Gift

The next day.

Since the matter had been resolved, he was in no hurry to return to the 16th Branch. He planned to head back after Smoker and the others had left. In any case, Cocoyasi Village was not far from the 16th Branch.

Having unexpectedly solved a major problem, Xia Che had slept exceptionally well last night.

By the time he woke up, it was already nearly noon.

After washing up and stepping outside, Xia Che saw Miss Robin already sitting in the office, reading a book.

As expected of a scholar who had passed the doctoral examination with perfect marks at the age of eight and become an archaeologist.

She simply loved reading.

Ever since coming to the East Blue with him, whenever Robin had free time, she would make herself a pot of tea and leisurely read.

Xia Che picked up the document on his desk. Judging by the name on it, it should have been submitted by Mayor Nojiko that morning.

After giving it a brief glance, he set it down again.

It mainly recorded Cocoyasi Village's arrangements for the newly arrived refugees last night.

In just one night, Cocoyasi Village had already settled everything properly.

Of course~

Xia Che was not surprised by that.

After all, it had been so many years. Everyone in Cocoyasi Village already knew exactly how to handle such arrangements.

Unfortunately, there were still no particularly useful talents among this group, which disappointed Xia Che somewhat.

There was a fellow named Pike who was skilled at handling fur and making leather armor, but there were no construction specialists or shipbuilding talents that Xia Che wanted.

There was not even anyone particularly strong, much less any scarce technological talent.

Although strength was the most important thing on the seas, and a single powerful person could destroy a nation, technology was equally important in this world.

After all, even the powerful World Government, which controlled the entire sea, placed tremendous importance on technology, did it not?

That made it obvious~

Unfortunately, the World Government's technological research mainly focused on weapons—researching what kind of weapon could destroy an island more quickly and easily, and wipe out the vermin beneath them.

Because of that, even Vegapunk, the world's greatest scientist who wished to change the world through technology, had no choice but to develop terrifying weapons of murder under the World Government's threats and temptations.

Xia Che was quite tempted by the world's greatest scientist as well, but trying to steal... recruit him was simply far too difficult.

There were far too few scientists on these seas. Those with ability either had their own factions or had been recruited by the World Government. Finding a capable independent scientist was truly too difficult.

The more Xia Che thought about it, the more envious he became. He sighed and shook his head, then seemed to remember that he had something more important to deal with today. Turning to Robin, he asked, "Where are those three Marines? How were they arranged? I had Moke entertain them last night. Nothing unexpected happened, right?"

Thinking about it now... Udo should have been the one entertaining them. Compared to that big fool Moke, Udo was much sharper, and he was also a Marine, so he should have been more suitable.

However.

The moment he finished speaking.

"They... they were fine." Robin, who was reading, did not raise her head, but her expression was somewhat strange as she said, "Nothing unexpected should have happened."

"You don't look like nothing unexpected happened." Seeing Robin's expression, Xia Che rubbed his forehead with a headache. "Don't tell me Moke caused trouble again? Didn't I tell him to entertain them properly?"

"No~, Moke should have entertained them properly." This time, Robin looked up, her tone still strange. "According to the report from over there, they seemed to have enjoyed themselves. They should have been quite satisfied."

"Enjoyed themselves?" Seemingly sensing the oddness in Robin's tone, Xia Che frowned. "It should have been late when they returned last night. Where did they rest?"

"Red Romance."

"..."

"How was it? Comfortable here, right~?" Moke sidled up to Smoker with a lecherous grin. His rugged face wore the sort of smile every man understood as he bumped Smoker with his burly body. "Whenever I'm too tired, I just come here to rest for a while, and my whole body feels relaxed."

As soon as he said that.

"..."

Smoker, standing beside him and looking at that lecherous grin, immediately said with a dark face, "I didn't do anything. Pirates are pirates, so don't give me that filthy look."

"Do what? Didn't we soak in the hot springs, get massages, and have our feet scrubbed last night?" Moke was confused by Smoker suddenly getting angry again for no reason. Smoker had clearly seemed to enjoy it yesterday!

He had thought they had become friends. Why was Smoker angry again the moment they came out?

Scratching his head, he asked in confusion, "What else do you want to do?"

Smoker: ...

He did not want to do anything!

For a moment, he did not even know how to respond.

But Moke turned to look at Tashigi, whose face was red. "Could it be that this place isn't good? How did you feel last night? Was it comfortable?"

"C-Comfortable!" Tashigi lowered her flushed face, seeming somewhat embarrassed as she said, "I also soaked in the hot springs, got a massage, and had my feet scrubbed."

The men and women had been separated, but although she had only bathed, gotten a massage, and had her feet scrubbed, for some reason it still felt a little strange.

This clearly was not that kind of place.

Remembering the women in seductive dresses, every smile and gesture filled with temptation, as well as the lighting inside...

She was a Marine sergeant!

So embarrassing~

Tashigi's face grew even redder.

"It was still quite comfortable and relaxing."

"What about Vice Admiral Garp?"

"Ha ha ha! It was quite interesting. I didn't expect there to be a place like this in the East Blue." Unlike the dark-faced Smoker and embarrassed Tashigi, Garp let out a hearty laugh. "Sengoku should come relax too. That guy works too hard, which is why he wears that sour look all day."

However.

After hearing the remarks from his subordinate and the Marine Hero, Smoker's face darkened even further, even shifting between black and green.

They were righteous Marines~

Yet they had gotten foot massages together with pirates?

What kind of nonsense was that?

"Shut up!" Smoker removed the cigar from his mouth and said coldly, "Since this matter has been resolved, it's time for us to leave."

As he spoke, he glanced at Moke.

"Once I find out you've done anything bad, I'll arrest both you and your boss."

As soon as he said that.

Without hesitation, he started walking downstairs. But just as he was about to walk out the front door—

Suddenly.

"Pop, pop~"

A burst of noise rang out.

Just as Smoker thought it was gunfire and that they were under attack—

"Congratulations, three honored guests." A pot-bellied man who appeared to be the owner walked over amid the confetti with a cheerful smile. "Last night, you were our eighty-eighth customers. Congratulations on receiving Red Romance VIP Cards. Whenever you spend money at Red Romance, you'll receive a twenty percent discount, as well as a complimentary supreme luxury fruit platter. On your birthdays, if you come to Red Romance, Red Romance will even celebrate your birthday personally for you~."

Before Smoker could react, a card had been stuffed into the hands of him, Tashigi, and Garp respectively.

"???"

Red Romance VIP Cards?

What the hell were those?

How could he, a dignified Marine Headquarters colonel, possibly come back to a place like this?

Just as he was about to refuse, it was already too late. After stuffing the cards into their hands, the owner made a few clicking sounds. Someone seemed to have taken several photos of them with a photographic Den Den Mushi. In the blink of an eye, everyone around them had disappeared.

Only the three cards in their hands and the scattered confetti around them remained.

"Dander Xieche..." As if he had thought of something, Smoker's face turned even darker.

Could that bastard be trying to drag him into this as well?

He clenched the card in his hand, about to slap it back down and make these people understand that Smoker was a righteous Marine, when he suddenly noticed...

"Vice Admiral Garp, what are you doing?" Smoker looked on the verge of collapse as he watched Garp smilingly slip the card into his pocket, while Tashigi cautiously and secretly tucked hers into her clothes. "We're Marines."

"Oh~, isn't this a gift from that kid Xia Che?"

"Sorry, I almost forgot. Colonel Smoker, I was actually going to give it to you."

"..."

Smoker stared speechlessly at Tashigi, who was now holding out her card, then at Garp, who was picking his nose without the slightest reaction. His face shifted between green and black again. In the end, he crumpled the card in his hand and snapped furiously, "We're leaving!"

With that, he did not hesitate any longer. He turned and headed straight outside.

Very soon.

Under Smoker's urging, Moke, who had wanted to stay a few more days, could only helplessly sail his pirate ship to see them off.

"Please come again next time!"

Xia Che had also deliberately come to the dock. Looking at the Moke Pirates' ship gradually sailing away, he waved enthusiastically and reluctantly at them.

But...

"Did they not have fun last night?" Xia Che looked at Smoker, who was glaring at him with a dark face from the deck, frowned, rubbed his chin, and muttered, "Why does Colonel Smoker's face look so dark?"

Was it because they had not entertained them well enough?

Hadn't Miss Robin said they had enjoyed themselves?

And at that moment.

"Hee hee hee, please come again next time."

Nami, who had vanished for the entire night, returned at this moment and waved happily as well.

"Forget it, they've left anyway." Xia Che turned to Nami beside him. "What did you do last night? Why did Moke say he didn't see you?"

As soon as he said that.

"Hee hee hee~" Nami wore a mischievous smile and winked playfully. "Nothing much. I just gave them a gift."

"A gift? What gift?"

"Red Romance VIP Cards."

"???"

Well, it's the new book period. How about some monthly votes and follows?