Bad Influence

"What's going on here?" Xia Che looked at the civilians disembarking from Moke's pirate ship with a puzzled expression.

The crowd wore faces of grief and indignation, their eyes filled with despair. But that wasn't the most striking thing; one of the older men among them was continuously cursing, and upon closer listening, Xia Che realized he was railing against the Navy.

"Why curse the Navy? And Smoker?"

"Hahaha... there was a slight misunderstanding." Hearing Xia Che's question, Moke scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "We encountered Smoker and his men on the island, and thanks to Smoker's help, we were able to round everyone up so quickly."

After he spoke.

Xia Che: ...

He stared at Moke with a strange look.

Although Moke hadn't elaborated, Xia Che, having sailed the seas himself, had a pretty good idea of what had happened.

Imagine sailing the seas and suddenly a group of pirates approaches you saying, 'Come on, let me take you with me, there's work here, and you'll get enough to eat!'

Who would believe such nonsense!

Even if you claimed to be recruiting, not many would trust you.

Recruiting?

It would be obvious they were being taken as slaves, forced to work 24/7 for free!

With wages and food provided?

What were they thinking?

It wasn't just the refugees at sea; even the nobles at sea had never encountered anyone foolish enough to do such a thing!

So, after realizing that no amount of talking would help, they decided to... take the pirates' approach. When they encountered people, they simply tied them up without a word!

Everything else could be sorted out later!

After all, once the people were brought here, they became compliant, especially when they realized they hadn't been tricked and became even more grateful.

It couldn't be helped; the level of trust between people at sea... was that low!

So, the Navy helping to capture people?

Xia Che felt he could already picture the scene.

Morally bankrupt, humanity twisted!

No wonder these refugees looked so despairing and indignant. They must have felt utter despair when they saw the righteous Navy helping pirates capture people.

"Smoker?" Kuzan, who had also come along, seemed to have figured something out as well, a strange expression appearing on his face. "Oh, right, Smoker was recently assigned by HQ to be the new base commander in Loguetown? The Navy? Pirates?"

He looked at Xia Che with suspicion.

"I know that guy Smoker. He's only been down here a few days, and you've already corrupted him?"

"Hey, we're good friends who've worked together before, Smoker is a good Colonel!"

However.

As soon as Moke finished speaking.

"What good friends, good friends?" Xia Che immediately kicked Moke, his tone stern. "How many times have I told you, some relationships shouldn't be mentioned? As pirates, you have no connection with the Navy. Remember that, and also..."

He switched to a lecturing tone.

"Didn't I tell you? Your boss has gone legitimate and gone ashore. You're not the old pirates of the seas anymore, but the new pirates of the East Blue. You can't just grab people randomly; you need your own rules and regulations. Be civilized when you capture them!"

"But... I explained it!" Moke looked troubled by his boss's reprimand. "They didn't listen! How could I be civilized?"

"Can't you smile? Capture them with a smile? A smile is the best language, the best explanation, understand!"

"Understood!"

"Do you know what to do from now on?"

"From now on, I'll have everyone capture people with a smile!"

"..." X2

Listening to their conversation, Princess Vivi and Kuzan, who had just arrived, stared at the two with darkened expressions.

Was that something a person would say?

Capturing people with a smile?

That was even more terrifying than just capturing them!

Especially Kuzan... did this guy realize he was still there? He was actually colluding with pirates right in front of him!

As an Admiral, he felt he had to say something, to remind them!

However.

Just as Kuzan was about to speak.

"Come here!" Xia Che again beckoned Moke with a serious expression. When Moke approached, Xia Che pulled him over to Kuzan and said, "This is Admiral Kuzan from Headquarters. Do you know what an Admiral represents? If you ever encounter this face at sea, run far away immediately. And do you remember what I just told you?"

After he spoke.

"?!"

Hearing the words of boss Xia Che, Moke looked at Kuzan in front of him with a shocked expression.

Admiral?

Not long ago, the boss had just gotten involved with a Marine Hero and Vice Admiral, and now he's latched onto an Admiral.

As expected of the boss!

He's truly amazing.

Moke quickly nodded with a serious expression and said, "Boss, don't worry, I absolutely won't tell anyone that Admiral Kuzan is also our backer!"

"???"

Kuzan looked at the dumbfounded Moke in front of him, completely bewildered.

How did he become the backer for this group of guys?

He felt like there was something he wanted to say but couldn't, but he quickly said with a dark expression, "I'm not!"

"That's right, Admiral Kuzan isn't!" Xia Che also nodded seriously, "Don't go around spreading rumors. Hurry up and finish the handover. It's getting late, and we should be leaving!"

"Got it, boss. I, Moke, am the man with the tightest lips on the sea. I definitely won't spread anything around."

Moke nodded, then, with his lips tightly sealed and a serious expression, he turned around and, following his boss's orders, prepared to go down and hand over the spoils of this operation with Big Sister Nojiko.

As for Kuzan...

He silently watched Moke leave, then turned his head to look at Xia Che in front of him.

He just came to watch the excitement, and now he's become their backer?

Before Kuzan, with black lines forming on his forehead, could say anything, the brat in front of him said with emotion, "Moke lost his parents when he was young, he has no home, no family, no money, and he's been poor his whole life without ever going to school. It's normal for him to misunderstand some things. Don't worry, I'll make sure to tell him not to spread rumors, and besides, everyone here, except for the Princess of the Alabasta Kingdom, is one of us."

Xia Che patted his chest, then seriously turned his head to look at Vivi, who was standing there stunned, and said, "But I believe Princess Vivi definitely won't spread this around!"

As he finished speaking.

Vivi turned her head, looked at Kuzan with strange eyes, and then also nodded seriously, "I am very grateful for everyone's help. Please rest assured, I will absolutely not spread this kind of secret to others."

"..."

She doesn't look like someone who wouldn't spread things around at all!

No, what secret is there to begin with!

Kuzan covered his face and said in a lazy and helpless tone, "Ah, it seems I've gotten myself into big trouble? I really should have left this cursed place earlier."

Of course~

As an Admiral, he wouldn't really care about these rumors.

After all, he's just the East Blue Overlord, not the Overlord of the Sea, nor the Overlord of the New World. What could a dignified Admiral gain from cooperating with a mere East Blue Overlord?

"I should be leaving too." Kuzan directly climbed onto his bicycle, placed his feet on the pedals, and gave Xia Che a deep look. "I hope when we meet again, I won't have to personally arrest you!"

"I am a righteous Marine." Xia Che deliberately flicked his white Justice Cape, which he had obtained exceptionally from training camp and hadn't worn in a long time, and said with a smile, "Why would I trouble the righteous Marines to arrest me?"

"What a cunning fellow!"

Facing Xia Che's words, Kuzan didn't say much more, just smiled, shook his head, and slowly rode his bicycle away under Xia Che's wave.

However.

Just as Kuzan was halfway there.

"Oh, there's one more thing I forgot."

Xia Che's voice suddenly came from behind him again.

"Next time you go to Red Romance, remember not to order the 'Sea Bath' again. It's real seawater inside. While it's indeed comfortable, it's very unfriendly to Devil Fruit users. Red Romance is now spreading rumors everywhere about a certain lazy big guy who looks so tall and strong but is actually incredibly weak inside! It damages the dignity of an Admiral and has a bad influence!"

As he finished speaking.

"..."

Kuzan, who was leisurely cycling, suddenly slipped his foot on the pedal and almost fell off his bicycle into the sea.

Knowing it has a bad influence, can't you just not shout so loudly?

Regaining control of his bicycle, Kuzan acted as if he hadn't heard anything, or as if it wasn't directed at him at all. He continued to cycle leisurely, pedaling forward.

However.

Compared to his slow pace earlier.

At this moment...

Although his upper body still looked lazy, his feet were pedaling the bicycle at a speed too fast to see.

In just a moment...

His figure disappeared from everyone's sight, leaving only the onlookers with their still strange expressions.

"Keep showing off!" Xia Che muttered with satisfaction, then cleared his throat twice, drawing everyone's attention back. He said calmly, "Get ready, we should also depart... and enter the Grand Line!"