"So they won't actually pay..."
"Well, that's not entirely true."
Adrian thought for a moment, then added.
"If someone really were that stupid... I mean, if someone really wanted nothing but Beli, the World Government and Marine Headquarters might actually welcome it!"
"Really?" Little Nami immediately perked up.
"Of course." Adrian nodded. "I generally don't lie to children."
"I heard you once defeated the Fleet Admiral, mister?" Little Nami suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.
"To be precise, I didn't defeat him. I merely forced him to bow his head and concede." Adrian briefly explained what had happened, then added, "Of course, if we actually fought now, I could definitely beat Fleet Admiral Kong."
Little Nami's eyes darted about as reason finally reclaimed the high ground in her brain. At least she managed not to blurt out, "Since you can beat the Fleet Admiral anyway, why don't we team up and scam Marine Headquarters out of some money?"
Returning with an entire basket of oranges in her arms, Louf hadn't heard Adrian and Nami's whole conversation, only that last remark. She couldn't help finding it amusing.
Adrian-sama is actually bragging to a child he barely knows~
Adrian noticed Little Fox suppressing a smile. "How are the oranges? Pretty tasty, aren't they?"
"The quality is surprisingly good," Louf replied. "I'm planning to make some fresh marmalade with them."
"Our family's oranges are the best!" Little Nami insisted on cutting in.
"So when you grow up, will you plant oranges like your mother?" Adrian asked, deliberately feigning curiosity.
"No way!"
Nami didn't deny being Bellemere's daughter in front of outsiders, even though Bellemere had just given her ear a vicious tug.
"I'm going to draw nautical charts of the entire ocean! From the East Blue to the Grand Line, I won't leave