A Bountiful Harvest

Walking through the corridors of the Marine base, Garen silently worked up his emotions and studied his role.

He naturally understood Nami's purpose.

By the time Commander Hammer welcomed Garen and Nami into an elegantly furnished conference room with a broad smile, Garen's face had already taken on a cold, lofty air.

"Colonel Smoker, please sit!"

With an ingratiating smile, Hammer walked to the square conference table and personally set out the chair at the head for Garen.

Garen gave a slight nod without changing expression, then unceremoniously took the seat of honor under Hammer's attentive service, looking thoroughly arrogant and overbearing.

Yet Hammer did not get angry. He merely went to Garen's left and set out a chair for Nami as well, humbly inviting her to sit.

He had already seen through the other identity of this "low-ranking Marine," so naturally he treated her with the utmost courtesy.

Nami also played her part perfectly. Acting had always been one of the skills she relied on to survive.

Without looking sideways, she slowly walked over and sat beside Garen. Then she lazily shifted in the comfortable leather chair, looking completely relaxed, without the slightest restraint a "low-ranking Marine" should have shown before a superior officer.

That display only confirmed Commander Hammer's earlier suspicions, making his attitude even more respectful.

Once they had both taken their seats, Commander Hammer directly took out an exquisite little leather case and respectfully placed it on the table before Nami and Garen.

Now that he knew what kind of person "Smoker" really was, Commander Hammer saw no need for pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Colonel Smoker!"

"These are some local specialties I prepared to welcome you. I hope you will accept them!"

Garen remained unmoved, too lazy even to raise his eyelids.

Hammer cursed inwardly, but his expression did not change in the slightest.

Nami slowly reached out and gently opened the bulging leather case. It sprang open, revealing neatly stacked Beli banknotes.

Nami made a rough estimate. The case held around ten million Beli in crisp new cash.

Normally, Miss Nami would have been drooling over that pile of money with stars in her eyes.

Yet at this moment, Nami appeared utterly indifferent.

She gave the money a few light glances, then calmly closed the case again and said pointedly,

"We appreciate Commander Hammer's kind intentions."

"However, shouldn't we discuss the more important matter of Loguetown's security first?"

Though she said that, Nami had already quietly dragged the little leather case much closer to herself.

In the end, Nami simply took the case of money off the table and placed it beside her chair.

"Ahem."

Garen coughed twice, then put on an official expression and went along with Nami's act.

"Commander Hammer!"

"As the commanding officer of the Loguetown Marine base, it is your duty to protect the people, suppress bandits and pirates, and maintain order in the East Blue."

"But from what I saw today, mosquitoes, flies, rats, and cockroaches are parading through Loguetown without restraint. How utterly brazen!"

Garen's gaze sharpened, and the righteousness on his face deepened.

"What is going on here? Can you explain yourself?"

Commander Hammer's heart sank. Of course, he could tell that the other man was demanding an exorbitant price.

"My deepest apologies!"

"Because I have been busy with the rotation and handover, there have recently been some unavoidable oversights in my public security work."

Hammer casually offered an excuse for himself.

It was an utterly insincere excuse. Not even a ghost would have believed it.

But Hammer knew that the real sincerity "Smoker" wanted was this—

Another exquisite little wooden box was gently placed on the table by Commander Hammer.

"That earlier one was merely a local specialty."

Commander Hammer said with a flattering smile,

"I also prepared some worthless little handicrafts for Colonel Smoker."

Garen's expression remained unchanged, but Nami had already broken into a delighted smile that put Commander Hammer at ease.

Nami reached out again and drew the little wooden box before herself, then opened it right in front of Hammer without the slightest courtesy.

The instant the lid opened a crack, dazzling golden light flashed into Miss Nami's eyes.

Jewelry, jade, and gold coins were piled densely together, glittering with precious radiance.

Nami casually took out a sapphire ring as large as a pigeon's egg and examined it beneath the bright conference room lights. An immensely satisfied smile immediately appeared on her face.

There were so many things in the box that even Cat Burglar Nami, a professional thief, could not immediately appraise the value of the treasure within.

But one thing was certain: the jewelry and gold coins in this box were the real prize, worth far more than the ten million Beli in cash.

Even Commander Hammer, who had maintained such a calm expression until now, faintly revealed a look of pain as he watched Nami play with the jewelry.

"Very good."

As Nami quietly drew the box into her arms, she smiled at Hammer.

"Commander Hammer, you truly are a fine official devoted to your duties."

"It seems all those unfavorable rumors about you in Loguetown were completely unfounded!"

Two veins immediately bulged faintly on Hammer's forehead.

Not only had this little girl refused to change her tune after taking the money, she had even brought up more of his dirty secrets right in front of him.

She was obviously insatiable and wanted to squeeze even more benefits out of him!

Nami paid no attention whatsoever to Hammer's ugly expression and merely continued in a meaningful tone.

"These 'local specialties' are nice, but they are rather conspicuous."

"Keeping such things nearby could easily tarnish Colonel Smoker's reputation for integrity."

"I wonder whether Commander Hammer has any more discreet collectibles?"

This was no longer a hint. It was an open demand for a bribe.

And Nami had even spelled out exactly what form of payment she wanted.

Something more discreet than cash and jewelry was naturally a bank check.

To placate the aggressive "Smoker," Hammer had indeed prepared all sorts of little gifts, including checks.

Commander Hammer's expression immediately darkened further, and he could no longer maintain his earlier composure.

You still want to use my weaknesses to extort money from me?!

Hammer laughed in fury inwardly.

Fine! I'll let you take the money, but not live long enough to spend it!

Without saying a word, Hammer took an East Blue bank draft he had prepared long ago from his coat and gloomily placed it on the table.

Unlike an ordinary check, this draft listed neither recipient nor payer. It bore only anti-counterfeiting marks and an amount, and could be exchanged for cash at a bank.

These hard-to-trace, easy-to-carry negotiable drafts were part of a shady banking service specifically designed for special clients such as pirates, corrupt officials, and criminal syndicates in areas beyond government oversight.

Nami unceremoniously took the draft before her and quickly fixed her eyes on it.

Fifty million Beli.

Even with Nami's acting skills, she could not help falling silent briefly at that staggering figure.

The money had come too quickly and too easily, to the point that even Cat Burglar Nami found it hard to accept.

She had only been by Garen's side for three days, yet she had already achieved the "small goal" she had failed to amass after years of effort.

"Commander Hammer truly is a pillar of the military!"

Nami smiled brilliantly, the check already clenched tightly in her hand.

After all, this was all dirty money.

Carrying a case of cash and a case of jewelry would be far too conspicuous. If Smoker confiscated them afterward, she would lose more than she gained.

That was why Nami had deliberately put on a greedy, insatiable act and demanded this discreet yet valuable draft from Commander Hammer.

"I wonder whether Colonel Smoker is satisfied with my work?"

Commander Hammer forced an ugly smile and leaned toward Garen.

"Hahaha."

Garen laughed boldly. "Satisfied. Very satisfied!"

He truly was very satisfied with Commander Hammer's generous contribution.

But it was time for the dagger to be revealed.

Garen quietly prepared himself, about to seize the moment and suddenly make his move.

Before acting, Garen gave Commander Hammer a malicious glance. His eyes then inadvertently settled on the luxurious watch around Hammer's wrist, its diamonds glittering like stars.

Uh.

Before slaughtering the pig, he still had to scrape it clean.

So Garen said half-jokingly,

"Commander Hammer!"

"As an upright military officer, isn't wearing such an expensive watch a bit inappropriate?"

"If the people of Loguetown saw it, I'm afraid it would damage the bright and righteous image of our Marines!"

"Yes, yes!"

Hammer nodded and bowed as he moved even closer to Garen, then knowingly made a show of removing his watch.

"Colonel Smoker is absolutely right!"

"I'll correct myself immediately!"

Yet as Hammer pretended to bow and offer up the watch, a small revolver quietly slid from his sleeve and was gripped tightly in his palm.

A gunshot rang out.

A Seastone Bullet burst from the muzzle flash and struck Garen squarely in the chest at point-blank range.

Garen fell in response.

"Motherfucker!"

Hammer wildly waved the revolver in his hand, cursing like a madman.

"You even wanted to fleece me for my watch?"

"You're fucking greedier than I am!"