The Blond Hair Pirates had been on the Grand Line for three days and finally reached the first island on their route.
"Hahaha, so this is a town on the Grand Line. I wonder how its local customs compare to the East Blue's."
Carlmand had something else in mind, but Kazu and Behrens both knew what he was getting at.
He, Carlmand, was going to become the King of Whoring.
Kazu had never expected that a single kind gesture back then would give Carlmand such a bright future.
Not a dazzling white light, but an exciting, erotic yellow glow.
The pirate ship slowly approached the shore. Some civilians nearby were still doing business and made no fuss at the sight of the pirates.
Clearly, civilians on the Grand Line were used to pirates coming ashore.
The town entrance was mostly devoted to freight transport and trade, with some porters working there. Business was quite good, and the workers were bustling about.
"Hahaha, nothing sets your mind at ease like solid ground under your feet."
Behrens was the first off the ship. Compared to drifting at sea, he preferred the stability the land gave him.
"Come on, little brother. Let me show you what this city has to offer."
(✧≖‿≖)(≖‿≖✧).
Carlmand came up behind Behrens and slung an arm around his shoulders. The two hit it off immediately and decided to enjoy themselves for a day first, rewarding themselves for all their hard training. Anything else could wait until tomorrow.
"What? Do you want to go look around with them too?"
Seeing Kazu watching Carlmand and Behrens walk away, Makino casually asked him.
"No, I was just feeling a little nostalgic."
Kazu smiled as a sense of nostalgia welled up within him.
"Nostalgic?"
Makino did not understand what Kazu was feeling nostalgic about. Since he did not want to say, it probably was not anything important.
Kazu really could not explain it easily. He could hardly say he was reflecting on how Carlmand and Behrens had graduated from his tutelage.
The sight of the two heading off in search of fun with their arms around each other's shoulders reminded Kazu of the days he had spent letting loose with friends in his previous life.
"Let's go too. Let's take in the sights of the Grand Line."
Kazu took Makino's hand, and the two headed toward town as well.
Carlmand and Behrens had long since vanished from their sight. Kazu and Makino went straight to the shopping street, the busiest part of town and the place with the widest selection of food, drink, and entertainment.
After sampling some local specialties and buying some clothes with a local flair, Kazu felt it was not much different from most places. It was pretty uneventful.
Maybe he just was not the protagonist. That kid Luffy always had all sorts of trouble coming to find him wherever he went.
In the end, for one reason or another, the Straw Hat Pirates would spend dozens of filler episodes there.
After wandering around for half the day, Kazu and Makino finally decided to find a tavern and enjoy some fine local liquor, then find an inn for a good night's sleep before setting out the next day.
"Boss, bring us ten bottles of your best liquor and ten plates of meat dishes."
"Of course. Coming right up."
Before long, all the food and drink had arrived, and Kazu took his time savoring it with Makino.
"Ah, life just keeps getting harder. The king's levying taxes again. This is already the third time this year."
"I heard a Celestial Dragon is visiting the neighboring country, and that country doesn't have enough money to put together a grand welcoming ceremony."
"Our king went scurrying over, planning to fund it himself, just to get his face in front of the Celestial Dragon."
"Shh, keep your voice down. If the king's men hear you, you'll lose your life."
"Tch, am I wrong? He wants to get noticed, but we commoners have to pay for it."
The two at the next table drank and complained as they chatted. Clearly, one of them had already had too much and grown considerably bolder, voicing the things that had long angered him but that he had never dared say.
Hearing the two drunks' conversation, Kazu's mind immediately sprang into action.
This seemed like an opportunity delivered right to his doorstep. He had been worrying about how to put on a performance.
He had lusted after the Pirate Empress for decades. In his previous life, he could only drool in front of a screen. Now that he had come to the world of pirates, he would be letting down his burning, red-blooded heart if he did not at least try.
Those stupid pigs, the Celestial Dragons, were not available to grab just anywhere, anytime. If they were up in Mary Geoise, Kazu would not dare charge in. With his current strength, he could not possibly beat that bunch of monsters, not to mention the mysterious Imu.
Now a lone Celestial Dragon was practically within reach. Letting a heaven-sent opportunity slip by was not Kazu's style.
After enjoying their fill of food and drink, Kazu and Makino found an upscale hotel.
"Kazu, let's get two rooms today. Today's... not a good time for me."
Somewhat embarrassed, Makino explained her current condition, then looked up at Kazu.
"Hahaha, what's the problem? We can just keep things chaste tonight."
"One luxury suite."
Kazu booked the room and led a doubtful Makino upstairs.
Late that night, after some activity in bed, Makino raised her head to catch her breath, smoothed her somewhat disheveled hair, and said, "Didn't you say we were keeping things chaste tonight?"
"Shh, don't talk yet."
Kazu gently pressed down on Makino's head, slowly closed his eyes, and savored the sensation.
When they got up the next morning, Makino did not even want breakfast. Her mouth ached terribly, and even after a whole night, it still had not recovered.
Kazu took out a Den Den Mushi and called Carlmand. Sure enough, those two were still asleep. It seemed their battles yesterday had been fierce too.
About half an hour later, Carlmand and Behrens returned to the harbor looking half-dead.
"Set sail! Head straight for the Sade Kingdom!"
Kazu and Makino had spent that half hour asking around town. It had not been difficult at all.
Everyone already knew that the king had levied nationwide taxes to curry favor with a Celestial Dragon. In three days, the Celestial Dragon would arrive on Sade Island for a visit.
Kazu planned to arrange a chance encounter along the way. Knowing how the Celestial Dragons behaved, they would surely attack first if someone blocked their course.
Then he could destroy that luxury cruise ship with perfect justification.
With reason in his left hand and truth clenched in his right, who knew which unlucky Celestial Dragon would run into Kazu?
After two days of sailing at full speed, the group finally reached the waters near Sade Island, home of the Sade Kingdom, a day early.
The island was famous far and wide for its hot springs, and it was said to have quite a few natural springs that were good for the body.
With so many years of development, its service industry had grown rapidly as well.
Carlmand and Behrens had long since recovered over the past two days. As soon as they heard about Sade Island's specialties, they began itching for more fun.
"Just hold out a little longer, you two. Next time we go ashore, I'll give you a few extra days so you can enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content."
Kazu and the others did not plan to go ashore yet. Once he detected the Celestial Dragon's cruise ship approaching tomorrow, he would head over openly.
He would erase that Celestial Dragon from this world completely, right before the eyes of all the civilians on Sade Island.