Ian: "..."
"Still pretending, huh? You really think I wouldn't find out?"
Zephyr glared at Ian, who still refused to admit his fault. "How dare you tell those merchants that I, the Chief Instructor from the Marine Headquarters, came to the Sibia Village in search of fine wine?"
Thinking back to what happened at the docks, Zephyr couldn't help but smile inwardly.
When he first arrived, the merchants pointed and talked at him, their faces filled with excitement.
One even approached and asked if they could take a photo with him.
At the time, he thought his identity had been discovered. Unexpectedly... His identity had indeed been discovered, but it had been spread by this kid.
He even made up a story about how the Chief Instructor from the Marine Headquarters had come to the Sibia Village in search of fine wine, and finally, after drinking the Sibia Village's green grape wine, he was so fascinated that he wanted to stay.
This kid really knows how to lie!
"Tell me!"
Zephyr looked at Ian with a careless look. "What explanation are you going to give me? You know my identity isn't ordinary, and I've never done any kind of advertisement before. If this gets to Marine Headquarters, I'll be humiliated."
"Explain? Explain what?"
"...?"
Zephyr's eyelids twitched at Ian's words.
This kid still doesn't admit it?
His eyes narrowed as he stared at Ian, but before he could speak…
"Didn't you come to the Sibia Village?"
Ian, standing before him, said seriously. "Didn't you come here to drink wine and end up staying? Those are facts. Someone just accidentally let it slip, that's all. It has nothing to do with me."
"..."
Zephyr was stunned at Ian's words, then burst into laughter. He looked at Ian again and said: "You cunning kid, you were waiting for me to say that, huh? Too bad."
He shook the shamefaced Gini in his hand: "I was prepared."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gini, who was covering his face, lowered his head in shame and said: "Sorry, boss, the billboards and flyers we secretly made were discovered."
"..."
When did they secretly make billboards and flyers?
Who taught them that?
How could he not know?
"You're a marine, yet you're also the boss of the mafia. It seems you've got quite a hidden ambition."
After dropping the Gini to the ground, he looked at Ian, who stood there in a daze.
Zephyr, feeling like he'd won, put his hands on his hips and laughed again.
"Too bad, I've found out now!"
"What mafia?"
However, Ian, having regained his composure, calmly shook his head in the face of his question. "Grado Family is not a mafia family!"
"Boy, you've been caught red-handed by me, and you still dare to argue?"
"I'm not quibbling. The mafia charges protection fees, but Grado doesn't. Would Grado still be considered a mafia if it didn't?"
Ian stared directly at Zephyr, his lips curled slightly. "If you don't believe me, you can ask Gini."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gini, who had been thrown to the ground, instantly understood what was going on.
He quickly jumped to his feet, a smile plastered across his face, and he said: "That's right, we're not some mafia family. Ever since the boss arrived, he has been warning us not to collect protection money. We dare not disobey the boss's orders. If you don't believe me, you can go to Baiscaiborg Island and ask. Grado never collects protection money, of course..."
He straightened his somewhat disheveled suit and smiled elegantly: "You could also call us the Baiscaiborg Island residents' committee, property management group, or security company. We're the exclusive distributor of Sibia Village green grape wine; we fit all those descriptions. We're a legitimate business!"
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
Zephyr raised his eyelids, but seeing Gini's unwavering, fearless gaze, he realized the guy really wasn't lying... This guy really wasn't collecting protection money.
"You really haven't taken it under control? Then why did you keep this mafia family around?"
Zephyr pondered for a moment, then looked at Ian and said nonchalantly: "Forget it, let's get back to it, give me an explanation, or don't blame me for being rude."
"Boss, I..."
"Just be more careful next time."
Before Gini could finish his words, Ian shook his head, interrupting him.
Then, looking at Zephyr in front of him, he said: "Tell me, what do you want? Or I can talk to the village chief and get you some advertising fees or something?"
"With my status, can you afford the advertising fees?"
"..."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian's eyes narrowed. Looking at Zephyr, who was still grinning, he seemed to understand something.
Could this old man be waiting for him here on purpose?!
Thinking of this, Ian said helplessly, without hesitation: "Tell me! What exactly do you want?"
"Hahaha, I don't have any plans either. Don't be nervous. I don't want you to go to Marine Headquarters."
Seeing Ian seem to have guessed his intention, Zephyr couldn't help but laugh.
He looked at Ian and said: "I just want to make a deal with you!"
Ian: "...?"
Ian was stunned. "What deal?"
"I'll allow the Sibia Village to use my name for advertising. I'll even teach the children on your behalf while I'm here."
After stating his terms, Zephyr looked at Ian with a smile. "How's that? I'm sincere, right?"
Ian: "...?!"
He was indeed sincere. But Ian didn't relax. Instead, he looked at Zephyr warily. "What exactly do you want me to do? I'm telling you, I can't possibly go to the Marines. I'm sure you know why."
"What nonsense are you spouting? I don't know. Don't worry. I told you I don't want you to go to Marine Headquarters."
Zephyr smiled and shook his head while looking at Ian before him. "It's just a small matter. Don't worry, this is also a good thing for you."
He glanced at Ian again and said meaningfully: "Your strength has reached a certain level! It's time to go out and fight other powerful people."
"You?"
"I'm still a patient right now."
Zephyr lifted his eyelids and said angrily: "And you still want to fight me? Ever heard of caring for the sick?"
"..."
Weren't you swinging your fists just fine last time?
Ian rolled his eyes and said unhappily: "Tell me! What's going on?"
"Don't worry, Binz and Ain will be going with you, and they'll be primarily responsible for handling the matter. Anyway, it's just a small matter."
Zephyr sighed, then looked at Ian with a serious expression. He continued: "The G-5 branch was attacked by pirates, countless villagers were abducted and enslaved, and the base commander was killed. It happened so suddenly. So Marine Headquarters will send a team to investigate. If they encounter the pirates, they will arrest them immediately. If not, they will let it go."
"G-5 branch? The New World."
"Yes, the New World. I'm sure you'll find a suitable opponent there."
"If I remember correctly, you're on sick leave."
Ian raised his eyelids, then quickly calmed down. "During your recuperation period, will Marine Headquarters also give you missions?"
"So overworked, huh?"
"This isn't a mission from Marine Headquarters. Some jerk who sneaked off to have a vacation threw it to me, hoping I could help."
Zephyr gave a helpless, wry smile. "That jerk really has no regard for the sick!"
He looked at Ian again. "Kid, how about this deal?"
As he spoke, as if remembering something, the corner of his mouth curled slightly, and he said in a seductive tone: "If you take this, I might even get the Hero of the Marines to advertise for you. I could even agree to any request you make that doesn't violate justice."