Issuing Invoices

As Xia Che's first question fell, the entire office immediately fell silent.

At that moment.

Inside the entire office.

Robin, as well as Nami, who had happened to come by to ask about the Konomi Islands' future development, both frowned in confusion as they looked at Xia Che, wondering why he had asked such a question.

Even Smoker beside them was the same, and he was even thinking about how he should answer it himself.

At this moment.

Though he did not understand why this so-called interview was like this, after giving it some thought, Koby had arrived at his own answer.

He took a deep breath, looked seriously at Colonel Xia Che, and said, "I would stop the war and prevent the tragedy from continuing. Since the objective has already been achieved, even if many pirates have yet to be eliminated, what matters more now is our comrades."

As he spoke, seemingly nervous and unsure whether Colonel Xia Che was satisfied with his answer, Koby clenched his fists. Nervous sweat appeared on his forehead as he stared intently at the Colonel, who was deep in thought before him.

However.

"Mm~" Colonel Xia Che unexpectedly did not ponder for long. After nodding at Koby, he broke into a smile. "Good! Very good! You answered very well!"

"I..." Koby became excited again upon receiving Xia Che's approval. Just as he was about to say something else—

Suddenly...

"Please listen to the next question."

Without pausing in the slightest, Colonel Xia Che continued.

"If one day, you were captured by pirates, and in order to save you, your teacher defied Marine Headquarters' orders, stormed into the pirates' den, and rescued you—just as he was telling you to hurry and escape, in that tense and dangerous moment, you heard someone else crying for help. As a Marine, what would you choose?"

"I-I... Even though I'd be afraid, as a Marine, I would definitely go save them!"

"Good! Very good! Excellent!" Xia Che still seemed very satisfied with Koby's answer, and his approving voice rang out again. Even Nami and Robin beside him nodded slightly.

Even Smoker, upon hearing Koby's answer, showed a faint smile.

This was Marine justice.

That kid did not seem particularly remarkable, but he had a kind heart.

Then he looked at Xia Che again, snorted, and took another puff of his cigar.

For him to ask questions like these and approve of those answers, it seemed this guy also understood that some of the things he had done were out of line!

However.

Next...

"If your superior colluded with pirates, defrauded military funds from his superiors, and even conspired with Marine Headquarters' upper ranks, but everything he did was for the civilians on his island—do you think what he did was right?"

The moment Xia Che's words fell.

"..." ×3

Everyone present froze, staring at him in bewilderment.

Smoker in particular... his face darkened again. What exactly was this guy trying to do? Why was he suddenly asking a new recruit something like this?

"I-I-I..." Koby also seemed completely thrown off, as if he had no idea why Colonel Xia Che would ask that. But after thinking for a moment, he still answered seriously, "Although there are reasons for it, I don't think it's right. I would stop my superior and tell him that what he did was wrong. Maybe the island is facing difficulties, but we still can't do this. There must be other ways. We can think of a solution together."

"Good! Very good! Very, very good!"

Unexpectedly.

Xia Che still approved of that answer.

At that moment.

Nami and Robin exchanged a glance. Though they did not know what Xia Che was getting at, as colleagues for many years, they seemed to sense... that something was off!

Meanwhile, Smoker... whose face had been dark, relaxed considerably after hearing Xia Che's words. He gave Xia Che a long, deep look.

It seemed this guy had some self-awareness after all. He knew what he had done was wrong!

Perhaps he had been forced into doing it because of the island's civilians?

But.

It was not over yet.

After praising Koby's answer, Xia Che continued asking.

"If your superior colluded with pirates and abducted people everywhere, but not to capture them as slaves—he only wanted them to work for him. Do you think that is right?"

"How could that be okay? Everyone has the right to choose how they live. I think we should tell them that there is work here and let them decide for themselves. And it's wrong to abduct people together with pirates."

"What if the king of a member nation tries to stop you?"

"Then we should explain it to the king too and earn his approval!"

"Good! Very good! Extremely good!"

Robin, Nami: ...

Smoker: ...

Yet Xia Che seemed not to notice their looks and continued, "If your superior defied Marine Headquarters' orders, privately recruited more Marines, refitted pirate ships, and even joined pirates in messing with Marine Headquarters—what would you do if you saw that?"

"I-I would... stop my superior and tell him that what he was doing was wrong."

"Good! Very good! Excellent!"

"If one of your friends were a pirate, but he had never done anything bad, merely enjoyed adventure, saved many people, and had even saved you—would you acknowledge him?"

"I... I would!"

"Good! Very good! Excellent!"

However.

That answer seemed to finally make the previously puzzled Colonel Smoker unable to hold it in any longer. His face darkened as he asked, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Don't get worked up, don't get worked up! I don't mean anything else by it." Seeing Smoker's dark expression, Xia Che hurriedly laughed it off and said seriously, "This is merely an internal assessment for our Marine Branch 16!"

"An assessment?"

Don't joke around!

This was practically a criminal confessing to his own crimes, and in the end... he would even befriend pirates?

Was this guy trying to train every Marine into someone like himself?

Still, upon hearing Xia Che's words, Smoker took a deep breath. He glanced at Koby, then looked coldly at Xia Che. "So, how did he do on your assessment?"

"This child..."

Xia Che deliberately drew out his words.

Before he could finish.

Koby grew nervous inside. He clenched his fists and stared intently at Xia Che.

Those questions had certainly been strange, but had he passed?

"Good! Very good! Excellent!" Xia Che did not keep him waiting. After taking a sip of black tea, he said solemnly, "He is simply outstanding. From his answers, I can sense the justice in his heart. Before even becoming a Marine, he already possesses the mindset of a Marine Hero. I believe he has the makings of a Fleet Admiral!"

"..."

The mindset of a Marine Hero, the makings of a Fleet Admiral!

This guy really could spout nonsense!

Smoker's mouth twitched. Ignoring Xia Che's absurd rambling, he frowned and looked at him. "So Marine Branch 16 has decided to take him in?"

The moment those words fell.

Before Koby could become excited.

"Didn't you understand what I meant? The mindset of a Marine Hero, the makings of a Fleet Admiral!" Xia Che shot Smoker a sidelong look. "Is that someone a mere Marine Branch 16 like mine can cultivate? Wouldn't that be wasting his talent?"

"So your 'good, very good, excellent' means..."

"I'm planning to have you recommend him to study at Marine Headquarters. Ideally, he should become Vice Admiral Garp's student. I'm sure Vice Admiral Garp would be extremely pleased. Hey, hey, hey, don't leave!" Seeing Smoker turn around and run off without hesitation, Xia Che hurriedly called out, "I mean it! This kid is too outstanding—he's absolutely suited for Marine Headquarters! Hey, wait, wait, wait! If nothing else, please help me send him to Garp."

However.

Smoker apparently had no intention of paying Xia Che any attention. He opened the door and ran out.

Leaving behind only a regretful Xia Che and a dejected Koby.

"Thank you, Colonel Xia Che." Looking at Xia Che, who was sighing, Koby said earnestly, "Please don't say things like that anymore. Even though I haven't earned Colonel Xia Che's approval, I'll definitely work hard."

"You think I was lying?"

"I-I..."

"Everything I said just now was true!" Seeing Koby's nervous and disappointed expression, Xia Che continued with a serious face, "I really didn't deceive you. You truly are a genius. I plan to recommend you to study at Marine Headquarters."

"I..." Hearing that, Koby became even more confused.

He seemed unable to understand why Colonel Xia Che was still deceiving him at this point.

"Don't overthink it. Go back! Later, I'll have a proper talk with Smoker. That guy is a renowned genius from Marine Headquarters. With his recommendation, you'll definitely be able to study at Marine Headquarters. If that doesn't work, I'll just have to step in myself." Xia Che rose to his feet and patted Koby on the shoulder. "I guarantee that you'll get to study at Marine Headquarters."

"I-I... I'll definitely work hard." Seeing that Colonel Xia Che truly was not mocking or consoling him, Koby regained his confidence and said, "I absolutely won't disappoint you!"

With that, he saluted, then turned around excitedly and headed out.

"Colonel Smoker, please wait for me!"

Only after his figure disappeared.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Nami looked at Xia Che curiously and asked directly, "Is that guy really as you described?"

"He really is outstanding." Xia Che took a sip of tea, nodded, and said, "And he is very talented. I wasn't lying to him."

"Then why didn't you keep him?" Nami grew even more curious and frowned. "Didn't you say you were short on talents like him? Why send him to Marine Headquarters?"

Even Robin, standing nearby, looked at Xia Che with curious confusion.

He had praised Koby so highly, so why did he not want him?

"Although he is outstanding, he is a good person!" Xia Che looked at Nami and said in a serious tone, "He isn't suitable for us right now."

At that moment.

Robin seemed to understand something. She withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to continue reading.

However.

"???"

Nami was still completely baffled.

"A good person? Why wouldn't a good person be suitable for us? Wouldn't that make them perfect for the Marines?"

"Suitable for joining the Marines at Marine Headquarters, but not suitable for our place." Xia Che took another sip of hot tea, glanced at Nami, then raised his head to look at the word "Justice" hanging on the wall. "After all, none of us are good people."

A Devil Child, a Cat Burglar, a scumbag who wanted to become a warlord, plus all kinds of rule-breaking operations—how could a place like this be fit for such an innocent fellow?

"Taking in a Devil Child, colluding with pirates, defrauding military funds, recruiting soldiers beyond quota..."

"Mr. Bluebird, do you have any requests?"

"Eh, no, Miss Xiao Hong~" The young man called Mr. Bluebird removed the newspaper covering his face and looked at Xiao Hong, who was crouching before him. "I was just thinking about something."

"Is that so, Mr. Bluebird?" Hearing the customer's reply, Xiao Hong did not probe further. Maintaining her polite smile, she said, "If you need anything, please be sure to let me know. Oh, and this water..."

She lowered her head to look at the water, which was practically frosted over.

The steaming hot water had gone cold in the blink of an eye. There was seriously something wrong with Mr. Bluebird's body!

Though she knew it was inappropriate to say so, this customer had been spending money here for several days already. Every time he came, he requested her specifically. He was generous and courteous, lavish with praise for her skills, and had no particular demands. He was practically the customer of her dreams~

So, after hesitating for a moment, Xiao Hong said, "Do you really not need me to call a doctor for you?"

"No need. Thank you for your service—it was very comfortable~" Mr. Bluebird stretched lazily and looked at the dimming sky outside the window. "It's been so many days. That guy should have time now."

After Xiao Hong finished wiping his feet, he stood up and comfortably rolled his neck.

"It's getting late. Time to get to work!"

"Has Mr. Bluebird's vacation ended?"

"Yes, I'm very busy~, after all. This time, I was only here on a business trip."

"Alright. Thank you for your patronage. If you come again next time, please be sure to request me!" Though somewhat disappointed, Xiao Hong kept her professional smile. "Do you have any other requests?"

"Nothing else. Oh, right~" Mr. Bluebird, who had just turned to go downstairs and change clothes, seemed to remember something. He stopped and looked at Xiao Hong, who was still confused behind him. "There is one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Could I trouble you to... issue an invoice for my expenses over the past few days?"

The words fell.

Xiao Hong: ...

She stared blankly at the lazy Mr. Bluebird before her.

What exactly did Mr. Bluebird do for work?

He came to Red Romance on a business trip and even wanted an invoice?