"No, no, no, you're too polite! I should be the one thanking you, the Marines," the middle-aged gentleman said with a chuckle, waving his hand to dismiss their apology.
"If you do meet Vice Admiral Luffy, please pass along my regards. Thanks to him, we have such a prosperous business environment on Onigashima. Small merchants like me can make a living and support our families thanks to his efforts."
As he spoke, he removed his hat and bowed slightly, a gesture of respect towards the two young men.
Seeing this, the blond Marine instinctively removed his hat as well, returning the greeting in kind. Meanwhile, the black-haired Marine enthusiastically pounded his chest and responded without hesitation:
"Of course! We'll definitely pass on your message!"
With that, there was no further exchange between the two parties. The two young men bid the couple farewell before eagerly rushing into the restaurant.
The middle-aged gentleman watched their retreating figures, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment, he turned to his wife and asked,
"Did you notice? There's something different about those two young men."
The lady nodded in agreement, tapping her chin in contemplation before remarking,
"Rather than calling them 'different,' I'd say they seem… familiar, in a way. Especially that blond young man. Despite wearing a Marine uniform, his mannerisms were unmistakably noble."
She paused, then added, "And the black-haired one—though a bit eccentric—was also very polite and well-mannered."
The middle-aged gentleman nodded in understanding. As someone who had done business with nobles before, he was well aware of their distinct demeanor. The blond young man carried himself exactly like the noble he had encountered in various noble districts.
The difference, however, was that this young man was polite—both outwardly and in his tone, something rare among nobility.
Thinking of this, the gentleman couldn't help but chuckle.
"Haha, it's reassuring to know that outstanding young people like them are joining the Marines. Thanks to them, we can conduct business peacefully, even in this dangerous New World."
With that, he stretched his arms and smiled.
"Come on, let's take a walk and see what else we can find. There's no harm in buying a few more things—after all, contributing to the tax revenue is never a bad idea."
The lady giggled, covering her mouth as she teasingly linked arms with him.
"In that case, why not donate the money directly to the Marines? Maybe Vice Admiral Luffy will personally thank you for your generosity."
The gentleman let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha! You're joking again. Given how Wano Country and Onigashima are flourishing, I highly doubt Vice Admiral Luffy would be interested in my meager contributions. Even if I donated 800 or 900 million berries, I doubt I'd even get the chance to meet him."
He shook his head with a smile before continuing, "The best way to show our gratitude is to simply follow the laws set by the Marines. That alone is enough."
The couple walked away, chatting and laughing, their figures gradually blending into the bustling crowd.
To them, this conversation was nothing more than idle banter between husband and wife.
But for certain individuals, it meant something entirely different.
Inside the Restaurant
On the fourth floor of the luxurious restaurant, behind a slightly ajar curtain, Luffy sat at a grand table—his arms crossed, his expression blank as he stared off into space.
His fingers tapped idly against the wooden surface as he muttered to himself:
"Uncle, don't underestimate me like that…"
His eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Forget 800 or 900 million—you could donate just 100 million, and I'd personally send you a handwritten certificate of appreciation! I'm really broke right now!!!"
That's right—Luffy, the infamous eavesdropper, had once again overheard a conversation that wasn't meant for him.
His original target had been someone else, but in the process, he stumbled upon a wealthy businessman who had a favorable impression of the Marines.
Luffy had already memorized his aura and planned to track him down later.
From their conversation, the middle-aged gentleman had repeatedly claimed to be an 'ordinary businessman.' But Luffy wasn't fooled. Anyone who casually mentioned donating 800 to 900 million berries was far from ordinary.
"If possible," Luffy mused, rubbing his chin, "I should seek out more merchants like him for partnerships…"
Whether it was computers or other high-tech goods, he needed strong businessmen to help expand trade channels quickly.
A businessman like this—loyal to the Marines and financially capable—was the perfect candidate.
Of course, business could wait.
What concerned Luffy most right now were the two young men he had unexpectedly encountered.
Their sudden appearance in his territory had caught him off guard.
"Why are they here?" he muttered, deep in thought.
"Luffy! Luffy!!"
A frustrated voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Gion waved a hand in front of his face, frowning when she saw his dazed expression. Annoyed, she reached out and yanked his cheek.
"Hey! Can you at least listen to me when I'm talking?! What are you thinking about—your lover again?"
Luffy, now pulled from his thoughts, swatted her hand away in irritation. He then smirked mischievously and casually leaned back.
"Maybe I was thinking about Hina. Or Hnacock. Or Nami. Or Koala," he said lazily. Then, with a cheeky grin, he added, "But I definitely wasn't thinking about you."
"You—!"
Gion flared with rage.
She had come all this way to meet him, even taking the initiative to visit him in his private quarters.
Yet this bastard wasn't even paying attention to her complaints and had the audacity to tease her about other women.
Her blood boiled.
Her fists clenched.
She lunged forward, ready to sink her teeth into him out of sheer frustration.
But just as she moved in, Luffy deftly pinched her lips shut—with a pair of chopsticks.
"Woo woo woo!"
Gion flailed in protest, making muffled noises, her hands clenching in fury.
Across the table, three other figures burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Among them, Kujaku—a Marine officer and fellow female warrior—watched the scene unfold with amusement. She had come to Onigashima for business, yet she found herself thoroughly entertained by Luffy's antics.
Watching Gion crumble so easily in Luffy's hands was truly hilarious.
The three women laughed mercilessly, their chuckles filling the private dining room.
And as Luffy continued to hold Gion at bay with the chopsticks, a smug smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
After all, teasing Gion was just too much fun.
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New fanfic :
Marvel : The God Of Punishment System
I Am Raditz
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