At the tavern, by the dining table.
"Rika's still young and can't go to sea. Besides, the tavern needs my help."
Rika thought it over, then lowered her head and said.
"Don't you want to go out to sea and see this wonderful world? I'll protect you. As for your family, I can talk to them for you. How about it?"
Moya patted Rika's head, trying to comfort her.
"No, Lord Moya!" Rika said anxiously.
Moya ignored her and walked over to the bar counter. He glanced at the busy young widow and his eyes lit up.
Ma'am, that headscarf and hairstyle of yours are very dangerous.
"Are you Rika's mother? I've seen that Rika has exceptional talent, and she's bound to achieve great things in the future. I'd like to take her to sea so she can gain experience. Please consider it."
Moya did his best to sound sincere.
Rika's mother looked at the handsome man who had suddenly appeared and was a little dazzled by his looks.
But Moya's request made her somewhat angry. Who would ask to take someone's daughter away the moment they met? Out of politeness, Rika's mother still turned him down tactfully.
"Rika's still young. It's too dangerous for her to go to sea now. Please allow me to refuse."
"Rika's young, which makes this the perfect time to train her. Missing this opportunity would be the greatest regret of all. Besides, I'll protect and teach her.
"And Rika's so young, yet she's already working here every day as a waitress. She won't achieve much that way.
"This is an age of rampant pirates and constant danger. She could have a better future. I hope you'll consider what's best for Rika."
Moya's tone turned persuasive. Coupled with his handsome face, it made Rika's mother waver.
Rika tugged at Moya's clothes.
"Don't say that about my mother. I'm happy working as a waitress!"
Rika's mother's heart clenched when she heard that.
Who didn't want their child to make something of themselves? But she didn't want her daughter to go on an adventure and end up in danger, either. She was torn.
Moya met Rika's mother's eyes and suddenly activated his Devil Fruit ability, appearing right in front of her.
His scent filled her nostrils. Rika's mother's expression changed dramatically, and she fell backward. Moya caught her firmly around the waist.
"L-Lord Moya, you can let go of me now. I'll leave Rika in your care. I trust you to keep her safe."
After seeing Moya's uncanny speed, Rika's mother had reason to believe he was a powerful man.
Rika watched her mother's sudden change of heart, utterly confused.
Moya smiled to himself, savoring the moment. What a soft, slender waist.
"All right. From now on, Rika is my crew member. She can start as our little cook. Get ready, and I'll come pick her up soon!"
With that, he left with a smile.
After leaving Rika's tavern, Moya headed toward the Yanhuang.
Suddenly, he vanished around a street corner and made his way toward the Marine Branch in secret.
Inside the Marine Branch, a Marine was reporting to a lieutenant commander.
"Sir, the people from the Moya Adventure Group haven't caused any trouble. They've been making ordinary purchases, and Moya went to a tavern before heading toward their ship."
"Good. As long as they're not causing trouble, just stay alert! In a few days, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral 'Hero of the Marines' Garp will be coming to our Marine Branch.
"Haha, I'll finally get to meet the 'Hero of the Marines' I admire so much up close!"
The lieutenant commander was so excited he could barely contain himself.
"Isn't Vice Admiral Garp returning to the East Blue for a vacation and to escort Colonel Morgan, sir?" a communications officer asked helplessly.
The lieutenant commander wasn't embarrassed. He just scratched his head and laughed, still thrilled.
Listening from outside the window, Moya furrowed his brow. He'd originally planned to kidnap Colonel Morgan and look through his memories to see if they contained the Six Powers. Now he'd just heard this news.
Damn it! A figure of speech, of course.
Moya had actually forgotten the famous feat of Colonel 'Axe Emperor' Morgan: chopping down Garp. What a blunder.
After weighing the pros and cons, Moya ultimately gave up on kidnapping Colonel Morgan. He didn't want to risk being hunted down by Garp.
Garp might not pursue Morgan personally if the colonel escaped, but even if he sent some Rear Admiral after Moya, that would be more than enough trouble.
Since he couldn't kidnap Colonel Morgan, Moya also had to reconsider his plan to kidnap Koby and Meppo while he was at it.
Koby had great potential, after all. That Oda guy had even established that he had a chance of becoming a Marine Admiral.
And two years later, Koby had become a Marine Headquarters Colonel, which showed just how much potential he had.
But he was still too weak right now, and there wasn't much Moya could gain from him.
Koby hadn't become Garp's disciple yet, and Moya didn't know if he could train Koby to become strong.
After thinking it over, Moya ultimately abandoned the idea of kidnapping Koby.
Moya quickly backed away and left, then began searching for the Marine Branch's finance office and storage room.
Moya wasn't familiar with the place. When he saw a Marine walking by, he instantly slid over to him. Before the man could react, Moya struck the back of his neck with a hand chop and knocked him out.
Memory Slide Technique of Sube Sube no Mi
Moya browsed the Marine's memories, pulling out a cluster of recent ones. Once he'd learned the layout, he simply dropped the Marine in a corner.
Moya went straight to the finance office and used the Slip-Slip Fruit's power to open the door with ease. Inside was a large chest containing more than twenty million Beli. It was probably the reserve bounty money and Marine payroll.
Every Marine Branch kept reserve bounty money for its waters, used to pay Pirate Hunters for killing pirates.
Most Marine Branches were fairly reliable about this. The highest bounty in these waters was only a little over twenty million, so the reserve funds were more than enough.
This little Marine Branch didn't have any Famous Swords or other valuable weapons. Moya picked out a few pistols that looked decent enough for Rika, who had no abilities of her own.
Moya hauled away a chest of Beli and prepared to leave.
After thinking it over, Moya realized this would make him far too suspicious. He turned around, used the Marine's memories to find the prison, and quickly knocked out the guards.
Moya tossed the keys in front of several prison cells and released dozens of pirates who looked like small-time lackeys and didn't seem very strong.
The lieutenant commander could recapture these pirates. Even though they were greedy and self-serving, Moya didn't want them escaping and endangering civilians.
This should distract the Marines and slow down their pursuit.
As he left the Marine Branch, Moya cupped a hand around his throat and shouted from the shadows.
"Pirates have escaped! The finance office has been robbed!!"
After shouting, Moya quickly left the Marine Branch without looking back at the chaos he'd set off.
A real man never looked back at an explosion.
Back at the tavern,
Moya saw that Rika was all packed and smiled as he patted her head. "If you're ready, let's go!"
"Okay, Moya!" Rika nodded quickly.
"Madam, you can keep these few million Beli. Remember, don't flaunt your wealth, and take good care of yourself!"
Moya took a pile of Beli out of the chest and gave it to Rika's mother.
Hearing the warmth in Moya's voice, Rika's mother accepted the money, then turned away and embraced Rika, tears in her eyes. "Take good care of yourself, Rika."
Rika's eyes were wet, too. Pouting, she nodded. "Mom, you take good care of yourself, too! I'll miss you."
Watching the mother and daughter, Moya thought for a moment, then suddenly wore a mischievous, inscrutable smile.
Aboard the Adventure,
"What do you mean, dragging me aboard after breaking your promise?"
"I have to run my late husband's tavern! Let me off this ship, you shameless scoundrel!"
Moya briefly introduced Rika and her mother to the crew, temporarily appointed them both as the ship's cooks, and paid no attention to the tavern owner's angry protests.
Turning to the crew, who were ready to go, he said, "Set sail at once! Our destination is Orange Town!"
That's right. Rika's mother, the tavern owner, had also been "invited" aboard by Moya.
The crew sprang into action, and the Yanhuang slowly sailed out of the 153rd Marine Branch harbor.
Before you continue