When the four members of the Villainous Pirates returned to the hotel after the speedboat ring-toss competition, the setting sun had just bathed the lobby in warm gold.
Aokiji was as languid as ever, sunk into the widest sofa in the lobby lounge. He raised a hand and waved limply.
"Yo. You're back."
Gandrel and Akhend merely gave stiff nods. Without so much as exchanging a glance, they each snorted and headed straight for the elevator, gloom radiating from their retreating backs.
Chaton watched them leave and scratched the back of his head helplessly.
Lilith bounced along, her short golden bob swinging. She gave Aokiji a flirtatious wink, then jogged toward the corridor with a grin.
"...Good grief..."
Aokiji stood and patted Chaton on the shoulder.
"Thanks for the hard work, Captain."
...Soon afterward.
The three gathered in Chaton's room. Spacious and luxurious, it felt very much like the presidential suite at a tropical resort.
"The competition was pretty lively."
Sitting in a rocking chair, Chaton gave Aokiji a brief rundown of the competition.
"Those little old men and women had all sorts of tricks. Smoke, burning charcoal, even miniature torpedoes. But as far as strength went... nothing special. We won."
"An easy win?"
Aokiji sank into the sofa and yawned.
"It wasn't too much trouble."
Lilith took over, walking to the little bar to pour herself a cup of coffee.
"Their attacks rarely targeted vital points. They cheated plenty, but at least they weren't trying to 'kill' anyone."
As she spoke, her pink eyes narrowed slightly. She took an exquisite pocket watch from inside her clothes and toyed with it.
When she flipped it open, a tiny screen appeared in place of a clock face. Still discussing the details of the competition, she paced around the room, seemingly at