The next day.
Now that the crisis had been averted, Dande wasn't in any rush to head back to the 16th Branch. He decided to wait until Smoker and the others had officially departed before making his move; after all, Cocoyasi Town was only a short trip from the base.
Having unexpectedly resolved a massive headache, Dande had slept like a log. By the time he finished his morning routine and stepped into the office, it was nearly noon.
He found Miss Robin already seated by the window, engrossed in a book. It wasn't surprising—she was a scholar who had passed the doctoral exam with a perfect score at age eight.
In the time she had been with him in the East Blue, her routine rarely changed: whenever she had a spare moment, she would brew a pot of tea and lose herself in literature.
Dande picked up a stack of documents from his desk—likely the reports submitted by Mayor Nojiko earlier that morning.
He scanned them quickly. They detailed the resettlement of the refugees from the previous night. In just a few hours, the town's administration had processed everyone. Dande wasn't surprised; his people had become experts at this over the years.
However, he felt a twinge of disappointment. Looking through the talent profiles, there were no "gems." While there was a man named Pick who was skilled in leatherworking and armor-crafting, Dande was desperate for architects, shipwrights, or even low-level combatants. Most of all, he craved scientific talent.
In this world, individual strength could topple nations, but technology was the force that sustained empires. Even the World Government, with its overwhelming power, prioritized the research of the "First Scientist," Vegapunk.
If only I could 'recruit' Vegapunk, Dande thought wistfully. But the world's greatest mind was under heavy guard.
Wild scientists were a rare breed—the capable ones were either already heading their own organizations or were locked in Government labs.
Dande sighed, shaking off his daydreams. He looked over at Robin. "How are the three Marines? Did Moke handle the hospitality alright last night? No incidents?"
Thinking back, he realized Udo might have been a better choice. Udo was a Marine himself and much more tactful than the brawny Moke.
"They are... doing quite well," Robin replied. She didn't look up from her book, but her voice held a strange, strained quality. "There were no 'accidents,' per se."
Dande rubbed his temples. "Your tone says otherwise. Did Moke do something stupid? I told him to treat them like royalty."
"Oh, he did," Robin said, finally looking up with a look of pure, filtered amusement. "According to the reports, they seemed to be... enjoying themselves. Quite thoroughly."
"Enjoying themselves?" Dande's brow furrowed. "Where did they stay? It was late when we finished."
"The Red Romance."
"..."
"How about it? Comfortable, right?" Moke leaned in close to Smoker, his rugged face wearing a "man-to-man" grin. He nudged the Captain with a massive shoulder. "Whenever I'm exhausted from a voyage, I come here. It clears the mind right up."
Smoker stared at Moke's lecherous grin, his face darkening. "I didn't do anything. A pirate is a pirate—stop looking at me with that disgusting expression."
"What's your problem? We soaked in the hot springs, got massages, and had a foot rub!" Moke scratched his head, genuinely confused. Smoker had looked so relaxed last night; why was he suddenly fuming again? "What else did you want to do?"
Smoker: "..." He wanted to do nothing. He didn't even know how to respond to that level of density.
Moke then turned to a beet-red Tashigi. "And you? How was it? Was it comfortable?"
"It... it was... fine!" Tashigi stammered, looking at her boots. "I just... the hot spring was nice. And the massage. And the feet..."
She had been in the women's section, and while it was a perfectly legitimate spa service, the atmosphere—the sexy uniforms of the staff, the dim neon lighting—had left her feeling completely scandalized. She was a Petty Officer of the Navy! This was... highly embarrassing!
"It was very... relaxing," she managed to squeak out.
"And Vice-Admiral Garp?"
"Gahaha! Marvelous! I didn't think the East Blue had a place like this," Garp laughed heartily. "I should bring Sengoku here. That guy is way too high-strung; that's why he's always so grumpy."
Smoker's face went from black to purple. We are the Marines of Justice! We just had a group foot rub with a pirate!
"Shut up!" Smoker barked, biting down on his cigars. "The matter is settled. We are leaving. Now." He shot a warning glare at Moke. "If I find out you've touched a single hair on a civilian's head, I'm coming back for both you and your Boss."
He turned on his heel to exit the building, but before he could reach the door—
POP! POP!
Smoker flinched, his hand flying to his Jitte, thinking they were under fire.
"Congratulations to our distinguished guests!" A portly man—the manager—marched forward through a cloud of confetti. "You three were our 88th customers of the month! As a reward, you are now official Red Romance Senior VIPs!"
Before Smoker could process what was happening, the manager shoved a shiny card into the hands of Smoker, Tashigi, and Garp.
"Our VIP cards grant you a 20% discount on all services, a free Supreme Deluxe Fruit Platter on every visit, and a personalized birthday celebration hosted by our staff!"
Click-clack! A photographer Den Den Mushi flashed nearby, capturing a perfect shot of the three Marines holding their new membership cards. Before Smoker could shout, the manager and the photographer vanished back into the building like ghosts.
Smoker stood there, clutching the card, his body trembling with rage. Dandé Dande... that bastard...
He realized it now. This was a trap to ensure they were "in on it." He prepared to throw the card into the dirt to prove his incorruptible Justice—
"Vice-Admiral Garp! What are you doing?!" Smoker screamed. Garp was happily tucking the card into his pocket. Then he looked at Tashigi, who was nervously trying to hide hers in her coat. "Tashigi! We are Marines!"
"Arara, it's a gift from the kid," Garp shrugged.
"I... I'm sorry, Captain! I was actually going to... give it to you to hold?" Tashigi offered weakly.
"..."
Smoker looked at his subordinate, then at the nose-picking Garp. He squeezed his own card so hard it began to bend. "Back to the ship! NOW!"
A short while later, Moke (under Smoker's constant threats) steered the pirate ship away from the dock.
"Come back soon~!"
Dande stood on the pier, waving enthusiastically at the departing vessel.
"Did they have a bad time?" Dande wondered aloud, scratching his chin as he watched Smoker glaring at him from the deck. "Captain Smoker looks even grumpier than when he arrived. Was the service not up to par? Robin said they enjoyed it."
At that moment, Nami, who had been missing all night, popped up beside him, waving her hands just as cheerfully. "Hehehe! Hope they come back soon!"
"Where were you?" Dande asked. "Moke said he didn't see you all night."
"Heh." Nami winked mischievously. "I was just making sure their 'gifts' were delivered properly. I even made sure to get a photo for the town's 'Distinguished Guests' wall."
"Gifts? You mean the VIP cards?"
"Yep! And the photo of them accepting the cards. It's already being framed."
"???"
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