Chapter 186
After helping out at Baratie and confirming everything was in order, Dante left, not wanting to disturb the busy cooks any longer.
Though the party was still some time away, the turnout this year was massive, and the workload at Baratie was considerable.
Meanwhile.
As time passed, the invited guests began to arrive one after another.
"It’s so lively here!" Chopper stared in shock, his small blue backpack on his back. "Even busier than the largest city in the Drum Kingdom!"
"Heeheehee!, what’s a city in the Drum Kingdom compared to this?" Kureha laughed, taking a swig of her plum wine. "The sea is full of interesting cities, tiny people like fairies, giants as tall as mountains, and fishmen living under the sea!"
"Really?" Chopper tightened his backpack straps, eyes filled with curiosity. "I really want to see them!"
"Traveling a bit when you’re young is a good experience!" Kureha nodded with a smile, then looked around. "Though that captain, with his cruel and erratic ways, certainly has skills, managing to build his territory into this."
The sea was beautiful and full of wonders, but it was also cruel.
But there was no need to tell her foolish son, who still had dreams, about such cruel things now. She took another large gulp of plum wine and smiled as she watched the bustling pier. "Looks like we came to the right place. This trip might be quite interesting."
They had entered the East Blue on a royal ship from the Drum Kingdom.
Though Wapol had been arrested, the Drum Kingdom had elected a new king, the current ruler was Dalton, Wapol’s former guard. That man was quite capable.
Still, what they found in the East Blue surprised them.
Just then.
As the two looked around curiously.
"Wow, so cute! It can talk too? Is it a tanuki?"
A curious voice called out. Chopper, hearing this, knew immediately the woman was referring to him. He turned around in anger. "I-I’m not a tanuki! I’m a reindeer! A reindeer!"
"A reindeer?" Hearing Chopper’s angry voice, the woman seemed a bit embarrassed and laughed. "Sorry, sorry!"
However.
Seeing the woman looking at him curiously, Chopper paused and blinked. "Miss Kuina? Don’t you recognize me?"
"Kuina? Do you know Kuina?" Tashigi was surprised at Chopper’s words, then smiled. "I may look like Kuina, but I’m not her!"
"Is that so?" Chopper scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I mistook you for her!"
"Heeheehee, sorry about my stupid son’s rudeness." Kureha, noticing Tashigi as well, smiled. "Are you and Kuina sisters?"
"Probably... not!" Tashigi also laughed awkwardly. "Actually, I’ve been wondering that myself!"
"Really? You do look alike!"
As the two and the reindeer chatted.
Another voice came from behind, sounding impatient. "Petty Officer Tashigi, what are you doing? Hurry up and come back."
Smoker, cigar in mouth, walked over. When he saw Chopper in front of Tashigi, he frowned. "A tanuki?"
"Reindeer! Reindeer!" Chopper, mistaken for a tanuki again, shouted angrily. "I said I’m a reindeer!"
"Whatever! A talking tanuki!"
"..."
’Could this guy even understand him?’
Just as Chopper was getting angry again.
"Tashigi, Chopper, Kureha, you’re all here too?" Another voice called out, sounding somewhat helpless. "Stupid Dad, don’t take Igaram to the Romance Dawn. Neither of you should even think about going there, or I’ll tell Terracotta when we get back!"
After a scoff, she approached, dragging along two dejected-looking men, giggling as she walked.
"Is everyone here this time?"
"Princess Vivi!" the two Marines chorused.
"It’s that little girl from back then!"
Everyone looked at Vivi. Tashigi seemed to realize something and quickly saluted the listless King Cobra. "King Cobra!"
"No need for that." Cobra sighed, waving his hand without energy. "It’s fine if you don’t greet an old man who can’t go to the Romance Dawn and has no spirit!"
At those words.
Several raised an eyebrow, while others stared intensely at King Cobra.
Especially Vivi, her eyelid twitched, and veins bulged on her forehead. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, dad? Please don’t embarrass the Alabasta Kingdom."
After another scoff at Cobra, she turned to Tashigi with a smile. "Were you all invited too?"
Then she added with emotion, "I didn’t expect so many people this time."
"Marine Caption Dante invited us." Tashigi nodded happily, then glanced around with a wry smile. "But... I didn’t expect this many people here today either. It’s lively, no, even livelier than usual!"
"Enough chatting." Smoker, watching the two suddenly start talking, took a drag of his cigar and said impatiently. "We need to go now, Tashigi!"
He had just asked a Marine from the 16th Branch and learned that Vice Admiral Garp had arrived as well.
He flicked the ash from his cigar. "We need to go find that bastard Dante..."
However.
"Looking for me? What’s up?" After leaving Baratie , Dante noticed the commotion and walked over, smiling at the gathered crowd. "Everyone’s here?"
"Caption Dante!"
"Dante!"
"So you’re here too!"
Everyone from Vivi’s group noticed Dante’s arrival and greeted him.
Smoker looked at Dante, frowning. "I heard Vice Admiral Garp arrived?"
"Not just Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Kuzan is here too!" Dante nodded. "You’re probably the last to arrive."
"Admiral Kuzan is here too?" Hearing Dante’s words, both Tashigi and Smoker were stunned. Smoker frowned again and lowered his voice. "What are you planning? Aren’t you worried about being found out?"
"Found out? Found out about what? I’m a law-abiding Marine Captain." Dante looked at Smoker with confusion. "Why would I be afraid of being found out?"
’Could this guy have some shame?’ Smoker looked at Dante speechlessly, about to say something when-
"King Cobra, what’s wrong? Why do you look so listless? By the way, Mock is back too, he’s been talking about you constantly!" Dante glanced at the somewhat spiritless Cobra and smiled. "He’s over at the Romance Dawn right now. There’s still some time before the banquet. Do you want to go rest there first?"
"Really? Mock is back too?" Cobra’s eyes lit up at Dante’s words, but noticing Vivi’s gaze fixed on him, he gave an awkward chuckle. "Never mind, forget it. Actually, Romance Dawn isn’t worth visiting anyway!"
"Is that so? What a shame!" Dante shook his head in frustration, then turned to Smoker. "Admiral Kuzan and Vice Admiral Garp are both at Romance Dawn right now. If you’re looking for them, you can head there first."
"..."
A Marine Admiral and the Hero of the Marines getting foot massages with Mock?
’Was this world going crazy?’ Tashigi and Smoker’s exchanged a look. After a moment, Smoker scoffed. "Hmph, I’ll go see for myself!"
With that, he led Tashigi, who bowed to Dante and said, "Excuse us", toward Romance Dawn.
Watching with amusement, Kureha turned her gaze to Dante. "A Marine Admiral, the Hero of the Marines... your connections are getting more strong, brat!"
She took another large swig of plum wine.
"Forget it, don’t tell me about such troublesome matters. By the way, what is this Romance Dawn place you mentioned? To think that even a Marine Admiral and the Hero of the Marines go there! Sounds like quite a place?"
"Of course! It’s a place where even a Marine Admiral and the Hero of the Marines can’t tear themselves away from!" Dante nodded with a grin, his tone enticing. "Want to try it out?"
"Is that so? Then I’ll give it a try." Kureha didn’t seem to mind. She nodded and looked back at Chopper. "Chopper, come on, let’s go see!"
In an instant, over half the group departed. Only King Cobra remained, watching Vivi with longing eyes alongside Igaram. "Vivi, my beloved daughter..."
"Go ahead! Go ahead!" Seeing her father like this, Vivi could only agree, though she scoffed. "Absolutely no staying overnight, and no betraying Mom’s memory! Igaram, that goes for you too, don’t betray Terracotta!"
"Don’t worry, we’re just going for a foot massage. We won’t do anything reckless. I’ll keep an eye on Igaram!"
Hearing Vivi finally relent, Cobra’s eyes lit up. Without waiting for Vivi to say anything more, he turned without hesitation and led Igaram away.
Seeing how happy he looked, Vivi shook her head. "Dad..."
"King Cobra is certainly full of energy!" Dante said with a smile. "Let him relax tonight!"
"Fine, I’ll listen to you. Let Dad and Igaram have a good time today!"
"By the way, there’s still some time before the party starts. I need to return to Marine 16th Branch." Dante looked at Vivi. "What about you? Want to come along?"
"Then... let’s go together!"
Vivi raised an eyebrow, lightly brushed her hair, and followed Dante with a smile as they returned to Marine 16th Branch together.
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At night.
The End of Year Banquet began.
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