A Little Greasy

The pirates' attack did not cause much of a stir on the Conomi Islands. Although quite a few people on the island had learned about it in advance, thanks to Colonel Xia Che's prestige, since he had not issued any notice, everyone simply continued doing what they were supposed to do. No chaos broke out.

It was only during last night's celebration that everyone truly learned what had happened.

So, while everyone was somewhat surprised afterward, things returned to normal after one night.

The people of the Conomi Islands still trusted Colonel Xia Che greatly.

Besides...

Not to mention the island's civilians—even the pirates who had originally come to plunder had no idea what had happened.

They had clearly come to raid the place, yet... they had only just seen the island's outline and had not even had time to get excited before they passed out.

When they woke up, they had already been captured.

They did not even know what had happened.

Thus, although the bloody purge at Marine Branch 16 had caused quite a commotion, it ended with unusual calm.

It was not even as lively as last night's banquet!

Today was a day off.

Thanks to the pirates' arrival last night, the higher-ups would be extremely busy today arranging work for the pirates.

So many factories had deliberately given their workers the day off.

And Pike... the tannery where he worked was one of them.

Even if he had to work from morning until night every day, as long as he could eat his fill, his daughter was not bullied, and she did not have to go hungry, he would be more than satisfied.

What was more, he earned wages working here on the Conomi Islands.

How unimaginable was that?!

One had to know that elsewhere, refugees like them only had the right to scavenge through garbage. Even if they worked for others, those slave owners would not let them eat their fill, much less pay them wages. Yet here...

He, a father who should have been taking his daughter to pick through garbage dumps, had found a job where they could eat their fill, sleep soundly until dawn, and even receive wages to buy his daughter new clothes.

That was right. Everything the elderly woman who had served them food had said back then had come true.

It was like a dream.

But...

Pike lowered his head and looked at the daughter whose hand he held. She no longer wore that ugly, ill-fitting, tattered gray outfit picked out of a garbage heap. Instead, she wore a pink little dress he had specially bought after receiving his wages. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

If this really was a dream, then please let Kati grow up this happily before waking me.

Just then.

"Daddy~" Kati, dressed in her pretty pink dress, looked up in confusion when she saw her father suddenly lowering his head to stare at her. She blinked her sparkling eyes and asked curiously, "What is it?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that Kati looks adorable today!" Hearing his daughter's words, Pike laughed heartily and lifted Kati into his arms. "This little dress really suits my adorable daughter!"

No more scavenging through garbage. No more fighting everyone like stray dogs over rotten, stinking scraps. No more sleeping in foul-smelling garbage dumps...

How wonderful!

It truly was wonderful!

"Of course! This is the first gift Daddy has ever bought me, so I'll treasure it." Kati hugged her father with a cheerful smile, then said somewhat sadly, "If only... Mommy could see it too."

Her words fell.

"..."

Looking at the dejected Kati and hearing her words, Pike fell silent, a trace of sorrow flashing through his eyes.

Kati's mother had starved to death.

Even rotten, stinking scraps that others did not want had been precious food that kept them alive.

Unfortunately~

Kati's mother had not held on until now.

But seeing Kati's sadness, Pike, as her father, took a deep breath. He put on a comforting smile and said softly, "If Mommy saw how happy Kati is now, she would definitely be very happy too."

"Can Mommy... see?"

"She definitely can! So Kati must stay happy too. Don't make Mommy worry."

"Mhm, Kati will always be happy!" Hearing her father's words, little Kati nodded heavily and said seriously, "I won't make Mommy worry."

"What a good girl. Since Daddy is off today too, I'll reward such a good Kati!" Pike held Kati and said with a smile, "Is there anything Kati wants? A doll? A dress? Or snacks?"

Kati's eyes lit up, but before long, she lowered her head again, looking conflicted. How could Pike not know what this well-behaved child was thinking? He quickly added, "Don't worry, Daddy still has money."

Though he had only been here for a few days, his kind supervisor had advanced him part of his wages. Since he did not need to spend money on food or housing, there was still quite a bit left after buying the little dress.

"Only because Kati has been such a good girl today, okay~"

"Kati has always been good."

"Really? Then while Daddy was at work, did Kati stay good the whole time? Did you cry?"

"I did. Kati didn't cry. I stayed at home obediently and waited for Daddy to come back."

"Then what does Kati want?"

"Um~, can Kati look around first?" Hearing her father's question, Kati furrowed her cute little brows and tilted her cute little head, as though she were deeply troubled over what she wanted. "Can Kati ask Daddy to buy it later?"

"Then Daddy will take Kati on a nice walk around today!" Pike smiled and agreed to his daughter's request.

His eyes held a trace of emotion and gratitude.

He knew...

It was because of Colonel Xia Che that he could now agree to his adorable daughter's request like a real father.

He.

Would definitely work hard!

Then, with Kati in tow, father and daughter happily strolled through the bustling streets of Cocoyasi Village.

Meanwhile.

"Pike is a worker at the tannery. His solid leatherworking skills earned him recognition from the factory and a decent job. He is also very diligent and serious at work. Before long, he may receive praise from the factory." Robin paused in thought before casually speaking as she watched Xia Che curiously observe the father and daughter.

As a competent secretary, she still remembered certain trivial matters. For instance, the man before them was one of the talented people among the previous batch of refugees who possessed a useful skill.

Robin continued watching Xia Che eat Cocoyasi Village's specialty, Colonel's Fried Chicken. A trace of sentiment unconsciously appeared in her bright eyes.

As someone who had always followed this boss, she knew very well what Cocoyasi Village had been like back then.

Yet she had never expected that in just a few years, it would develop into what it was now. Even now...

She still found it somewhat unbelievable~

Thinking of her boss, who had once drifted around the sea in confusion aboard a small boat, staring blankly at the ocean before excitedly inviting her aboard upon seeing her, a faint smile appeared on Robin's lips.

Back then, she had only planned to stay beside this impoverished colonel who had been cast aside for a while before running away. Yet before she knew it... so much time had passed.

Was this boss a good person?

A Marine who, upon arriving in the East Blue, had led the Marines and civilians in his base out to sea to become pirates, and who had sheltered her, the Devil Child, behind Marine Headquarters' back—could he be considered a good person?

Yet this Marine Colonel, who sucked up to those above him and bullied those below him, had saved an incredible number of people.

Robin seemed to be recalling something, and the smiling look in her eyes made Xia Che feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Why had she started staring at him so intently after suddenly introducing that father and daughter? Couldn't whatever she wanted wait until tonight?

Or did she want...

Xia Che looked at the specially made Colonel's Fried Chicken in his hand, speared a piece with his fork, and held it out to her. "Want some?"

"???"

Pulled back from her thoughts, Robin looked equally confused at the piece of chicken held to her lips. But after pausing for a moment, she smiled, brushed aside the hair over her forehead, leaned forward, parted her soft, enticing red lips, and bit into it.

Then, under Xia Che's surprised gaze, she took two bites, frowned, elegantly wiped her mouth, and said, "A little greasy~, but not bad."

Her words fell.

"..."

Xia Che blinked in surprise as he looked at Miss Robin, who had actually eaten it today. He was just about to say something when—

Just then.

"Gotcha!"

A familiar voice came from behind him.

Even without turning around, Xia Che knew it was Nami's voice.

The two turned around and, sure enough, saw Nami, who had appeared at some unknown point. Before Xia Che could say anything—

They saw.

Nami crossed her arms, accentuating a fullness far beyond her age yet distinctly fitting of the sea. Her cheeks puffed up as she glared at Xia Che and said resentfully, "I'm working all by myself, yet you two are secretly out here strolling around behind my back..."

However.

Before she could finish.

"Chomp~"

Xia Che speared another piece and stuffed it directly into Nami's mouth.

A moment later.

After chewing a few times and swallowing, Nami frowned. "Mm, a little greasy!"

"Is that so~? I also think today's chicken is a little greasy. I'll have to give them a good talking-to later. Can't let them ruin my colonel's reputation." Xia Che nodded as well, then looked satisfied at the now-empty bag of chicken. "I couldn't eat anymore anyway. Perfect timing—you two each finished a piece."

"???"

Robin and Nami froze when they heard that he had only stuffed it into their mouths because he did not want it.

Then Miss Robin shook her head with a helpless smile, while Nami puffed up her cheeks once more and glared at Xia Che. Yet before Nami could voice her anger—

Xia Che spoke again, changing the subject outright. "By the way, how were the profits this time?"

His words fell.

Sure enough~

Upon hearing the word profits, the angry Nami immediately perked up. Her eyes seemed to shine with a strange light as she excitedly hugged Xia Che's arm and said, "We made a killing! We really made a killing this time!"