Punishment

Chapter 33: Punishment

Name: Xia Che

Position: Level 3 Section Chief

Performance Points: 100. Note: When the employee reaches 100,000 performance points, they may be promoted to Level 2 Section Chief and receive an employee benefit.

Congratulations. After the company's comprehensive evaluation, you have successfully passed the promotion review. Effective today, you are promoted to Level 3 Section Chief. From today onward, you will enjoy all benefits accorded to a Level 3 Section Chief.

We hope you will treat this day as a new starting point in life, continue striving, work hard, realize your own value, and become a pillar of the company!

This notice is hereby issued with congratulations!

"..."

When Xia Che regained consciousness, he discovered that he had been promoted again and had also received this promotion reward—Advanced Haki Techniques.

That was right. The benefits at a legitimate company were incredibly generous!

It was only a one-rank promotion, yet they had directly handed out advanced techniques for all Three Types of Haki. Not stingy at all.

Though he had not used them yet, Xia Che could already sense that his Haki had grown stronger.

As for why he had been promoted this time...

It was probably because fighting Kuzan had changed or advanced something, directly earning him 2,000 performance points and the company's commendation, resulting in a promotion and raise.

Perhaps so-called fate was changing every moment!

Xia Che looked at his position as a Level 3 Section Chief, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Suddenly.

"Are you awake already?"

A familiar, gentle, and intelligent voice came from above.

That was right, from above.

After a whole night of exhaustion, Xia Che felt the warm, firm sensation beneath his head and slowly opened his eyes. What entered his view were the full peaks unique to a woman of the sea, along with the scent in his nose... the distinctive allure of a mature woman.

Out of habit, Xia Che got up and stretched. Looking at Robin, who was leisurely reading as if nothing had happened, he asked, "Where's that guy?"

At the end, that guy had completely abandoned all martial etiquette and started swinging his Ice Fist at him, utterly brutal.

Xia Che even felt that guy had put in more force than when he had initially wanted to test Xia Che's true strength.

A dignified Marine admiral had actually come to beat up a pitiful, helpless Marine Colonel like him!

If his Armament Haki had not been decent and his evasive speed not so fast, he would probably have embarrassed himself in full view of everyone.

In the end, when dawn was approaching, Kuzan seemed to think there was no point in continuing—or perhaps he was tired. He yawned and called it Lazy Justice before stopping, saying that he wanted to rest.

As for treating him to a meal...

He was already tired from fighting. How could there possibly still be one?

Keep dreaming!

That guy should honestly go back to Marine Headquarters and get reimbursed!

Though renewing the contract had been somewhat exhausting, the gains had been considerable, and he had even received a lap-pillow reward from Secretary Robin.

Sure enough, fighting strong opponents was the fastest way to improve one's strength.

If it had been Teacher Kai, he probably would not even need any Advanced Haki Techniques by now.

Under Teacher Kai's one-on-one instruction, he might already have learned even more profound applications of Haki.

Of course, there were also shortcomings, such as...

Xia Che looked at his Sandai Kitetsu and stroked his chin.

Perhaps if he switched to a sword forged from Seastone, his swordsmanship and the Eleventh Form could unleash even greater power?

"He left Marine Branch 16 this morning. It seems he went to Cocoyasi Village." Seeing Xia Che deep in thought, Robin turned a page in her book. As though nothing had happened just now, her face still carried that mature, intelligent smile. "Because the notice was timely, Marine Branch 16 and the Konomi Islands did not suffer much damage. Normal life had already begun to resume this morning. Some pirates tried to escape amid the chaos, but they were dealt with as well."

"..."

Xia Che nodded and sighed inwardly. It seemed that while he had been resting, Robin had already arranged everything at Marine Branch 16 and throughout the Konomi Islands.

Sure enough...

Having a personal secretary was wonderful~

At that moment.

Just as Xia Che sank into thought again.

"Dear BOSS~"

Miss Robin's voice rang out once more.

He saw.

Robin, who had been quietly reading, closed the book in her hands. The elegant, intelligent smile on her face faded, replaced by a serious expression. After a moment of silence, she slightly parted her lips and said, "Doesn't BOSS have something to say to me?"

She looked directly at Xia Che, her eyes filled with hesitation and self-reproach, before lowering her head again.

"Sorry, I... I didn't keep my promise to you!"

But then—

The words had barely fallen when—

"What did I tell you? Dock your pay? Cough, cough, cough. Right, reflect on this properly!"

"..."

Boss Xia Che answered without the slightest hesitation, leaving Robin stunned. But then, that familiar smile appeared on her face once again.

That was right. Dander Xieche.

Her boss~

That was just how he was.

Robin nodded with a smile. "Yes, Boss~. I'll reflect on this properly."

However—

"Looks like you haven't reflected enough!" Xia Che's expression suddenly turned serious as Robin smiled again. "You can still smile?"

"???"

Before the stunned Robin could say anything—

Her boss spoke again with a stern expression. "If there's a next time, it won't just be a pay cut!" His gaze drifted downward. "You'll be punished severely too. As your boss, I'll make sure to punish you properly then!"

"..."

Hearing Xia Che's words, Robin finally came back to herself and couldn't help letting out a soft laugh. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she lifted her head, looked seriously at Xia Che with her usual gentle smile, and said, "There won't be a next time. I've already given everything I have to Boss!"

The moment she finished speaking—

Just as the stunned Xia Che was about to say something—

"Click~"

The door opened.

"Robin, is that guy awake?" Nami strode in without ceremony, her tone full of complaint. "There are still very important matters that need him to deal with! And that Marine Admiral or whatever..."

As she spoke, Nami suddenly stopped, looking around the room in confusion. Something about the atmosphere inside seemed off.

She blinked suspiciously, looked at the utterly righteous-looking Xia Che, then at Robin's slightly flushed cheeks, and asked in a doubtful tone, "What were you two... doing in here?"

"Boss, he—"

"Not yet! Cough, cough, cough!" Xia Che immediately interrupted Robin. Looking at Nami, he gave two fake coughs and maintained his righteous expression. "By the way, what did you just say? The Marine Admiral—what happened to him now?"

"Something feels weird. How strange! Whatever, you're already up anyway!" After muttering a few words with a pout, Nami looked at Xia Che again, apparently remembering why she had come in. "Oh, right, that Marine Admiral..."

But—

Before she could finish—

From behind her—

A familiar voice suddenly sounded beside Nami.

"Yo~" Kuzan stood beside Nami with an overly familiar air, waving as he drawled lazily, "I'm back again! Also~"

As he spoke, he stepped aside and revealed a figure behind him. "I brought your business partner too. No need to thank me! Though if you absolutely insist on thanking me, I suppose there's nothing I can do."

As his words fell—

Xia Che looked toward the figure behind Kuzan as well.

"???"

Why was this girl here?

It was a blue-haired girl wrapped in a thick blanket, her nose still running, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders. The moment she saw him, she immediately said excitedly, "Colonel Xia Che, I finally found you!"