Inside the tavern, after Luke and Luffy left, a new wave of commotion erupted. Besides discussing Luke’s changes, there were also the girls’ mockery toward Lila.
No words were even necessary – just contemptuous and disdainful glances were enough to make her run out blushing. Sneaking away plus failing to hook up would indeed result in such treatment.
When the excitement faded and the tavern crowd dispersed, everyone returning to their homes, Makino’s calm smiling face finally relaxed.
“Smiling at customers like this every day is really exhausting.”
Makino sighed, washed the last glass and placed it in the cabinet, then walked over to Aunt Erin and asked quietly.
“You saw it earlier too, what do you think?”
Aunt Erin was about fifty years old. Though somewhat aged, her features still faintly revealed the stunning beauty that had once captivated people.
Her experiences were quite legendary – in her youth, she had been a Female Sea King who roamed the seas, leaving romantic entanglements everywhere that drove countless men to compete for her affection. Eventually tiring of the obsessive attachments, she came to the remote little village of Windmill to escape the world.
“Both his figure and face are quite good, strong waist and abdomen, well-proportioned physique, probably good in bed, and full of vitality – he’s a Virgin Boy.” Aunt Erin accurately described the details after thinking for a few seconds.
“You can even tell that?” Makino was somewhat surprised.
Aunt Erin sneered, revealing a proud smile. “How many men do you think I’ve seen in my youth? I’ve encountered more men than you’ve eaten grilled sausages.”
Makino: “…”
That’s a bit disgusting. Might remove grilled sausages from the snack menu.
Aunt Erin thought for another moment and said, “However, such fine goods are indeed rare. If I were twenty years younger, I’d have to trick him at least eight times a day.”
“…Then, what about his character?”
“Without a doubt, he’s already a scumbag.”
This time Aunt Erin spoke decisively, without the slightest hesitation.
Makino: “…”
Can scumbag and virgin exist in the same identity?
Aunt Erin clearly saw her confusion. “From your description, this man probably wanted to settle down sincerely with you a year ago. But now… I can only say that regardless of gender, when someone has substantial capital and can attract the opposite sex, wanting to live a steady life becomes difficult.”
“As for why he’s still a Virgin Boy now, that’s easy to understand too. You said he went to the dojo to learn swordsmanship, so naturally he’d be surrounded by men. Now that he’s back and right in front of you, he naturally can’t be led away by other women.”
“The question is what you think?”
“What do I think?” Makino’s eyes flickered slightly.
She didn’t know what she thought either. There weren’t many good men in Windmill Village to begin with. Luke was decent-looking and quite wealthy. Back when he specifically came to work at the tavern and helped her with various chores, she had actually been somewhat interested.
But then this damn man flirted halfway only to suddenly announce he was going to Shimotsuki Dojo to learn swordsmanship, making her so angry while having to pretend everything was fine during their farewell.
This unresolved feeling left her extremely dissatisfied, to the point that even when Luke returned with a completely different attitude and tried to win her over, she still paid him no attention.
However, how could she not care at all about a man with whom she had some emotional foundation and who had now become so outstanding?
When Lila rushed forward, she had actually cursed “bitch” in her heart.
Angry, but she had to keep smiling.
After all, they weren’t in any official relationship now—what right did she have to stop others from hitting on Luke?
Fortunately, that dog of a man still knew his place!
Aunt Erin glanced at Makino. “When people of unequal status get together, one side is bound to make sacrifices. He has feelings for you, but I wouldn’t call him particularly loyal. If you’re just playing around, this man could be a perfect lover. But if you’re serious, unless you can tolerate him having other women, you’d better not be with him.”
“I would never allow my man to have other women,” Makino replied succinctly and firmly. “Is there any good way to make him more obedient?”
“There is,” Aunt Erin said slowly, lighting a cigarette and placing it between her lips. “Just spar with him every day until he’s completely exhausted. But don’t blame me for being blunt—with his physique, even ten of you together might not be his match.”
“…” Makino fell silent for a moment, feeling both embarrassed and disappointed. She turned to leave.
“Forget it, let’s just remain ordinary friends.”
Aunt Erin shook her head. If she really wanted to be just ordinary friends, why would she even ask for solutions? It was just that she couldn’t get past her own mental barrier.
Love…
A trace of nostalgia flickered in the eyes of this former Female Sea King. She sighed, shook her head, and stomped out the cigarette she had thrown on the ground.
It’s all bullshit.
She had long since defected from being a Pure Love Warrior to joining the NTR camp.
NTR is the future!
Makino was still too young, too caught up in traditional gender roles.
The way to deal with a bad man is to be even worse than him. Not to mention Luke is still a Virgin Boy right now—even if he really had other women, she could always position herself as the NTR party.
“Sir, I’m sure you wouldn’t want your wife to know…”
This was a move she often used when she was younger, and frankly, it worked quite well.
No man dislikes being pursued by a beautiful girl!
…
When Luke arrived at Luffy’s house, the first person he met wasn’t Garp, but Curly Dadan, Luffy and Ace’s foster mother.
She had a broad build, with orange curly hair tied back, golden earrings dangling from her ears, a cigarette in her mouth, a white shirt paired with dark green checkered trousers, and a red beaded necklace around her neck.
“Oh, looking for Garp? That old man’s fishing for crocodiles in the back mountain,” Dadan said, taking a deep drag from her cigarette and frowning at Luffy. “Hey Luffy, don’t tell me you went looking for the Lord of the Near Sea again.”
“Nope, I found Luke coming back before I even reached the shore today,” Luffy said, rocking back and forth on a stool. “But I’ll keep trying tomorrow.”
“Hey, you should talk some sense into him too. This kid keeps saying he’s going to defeat the Lord of the Near Sea and then go out to sea to become a pirate,” Dadan said disdainfully. “Who knows, he might end up dead out there someday.”
What Gon Freecss behavior.
“I won’t die,” Luffy said seriously.
Luke smiled. “I don’t think Luffy will die either. Who knows, he might even become the Pirate King.”
“Hmph, it’s because you people keep saying things like that in front of him all day that he doesn’t understand how dangerous the outside world is.” Dadan snorted and waved her hand, “Whatever, it’d be best if that brat died out there. Then Garp wouldn’t be able to blame me.”
This foster mother could be called the epitome of someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
You’d be more convincing if you hadn’t been crying while punching Garp when Ace died, Luke silently mocked as he stood up.
“Then I’ll go visit Vice Admiral Garp. Farewell.”
Luffy waved cheerfully, “I won’t go with you. If Grandpa sees me, he’ll just keep nagging me about joining the Marines.”
…
The terrain behind Windmill Village was rugged, with faint mist lingering year-round. Plants grew like mutated monsters, and various fierce beasts roamed about. It could be said that it was quite impressive that young Ace and Luffy could pass through this area to reach the terminal garbage dump.
At the edge of a pond, Luke spotted the white-haired old man. He sat quietly by the water’s edge, surrounded by several crocodiles five to six meters long – though in the world of the Pirate King, these might be considered small crocodiles.
The Navy Hero, Iron Fist Garp, one of the world’s top-tier powerhouses.
Suppressing his nervousness, Luke approached and opened with his trump card.
“Grandpa Garp, I’ve come to see you.”
Just with that “Grandpa” suffix, this old man Garp better give me super multiplied drop rates!