“What?
We’re not children.” Nami puffed out her cheeks.
“Exactly.
We’re not little anymore.” Nojiko said as she reached out to grab the wine cup from Zhuyun’s hand.
“Only children say they’re not children.”
Zhuyun held Nojiko’s head back with one hand, keeping her from reaching the wine.
“Children should drink some juice instead.”
Zhuyun put down his wine cup, picked up Nami and Nojiko, and placed a glass of fruit juice in each of their hands.
“Th-thank you.”
Being held so closely by Zhuyun, both Nojiko and Nami blushed.
It was the first time they had ever been this close to a man.
“Haha, look at Nojiko and Nami blushing.” Bellemere found their reactions amusing.
“Do you two like big brothers?
Should I marry you off to him?”
“Bellemere, stop teasing me!”
Nami, still lying in Zhuyun’s arms, waved her hands at Bellemere.
“I-I’m willing.”
Nojiko answered quietly, her entire neck already flushed red with embarrassment.
“Eh?”
Bellemere froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“All right!
If Zhuyun agrees, hahaha!”
“I’m willing too!”
Nami quickly voiced her agreement.
“All right, all right.
You too.” Bellemere laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach.
“You two little girls should grow up a bit more first.” Zhuyun smiled at the two adorable girls.
“You’re still too young right now.
Hahaha.”
The banquet continued.
***
The night passed, and the morning light spread across the land.
After gathering the Arlong Pirates’ wealth and the supplies gifted by the villagers, Zhuyun and the others arrived at the harbor.
Drake had already summoned the Golden Hind there beforehand.
With the Arlong Pirates dealt with, Zhuyun was ready to head toward their next destination.
“Goodbye, big brother.”
Nojiko stood before Zhuyun with tears in her eyes as she said goodbye.
“Big brother, once I’ve learned everything in my navigation books, I’ll come find you.”
Nami was equally reluctant to part.
“The sea is dangerous.
Focus on becoming stronger first.”
Zhuyun shook his head and boarded the Golden Hind with his companions.
“Then, let’s set sail, Captain Drake.”
“Of course, Master.
Golden Hind, set sail.”
***
Out at sea, not far from Cocoyasi Village, a Marine warship was slowly making its way toward the village.
“Colonel Nezumi, are we really going to find the Arlong Pirates?
They’re pirates, after all.”
A Marine officer approached Colonel Nezumi from behind.
“Hm?”
Nezumi turned around.
“Soldier, I’m your commanding officer, am I not?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Since you know I’m your superior, then obey my orders.
Understood?”
“Yes!”
“Report!
There’s a pirate ship ahead!”
The lookout spotted the Golden Hind and immediately reported it to Colonel Nezumi.
“Hmm?
Which pirate crew?”
“Report, Colonel Nezumi.
It’s an unfamiliar pirate ship.
It may belong to a newly established pirate crew.”
“If that’s the case, they probably aren’t very powerful.
All hands, sink them.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Master, there’s a warship ahead.” Drake gazed at the Marine vessel in the distance.
“And it looks like they’re preparing to fire on us.”
“Oh, really?”
Zhuyun looked toward the warship.
“Heh.
That Marine should be Colonel Nezumi.
Since we’ve run into him, it’s just his bad luck.”
“Drake, since they intend to attack us, sink them.
And pay special attention to Colonel Nezumi.”
“As you command, Master.”
Drake removed her hat and bowed to Zhuyun.
“Then, Marines, prepare yourselves to witness the cannons of my Golden Hind!”
“BOOM!”
“Bang!”
Poor Colonel Nezumi had barely given the order to fire when the Golden Hind’s laser beams were already upon him.
The lasers pierced straight through the warship’s hull.
The warship sank without firing a single shot, while Colonel Nezumi, who had received Zhuyun’s “special attention,” was blasted into nothing.
“Let’s go, Drake.
Leave the remaining Marines alone.”
Zhuyun withdrew his gaze from the Marines.
“This is perfect.
They’ll help us make a name for ourselves.
It’s time for us to enter the world’s attention.”
***
“Boro boro.”
“Click!”
“This is Marine Headquarters.”
“Report.
This is a report from Marine Branch 16.
Our ship was just sunk, and Colonel Nezumi is confirmed dead in action.”
“What?
Who did it?”
“A group of rookie pirates.
The golden lasers fired from their ship were impossible for us to resist.
We were defeated instantly.
Their captain appears to be a red-haired woman wearing a captain’s hat.
We took photographs of their group and have already sent them to Headquarters.”
“Understood.
I’ll organize the information and report it to the higher-ups immediately.”
“Click!”
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, the communications officer hurriedly went to report to his superior.
***
“Hey, Drake, you’ve got a bounty!”
Zhuyun excitedly ran over to Drake, holding up the wanted poster that had just been dropped by the News Coo.
“Fifty million Berries!
How evil of you, Drake.
You got a fifty-million-Berry bounty right away.
None of the rest of us have one.”
“Look!
It says here that you’re vicious and ruthless, and that your ship possesses tremendous destructive power and can fire lasers.”
“Hahaha, the Marines actually made me look quite good.
I should thank them.”
Drake happily took the wanted poster.
“Master, I have a bounty now.
Shouldn’t we hold another banquet?”