An Interesting Place

An Interesting Place

"W-We're done for!" Startled, Nami grabbed Xia Che's right hand and pressed herself against him, staring in terror at the approaching ship. She babbled, "Have we been discovered? Has Moke already been caught by the Marines? What do we do now? Run! We need to run!"

"Don't panic. If it comes to it, we'll just pretend we don't know Moke."

"What do you mean, don't panic? Is it even too late to pretend we don't know him now?" Xia Che's reassurance did nothing to calm Nami down. After snapping back at him, she twisted her head around, seemingly searching for something. "Where's Robin? Where's Robin? Get Robin, and let's dive into the sea!"

"Dive into what sea? Isn't it nice staying here? I told you to calm down." Xia Che pulled his right hand free from the warm softness clutching it and helplessly flicked Nami on the forehead. "Robin has something else to do, so she went off first."

People at sea were generally face-blind. Even if Robin stood here, as long as she did not reveal her true identity, Smoker and the others probably would not realize that the Devil Child wanted by the World Government was hiding here.

But after thinking about it, Garp had come too. To avoid any accidents, Xia Che had Robin hide first.

Besides...

It had been so many years, yet Marine Admiral Aokiji Kuzan had not shown himself. What was that guy doing?

Xia Che did not believe that guy did not know Robin was here!

"That hurt!" Nami glared at Xia Che angrily after the sudden flick, but it also helped her calm down a little. Still nervous and curious, she asked, "Do you really have a plan?"

"Of course."

"What plan?"

"Why, naturally..." Xia Che raised his head and looked meaningfully at the pirate ship that had already docked. "We join forces with them."

As the ship approached, Smoker stepped ashore with a dark expression, alongside Tashigi and Garp, whose face had returned to calmness while his eyes seemed somewhat profound.

Colluding with pirates, swindling military funds, capturing slaves!

Those charges alone were enough to arrest that corrupt Marine Colonel.

However.

Before they could arrest Xia Che.

Udo, who had been waiting aboard the ship for a long time, immediately ran toward Colonel Xia Che the moment he disembarked and said anxiously, "Colonel Xia Che..."

But before he could finish.

"It's fine. I already know." Xia Che patted his subordinate Udo on the shoulder. "Since you're here, help Cocoyasi Village arrange the newcomers."

He had already explained things to Nojiko and the others. So although everyone was nervous to see the Marine Inspection Team suddenly appear, no one rushed forward in a panic to stop them.

Then Xia Che raised his head and looked at the three before him. Smiling, he spread his arms and said warmly, "Welcome, Inspection Team. Thank you for coming to inspect our work!"

However.

"..."

In response to his warmth.

Garp wore a cheerful grin, Tashigi puffed up angrily, while Smoker merely looked at him coldly.

Colonel Dander Xieche.

There seemed to be a faint trace of disappointment in Smoker's eyes.

A Marine Headquarters Genius.

Yet he had fallen this far.

Did he deserve Teacher Zephyr's teachings?

Back then, Teacher Zephyr had personally pleaded for him. Otherwise, this guy would have been sent to a court-martial long ago!

Smoker spoke in an icy tone. "Dander Xieche..."

However.

Before he could finish.

At that moment.

"Come on, everyone, get off in an orderly fashion!" Captain of the Moke Pirates—Moke—suddenly shouted in his booming voice. "Don't be afraid! I told you already, I'm not a human trafficker. Once you get here, you'll have enough to eat. You'll definitely thank me later!"

As Moke's words fell, under Smoker and Tashigi's puzzled gazes, the refugees who had been assumed to be slaves slowly emerged from the cabin.

The terror and despair had yet to fade from their eyes, but under the guidance of the Moke Pirates, they still made their way toward the dock.

And then...

Just as Smoker and Tashigi thought the refugees captured as slaves were about to be handed over here.

Suddenly.

A group of people from the village walked toward the dock.

They wore brown security caps and matching brown uniforms. The leader even had a windmill pinned to his cap.

The island's Security Force?

Why were they here too?

Had Marine Branch 16 already infiltrated this place?

While the two were wondering.

They saw.

Squad after squad of Security Force members marched neatly toward the frightened refugees. Then they swiftly split into three columns, approached the refugees, and surrounded them.

What were these people trying to do?

Tashigi and Smoker's expressions changed. Thinking the island Security Force was about to attack the refugees, they no longer paid attention to Colonel Xia Che, who was supposed to be under arrest.

Tashigi gripped the hilt of her sword and was about to act.

"Don't act rashly." Smoker pressed directly against Tashigi's sword hilt, pushing Shigure back into its sheath. "This doesn't seem to be what we thought."

As he spoke, Smoker stared ahead with deep eyes.

Sure enough.

The Security Force did not attack the refugees at all. Instead, it was completely different from what they had expected.

"That's enough!" After apparently counting out a certain number, one man who seemed to be a captain shouted, "We'll eat first! Come on, follow me!"

Then...

"We'll bathe first!"

"Does anyone feel unwell? Anyone who does, come to my line!"

Under the orderly assignments of the Security Force columns, all the refugees dispersed in confusion, yet in an orderly manner.

"???"

Eat?

Bathe?

Tashigi stared blankly. "W-What are they doing?"

Her hand still gripped the sword hilt, and for a moment, she did not know what to do. Then she seemed to notice something and turned to look behind her, letting out a nervous cry. "Where's Colonel Xia Che? Did he run away? Have we fallen into a trap?"

"Don't panic. That guy can't get away." Smoker frowned and glanced around.

He discovered that Xia Che truly was no longer there.

But he was not worried. Branch 16 had already been brought under control. Could a mere Marine Colonel escape from him and the Marine Hero?

On the contrary...

"Where's Vice Admiral Garp?"

Where had Vice Admiral Garp gone now?

As soon as the words fell.

"I'm over here!"

A familiar voice came from not far behind them.

Tashigi and Smoker hurriedly turned around and indeed saw Vice Admiral Garp standing nearby.

But Vice Admiral Garp, who should have been standing beside them, had somehow wandered over to a street vendor. The miserable-looking Captain of the Moke Pirates—Moke—stood beside him, while Garp held a flatbread in his hand and happily took bites out of it. "Not bad. Smells great!"

"..."

What was this guy doing?

Smoker walked over with a dark expression and looked at Vice Admiral Garp, who was stuffing his face. "What are you doing? Do you know we have a more important mission right now, Vice Admiral Garp?"

"Don't panic, Smoker boy." Garp waved dismissively, utterly unconcerned. "This flatbread really is good. Want one? Someone's treating us."

"You really know how to eat, sir. This is a specialty flatbread from the Goa Kingdom, made using a secret royal recipe that has never been passed down. This kid spent a huge price to get it." The vendor grinned as he kneaded dough. "Even the Marine Hero says this flatbread is delicious!"

As soon as those words fell.

"..."

Smoker and Tashigi both had black lines on their faces.

Did the Goa Kingdom even sell flatbread?

What a joke!

Besides, the Marine Hero himself was standing right in front of him. He was actually using Vice Admiral Garp's name to sell flatbread. Couldn't he see that Vice Admiral Garp was angry?

Forget it. None of that mattered!

"Vice Admiral Garp..."

However.

Before Smoker could say anything.

Garp frowned and looked seriously at the vendor, speaking in a stern tone. "How could those trash from the Goa Kingdom's royal family possibly have a recipe for flatbread this delicious?"

"..."

That was what you were objecting to?!

Smoker's mouth twitched. Seeing Vice Admiral Garp about to start arguing with the vendor, he quickly said with a dark expression, "Vice Admiral Garp, don't forget our mission!"

Even Tashigi said helplessly, "Vice Admiral Garp..."

However.

"I know, I know." Garp remained utterly unconcerned as he waved his hand, directly stuffing a flatbread into Petty Officer Tashigi's hand. He said with a cheerful grin, "I wasn't lying to you. It really is good. Don't worry, someone's treating us. Xia Che said he'll cover all our expenses in Cocoyasi Village from here on out."

Seeing Smoker about to say something else, Garp's cheerful eyes flickered slightly as he ate his flatbread and looked around.

"Smoker boy, don't panic. Look around first."

As soon as those words fell.

Hearing Vice Admiral Garp's words, Smoker calmed down, though he still curled his lip disdainfully.

Look around?

What was there to see in some little village?

He had come from Marine Headquarters. What had he not seen on the Grand Line?

However.

With just one glance, the disdain on his face vanished, replaced by solemnity, as though he had seen something shocking.

The village before him...

Was filled with cleanliness, vitality, and smiles on everyone's faces.

Such a sight was common in wealthy royal capitals and the Sabaody Archipelago, but here, it left both him and the flatbread-eating Tashigi stunned.

"This place..."

Before he could finish.

"It seems we've come to an interesting place." Garp grabbed another pancake and took a huge bite, then cheerfully looked at the miserable-faced Moke beside him. "Hey, Moke boy. You'd better show us around properly next. Otherwise, I'll arrest you."