perched on the soft bed and looking at Camus on the sofa, her cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness. After reading those romance books for days, she realized she’d fallen for this scoundrel, and it felt wonderful. He already had a wife, but what did it matter if there was one more? Let him fret about it.

Camus was well aware of Ice Phoenix's transformation over the past months and knew she had fallen for him. As for Robin, she might get a little jealous, but if she knew Camus loved Ice Phoenix too, she wouldn’t stand in the way—she’d simply ignore him for a few days and give him a little punishment.

Camus gazed at Ice Phoenix for a long while, realizing she had made up her mind. Ah! It was his own irresistible charm, after all.

Since she had decided, what was he hesitating for? He couldn't let himself be called a coward.

He got up and walked over. Ice Phoenix shifted slightly, making room for him at her side, then leaned against his shoulder. Her long, silvery hair was unbelievably soft, stirring Camus's heart.

The ship rocked gently. Camus put his arm around her slender waist, feeling her trembling. He was deeply moved. In his previous life, he’d been an ordinary, unremarkable person. After countless hardships, he’d crossed into this world—was it really that hard? Even now, it all seemed like a dream. Was it real? The ocean, the sky, the land—all tangible. This must be his second home. Whether real or not didn’t matter; all that mattered was seizing the moment.

Feeling Ice Phoenix trembling in his arms, Camus gently kissed her forehead, stroking her soft hair. “Have you really decided?” he asked softly, his voice filled with tenderness and affection.

Ice Phoenix shivered, her eyes misty as she looked at him and nodded. Her voice was gentle and coy: “You scoundrel.”

Suddenly, a great wave crashed over the ship, making it lurch. Camus and Ice Phoenix tumbled onto the bed. Looking at the now remarkably gentle girl in his arms, Camus kissed her.

“I’ll show you just how bad I can be…”

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Apologies, everyone. My computer broke down and was just repaired today, which is why there were no updates these past two days. Sorry about that.

As always, I hope for your continued support! Let the thought of abandonment go to hell! There’s no such thing here!

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