"Excuse me, sir," Shachi asked a man on the street. "Do you know where we can find a place called Romance Dawn?"
The man's eyes lit up. "Romance Dawn? Hehehe, now that's a great place!" He suddenly glanced over his shoulder, his voice dropping to a panicked whisper. "No, no, Mary, I've never been there! I swear!"
"A great place?" Penguin pressed. "Where is it?"
"I told you, I've never been! Why are you asking me? My girlfriend is already mad," the man hissed, tugging at his collar.
"Then how do you know it's so great?"
"A friend told me! I just heard it from a friend, that's all! I don't know anything, so go ask someone else!" He broke away from them and scrambled after a woman who was storming down the street. "Mary, really, I've never been there!"
Shachi and Penguin stared after him, completely bewildered.
'What a lunatic,' Shachi thought. 'What's wrong with asking a question? If he didn't know, couldn't he have just asked his friend for us?'
The two of them scratched their heads before trudging back to Law, their expressions glum. "Law, we still haven't found it."
Then, a sly grin spread across Shachi's face. "But... hehehe. Based on my deductions, it seems to be a fantastic place."
"That's right," Penguin added with a knowing nod. "It sounds like 'that' kind of place."
"What kind of place?" Law frowned, watching the two of them exchange suggestive looks. "Do you know what it is?"
They both coughed, then glanced at each other as if making a silent pact. Shaking their heads in unison, they said, "We have no idea!"
Shachi puffed out his chest. "But please, leave this to us. We'll be sure to find out where it is."
They couldn't let their captain know what they suspected. If he found out, he would keep them on a tight leash the entire time. Still, they had to admit, that East Blue Overlord really knew how to live.
Just as they solidified their plan, Bepo lumbered over, his arms full of packages. "Captain, I already found out where Romance Dawn is. You just follow this street all the way down, and you'll see a fancy castle-looking building. That's the place."
"Bepo?!" Shachi and Penguin stared at him in astonishment. "How did you find out?" they asked, wondering if people were more willing to give directions to a talking bear.
"I asked a child," Bepo said, confused by their reaction. "What's the big deal?"
"How could you ask a child about a place like this?" Shachi scolded.
"I'm sorry!" Bepo immediately lowered his head, not understanding what he had done wrong.
"What is wrong with you two?" Law said, his patience wearing thin. He turned to the bear. "Ignore them, Bepo. You did a great job."
"Really?" Bepo brightened instantly. Cradling a pile of snacks, he explained, "I traded some snacks with the kid for the information, and he told me right away. I could smell the food from there, too. It seems really delicious!"
"The local delicacies here isn't bad, especially tangerine jams," Shachi said, already munching on a piece of bread coated with jam that Bepo had handed him. He squinted at the writing on the bag. "The owner likes to brag, though. A Marine Admiral, the Hero of the Marines, and even a Warlord have eaten here? He must be shameless to sell a few pieces of bread."
"Exactly," Penguin agreed, taking a bite of his own. "The 'Goa Kingdom's Royal Secret Recipe' part seems more believable than that. Isn't he afraid someone will show up to settle the score?" He glanced around at the bustling town. "I have to say, it's pretty lively here. It's no Whisky Peak, but it feels a lot safer. At least we don't have to worry about some pirate showing up and causing trouble."
"This is the jurisdiction of the Marine 16th Branch," Law noted, chewing on a piece of focaccia Bepo had given him. He studied the island with a slight frown. "It seems the base commander here is quite capable. Still, everyone be careful." His tone was calm but firm. "Don't get discovered. We're here for Wolf, and as soon as we find him, we're leaving. Bepo, lead the way."
His eyes narrowed. "Let's go meet this East Blue Overlord."
"Yes, Captain!"
Following Bepo's directions, the Heart Pirates walked down the street. As they neared the spacious port they had seen upon arrival, they finally spotted the luxurious castle the child had described, glowing with faint red lights under its unique architecture.
Everyone except Shachi and Penguin, who had already guessed, fell silent.
So it was 'that' kind of place.
A dark look crossed Law's face as he finally understood his crewmates furtive behavior. He turned to see them practically vibrating with excitement, their eyes shining as they communicated in hushed whispers. "You two," he said, his voice sharp with annoyance. "Pay attention. Don't forget why we're here."
"Rest assured, Captain!" they both snapped to attention, their faces suddenly serious. "We will definitely rescue Wolf."
Before Law could even register a hint of satisfaction, Penguin sidled up to him, shifting his weight bashfully. "Um, Captain... can we go in now?"
"Yeah, Captain!" Shachi chimed in. "Since we're already here, it wouldn't hurt to let us broaden our horizons!"
Law's expression soured again. Thinking of Wolf, he took a deep breath and said flatly, "Go in."
With their captain's permission, Penguin and Shachi were ecstatic. Even Bepo seemed happy. "I wonder if there are any female bears inside?" he asked curiously.
The group of young men strode toward the entrance, full of vigor. As they reached the door, however, the excited momentum on Penguin and Shachi's faces faltered. Staring at the entrance just inches away, they were overcome with a mixture of anticipation and shyness.
Before they could hesitate for long, the staff inside spotted them. Several lavishly dressed hostesses stepped out, their soft, alluring voices ringing out. "Welcome."
The sweet invitation made Shachi and Penguin shudder. "N-No, that's not necessary!"
"Please, come on in!"
"Y-Yeah, after you, after you all!"
Watching the two fools make a scene, Law covered his face. He should have just made them watch the ship. With a sigh, he followed them inside, along with the other crew members who were starting to get a little excited themselves.
Escorted by the staff, they entered a luxurious hall filled with a faint, fragrant aroma. A hostess holding a booklet approached Shachi and Penguin, who were staring around with glazed eyes. "Hello, would you like a private room or a private booth?"
"A private room... or a private booth?"
"It means, do you want to be together, or separate?" she explained with a patient smile.
"You can do groups?" Shachi whispered, stunned.
"Wow, they don't mess around here," Penguin breathed.
The exchange sent another wave of irritation through Law as he caught up to them. These two idiots.
"Shut up," he snapped, stepping forward. He shot them a glare before turning to the hostess. "We're not here for fun. I need to ask you something."
The hostess looked at him, confused, but maintained her professional smile. "Please, go ahead."
"Is the East Blue Overlord here right now?"
"I'm sorry, we cannot disclose any client information." The hostess's smile tightened. "If you are not here as customers, I'll have to ask you to leave."
"So he's here," Law said with a nod. He glanced at his crew, who had all turned serious, then looked back at the hostess. "Since you won't tell us..."
Before he could finish, the hostess seemed to realize they weren't there to spend money. Her expression hardened, and she opened her mouth to shout, "Security! Secu-"
She never finished.
A group of men in sheriff's uniforms had already walked through the door. The Heart Pirates tensed, stunned by how quickly security had arrived. Even the hostess seemed confused. Had someone sensed trouble and called them in advance?
Before anyone could react, the sheriffs walked right up to Law. Just as the pirates braced for a fight, ready to make the first move, the sheriff in the lead pulled out a piece of paper. He held it out to Law with a stern expression.
"Is that vessel on the south coast yours? You have violated the Conomi Archipelago's docking regulations. We have impounded your ship. This is your fine. Please come with me to pay it and move your vessel to a designated area immediately."
The Heart Pirates stood there, utterly stunned.
Law especially, staring at the ticket in the man's hand, felt his expression sour into something thunderous.
They weren't here to bust them? And Conomi Archipelago? What the hell?
Hadn't they seen the jolly roger flying from their mast?
They were fining a pirate crew?
===============
Dear Readers and Fans,
For those eager to dive into next chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.
https://www.pat reon.com/8Ashes8
(no space)
You can read upto 7 Chapters in advance.