The Pirate Who Refused Red-Hair's Invitation

Red-Hair emerged from the nearby forest, holding a Den Den Mushi in each hand.

Yasopp looked over at him. "Boss, you know what? Lin Mo just thanked me!"

But Red-Hair wasn't nearly as surprised as Yasopp had expected. Instead, he asked, "He's not a robot. He has feelings, too. Is it that strange for him to say thank you?"

"Huh? Boss, that's not how you're supposed to react." Yasopp scratched his head, puzzled. But then again, he hadn't seen Lin Mo in a long time. People grew and changed. There was nothing strange about that.

His gaze shifted to the two Den Den Mushi in Red-Hair's hands. "The ones on our ship are fine. Why did you catch two more? Are they for Lin Mo?"

Red-Hair grinned. "That's right. If I had to guess, the kid doesn't have one yet."

"Oh, got it." Yasopp took the Den Den Mushi from him. "I'll head back to the ship, then."

Red-Hair nodded. "Sure."

Yasopp left with the Den Den Mushi.

Red-Hair returned to the Castle. At the sight of the banquet's wreckage strewn across the hall, he pressed a hand to his forehead, caught between laughter and tears. "Honestly, those guys... Couldn't even one of them stay to clean up?"

Hawk-Eye loved cleanliness and was downright fastidious. If he found out they'd held a banquet in his home without cleaning up afterward, he would probably drive them off before they could even land the next time they visited.

After a moment's thought, Red-Hair sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to do it himself.

He had only gathered a few plates

when Lin Mo happened to pass through the adjoining corridor, holding a bottle of red wine he had just taken from Hawk-Eye's cellar.

Red-Hair turned to look at him.

Sensing his