Chapter 10. Gift
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The next day.
Since the matter was resolved, he wasn't in a hurry to return to the 16th Branch. He planned to wait until Smoker and the others had left before heading back. After all, Cocoyasi Town wasn't far from the 16th Branch.
And having unexpectedly taken care of a big problem, Dante had a very comfortable sleep last night.
By the time he woke up, it was nearly noon.
After a quick wash, he came out to see Robin already reading a book in the office.
He had to admit, as expected of someone who passed the doctoral exam with full marks at the age of 8 and became an archaeologist.
She really loved to read.
Since coming to the East Blue with him, whenever she had free time, Robin would brew herself a pot of tea and leisurely read a book.
Dante picked up the document placed on his desk. Judging by the name, it must've been submitted by Mayor Nojiko earlier in the morning.
After glancing through it briefly, he set it down again.
It mainly recorded Cocoyasi Town's arrangements for the new refugees last night.
In just one night, Cocoyasi Town had already sorted everything out.
Of course~
Dante wasn't surprised.
After all, it had been so many years. When it came to making arrangements, the people of Cocoyasi Town already knew exactly what to do.
Unfortunately, this batch still didn't include any talented individuals, which made Dante a little disappointed.
Although there was a guy named Pick among them, who was good at handling fur and making leather armor, the kind of talents Dante wanted—architectural or shipbuilding experts—were nowhere to be found.
There weren't even any strong fighters, let alone rare scientific minds.
Although strength ruled the seas, where one powerful individual could destroy an entire nation, technology was also very important in this vast sea.
Didn't even the powerful World Government, which controlled the entire sea, place a great emphasis on science?
It's easy to imagine~
Unfortunately, the World Government's scientific research mainly focused on weapons—figuring out how to destroy an island and eliminate the insects beneath it faster and more efficiently.
Because of that, even the world's number one scientist, Vegapunk—who originally wanted to change the world with science—was forced to research terrifying weapons of death under the coercion and inducement of the World Government.
As for this number one scientist, Dante was also quite envious. But unfortunately, stealing—no, recruiting—him was far too difficult.
There were just too few scientists on this sea. Those who were capable either had their own factions or had been taken by the World Government. Finding a brilliant, freelance scientist was nearly impossible.
The more he thought about it, the more Dante craved it. He sighed, shook his head, and seemed to remember there was something more important today. He turned to Robin and asked, "What about those three Marines? How were they arranged? I asked Mok to host them last night—there weren't any problems, right?"
Thinking about it now… he really should've had Udo entertain them. Compared to that big fool Mok, Udo was much sharper, and since they were Marines, Udo would've been more suitable.
However—
Just as he finished speaking—
"P-Pretty well." Robin, who was reading, didn't look up, but her expression was a little odd. "I don't think there were any problems."
"You don't look like nothing happened." Just seeing Robin's expression, Dante rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Don't tell me that guy Mok stirred up trouble again? Didn't I tell him to entertain them properly?"
"No~, I think Mok did host them properly." This time Robin did look up, but her tone remained strange. "According to the message from over there, they seemed to enjoy themselves quite a bit—probably very satisfied."
"Enjoy?" Catching the strange tone in her voice, Dante frowned. "It was already late when they left last night. Where did they go to rest?"
"Red Romance."
"…"
…
"How was it? It's pretty comfortable here, right~?" Mok sidled up to Smoker with a lewd grin on his rugged face, giving him a knowing look that all men understood. He bumped him with his big frame and said, "Whenever I'm too tired, I just come here to relax a bit—feels amazing."
As the words fell—
"…"
Smoker, standing nearby, looked at that sleazy grin and immediately darkened. "I didn't do anything. A pirate's a pirate—don't give me that disgusting look."
"What are you talking about? Didn't we soak in the hot spring, get a massage, and have our feet rubbed last night?" Mok was baffled by Smoker's sudden anger. Last night, he'd seemed to be enjoying himself just fine!
He'd thought they were already friends—why the mood change now?
Scratching his head, he asked in confusion, "What else did you want to do?"
Smoker: …
I didn't want to do anything!
He suddenly didn't even know how to respond.
But then Mok turned his head, looking curiously at the blushing Tashigi. "What? Is this place not good? How did it feel for you last night—was it comfortable?"
"V-Very comfortable!" Tashigi blushed hard and lowered her head, seemingly a bit embarrassed. "I also soaked in the hot spring, got a massage, and had my feet rubbed."
Men and women were separated. Though they had only bathed, gotten massages, and had their feet rubbed, for some reason it still felt kind of strange.
This clearly wasn't that kind of place.
But thinking back to those women last night, dressed in seductive clothing, every move filled with allure—combined with the lighting inside…
She is a Marine Master Chief Petty Officer!
So embarrassing~
Tashigi's face turned even redder.
"I-It was still quite relaxing and soothing."
"What about Vice Admiral Garp?"
"Hahaha, it is quite interesting. Who'd have thought there'd be a place like this in the East Blue?" Unlike the dark-faced Smoker and the bashful Tashigi, Garp let out a hearty laugh. "We should let Sengoku come and relax too. That guy is just too stressed—that's why he has a stinky face all the time."
However—
Facing his subordinate and the Marine Hero's impressions, Smoker's face turned even darker, shifting from black to green.
They were supposed to be righteous Marines~
And they came to a place like this with pirates—for foot massages?
What kind of justice was this supposed to be?
"Shut up!" Smoker removed the cigar from his mouth and said coldly, "Since this matter has been resolved, it's time for us to leave."
As he said this, he shot a glance at Mok.
"If I ever find out you've done something bad, I'll arrest both you and your Boss."
With that said, he turned around without hesitation and began heading downstairs. But just as he was about to walk out the front door—
Suddenly.
"Bang bang~"
A series of loud noises rang out.
Just as Smoker thought it was gunfire and they were under attack—
"Congratulations to our three honored guests!" A pot-bellied man who seemed to be the owner walked over with a beaming smile, stepping through the burst of confetti. "Last night, you were our 88th customers. Congratulations on winning the Red Romance VIP Card! As long as you spend at Red Romance, you'll enjoy a 20% discount, plus a free deluxe fruit platter. And if it's your birthday, Red Romance will personally celebrate it for you~."
Before Smoker could react, a card was stuffed into his, Tashigi's, and Garp's hands.
"???"
Red Romance VIP Card?
What the hell?
He, a dignified Captain of the Marine Headquarters, how could he possibly come to a place like this?
Just as he was about to refuse, it was already too late. After the owner stuffed the cards into their hands, a few clicking sounds followed—as if someone was holding a camera Den Den Mushi and snapping several photos of them. In the blink of an eye, the people around them vanished.
Leaving only the three of them holding their cards—and the confetti scattered all over the ground.
"Dante Shacher…" Smoker's face darkened further, as if he had just realized something.
That guy—was he trying to drag him down with him?
Clenching the card tightly, just as he was about to hurl it back to make it clear that he, Smoker, stood for justice as a Marine—
He suddenly noticed...
"Vice Admiral Garp, what are you doing?" Smoker looked on in disbelief at the smiling Garp, who was happily stuffing the card into his pocket—and at Tashigi, who was carefully and sneakily tucking hers into her coat.
"We're Marines!"
"Oh~ this is a gift from that kid Dante, isn't it?"
"Sorry, I almost forgot. Captain Smoker, I was actually going to hand it over to you."
"…"
Smoker stared speechlessly at Tashigi as she held out the card, then glanced at Garp, who was now picking his nose and acting like nothing had happened. His expression turned blue and black by turns. In the end, he bent the card in his hand and shouted in frustration, "Let's go back!"
With that, he didn't hesitate any longer and turned to stride out.
…
Soon after.
Urged by Smoker, the reluctant Mok, who had wanted to stay a few more days, could only helplessly set sail on the pirate ship to send them off.
"Come again soon!"
Dante had also come to the pier specially to see them off, watching the Mok Pirates' ship drift farther and farther away. He enthusiastically and a bit reluctantly waved to them.
However…
"Did they not have fun last night?" Dante looked at Smoker, who was standing on the deck glaring at him with a dark face. He furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin in confusion, muttering, "Why does Captain Smoker's face look a little black?"
Was it because they hadn't been entertained properly?
Didn't Robin say they'd had a great time?
At that moment—
"Heeheehee~ Come again next time~"
Nami, who had been gone the entire night, finally returned. She cheerfully waved as well.
"Forget it, they've left anyway." Dante turned to look at Nami beside him. "Where did you go last night? Mok said he didn't see you at all."
He finished speaking—
"Hehehe~" A mischievous smile spread across Nami's face as she blinked playfully. "Nothing much, I just gave them a little gift."
"A gift? What gift?"
"A Red Romance VIP card."
"???"