A Sudden Engagement

No one is more dead than a heart that has given up. Ace carried the burden of being the Pirate King's son for 17 years, and finally, he abandoned all hope of survival. Even if Rono released him now, he wouldn't be a pirate anymore. Perhaps he would find a remote town and live out his remaining days in peace.

It was Rono's time for high-speed sailing again. In just half a month, they would arrive at Enies Lobby.

"Spandam, did you miss me?" Rono ran towards Spandam's office, while Sairona, with Ace and Gelu, walked behind.

As for Brook, he had disembarked. Near the Red Line Continent, he was going to find Laboon, to fulfill a promise decades late. Brook had said, "Mr. Rono, Mr. Sairona, you are powerful pirates. My strength is too weak to help you, but as long as I, Brook, am alive, I will never refuse if you ask for my help, Yohohohoho. I'm going to see Laboon. Farewell."

Rono kicked open the door, only to find Axia inside instead of Spandam. "Spandam... Wife╲(∧w∧)╱!" Rono immediately forgot about Spandam and rushed towards Axia.

Axia's face turned red at the word "wife." "Kid, what do you think you're doing? We're not married yet." Mo stepped forward to block Rono's path.

"Ah! Uncle Mo, you're here too?" Rono exclaimed in surprise.

Mo was accustomed to Rono's erratic behavior. He took the tea poured by Spandam and ignored Rono's words, saying instead, "I'm here this time to have you and Axia get engaged."

"What o;!" Rono's mouth hung open. Axia secretly glanced at Rono, blushing, and lowered her head.

"What? You're unwilling?" Mo's killing intent surged, his expression changing instantly. If Rono dared to utter a single "no," he would complete a solo kill and send Rono to the heavens.

"How could I be? It's just too sudden." Rono waved his hands repeatedly.

"Rono, you're getting engaged?" Sairona walked in. He was still single, and Rono was already about to have a fiancée.

"Gelu Gelu? (What does engagement mean?)" Gelu asked, not understanding.

"It means you're going to have a mother." Sairona said with a calm expression.

"Gelu!" Gelu jumped up happily. Under Rono's Kuma-style education, Gelu felt he lacked not only maternal love but also paternal love.

"Then it's settled. Next month, after Gold D. Ace's execution, we'll get engaged." Mo really wanted it to be as soon as possible.

"No problem, wife, I want a hug." Rono opened his arms. Mo stepped aside. A hug was still permissible if they were getting engaged.

Axia shyly stood up, turning her head away, not speaking or moving. She still had some maidenly reserve. Rono immediately embraced her.

"The embrace is so warm, just like... the one from two years ago." Axia thought, burying her head in Rono's chest (Rono had crouched down to hug her). Her small hands wrapped around Rono's waist, she sniffed the scent on Rono, closed her eyes, and smiled faintly.

Under Mo's watchful gaze, Rono reluctantly released Axia. Her chest is so big, so soft, I like it.

Axia looked at Rono, her eyes overflowing with affection.

"Axia, let's go. Hmm, and let's take Ace with us." Mo grabbed the chain of Ace's handcuffs and walked out.

"Finally, they're gone." Spandam wiped the sweat from his brow. "Rono, the Marines want me to tell you that Jinbe is coming to cause trouble for you. He says you broke up his Fishman pirate crew and wants an explanation."

"Let him come confront me!" Rono was still in an excited state. Under Mo's restraining gaze, he didn't see Axia off. He answered without turning his head.

"I guessed you'd say that, so I replied for you." Spandam gulped down the tea in one go, then spat it out with a "poof." It was scalding hot.

"Go back where?" Sairona asked with some interest.

"Time and place, which street, you can call as many people as you want," Spandam replied, taking a sip of iced water.

"Why does that sound like a street punk arranging a fight?" Sairona quipped.

"Hey! Does it? I think it's very imposing!" Spandam couldn't stand it. You can insult me, but you can't insult my taste.

"Yeah, yeah, I think it's super cool too." Rono cleared his throat twice, putting on an extremely arrogant expression, the kind that would get him beaten up ten times just walking down the street. "Time, place, you choose. One-on-one or a group?"

"Spandam, am I imitating it well?" Rono immediately turned to Spandam with an idiotic expression.

"That's the feeling." Spandam clenched his right fist and slapped his palm.

"Can we do 15? This noob can't carry," Sairona continued to complain.

"Gelu." Gelu indicated he could be carried.

"Hai hai hai." Sairona responded weakly, feeling like his future was bleak.

"Oh right, Rono, I remembered something else. Didn't you say you wanted a super cool, domineering arm guard? The Research Department has already started making it for you. It should be finished the day after tomorrow." Spandam remembered Rono's request for equipment.

"How much?" Rono didn't look happy, but asked with narrowed eyes, having a feeling he was about to be ripped off.

"This much." Spandam held up five fingers.

"Phew—only fifty million, not expensive, not expensive." Rono breathed a sigh of relief, but why didn't that feeling disappear?

"It's five hundred million. I pleaded with them to waive the remainder," Spandam said calmly.

"Pfft—" Rono spat out the tea he had just drunk, splashing it all over Spandam's face. "Even if it's made of gold, that's too much money, right?"

"To be precise, its manufacturing cost is much higher than gold. Also, you have to buy it because their capital chain is broken, all for your equipment."

"Can I add some money and get a Whitebeard instead?" Rono quipped.

"Oh, the Research Department told me to tell you that the money has already been collected, so you don't need to pay the bill anymore," Spandam delivered another piece of news that made Rono want to vomit blood.

"What the hell! How did they know my bank card password?" Rono was internally collapsing. This wasn't how things were supposed to be played.

"Huh? Didn't you tell them? You said to use the best materials, money wasn't an issue, and you even left your bank card there with the password. Otherwise, do you think they could have made it for you? It would take at least another year," Spandam looked at Rono with the expression of someone looking at an idiot. Rono suffered a critical hit of one hundred million damage.

"Damn idiot." Sairona couldn't watch anymore and left with Gelu. "Gelu, don't look, you'll get stupid."

Gelu, who had been peeking, immediately retracted his neck and buried himself in Sairona's chest. Gelu didn't want to become stupid.