An Interesting Place

Chapter 5: An Interesting Place

"We're doomed, doomed, doomed!" Nami, panicked, grabbed Xia Che's right arm and pressed herself against him, staring in terror at the ship drawing closer and closer. Her words tumbled out incoherently. "Have we been found out? Has Moke already been caught by the Marines? What do we do now? Let's run! Let's get out of here right now!"

"Don't be nervous~ If worst comes to worst, we can just pretend we don't know Moke."

"What do you mean, don't be nervous? Do you think pretending we don't know him will still work now?" Faced with Xia Che's reassurance, Nami still couldn't calm down. She snapped back irritably, then twisted her head to look around, as if searching for something. "Where's Robin? Where's Robin? Call Robin—let's jump into the sea!"

"Jump into the sea? Isn't it nice here? I told you to calm down~" Xia Che pulled his right hand free from its warm, soft embrace and, with a helpless flick, tapped Nami on the head. "Robin has other things to do. She's busy first!"

Although everyone on the sea was face-blind, and even if Robin stood right here, as long as she didn't reveal her true identity, Smoker and the others probably wouldn't think the Devil Child, wanted by the World Government, was hiding here.

But thinking it over, since Garp had come along too, to avoid any accidents, he'd better have Robin lie low for now.

Besides...

It had been years since Marine Headquarters' Aokiji Kuzan had shown his face. What was that guy up to?

Xia Che didn't believe for a second that Kuzan didn't know Robin was here now!

"That hurts, you know~" Nami, suddenly hit with the flick, glared angrily at Xia Che. But after that one strike, she calmed down a little inside, though she still asked nervously and curiously, "Do you really have a way?"

"Of course~"

"What way?"

"That would be..." Xia Che looked up, a meaningful expression on his face as he gazed at the pirate ship that had already docked. "To join in the corruption~"

As the ship drew close, Smoker and Tashigi, both with dark expressions, along with Garp, who had regained a calm look with deep, thoughtful eyes, stepped off the vessel.

Colluding with pirates, embezzling military funds, capturing slaves!

These charges were enough to arrest that corrupt Marine Colonel.

But.

Before they could arrest Xia Che.

Udo, who had been waiting on the ship for a long time, immediately ran toward Colonel Xia Che the moment he disembarked, speaking urgently, "Colonel Xia Che..."

But before he could finish.

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

He had already briefed Nojiko and the others, so although seeing the Marine Inspection Team suddenly appear here made everyone nervous, they didn't rush forward in a panic to block the inspectors.

Then Xia Che looked up at the three people in front of him, a smile on his face, and spread his arms warmly. "Welcome, Inspection Team, for your guidance and visit!"

But.

"..."

Faced with his enthusiasm.

Garp was all cheerful and grinning, Tashigi was fuming, and Smoker just stared at him coldly.

Colonel Dande Xia Che.

A faint trace of disappointment seemed to flicker in his eyes.

The Marine Headquarters Genius.

Now fallen to this.

Was he worthy of Teacher Zephyr's teachings?

Back then, Teacher Zephyr had personally pleaded for him; otherwise, this guy would have been sent to a military tribunal long ago!

Smoker's voice was icy. "Dande Xia Che..."

But.

Before he could finish.

Just then.

"Come on, come on, everyone, please get off in an orderly fashion!" Captain of the Moke Pirates—Moke—suddenly bellowed in a loud voice. "Don't be afraid! I told you all before, I'm no slave trader. Once you're here, you'll get enough to eat. You'll definitely thank me then!"

As Moke's words fell, under Smoker and Tashigi's puzzled gazes, the refugees who had been in the ship's hold—presumed to be captured slaves—slowly began to file out.

The terror and despair in their eyes hadn't faded yet, but they still followed the lead of the Moke Pirates' crew as they walked toward the dock.

And then...

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

Suddenly.

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

They wore brown security hats and matching brown uniforms. The leader's hat had a windmill stuck in it.

Was that the island's Security Force?

What were they doing out here?

Had Marine Branch 16 already infiltrated this place?

Just as the two were puzzled...

They saw.

Squad after squad of the Security Force marched in orderly fashion toward the terrified refugees, then quickly split into three columns, advancing to stand before the refugees and surrounding them.

What were these people trying to do?

Tashigi and Smoker's expressions shifted. They thought the island's Security Force was about to lay hands on the refugees, and they stopped worrying about Colonel Xia Che, who was supposed to be under arrest.

Tashigi gripped the hilt of her longsword, ready to strike.

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

As he spoke, Smoker's eyes deepened as he watched the scene.

Sure enough.

The Security Force did not attack the refugees. In fact, it was completely different from what they had imagined.

"Stop here!" After apparently counting to a certain number, one of them who seemed to be the captain shouted loudly, "We're going to eat first! Move, follow me!"

Then...

"We're going to bathe first!"

"Anyone feeling unwell? Those who are unwell, come to my column!"

Under the distribution of the Security Force columns, all the refugees scattered in confusion yet orderly.

"???"

Eat?

Bathe?

Tashigi looked on in bewilderment. "What... what are they doing?"

Her hand was still on her sword hilt, and for a moment she didn't know what to do. But then she seemed to notice something, turned her head to look behind her, and let out a tense cry. "Colonel Xia Che? He escaped? Were we tricked?"

"Don't panic. That guy won't get away." Smoker frowned and swept his gaze around.

He noticed that the man was indeed no longer there.

But he wasn't worried. Branch 16 was already under control. How 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?

Just as he finished speaking.

"I'm here!"

A familiar voice came from not far behind them.

Tashigi and Smoker quickly turned around and indeed saw Vice Admiral Garp standing not far away.

But Vice Admiral Garp, who should have been standing beside them, had somehow moved to stand next to a street vendor. Beside him was the Captain of the Moke Pirates—Moke, who wore a bitter expression. Garp was holding a baked flatbread in his hand, munching happily. "Not bad, really fragrant!"

"..."

What was this guy doing?

Smoker's face darkened as he stepped forward, looking at Vice Admiral Garp who was eating heartily. "What are you doing? Don't you know we still have a more important mission? Vice Admiral Garp!"

"Don't be nervous, Smoker boy." Garp waved his hand carelessly, not bothered at all, and said cheerfully, "But I have to say, this flatbread is pretty good. Want a piece? Someone's treating~."

"This old gentleman really knows how to eat. This is a special baked flatbread from the Goa Kingdom, a secret recipe passed down from the Goa Kingdom's royal family. This young man paid a heavy price to get it." The vendor kneading dough said with a grin. "You know, even the Marine Hero said it's good after eating it~."

As he finished.

"..."

Smoker and Tashigi's faces were covered in black lines.

Did the Goa Kingdom sell baked flatbread?

Don't be ridiculous!

Besides, the man right in front of them was the Marine Hero himself. This vendor was using Vice Admiral Garp's name to sell flatbread. Didn't he see that Vice Admiral Garp was angry?

Forget it, these were all trivial matters!

"Vice Admiral Garp..."

But.

Before Smoker could say anything.

Garp frowned, looked seriously at the vendor, and said in a grave tone, "How could those trash from the Goa Kingdom's royal family have such a delicious flatbread recipe!"

"..."

That's what you're arguing about!

Smoker's mouth twitched. Watching Vice Admiral Garp, who seemed ready to argue with the vendor, he quickly said with a dark face, "Vice Admiral Garp, don't forget our mission!"

Even Tashigi could only say helplessly, "Vice Admiral Garp..."

But—

"I know, I know." Garp still waved his hand carelessly, not bothered in the slightest, and directly shoved a flatbread into Sergeant Tashigi's hand. Chuckling, he said, "I'm not lying to you, it's really good. Don't worry, someone's treating us—that kid Xia Che said he'll cover all our expenses in Cocoyasi Village from now on."

Seeing Smoker about to speak again, Garp's cheerful eyes flickered slightly as he munched on his flatbread and glanced around.

"Smoker, kid, don't be tense. Take a look around first."

With that—

Hearing Vice Admiral Garp's words, Smoker calmed down, but still curled his lip in disdain.

Around?

What was there to see in a small village?

He was from Marine Headquarters, after all—he'd seen everything on the Grand Line.

Yet—

The moment he swept his gaze over the scene, the disdain on his face instantly turned serious, as if he had glimpsed something astonishing.

The village before him...

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

These were common sights in wealthy royal capitals and the Sabaody Archipelago, but here, they left him and Tashigi, who was still eating her flatbread, stunned.

"This place..."

Before he could finish—

"It seems we've stumbled into an interesting spot." Garp grabbed another pancake and took a big bite, then cheerfully looked at Moke, who was grimacing beside him. "Hey, Moke, kid, you'd better show us around properly from now on. Otherwise, I might just have to arrest you~"