What the Hell Is This?

Walking beside the little girl, Randall deliberately studied the expressions of the people around them.

How would the villagers react to seeing a stranger walking with a child from their village?

The answer was, they didn't react.

No, they didn't react the way Randall had expected.

They didn't come over to ask questions, nor did they show any concern.

Instead, the looks they had been giving Randall now fell on the little girl as well.

That made Randall feel uneasy.

But he said nothing and simply followed the little girl.

A short while later, Randall followed her to a tightly shut front door, carrying the liquor.

Along the way, Randall had learned the little girl's name.

Christa, a name that sounded like crystal.

Xiao Ke Christa unlocked the door and said:

"Randall, this is my home!"

Randall followed her inside, only to be hit by a nauseating stench of alcohol that made his brow furrow deeply.

Christa called out:

"Father, we have a guest!

And I brought the liquor!"

Then Randall heard a clattering and crashing from inside.

The door to the inner room suddenly opened, and a man who looked like a heap of mud mixed with liquor staggered out.

"Ah, liquor. Where is it?

I want liquor!"

Christa seemed accustomed to this scene and showed no reaction.

She merely gave Randall an apologetic smile, then took the liquor and handed it to the man.

"Father..."

Before she could finish, the man snatched the bag of liquor from her.

The force sent Christa stumbling. If Randall hadn't reached out in time, she would have fallen.

But the man paid no attention, as though liquor was the only thing he could see and everything else was invisible.

The sight left Randall's face livid.

Holding back his anger, he ignored the revolting man, looked at Christa, and said:

"Christa, is he always like this?"

Certain details had already told Randall the answer, but he still wanted to confirm it.

Christa said:

"Yes, Father has always been like this.

It used to trouble Mother a lot, too."

Her voice was calm, and so was her expression, as though she were talking about someone else's life.

That only made Randall's heart ache for her more.

He couldn't help glancing at the man again.

God only knew how much effort it took him to suppress the urge to hit him.

At the very least, I shouldn't do it in front of Christa...

Looking at the composed Christa, Randall said:

"By the way, Christa, do you know what kind of person I am?"

Christa smiled and said:

"You're so silly, Randall. Didn't I already tell you? You're a good person!"

Randall paused, then smiled and asked:

"Then would you like to become a good person, too?

If you want, I can take you away!"

Randall didn't consider himself a kind man.

But now that he had seen something like this, he couldn't pretend he hadn't.

At his words, a clear look of longing appeared on Christa's face.

Just then, the man drinking beside them lost his grip on the bottle, perhaps because the alcohol had numbed his brain and robbed him of control over his body. It slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

It landed with a dull clunk, spilling liquor everywhere.

For a moment, the smell of alcohol grew even stronger.

Then the man himself collapsed onto the floor.

Xiao Ke Christa immediately sighed, went over to the man, and helped him up.

The entire sequence was smooth and practiced. She was clearly used to it.

It had to be said that the physical capabilities of people in the One Piece world couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

A little girl could actually lift a grown man.

And a drunken grown man, at that.

Watching the man nearly drink himself to death, Randall finally couldn't take it anymore.

A chilling aura rose from him, deliberately avoiding Christa and enveloping only the man.

The man shuddered.

He felt as though he were deep inside an ice cavern, a chill radiating from the depths of his soul.

In an instant, most of his drunken haze vanished.

He finally sobered up.

Then he noticed Randall standing beside him.

Startled, he said:

"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

Xiao Ke Christa hurriedly said:

"Father, he's..."

Before she could finish, the man put on a look of sudden understanding and said:

"Ah, I get it! He's the man you found for yourself, right?

I was planning to find someone to sell you... no, marry you off to.

Didn't think you'd already found someone yourself!"

This time, Christa could no longer remain calm.

Deep sorrow appeared in her eyes.

This was her father...

Listening to the man's words, veins bulged on Randall's forehead.

Struggling to contain himself, he said:

"I'm just a guest she invited!

She's still a child! Watch what you say!"

The man once again looked enlightened and said:

"Oh, right! You're right! She's still a child!

I have to say, you're a real animal, going after even little children!

You really can't judge a book by its cover!

Tsk, tsk!"

Randall's temples throbbed at those words, but he thought that perhaps the man could still be saved.

Yet, to his surprise, the man abruptly changed tack and added:

"So it'll cost you extra!

Unless you pay me enough, I'm not handing her over!"

Christa seemed like an outsider now.

Her eyes were full of disappointment and sorrow, but her face held a stubborn resolve as she fought to endure it.

The anger in Randall's heart flared.

So that's what "still a child" means to you?

Can you even call yourself a fucking father?

At that moment, he could no longer contain his rage.

But before he could clench his fist, Randall felt two small, cold hands clasp his left hand.

Randall turned to see Christa holding his hand and shaking her head sadly.

Seeing this, the man sneered:

"Oh, so you already belong to another man?

Are you really that desperate?

You're just like that whore of a mother of yours. Tsk, tsk!

Still...

Looks like you two are pretty close.

Then I'll be needing even more money!"

Randall could feel the two little hands gripping his own gradually tighten.

Though she couldn't hurt him with her grip, he could feel the pain in Christa's heart.

She, too, was beginning to lose control of her emotions.

She shouted, "Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!"

The man's expression grew even nastier as he said:

"What? Still defending her?

She was awfully eager that day!

She's probably having the time of her life with those pirates right now!"