"A glass of vodka!"
Nia tossed a few banknotes onto the bar, then propped her chin on one hand, half-lying languidly against the counter.
"How about we have a couple of drinks together, beautiful lady!"
Drawn by Nia's allure, a man settled onto the stool next to her, striking a pose he likely considered debonair, and spoke in a deliberately deepened voice. Then, after catching Nia's gaze, he casually produced several large-denomination bills from his wallet and handed them to the owner behind the bar.
"Please open a bottle of Stein's red wine for me, but it must be from the Migio Winery. Their red wine has a light sweetness with a hint of robust spiciness, much like the beautiful lady before me."
"I'm sorry, sir. We don't carry that particular wine here."
"What about Stefan's white wine? Although it has a slightly green taste, it could still be considered a decent pairing."
"Sorry, no."
"Just vodka is fine. When drinking, the most important thing is never the alcohol, but the company."
Nia regarded the man before her with interest.
There were noticeable calluses on his palms and the base of his hands, indicating substantial training in spearmanship and swordsmanship. Judging by his gait, he had likely also undergone systematic physical conditioning.
Navy? Or a government intelligence officer? Probably not. A government agent should be more refined than this.
But it wasn't important.
"It sounds like you've sampled quite a few wines. I haven't heard of any of the ones you mentioned."
"No, no, it's just that I'm a lieutenant commander at the Navy Headquarters, so I have a bit more experience."
The man feigned nonchalance as he spoke, subtly emphasizing the words "Navy Headquarters."
"Lieutenant Commander of the Navy Headquarters, that's truly impressive. I've heard that the Navy Headquarters is located on the Grand Line. You must have experienced many wondrous journeys."
"Of course. The tales I've lived through are beyond the imagination of a girl like you. Especially on the Grand Line, there are countless things you wouldn't even dare to dream of."
Seeing the woman opposite him taking the bait, a barely perceptible flicker of satisfaction crossed the lieutenant commander's eyes.
Sure enough, as long as he revealed his rank as a lieutenant commander at the Navy Headquarters, few women could resist him, especially those from the backwaters of the North Sea. If he simply recounted some common knowledge about the Grand Line, they would exclaim in amazement, and then they would deeply admire him for having traveled those perilous seas. As for what came next...
Coming to the North Sea with the team this time was a wise decision.
Thinking this, the lieutenant commander raised his glass and clinked it against the woman's, launching into a vivid retelling of a story he had recounted countless times before.
"Doesn't sound like anything special."
Watching Nia chat and laugh with the unknown naval lieutenant, Rhodes felt a touch of disappointment. He had anticipated her being a more intriguing individual.
But if she merely used her looks to gather intelligence, it was far too commonplace.
"Then you might be mistaken, Rod."
Nelu calmly observed the unfolding farce at the bar, his expression remaining placid.
Because she was merely a figure from the North Sea who might warrant some attention, Nelu hadn't described her in detail in his notes. However, based on his prior knowledge, Catwoman Nia was no simple character.
The reason this woman was called Catwoman was primarily due to her unpredictable temper, much like a feline. "Really? You keep repeating the same few phrases over and over. My ears are practically calloused from hearing them. Tell me, is your head filled with seawater, or is it brimming with all the so-called fine wines you mentioned?"
As they spoke, the situation at the bar seemed to shift. Nia downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, waved her hand dismissively, and cut off the lieutenant's words.
"I thought I'd hear something interesting from you, but all you've said is nonsense. It's true I've never been to the Grand Line, but could a guy like you slay a Sea King that can swallow a warship whole with a single sword?"
"How boring! I have no interest in men who spout empty words. Get lost and don't ruin my mood for drinking. If you stay beside me any longer, I'm afraid I'll vomit up what I've already drunk."
"You!"
The lieutenant commander's face flushed crimson instantly. Although he had embellished his story somewhat and attributed many of the sights and sounds he'd encountered to his own exploits, this woman was truly going too far with such merciless words.
"Forget it, I'll just leave."
Seeing the lieutenant commander standing there in a daze, Nia took another glass of wine offered by the boss, slapped a few bills on the table, stood up, and walked towards the corner.
Compared to the navy idiot in front of him, the two red-haired guys over there seemed far more interesting.
"Bastard!"
The enraged naval lieutenant grabbed Nia's wrist, his eyes blazing with anger.
"I say, if sweet-talking doesn't work, just resort to direct action. A man like you is truly pathetic. Can someone like you even be called a navy carrying the banner of 'Justice'?"
"Hateful!"
The lieutenant commander was livid. The gazes from everyone in the tavern seemed to mock him. He seized Nia's hand and yanked it forcefully, attempting to pull her closer. Simultaneously, he raised his other hand high, aiming a slap at the face that had moments before captivated him.
Bang—!
Nia swiftly countered, grabbing the navy lieutenant's arm with a backhand and executing a beautiful shoulder throw. The navy lieutenant felt a wave of dizziness before his back slammed heavily onto the ground.
"What a dreadful man."
Looking down at the Marine lieutenant sprawled on the floor, a hint of derision played on Nia's lips. Then, she dismissed him from her attention and continued walking towards Rhode's table.
And just as she turned away, the naval lieutenant, who had been knocked down by her, sprang back to his feet. A fierce look flashed in his eyes as he swung a punch with all his might towards Nia's head.
Since she attacked me, a lieutenant commander at the Navy Headquarters, there's no need for caution, and I can completely regard this woman as a pirate!
The lieutenant commander seemed to already envision Nia being felled by his punch, begging for mercy.
The next moment, all he saw was a pair of straight, long legs.
Boom!!
Nia spun around suddenly, raising her long legs high before slamming them down with brutal force, striking the lieutenant commander's head squarely. The immense impact knocked him down instantly, his head making violent contact with the ground.
"Tsk, I already told you I'm not interested in you anymore. Men who keep pestering me are so annoying!"
Glancing at the unconscious navy officer, Nia nudged him with her shoe, then bent down to pick up the fallen wallet. She extracted a few bills and stuffed them into her own pockets before tossing the wallet back to the boss.
"Take the repair costs from here, and get me a few drinks."
(End of this chapter)