Chapter 20
After checking on what kind of supplies they needed, Snow delegated the work to his crew. One group will go sell all the goodies they got from that giant ant-infested island, and the other group will go buy everything they need, and then they can do anything they want.
"What are you all doing?"
Snow looked at his crew with surprise and a disappointed look after seeing them change into new clothes. All of them were now dressed variously while keeping the red and white theme coloring.
There were various things he would have liked to ask, like why they were dressed like that, but he kept those questions to himself, as his look probably told everything he was thinking. And they didn't seem to have any inclination to answer him.
"Well, this is where we part ways," Cavendish said, taking his horse and leaving the ship. "As antagonizing as it was for me, I will forgive you. But next time we meet each other, we shall be enemies once again. Be pleased with yourself to have bested the great Cavendish once."
At least he was able to get one weirdo out. Now, only the others were left. They didn't even meet his eyes as they looked like they wanted to quickly leave. In the end, he ignored them and let them go while he went to the island to see what it had to offer him, if it had anything at all.
It seems this concert was quite something to get every person on this island all excited and all. Well, it had nothing to do with him, so he just looked for food stalls, trying to find anything good.
"Again, what are you all doing?" Snow once again looked as his crew went around purchasing various merchandise with the name of Uta on them, just as they left the ship.
"Ahem," Law cleared his throat. "This island is a hub for many marines; it is best to blend in with the masses and not draw attention to ourselves."
"Just go and enjoy yourself, I won't judge what you like or don't." What Snow couldn't understand the most was their embarrassment.
Did they fear that their reputation as pirates would be tarnished or something if they enjoyed the music of this Uta? Well, it had nothing to do with him, as he just found a stall selling a candied apple. And next to it was someone selling cotton candy.
And since everyone went their own way, Snow was left alone to enjoy himself. There were so many things to try, and since the concert was only tomorrow and at midnight at that, he had plenty of time to look around. Buying everything his eyes caught.
That thought was completely thrown out as someone bumped into him, making him drop his candied goods on the ground. Snow looked down on his cotton candy the most, as he had never had it before and was really looking forward to tasting it, as it looked just like a fluffy and sweet cloud.
"Hey, you dumbass, look where you're standing around."
Snow didn't even look at the idiots who wasted his money before smacking everyone to the ground with his hand. They should lie with Snow's snacks on the dirty ground and think about what they have done.
"So annoying," Snow returned to the stalls he passed by and bought everything he wanted once again.
"Stop right here!"
Snow froze in place as he recognized that sweet and melodic voice. Snow slowly and carefully turned to the marine standing there. The swordswoman already had her hand on her sword's hilt, glaring at Snow like he was her worst enemy in the world.
"Vice Admiral Gion, wasn't it? Well, well, well, hello there. Fancy seeing you here," Snow slowly replied, looking at her and then back at his full hands. "It was good to see you. Goodbye."
For now, his priority was to save his snacks, so he ran. And since it was a place full of civilians, she couldn't attack him. So, he ate his snacks while moving through the crowds, still staying within the populace to avoid fighting her.
"Stop running at once!"
"Nope."
Even if he appreciated the pretty face and long legs that were chasing after him as any other guy would, he would rather eat his candy right now; it was something new and exciting. But his luck soon came to an end as he found himself in an empty alleyway.
Ducking, he avoided a sword slash that cut even the walls around him. It seemed that a fight was inevitable, but he still refused to drop his candy as he turned to the Vice Admiral, who only had murder in her eyes for him.
"Surrender, Snow the Gravedigger." Snow wasn't surprised by her words. "There is nowhere for you to run. Blame your bad luck for coming to this island at this time."
"Wait!" Snow yelled and then started to shove the candy into his mouth.
"What are you doing?"
"Umemgh," Snow tried to talk but choked on his own food. "Keh, ugh, I am fine, don't worry."
"Who is worried about you?" she asked, frustrated, raising her sword and slashing at Snow again. „Don't play around with me!"
"Hey! I said, Wait for a moment!"
"Die, you pirate scum!"
Snow did his best to dodge the slashes as she mercilessly went for his life. Though she once again showed how skilled she was, as even in this cramped alleyway, she was able to control herself and didn't damage the buildings surrounding them, only leaving long slashes on them.
Still, as fast as Snow was, there was a limit to how much he could dodge. But luckily, he could turn his skin into iron to tank the hits that managed to find him. Unluckily, there was also a limit to how much he could take before it became significant damage.
"Stop playing around!"
"Fine!" It seemed he didn't have any choice; even if it was regretful, he would have to drop his candy.
Puru! Puru!
Yet just as he was about to take the fight seriously, they both heard a transponder snail ringing. Both of them checked if it was theirs at the same time, completely forgetting they were about to fight each other.
"Is yours?" Snow said.
"Dammit!" she cursed as she answered the call. "What is it?"
"Vice Admiral, where are you?"
"I am busy right now."
"It doesn't matter. Come back immediately. They are already here, and you know how they will react if the commanding officer doesn't greet them. Our heads will start rolling!"
"They can wait."
"No! They can't! I am begging you, come back immediately before they notice that you aren't here!"
"Ugh, fine."
"Thank you!"
And with that, the call ended. Still, even though she said she was coming back, she seemed not really wanting to do so, as she continued to clench her teeth and looked at Snow and back at the snail.
"I won't stop you," Snow said, finishing eating his candy.
"Just you wait! I will catch you; don't dare to run away."
Snow only waved her goodbye as he was finally left alone to enjoy his sweets to his heart's content. He thanked the stranger on the other side of that call for saving him. Just for that, he would go easy on the next marine he met.
…
"Just a hundred berries and a chance to win a ticket to the front row of tomorrow's concert!"
What seemed to be a food stand, since there was a crowd of people gathered, turned out to be some kind of lottery. He was quite disappointed since the candy on this island, or more specifically in this town, was quite good.
Another problem was that there were swarms of marines everywhere he turned. It seemed Law had the right idea of dressing up and blending in with the locals. So, he decided to participate in this little game, too. As he saw patrols walking in the streets and he didn't really want to fight any of them yet.
"Come, a hundred berries for a chance to spin the wheel of fortune! One in thirty chances of victory. Will you take it, or will you regret it?"
"Yeah, yeah," Snow handed the money before walking to the wheel and lightly spinning it.
There were other prizes, but nobody cared about them, as everyone's eyes were glued on the top prize. Well, most people's eyes. Snow's eyes were set on a coupon for a free meal at a nearby restaurant.
"Fuck." "Fuck."
Both Snow and the owner of the lottery cursed as, after the wheel spun for half a minute, it stopped right at the ticket. There was a silence surrounding them all as the owner cried and reluctantly handed Snow the ticket.
Well, it seems Snow's luck wasn't turning around; he'd better keep away from gambling, too. Leaving the wheel of fortune in disappointment, Snow checked his pockets to find them empty; he didn't even realize when he spent all his money. He couldn't even buy his way out of this depression.
"There sure are a lot of people getting in my way," Snow said, looking at the group of thugs standing before him.
"Give the ticket to me if you value your life," A big guy, at least twice as tall as Snow, as his waist was up to Snow's head.
Snow looked at the thugs, then looked at the useless paper he had in his hands. And suddenly he realized how precious it was. It was a ticket to everything he would want on this island. He couldn't help but smile at the sudden realization.
…
The smell of freshly baked pies and the sweet and refreshing strawberry milk was heaven to Snow. Especially when he had to deal with idiots everywhere he went. Well, at least they were considering enough to buy him a meal after stopping him.
"Don't look so disappointed; you should be thankful to be of help to me after all you tried to do," Snow smiled, finishing his apple pie and going for the blueberry one. "Or do you think it is unfair?"
"No, of course not, sir." They all trembled in fear from Snow's inquiry.
Especially the big guy. His legs crossed, and he put his hands between them as Snow glanced at him. It was his own fault for being too tall. So, since Snow couldn't hit his head, he was left with no other choice but his other head.
"I still don't get it, though. What is so special about this Uta?"
Snow tried his best to ignore their pained expressions filled with hatred toward him. Was his question that out of order for them to react like this? Well, it didn't matter, since technically he was just a country bumpkin who didn't know much about the world.
"Listen well," their demeanor suddenly changed. "Uta is the most treasured diva in the world. Her beauty is only second to Pirate Empress Boa Hancock herself."
"That's debatable, as much as I would like to be stepped by Pirate Empress, I would like to be held by Uta far more," One of the thugs said.
"Are you mad?" The other replied. "Being stepped by the Pirate Empress would be a hundred times better."
"No way."
"Enough!" Snow looked at the bunch of perverts. "I haven't seen either of them, but even I know that the Pirate Empress has longer and smoother legs; being stepped by her can't be any closer to being held by this Uta chick. So, what's so special about her?"
"Her voice is that of an angel, and her songs are both enchanting and heartbreaking. Once you hear her sing, there is nothing else in the world but her."
"Yeah, she's like an angel descended from heaven."
Crazy bastards. It didn't matter if their words were true or not, as Snow could tell that to them it was a sacred truth, and if Snow said anything to contradict it, they would not stand for it.
Well, since he already ate more than he probably should, it was time to leave those pathetic idiots and see how much Law would offer him for the ticket. I will let him have hope of getting it before saying that he wanted to go himself.
…
After wandering around the island and enjoying various things, Snow decided it was time to return. There just wasn't anything more to do. But just as he was walking back to his ship, he stopped by a garden.
He didn't know if it was the smell or the sight of the countless flowers with various colors that stopped him, but once he saw it, he couldn't take his eyes away from it. He jumped over the fence and just walked around.
It was his first time seeing such a sight. His home island had no flowers at all. And until now, he had never even glanced at them. Snow just dropped on his back in the patch of flowers, looking at the petals that rose into the air in front of him.
Then he heard someone humming. A girl with white and red hair appeared before him as she looked down on him. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she found him lying amidst the flowers.
"You know you can't be here, don't you?" she asked.
"Since I am already here, that would mean that I can be here," Snow replied. "And it would be a damn shame not to enjoy such a view, at least once in my life."
"Hmm? What to do? How about this, I won't tell anyone that you are here, but in return, you will owe me a favor."
"Sure, now can you move on? I am trying to enjoy myself."
As pretty as the girl was, Snow found the flowers more to his liking. The girl only giggled at his request and went on her way, humming some song he didn't know. He didn't even take her request seriously, as he probably would never see her again.
A.N. As always. Thanks for reading and supporting me. If you want more 7 more chapters of this story and 42 chapters in total with all my current stories, please consider supporting me on pa treon ironworlf852. Thanks in advance.