The next day.

Since the matter was resolved, he wasn't in a hurry to return to the 16th branch and planned to wait until Smoker and the others withdrew before going back; after all, Cocoa West Town wasn't far from the 16th branch.

Unexpectedly, Shache, who had solved a major problem, had slept quite comfortably the night before.

When he woke up, it was already close to noon.

After a quick wash, Shache saw Miss Robin, who was already in the office reading a book.

It must be said that she truly deserved to pass her doctoral exam with full marks at the age of eight and become an archaeologist.

She just loves reading.

Since coming to the East China Sea with him, whenever she has free time, Robin brews herself a pot of tea and leisurely reads her book.

Shache picked up the documents on his desk and, seeing the name on it, realized it must be the documents that Mayor Noqigao submitted in the morning.

After a brief glance, he set it down again.

It mainly recorded Cocoa West Town's arrangements for the newly arrived refugees from the previous night.

In just one night, Cocoa West Town had already made the necessary arrangements.

Of course—

Shache was not surprised by this.

After all, it had been so many years, and everyone in Cocoa West Town was already clear on how to make arrangements.

Unfortunately, this batch still lacked any talent, which made Shache somewhat regretful.

Although there was a guy named Peek who was skilled in dealing with furs and making leather armor, he still didn’t have the architectural or shipbuilding talents he wanted.

Not to mention, there weren’t even any capable individuals, let alone the scarce technological talents.

While it’s true that strength is paramount on the sea—one strong person can destroy a country—technology is also quite important in this vast ocean.

Can’t you see that even the powerful World Government, which controls the entire sea, places great emphasis on technology?

It’s easy to understand—

Unfortunately, when it comes to research in technology, the World Government mainly focuses on weapons, investigating what kinds of weapons can more quickly and easily destroy an island and the insects beneath it.

For this reason, even the world’s top scientist, Vegapunk, who wants to change the world with technology, had to study terrifying killing weapons under the coercion and temptation of the World Government.

And for this world’s top scientist, Shache was quite envious; however, trying to recruit him was really too difficult.

There are simply too few scientists in this ocean; those with capability either have their own forces or have been recruited by the World Government, making it extremely difficult to find talented independent scientists.

The more he thought about it, the more he sighed; shaking his head as if remembering that there were more important matters today, he turned to Robin and said, “What about those three from the Navy? How were they arranged? I sent Mock to entertain them last night; nothing unexpected happened, right?”

Thinking about it now… he should have sent Udo to entertain them instead; compared to that big oaf Mock, Udo was much smarter, and since he was also in the Navy, he would be more suitable.

However—

As soon as he finished speaking,

“Pretty… pretty good.” Hearing Shache’s words, Robin, who was reading, did not raise her head but replied with a somewhat strange expression, “There shouldn’t have been any unexpected incidents.”

“From the looks of you, it doesn’t seem like nothing unexpected happened.” Just by looking at Robin’s expression, Shache rubbed his forehead in frustration. “That guy Mock didn’t cause any trouble again, did he? Didn’t I tell him to entertain them well?”

“No~ Mock should have done a good job entertaining them.” This time Robin raised her head, her tone still strange as she said, “According to the messages coming back from there, they seemed to enjoy it; they should be quite satisfied.”

“Enjoyed?” Seemingly sensing Robin’s odd tone, Shache frowned, “When they went back last night, it shouldn’t have been late; where did they go to rest?”

“Red Romance.”

“……”

……

“How is it? Is it comfortable here~” Mock leaned over to Smoker with a lewd grin on his rugged face, showing a smile that every man would understand, bumping his sturdy body against him and saying, “Whenever I’m too tired, just coming here to rest makes me feel relaxed all over.”

After saying this,

“……”

Smoker, looking at that lewd smile, directly said with a dark face, “I didn’t do anything; pirates are still pirates, don’t show me that lewd expression.”

“What? Didn’t we soak in the hot springs, get massages, and scrub our feet last night?” Mock was somewhat confused by Smoker’s sudden anger; he clearly seemed to enjoy himself yesterday!

He thought they had become friends; why was he angry again as soon as they came out?

He scratched his head and said in bewilderment, “What else do you want to do?”

Smoker:……

Nothing!

He didn't even know how to respond.

But Mock turned his head in confusion to look at the blushing Dashiki, “Is this place not good? How did you feel last night? Comfortable?”

“Comfortable!” Dashiki lowered her head, her face flushed, seemingly a bit embarrassed as she said, “We also soaked in the hot springs, got massages, and scrubbed our feet.”

The men and women were separated, but even though she only soaked in the bath, received a massage, and scrubbed her feet, for some reason, it felt a bit strange.

This was clearly not that kind of place.

Thinking of those women dressed in sexy dresses from last night, each smile full of temptation, combined with the lighting inside.

She was a Navy Sergeant!

So shy~

Dashiki’s face turned even redder.

“It was still quite comfortable, very relaxing.”

“What about Vice Admiral Karp?”

“Hahaha, quite interesting, I didn’t expect there was such a place in the East China Sea.” Unlike the dark-faced and shy Dashiki, Karp burst out with a hearty laugh, “I should let that Sengoku guy come relax too; he’s just too tired, which is why he always has that sour expression.”

However,

Faced with his subordinate's and the Navy hero’s remarks, Smoker's face turned darker, even to the point of being blue.

They were the righteous Navy after all~

How could they go for foot massages with pirates?

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Shut up!” Smoker took the cigar from the corner of his mouth and said coldly, “Since this matter has been resolved, then we should withdraw.”

As he said this, he glanced at Mock.

“If I find out you did anything bad, I will arrest you and your boss.”

After saying this, he stepped forward without hesitation and walked downstairs, but just as he was about to walk out the door,

Suddenly.

“Bang bang~”

A series of sounds came.

Just when Smoker thought it was gunfire and that they were under attack,

“Congratulations to the three distinguished guests.” A portly man who seemed to be the boss came over cheerfully, stepping on confetti, “Last night you were the 88th customer; congratulations, you have won the Red Romance VIP card. As long as you spend at Red Romance, you can enjoy a 20% discount and receive a complimentary deluxe fruit platter. If it’s your birthday, Red Romance will also personally celebrate your birthday for you~.”

Before Smoker could react, a card was stuffed into his hand, as well as into Dashiki's and Karp's.

“???”

Red Romance VIP card?

What the hell?

How could he, a Colonel of the Navy Headquarters, possibly come to such a place?

Just as he was about to refuse, it was already too late; after the boss stuffed the cards, a few sounds were made as if someone was using a camera bug to take a few pictures of them, and after a blink, the people around them vanished.

Only the three cards in their hands and the scattered confetti remained.

“Dante Shache……” Smoker’s face darkened even more as if he thought of something.

That guy wouldn’t want to drag him down with him, would he?

Clenching the card in his hand, just as he was about to throw it back to let these guys know he, Smoker, was the righteous Navy, he suddenly found…

“Vice Admiral Karp, what are you doing?” Smoker looked in despair at Karp, who was smiling and stuffing the card into his pocket, and at Dashiki, who was cautiously and quietly tucking it into her bosom, “We are the Navy.”

“Oh, isn’t this a gift from that little brat Shache?”

“Sorry, I almost forgot. Colonel Smoker, I actually meant to hand it to you.”

“……”

Smoker looked speechlessly at Dashiki, who was now handing it to him, and then at Karp, who was picking his nose nonchalantly. His expression changed from angry to dark and back again, and finally, the card in his hand was bent from his grip as he said angrily, “Let’s go back!”

Saying that, without hesitation, he turned around and walked outside.

……

Soon.

Under Smoker’s urging, Mock, who wanted to stay a few more days, could only helplessly sail the pirate ship to send them away.

“Welcome to come again!”

Shache also specially came to the dock, watching Mock's pirate ship gradually sail away, and warmly but reluctantly waved goodbye to them.

However…

“Didn’t they enjoy themselves last night?” Shache looked at Smoker on the deck, who was staring at him with a dark face, furrowing his brows, pondering and muttering to himself, “Why does it seem like Colonel Smoker’s face is a bit dark?”

Is it because the hospitality wasn’t good enough?

Didn’t Miss Robin say they had a great time?

At this moment,

“Hehe, welcome to come again.”

Nami, who had disappeared the whole night, returned at that moment, waving her hand happily.

“Forget it, they’ve left anyway.” Shache turned to look at Nami beside him, “What were you doing last night? Why did Mock say he didn’t see you?”

After saying this,

“Hehehe~” Nami revealed a mischievous smile, playfully winking, “I didn’t do anything, just sent them a gift.”

“A gift? What gift?”

“Red Romance VIP card.”

“???”