"Looking forward to it very much."
Gawain smiled and nodded to Nojiko. The little girl immediately beamed with joy and extended her slender wrist, gesturing to Gawain.
Then, she carried Nami with her between her legs and headed towards Bellemere's house.
Inside the house, Genzo didn't think Nami and Nojiko would be in any danger.
It's not that he's carefree, but rather that their world operates on an incredibly simple logic.
The logic is that if the visitor is unpleasant, no one will ring the doorbell...
That's right, this logic doesn't really apply in reality. The real world is full of smiling tigers.
Or rather, even if they aren't all smiles, there's a saying in reality, "Courtesy first, then force."
However, in the world of One Piece, the guest who rings the doorbell of an ordinary commoner is never a pirate or a marine, and might even be some other nobleman.
Therefore, Genzo assumed that some other well-informed villagers had come to his door.
So when Nojiko brought Gawain back to the house, Genzo was still there, holding a teacup and smiling as he welcomed them.
Result...
As soon as Genzo was carrying a teacup, noticed that this guest actually had to bend down slightly to walk through the door of the house!
Gawain was fine; he just bent down and came in. But Yi Xiao, even after squeezing in, could only sit down on the ground with a wry smile...
The appearance of these two people really scared Genzo half to death. Unlike girls, he lacked the crucial step of being a looks-obsessed person, and he recognized Gawain's identity at a glance!
After all, just a few hours ago, Genzo was still holding Gawain's newspaper, feeling extremely upset!
So, Genzo immediately knelt down...
Seeing Genzo kneeling there trembling with fear, Gawain naturally waved his hand.
"Genzo, right? I know you, the village policeman of Cocoyasi Village."
Although you couldn't save your villagers, you... really did your best."
At this point, Gawain's gaze fell on Genzo's scarred face.
Genzo's face at that moment looked like a grotesque ghost stitched together!
Such scars don't just appear on the face; on Genzo's body, it's almost impossible to find any healthy skin larger than three square centimeters.
These scars alone show just how much suffering Genzo has endured.
It's fair to say that his survival is a stroke of luck.
Noticing Gawain's gaze, Genzo gasped.
"I... I... I..."
He stammered and muttered for a long time before finally managing to muster the courage to speak to Gawain.
"Celestial Dragon, I'm the only one speaking ill of you behind your back. These two children have nothing to do with that; they like you very much!"
Even if it means making them servants, please don't kill them! They can do many things; they are very useful!
If we're going to die, let it be only me...
"Cough cough!"
Gawain coughed lightly, interrupting Genzo's words, while Gawain, holding Nojiko, smiled and said to Genzo beside Nami.
"Uncle Jian, Lord Gawain has already interrupted you, so you'd better be sensible and stand up quickly."
Lord Gawain Wen is not the kind of Celestial Dragon you're talking about. You're here to buy orange trees, and I'd like to invite you for tea.
Hey, could you keep an eye on Nami for me? Make sure she doesn't say anything crazy. I'm going to the kitchen.
Gawain, please wait a moment while I go make some tea.
As they were talking, Nojiko handed Nami to Genzo and then turned to go to the kitchen, where she began preparing the ingredients with great enthusiasm.
With Nojiko gone, Nami immediately perked up.
She easily broke free from Genzo's control, then ran to the side, her small eyes darting back and forth between Gawain and her body.
Genzo didn't have time to notice Nami's subtle glances. He was still kneeling on the ground, trembling all over, and didn't take Gawain's words seriously at all.
There are too many people in this ocean who have never seen Celestial Dragon. When they actually see Gawain, most of them will think... the Celestial Dragon are nothing special.
Some people might even assume that all Celestial Dragon look like Gawain based on their first impression of Gawain.
Just like Nojiko and Nami at this moment, after sensing Gawain's goodwill, they easily let down their guard.
Since this was the first time in their lives they had met Celestial Dragon, after forming their first impression of Gawain, they inevitably felt that all the legendary stories they had heard before were just hearsay.
Conversely, if a group of marines or pirates were to appear before them, they certainly wouldn't have a good first impression of them.
Because they've seen far too many evil marines and pirates...
Unlike Nojiko and Nami, Genzo is someone who has actually seen Celestial Dragon!
Although the scars on his body were not left by the Celestial Dragon, the deaths of his former children were all caused by the Celestial Dragon.
Can Genzo believe Gawain's kind words?
Genzo, who had similar experiences, always felt that his family had become some kind of toy of Gawain!
Gawain's gentle smiles were just props to make the game more fun!
For a moment, Genzo didn't know what to say next. Based on his experience, would begging for mercy even work?
Would begging for mercy make the Celestial Dragon spare them?
If they don't beg for mercy, the Celestial Dragon will still torture them to death, right?
And so, Genzo was utterly desperate. He knelt there, clinging to Nami, completely losing the strength to speak.
Breathe.
Genzo's breathing became increasingly rapid, as if he could die on the spot without Gawain even needing to say a word...
Seeing Genzo's increasingly nervous expression, Gawain frowned. He realized he had probably frightened the man...
So he went to Genzo and gently helped Genzo up.
"Genzo, let's sit down and talk. Judging from your expression, it seems like this isn't the first time you've seen someone like me."
For the common people of this sea, the Celestial Dragon mostly exist in stories. People's impression of us is generally that we only need to pay them Heavenly Tribute.
"But the impression of paying money shouldn't make you this scared, right?"
"I..."
Faced with Gawain's gentle words, Genzo's body trembled violently. He stood there, shaking, and spoke to Gawain with difficulty.
"When I was seven years old... I saw... no, I greeted, I had the honor of welcoming the Celestial Dragon!!!"
At this point, Genzo could no longer hold back his tears, and the poor old man burst into tears on the spot.
After listening to Genzo's explanation, Gawain remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
"As expected... it seems those trashy kin of mine caused you a lot of pain back then..."
At this point, Gawain took out a gourd from his waist and handed it to Genzo.
"I know that you, having witnessed the damned appearance of the Celestial Dragon firsthand, won't easily believe that I'm some kind of good person."
I can't make you lower your guard against me with just a few shallow words.
In short, on behalf of my former kinsmen, I offer you my heartfelt apologies.
As for now, having a drink might make you feel better.
At this point, Gawain pondered for a moment, then gently hugged Genzo.
When Gawain released Genzo broke down in tears.
He stood there trembling, his eyes fixed on the wine jug in front of him in an indescribable way.
He opened the gourd and took a big gulp of wine. After drinking it, Genzo looked at Gawain with the gourd in his hand.
As he watched, Genzo's tears gradually stopped, and he let out a deep sigh.
"Why... why wasn't the Celestial Dragon passed through Cocoyasi Village back then... you?"
After saying that, Genzo slumped into a chair and refused to say anything more.
He knew that the Celestial Dragon in front of him was still very young, and that his past suffering was indeed caused by the Celestial Dragon, though "Celestial Dragon" was just a name for a group.
And within a group, there will always be an individual who stands out.
Therefore, he can't blame this young man for what happened back then...
So who should he resent? He doesn't even know the name of that Celestial Dragon from back then, or even if he did, there's nothing he could do...
And so, Genzo fell completely silent. He didn't want to say anything anymore, not even the questions he had wanted to discuss with Nojiko and Nami.
What's the point of saying anything? It's meaningless.
Because what he wanted to talk about was simply how to escape when the Celestial Dragon were coming.
But the Celestial Dragon have already arrived, so we can only leave it to fate...
Seeing Genzo's lifeless appearance, Nami patted Genzo's shoulder in annoyance.
"Hey, Genzo, you don't need to be this scared, do you?"
That guy isn't a monster, nor is he a damned Marine or an even more damned Fish-Man pirate, is he?
Why could such a gentle person turn you into someone who wishes you could die on the spot?
As she spoke, Nami gave a disdainful look. Someone like her, who had been out in the world since she was ten, had already mastered the skill of saying one thing to one person and another to another.
She was already used to observing the world with her own eyes!
With just a brief encounter, Nami already understood that Gawain was the type of person who wouldn't deliberately offend you unless you provoked him.
Outward gentleness may be faked, but the details of life cannot be faked. Compared to the stories she's heard, Nami trusts her own eyes more!
So, after criticizing Genzo, Nami immediately went to the side and grabbed the biggest chair and a blanket from the room.
After handing the chair to Gawain, Nami chuckled and moved closer to Issho.
"This uncle always keeps his eyes closed, can't you see?"
Wow, that's amazing! Even though you can't see, you can move around like a normal person!
Even if you're strong, don't sit on the ground carelessly, you'll catch a cold.
Here, this is a blanket. Uncle, you can use it to put under your butt.
As they were talking, Nami kindly helped Issho spread out the blanket. Issho smiled and accepted Nami's kindness.
Even the way he smiled at Nami was full of admiration and care.
These are the simple, honest country kids! They not only care about others more than a brat Ace, but they also have such kind hearts!
Just as Ikko made that comment, Nami suddenly stood aside and extended her right hand to Ikko.
"Of course, uncle, if someone's blanket gets dirty from sitting on it, it needs to be washed too."
Therefore, a cleaning fee of 100,000 yuan is offered.
"Why?!!"
Yi Xiao was stunned. This... this was the same warm-hearted country folk she had just imagined?
If all rural people looked like this, then...
"Cough cough!"
Before Nami could even begin to think, Gawain coughed twice, interrupting Nami.
He extended a finger, and lightning immediately began to swirl around it.
A moment later, accompanied by the operation of thunder and magnetic fields, the two gold ornaments on Gawain's body quietly melted into molten gold, which floated around Gawain's fingers.
With Gawain's control, the ball of golden liquid quickly took the shape of an orange tree.
Nami, who witnessed everything, was first shocked, then terrified, and then overjoyed!
Because Gawain wasn't angry; instead, he created a small, golden orange tree!
Sure enough, to Nami's expectant gaze, Gawain presented the golden orange tree to Nami.
"Don't talk to us about things like tens of thousands of Beli, Nami, because that's just too cheesy."
Or, to put it another way, do you think the wealth of the Celestial Dragon can be measured in terms of tens of thousands of Beli, a sum of money they wouldn't even bother to pick up if it fell on the ground?
At this point, Gawain looked at Nami's widening eyes with amusement.
Seeing Nami's shock, Gawain continued.
"Do you know the Dark Bird Ship? That's my ship. It cost me a whopping 1.7 trillion Beli to build it!"
This is just the initial construction cost; if you include the ongoing modifications to the ship and the creation of its facilities and decorations, that's a different story.
Two trillion wouldn't even be enough to measure the value of that ship.
"Two by two... two trillion trillion trillion!!!!"
On the other side, Nami's mouth widened to resemble that of the Munch-Munch Fruit, and she clutched her heart, almost fainting!
However, Gawain didn't stop there. He pointed at Gawain, who was sitting on the blanket, and said...
"Furthermore, do you know what kind of annual salaries the officers on my ship receive?"
"Hey, let's tell Nami about our salaries."
"Um."
He smiled and nodded, amused. He could tell that the adults were very interested in this girl named Nami.
I don't know why, but as long as the adults are interested, that's enough. The adults aren't abusing anyone; it's a consensual affair, right?
Besides, given his status as an adult, Yi Xiao probably wishes he would find more women and have a whole bunch of kids as soon as possible.
By then, even if the adults suffer from the same illness as Roger, he can simply smile and choose the most suitable one from among the adults' many children to continue assisting them!
In short, at this moment, Yixiao gave Nami, that money-grubbing little girl, a meaningful smile.
Then, she smiled and said softly.
"Ah, the annual salary the adults give us is actually a bit too little."
Our group only earns 500 million per month, which is equivalent to an annual salary of 6 billion Beli.
Ha, that's really too few, only one and a half Shanks.
Nami, little girl, please don't laugh at this old man.
After saying that, Yixiao listened with interest to Nami's reaction. He imagined that Nami was incredibly envious at this moment, and then excitedly inquired about the qualifications to join the Dark Bird Ship.
However, things didn't go as Ikko expected. Across from him, Nami was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.
At this moment, Nami lowered her head, hiding her gaze in the shadows. She looked at her worn-out sandals and her feet, which were covered in dust, and hesitated to say anything.
Gawain, who was standing nearby, seemed to remember something and looked at Nami with concern.
At that moment, Nami looked incredibly sad and said to Issho.
"Six billion Beli a year, and that's just the basic annual salary...?"
But, in Arlong's eyes, our entire Cocoyasi Island is only worth one hundred million Beli...
I've been desperately trying to raise just this 100 million Beli, and after five years of hard work, I still haven't even gotten half of it.
"If it were a mere 100 million Beli to you, my village could be freed from this misery!!!"
At this point, Nami suddenly raised her head, a flame burning in her eyes.
She first smiled at him, then looked at Gawain, trembling as she spoke painfully.
"What exactly is it that you can so easily possess..."
"Has it become something we can never have?"