In the dining hall, Nino and the others watching through the window were dumbfounded, 'Seriously? Comforting is one thing, but why the hug?'
Well, Makoto was just writing an empty check. Miku didn't even have Chakra... who knew if she could become a Medical-Nin. But sweet talk was free… especially for such a beautiful girl.
When Makoto led Miku into the dining hall, everyone else's expressions were very subtle. Miku kept her head down the whole time, not daring to look up, and went back to her seat with her little head lowered and her face red.
"Traitor," Nino muttered.
Hearing this, Miku's eyes widened, 'How was I a traitor?'
Makoto had barely eaten two bites when his Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Makoto raised an eyebrow… after all, not many people knew his number.
Since no one present was an outsider, Makoto didn't avoid them and directly pressed the speakerphone button. The women expected it to be Morgans or Yu, but a woman's voice came from the other end instead. "Hello, Makoto-kun?"
The Aizono sisters, Ran, and others were stunned for a moment, then remembered the owner of that voice, Tritoma.
"What's up, Tritoma?" Makoto asked.
Tritoma then told him something that surprised even him. "Rayleigh is planning to marry into Elbaf."
As soon as she said this, not only the female players present but even Newgate, Linlin, and the others sitting in the corners were startled, 'Rayleigh? Was it the Rayleigh we knew? The vice-captain of the Roger Pirates?'
Even Makoto, as a Transmigrator, was stunned. "Marry? What's going on?"
Tritoma replied, "Originally, Rayleigh was going to form an alliance with the giants, asking for their help to rescue Roger and the others from Impel Down. After learning that the Roger Pirates also had a grudge against you, the giants agreed, but only on the condition that Rayleigh marry into their tribe. Otherwise, they wouldn't trust him."
"Hahahaha!" Makoto couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. "How does your vice-captain feel about that?"
"Shh!" Tritoma, far away in Elbaf, put a finger to her lips and whispered, "Makoto-kun, don't laugh so loud. I'm calling you secretly."
"Alright, alright, my bad, my bad." Makoto quickly lowered his volume and asked with a smile. "So what does Shakky think?"
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Tritoma's helpless expression. "What can she think? Vice-Captain Shakky has been locked in her room for days."
"So Rayleigh agreed?"
Tritoma nodded. "There's no other choice. The Kuja Pirates alone aren't strong enough to break someone out of Impel Down. And there are many within the Kuja who disagree."
This was understandable. After all, the Roger Pirates and the Kuja only had a decent relationship. And if they were going to break someone out of the underwater prison, it would almost certainly be a suicide mission. The subordinates would naturally be unwilling.
This was completely different in nature from Whitebeard going to Marineford to rescue Ace.
As the call between Makoto and Tritoma continued, Newgate, Linlin, Kaido, and the others unconsciously edged closer.
Suffice it to say, gossip is human nature. A group of great pirates who would one day dominate their territories were now pricking up their ears like nosy neighbors.
"Who is Rayleigh marrying?" Makoto asked next.
Tritoma replied, "A female giant named Ripley."
Makoto didn't recognize the name at first, but then Tritoma described her, "A female giant with red hair. She has a tattoo on her left cheek, extending from her forehead to the left side of her face. She's quite pretty."
Makoto thought for a while longer. Then, it dawned on him, 'Damn it, wasn't this the owner of the [Supreme Large Cave] in the original work? The wife of Scopper Gaban? Good grief. Was Rayleigh cuckolding his own brother?'
Makoto suddenly had a wicked idea. He smiled and said, "Wait for me. I'll be arriving in Elbaf in a couple of days too. I'll give them a proper gift."
Tritoma blinked. She instinctively felt that her man was definitely up to no good.
Just then, someone knocked on Tritoma's door. "Tritoma, are you free? There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
The voice was Gloriosa.
"O-okay!" Tritoma replied nervously, then spoke quietly into the receiver, "Makoto-kun, I'll call you back later."
With that, she hung up.
"Hahahaha!!" Makoto was laughing hysterically in the dining hall. He hadn't expected things to become so interesting. Then, Makoto said to Shiki, "Hey, Golden Lion, go to Marineford and have the Marine release Gaban and bring him to me."
Shiki hadn't yet acquired the nickname [Golden Lion], but he was already a user of the Float-Float Fruit… making him the most convenient errand boy.
Newgate and the others looked confused, not understanding why Makoto wanted Gaban brought there. Shiki clicked his tongue and dryly said he understood. He dared not disobey Makoto's orders.
Just then, John snickered, "Say, now that Rayleigh is getting married, does that mean Shakky has to choose someone else?"
As soon as he said this, the males present perked up. Silver Axe said, "Comforting her now would probably earn some serious goodwill, right?"
Ganzui said, "Now I'm interested in going to Elbaf too."
Shiki said, "Hey, hey, hey! Don't you all jump the gun while I'm away."
Newgate said, "Couldn't Rayleigh just marry both?"
Miss Bakkin said, "Huh? Would Shakky allow that?"
Linlin said, "Haha! If a man can have multiple women, then a woman can have multiple men too, right?"
Yukiko and the others stared dumbfounded at these great pirates enthusiastically discussing the matter. They couldn't help but wonder, 'What's with these guys? Are they that pent-up?'
Nayuta took a mouthful of rice and unceremoniously cursed, "An ugly woman that even Makoto-kun got tired of, and you're fighting over her like she's some treasure. You guys are complete disgraces."
The dining hall fell silent instantly.