One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 159 Maria

Children born in Wano Country in this era are unfortunate, because darkness will devour everything and destroy all so-called happiness, and those who have no value do not even have the right to control their own life and death.

As for resistance, how weak is the resistance of ants? In this land of absolute power, how can the weak, who struggle to survive, resist the rulers who can destroy the entire island with a single word?

The weak have accumulated far too little power to pursue so-called freedom. For ordinary people, simply surviving is already a struggle. If they were to receive the favor of some great person, that would be the best arrangement.

Freedom and happiness, on the other hand, are hidden blessings, the mercy of illusory gods upon humankind.

"Maria is indeed very thoughtful. Indeed, I would be quite distressed if Chunhe were not by my side in the future."

Moko pressed her index finger against her cheek, a rare smile carrying a hint of genuine sincerity. She had been thinking about how to get Maria to give her the person, but Maria had spoken up first.

Maria raised her hand to cover her lips, her voice alluring, "It is an honor for Miss Moko to like her. This child will be entrusted to Miss Moko from now on."

As she said this, Moko raised an eyebrow, making Maria feel uncomfortable. Maria quickly shifted her gaze to Chunhe, who was being led towards the castle by a maid.

"Haru-chan, you must continue to take good care of Miss Moko, okay?"

Maria looked down at Chunhe for a long time, her smile ambiguous, yet she felt no pressure whatsoever.

Chunhe gripped her bag tightly and nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

Her timid appearance was truly unbearable, but this was the last time Maria would look at her. She looked away, her voice indifferent.

"Heh, let's hurry up and not keep Miss Moko waiting." Maria said, then walked straight past Chunhe and headed towards the castle.

Dark clouds only shrouded the sky above Oni Island, and the only light on the road leading to the castle came from the lanterns held by the maids. On the dock where Moko stood, the faint morning light was just beginning to appear, a sight that was so alluring.

Chunhe walked slowly forward, but after a few steps, she suddenly turned around and shouted loudly at Maria's back.

"My Lady!"

This was the first time Chunhe had spoken so loudly. Everyone around looked in the direction of the sound. Maria did not stop walking, but she slowed down considerably, probably wanting to hear what Chunhe had to say.

"Thank you. I will always remember your kindness in saving my sister and me back then. Also, I'm sorry, please forgive me for not being able to repay your kindness." Chunhe sniffed, her voice slightly choked. Looking at that elegant and beautiful figure at all times, Chunhe bowed solemnly.

"May you have peace and prosperity. I'm off now, Your Majesty."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chunhe turned and walked towards Moke. The golden morning sun slowly rose from the horizon, drawing a clear dividing line at the dock. Chunhe's walking pace turned into a faster and faster run. The moment she stepped across the dividing line, she broke free from the constraints of many years.

Even the smallest, most insignificant ant can transform into a butterfly, and humble, timid people also possess their own unique courage. At this moment, the butterfly that has broken free from its cocoon has finally escaped the darkness and is flying towards the light that everyone longs for.

"Your Majesty, they have already left."

Maria stopped walking at some point and did not react until the ship left the dock and disappeared from sight. It was only after being reminded by the maid beside her that she reacted again.

"How foolish. After using her for so long, she actually thanks me. What a idiot who betrayed me." The sarcastic tone carried a hint of helplessness.

“Your Highness, you seem quite pleased.” The maid, as if she knew everything, smiled slightly on her usually expressionless face.

"Sanai~"

Maria glanced sideways at the maid beside her, but her voice sounded like she was whining, without a trace of anger. Shana wasn't afraid of Maria either, and still had a smile on her face. Maria seemed helpless against Shana and could only pout like a child.

"Hmph, I'm not happy at all. I'm just seeing that she still has some use to me."

"Your Majesty, you are still so gentle."

"Sanai! Ugh~ Never mind, let's go back quickly, Lord Kaido is waiting for me."

After saying that, Maria strode toward the castle, but her steps were different from usual, carrying a hint of lightness and joy. Shana smiled and said nothing more, carrying her lantern and quickly following Maria. In the darkness, the lantern's light was like the first star to appear in the night sky, so warm and bright.

Maria was born on an island abandoned by the world due to war. Because of this abandonment, the island was extremely poor, to the point that most of its inhabitants died of starvation.

Maria's parents abandoned her the moment she was born. A girl found her and raised her. The girl was only five years old at the time. She was so poor that she could hardly survive herself, but the girl, all alone, still kept Maria and raised her by scavenging food from garbage dumps, and named her Maria.

According to the girl, Maria was the name of the god she worshipped. At that time, Maria was so thin that she looked like she was about to die, let alone grow up. So the girl gave Maria the name of the god she worshipped, hoping that the god could bless Maria to grow up healthily. Perhaps the god heard the prayer, because Maria survived and really did grow up well day by day.

But the island was so poor that the girl did almost anything to survive and raise Maria. Fighting with dogs for food was a common occurrence. Under the girl's careful care, Maria grew up healthy until she was five years old.

On the desolate path paved with rubble, a girl carrying something walked quickly through the path with her head down. When she reached a patch of grass, she looked around and, seeing no one, quickly disappeared into the grass. She walked along the path through the mixed grass and grass for about ten minutes until a cave gradually appeared.

"Maria, I'm back! There's something delicious to eat today!"

The girl called out into the cave, took out a paper package from her arms, and from the darkest part of the cave, a head cautiously peeked out. When it saw the girl, its eyes lit up instantly, and it skipped and pounced towards her.

"Shanai, welcome back!"

Shana quickly caught Maria, smiled, patted Maria's head, and handed the paper package in her arms to Maria.

“There’s a ship from out of town today. This was given to me by the adults on board. Mary, eat quickly.”

Inside the paper package was a half-eaten roast chicken, still warm. Maria's eyes lit up instantly, and she unconsciously swallowed. Although her stomach was rumbling, Maria didn't eat it right away. Instead, she pushed the paper package towards Shana.

“Sannai also eats.”

“I’m not hungry, Maria, you eat.”

Shana shook her head, and Maria pouted unhappily, "Shana, you're always like this. You haven't eaten for five days, how can you not be hungry?"

With her pitiful little voice whimpering, Maria resolutely refused to eat. Shana sighed helplessly and led Maria to sit down.

"Then let's eat together."

Hearing Shana suggest eating together, Maria's sorrow instantly turned to joy, and she nodded enthusiastically, "Yes!"

"Oh, so you were hiding here! I've been looking all over for you!"

A sharp, rough male voice shattered the warmth of the cave. Shana immediately stood up and stood protectively in front of Maria, her eyes warily fixed on the man who had appeared in front of the cave.

The man was a notorious rogue on the island, committing all sorts of evil deeds, including arson, murder, and robbery. Shana had always avoided him and tried not to provoke him. However, a few days ago, someone took a fancy to Maria and wanted to buy her as a slave. Shana finally managed to escape back to the cave with Maria, but little did she expect that the man would find out about this.

Maria's race does not belong to ordinary people. Although she is only five years old, she is already 1.56 meters tall. Judging from her current girlish appearance, one can already tell what kind of beauty Maria will become in the future.

After Maria was targeted, Shana stopped letting Maria go out, but unexpectedly, the man still found her.

“Maria, when I tell you to run, run and don’t look back. Hide in the mountains and wait for me to come find you.”

Sana spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear. Even though she was trembling with fear, she did not back down in protecting Maria. Maria grabbed Sana's clothes in fear and dared not speak.

"Why are you making that face? That lord said he'd give me 100,000 Berries if I brought you over. You guys are really valuable."

"Maria, run!"

Before the man could finish speaking, Shana pounced on him and grabbed his leg. Maria, disregarding everything else, ran frantically toward the cave exit.

"Trying to run away? Do you think you can escape?"

The man's eyes were full of mockery. He kicked Shana into the stone wall and grabbed Maria, who was running away. Shana was just a child. How could she withstand the man's forceful kick? She coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Shanai, Shanai! Let me go, you bad guy, let me go! Shanai!"

Maria's tears streamed down her face as she thrashed about in the man's arms, trying to break free. Taking advantage of a moment when the man wasn't looking, Maria bit his hand. The man winced in pain and flung Maria towards the cave entrance.

Ignoring the pain, Maria frantically scrambled to her feet and stumbled toward Shana, picking her up as she barely breathed.

"Shanai, wake up, Shanai, please, don't leave me, don't leave me alone."

"Damn it, you little brat, you dare bite me, you bastard!"

The man strode forward angrily, grabbed Maria with one hand, slammed her to the ground, and kicked her repeatedly in the stomach.

"You little brat, you dare bite me? If you weren't still worth something, believe me, I'd kill you!"

Maria curled up to protect herself, but her gaze toward the man grew increasingly fierce, carrying a hint of murderous intent. Seeing this, the man became even more enraged.

"You dare glare at me, you little brat? You want to die? Huh?"

Just as he was about to kick Maria, his foot was suddenly pulled back by a small hand.

"No—you mustn't hurt—Maria! Run, run!"

Shana had woken up at some point, and although her face was deathly pale, she still clung tightly to the man's leg, trying to give Maria a chance to live.

"Maria, run!"

"He's not dead yet. If you can't kill that brat, surely you can be killed."

As he spoke, the man drew a dagger from his waist, his eyes flashing with malice as he lunged at Shana, who was lying on the ground. Maria's pupils dilated suddenly. "No, don't!"

"boom!"

The man flew out like a kite with a broken string, embedding himself heavily in the stone wall, his fate unknown. Maria, disregarding everything else, scrambled to Shana's side on all fours, pulling her tightly into her arms, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at the tall figure that had kicked the man away.

"Your eyesight was quite good just now. How about it, little one, do you want to come with me?"

The tall man had horns on his head, dragon patterns on his arms, and a self-proclaimed "benevolent" smile on his face. Maria held Shana, unsure whether to agree. Just then, Shana suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood. Having not eaten for many days, Shana, whose body was already weak, was kicked by the man and could no longer hold on. If a doctor could not be found, Shana would surely die.

"Sanai, Sanai!"

Shana had fallen into a coma, and Maria was crying her eyes out. The little girl was already adorable, but her crying made it even more heartbreaking to see.

"Little ones, come with me and we can save her. No one will bully you anymore. How about it? Do you want to come with me?"

The horned man approached Maria again and extended his hand.

"I'll do anything you ask, just to save Shana. Please, save Shana, please!"

Maria nodded haphazardly. At this moment, she didn't care about the man's purpose. She didn't care what he wanted her to do, whether it was to be a slave or whatever, as long as it could save Shana, she would do anything.

"Hahaha, alright, from now on you're on my ship. My name is Kaido, and I'm your captain. Be good, and remember that!"

……

"What's wrong, Maria? I rarely see you spacing out."

After downing a glass of sake, Kaido looked at Maria, who was standing beside him with a dazed expression. Maria shook her head and nestled into Kaido's arms.

"I was just thinking about the first time I met Lord Kaido. Lord Kaido, Maria will always follow you, and Maria will do anything for you..."

"Little one, I told you, you're mine. No one will bully you anymore. Just stay by my side."

"Master Kaido!"

“This is not the time to talk about that, Maria.”

The warm tent hung low, the light gauze danced, and the remaining words were blocked. The room was filled with a romantic atmosphere. The moonlight, like fine silk, quietly slipped into the tent. In the air, the fragrance of flowers and body scents intertwined and lingered, like the most intoxicating breeze in spring, gently caressing every inch of skin, spreading endless tenderness and alluring spring colors.