-----
-----
"Alright, enough joking around. No need to be so surprised..."
Facing the strange gazes from the three Hancock sisters, Shaka remained completely at ease, offering a lighthearted smile.
He was open and unashamed, laughing as he spoke. "Money, power, beauty, strength, fame... Everyone in this world has desires. No one can completely escape from them, and I'm no exception!"
"You don't need to imagine me as some perfect being. I could never be as righteous and grand as a true Buddha!"
"I come from the Flower Kingdom in the West Blue. I was born into the royal family, in fact, I was the first in line for the throne. But at some point, I grew tired of the endless power struggles and lost interest in ruling. So, I willingly gave up my claim to the throne and left my country."
As he spoke of his past, Shaka's expression remained calm, showing no emotional fluctuations.
The Hancock sisters were visibly shocked, but Shaka simply smiled at them, his tone unwavering. "Power, wealth, and fame mean nothing to me."
"I don't have any grand ambitions in this life. The reason I continue to train so diligently is not just to one day stand at the pinnacle of strength, but also so I can live however I please—free, unrestrained, and of course, surrounded by a few beautiful women."
"If pirates dream of becoming the Pirate King, then my dream is to become the Harem King!"
Shaka said this with complete confidence, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"..."
Hearing this—
The three Hancock sisters were speechless.
For a moment, the seemingly flawless image of "Ksitigarbha King" Shaka in their minds subtly shifted.
Yet, they didn't feel any resentment towards him. Instead, they were just surprised to realize that this man was different from what they had imagined.
He wasn't some untouchable, divine figure detached from worldly desires.
He was just a person—a real, living human being.
That made him feel much more approachable.
"Huh? Shaka, are you really that kind of person?"
"You sure know how to joke... No wonder they call you the 'Renegade Monk'!"
Sandersonia and Marigold were momentarily stunned, but soon, they couldn't help but chuckle.
They had never met such an upfront man before.
Having grown up listening to legendary tales about him, the "Ksitigarbha King" Shaka had always seemed like an untouchable and perfect figure in their minds.
Even standing in front of him now, there had always been a certain distance that made them feel somewhat reserved and cautious.
But this Shaka—this bold, confident, and slightly roguish Shaka—felt like a real, flesh-and-blood person.
"You're really something else—so straightforward!"
Hancock gave him a speechless look.
However, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curve upward slightly.
A moment ago, she had been slightly shaken, even doubting her own beauty and charm.
But now, she felt reassured again.
As expected, no one could resist the allure of the world's most beautiful woman.
The only reason he hadn't turned to stone just now must have been due to some special Devil Fruit ability.
Although his gaze was fiery, it was more appreciative than lecherous.
And for the first time in a long while, Hancock felt an unfamiliar flutter in her heart. She turned her head slightly, as if trying to hide it, and let out a small huff. "Men really are all the same..."
"Lord Fire Blossom was right. Ninety-nine percent of men, as long as they're not nailed to a wall, will never behave themselves!"
That was something Lord Fire Blossom had once told her, and she had wholeheartedly agreed.
"Oh, come on now..."
Shaka chuckled.
He made no effort to hide his true thoughts.
Smiling, he looked at the breathtaking Boa Hancock, his gaze filled with admiration. "Desire is part of human nature. I just embrace mine instead of suppressing it. Especially when it comes to a beauty like you, Hancock. If you were to throw yourself into my arms, I certainly wouldn't turn you away!"
"No holding back—that's the real you, huh?"
Hearing his blunt words, Hancock raised an eyebrow, staring at him with her sapphire-like eyes, filled with curiosity and surprise.
This young "Ksitigarbha King" was vastly different from the legendary figure she had imagined.
And strangely enough, instead of feeling disgusted or repulsed, as she did with most men, she felt... a peculiar sense of enjoyment.
It was as if she was delighted by the idea of being admired.
But then, she remembered how he had effortlessly overpowered her earlier on the shore, even teasing her in the process. He had even gone so far as to reprimand her—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—for relying too much on her Devil Fruit powers.
Feeling slightly annoyed, the Empress narrowed her eyes and challenged him. "Would you dare say the same thing in front of Lord Fire Blossom?"
Over the years, she had met countless men of all kinds.
Most were utterly entranced by her beauty, especially those so-called gentlemen who were actually just hypocrites, pretending to be noble while hiding their perverse desires.
Shaka, on the other hand, was definitely a bit of a womanizer, but he was refreshingly honest about it.
Rather than feeling repulsed, she actually found his straightforwardness rather likable.
"No need to worry. Fire Blossom already knows exactly what kind of person I am. She's well aware that I have quite a few female companions."
Shaka shrugged nonchalantly.
"You don't need to imagine me as some flawless saint. 'Ksitigarbha King' is just a title others gave me. I'm just an ordinary man—a monk who broke his vows!"
The truth was, he had always been a free-spirited person, never as perfect as people imagined.
And yes, he was a bit of a flirt. Not only did he have women on Amazon Lily, but even in Elbaf among the giants, he had romantic ties.
Of course, despite his playboy tendencies, he genuinely believed in forming deep emotional connections over time.
Every woman in his life held a special place in his heart. He had never considered using or abandoning them.
He wasn't some great hero, nor did he have the ambition to save the world.
Even when he had attacked the Navy fleet to liberate enslaved people from non-World Government nations, and later stormed Mariejois to rescue a kidnapped prince, it hadn't been out of pure altruism.
It was because that prince was his cousin—his aunt, who had once treated him kindly, had been the queen of that fallen kingdom.
By the time he heard the news, she and the king had already taken poison to avoid capture.
His cousin, the rightful heir, had been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons in Mariejois.
At the time, Shaka had been traveling in the East Blue. Upon hearing the tragedy, he decided to act—not for some noble cause, but to repay the kindness his aunt had once shown him.
He had long since severed ties with his royal past and set out as the renegade monk known today.
And the world had never truly understood his story.
"....."