Seeking a son-in-law

At seven that evening, Rubick arrived for dinner right on time.

Rubick was so strapped for cash that he had not even brought a host gift.

The butler, Klahadore, opened the door for Rubick, but his aloofness was plain for anyone to see.

There was no denying that the man was a superb actor. If Rubick had not known his background, he would never have guessed that he had once been a ruthless Pirate with countless schemes up his sleeve.

Rubick looked the butler up and down. He wore a black suit and glasses, with his hair slicked back and a stern expression on his face. He looked thoroughly professional, except for his gray-and-white striped leather shoes, which really did not match his clothes.

"Please follow me. The master and his family have been waiting for some time," Klahadore said stiffly.

Rubick nodded and followed him.

Klahadore warned him quietly, "Do not speak out of turn, and do not think you can get any money out of the master. As the butler here, I will not allow anyone to act against the Anderson Family's interests."

"Mind your own business," Rubick said with a sneer.

When they entered the dining room, the entire Anderson family stood to welcome him, leaving Rubick overwhelmed by the attention. He could not understand why Anderson was being so warm toward him.

Mrs. Anderson sat on the right with her daughter, Kaya, while Rubick took the place opposite Powell.

Klahadore pulled out Rubick's chair. Once Rubick was seated, he signaled to Merry, the head attendant standing nearby, that the food could be served. He then stood behind Anderson with his head slightly bowed, the picture of a dutiful servant.

Sometimes, Rubick thought Klahadore had gotten far too deep into his role.

"Young man, you seem very interested in my butler," Powell said to Rubick. "Have you met before?"

"I just feel like I've seen your butler somewhere before."

Powell laughed. "Isn't that the sort of line you're supposed to use on a lady? Haha."

Kaya chimed in with a smile. "That's right. Dad always tells me that if a boy says something like that to me, it means he's trying to trick me."

Rubick smiled too, but his eyes remained on Klahadore.

Klahadore had no choice but to say, "Perhaps I simply resemble someone you know. I used to work aboard a ship, but I offended the captain. With nowhere else to turn, I wandered here. Fortunately, the master took me in, or I would have starved to death long ago."

"That's right," Powell said with a nod. "Come to think of it, it's already been two years."

Rubick smiled as well. "Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Kuro of a Hundred Plans, a pirate with a sixteen-million bounty?"

Klahadore's eyelid twitched. Rubick kept watching him. Clearly, the butler was anything but calm inside. Still, his self-control was impressive. To everyone else, at least, he looked no different than usual.

"You must be joking, Mr. Rubick. Kuro of a Hundred Plans was beheaded years ago. Morgan, the Marine who captured him, is now a second lieutenant in Shells Town."

Rubick took Kuro's old wanted poster from his pocket. "Oh, is that so? Looks like I need to update my wanted posters."

Powell's smile broadened. Just then, the dishes arrived, and they began their dinner.

As the saying went, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Rather than wolfing down his food as usual, Rubick imitated Powell and the others, chewing slowly and carefully. His expression could not have been more awkward.

Halfway through the meal, Powell began coughing again, then wiped his mouth with his napkin as though it were nothing.

"Where are you from, young man?" Powell asked Rubick.

"I'm from Dragon Country, on the Grand Line. Getting there and back isn't easy."

"And do you have any family at home?"

Rubick found this a little strange. Why was the man questioning him as though he were checking a household register?

"Well, I'm the only one left."

Powell's expression turned sympathetic. "Ah, every family has its own troubles. By the way, young man, have you ever thought about giving up adventuring and settling down?"

"Huh? Why ask that all of a sudden?"

Powell frowned and sighed. "Let me put it this way. I have a strange, incurable illness, and I don't have much time left. So I want to find someone Kaya can depend on."

"Dad, you'll get better!" Kaya said anxiously. "I'm already working hard to study medicine. You'll live to a hundred!"

Mrs. Anderson stroked Kaya's head, her eyes full of love and quiet pride.

Powell did not respond to Kaya. Instead, he continued speaking to Rubick. "Young man, you've seen what I'm worth. If you agree to marry Kaya, the two of you will inherit everything belonging to the Anderson Family."

As an ordinary man, Rubick genuinely wanted to nod and accept for a moment. But when he saw that Kaya was still only a sixteen-year-old child, he immediately shook his head and refused.

Powell continued, "You roam the seas, but you'll have to come ashore someday. Anyway, give it some thought. You could inherit the Anderson estate and keep working as a bounty hunter in the East Blue. There's no conflict at all. All you need to do is take good care of Kaya."

Suddenly, Rubick noticed Klahadore's livid face and slightly trembling hands, and everything seemed to click.

Powell was not looking for a son-in-law. He was diverting trouble onto someone else. Clearly, Powell had already realized that something was wrong with Klahadore, but as an ordinary merchant, he had no way to fight back.

That was why, the moment he saw Rubick today, he had thought of using one predator to deal with another.

Then it occurred to Rubick that Kaya's parents' accidental deaths might very well have been Klahadore's doing. Judging by Powell's symptoms, he might have used some kind of slow-acting poison.

Still, one thing puzzled Rubick. Kuro clearly had a capable hypnotist under his command. Why bother waiting until the entire Anderson family was dead before inheriting their estate as the butler?

Why not just marry Kaya? Wouldn't that give you everything?

At that moment, Klahadore reminded Powell from behind, "Master, you've had too much to drink."

Powell readily went along with him. Holding his head, he stood up and said, "Ah, I really can't hold my liquor. I need to take a nap. Rubick, give what I said some serious thought. You're a bounty hunter to earn money, aren't you? And money is something our family certainly doesn't lack."

Kaya's little face flushed scarlet. Her proper upbringing left her sitting in her chair, unable to muster any thought of objecting. She looked at her mother, and Mrs. Anderson smiled back and drew her into her arms.

Klahadore helped Powell upstairs to rest, and Rubick said his goodbyes and left.

He had only just reached the courtyard garden when Klahadore caught up with him. "Sir, the master asked me to see you out."