"Rorschach, where did you go just now? You suddenly disappeared," Hibari asked, looking puzzled as Rorschach reappeared beside her in a flash.
Rorschach smiled and handed her a stack of Beli.
"I accidentally left the money at that lady's barbecue stand, so I went back to get it."
"Huh? Wouldn't that be really awkward…? Did she say anything?"
Hibari didn't seem suspicious and reached out to take the money, stuffing it into her pocket.
"Before I even got there, she brought the money back to me herself. She's really kind and honest. To thank her, I gave her an extra 20,000 Beli," Rorschach said with a smile.
"That's the right thing to do. Just don't be so careless next time, Rorschach. If we lose money like this again, we won't even have enough to eat," Hibari muttered under her breath, glancing at Rorschach.
The three of them continued walking down the spacious street.
Meanwhile, Rorschach's mind kept replaying the image of Margery and Emily, the mother and daughter, working at their barbecue stand.
The stack of high-denomination Beli on the cart was indeed left there by Rorschach.
When they paid for the meal, Rorschach had taken the money from Hibari's hands—Hibari assumed he was calculating the cost.
As for why he left behind at least 500,000 to 600,000 Beli, it was, of course, because of Old Tommy.
At the time, Hibari hadn't noticed, and Rorschach didn't stop her.
But later, using his Observation Haki, Rorschach keenly sensed the drastic shift in Margery's emotions.
He felt how she was being consumed by despair, how her mental defenses were crumbling little by little.
Without hesitation, Rorschach chose to return.
That led to the earlier scene.
His intention in leaving the money was good.
But perhaps, offering those two resilient women a bit of hope was what truly mattered.
—
"Huh? Isn't this that super-strong Navy kid? Hey! When did you guys get here?"
"What do you mean 'hey'? Iceberg-san said he's a high-ranking Navy officer, a Rear Admiral! Be careful not to offend him," someone chided.
As they walked, the three suddenly heard someone calling out from a distance.
Rorschach looked up and saw Barry, the shipwright who had gone to repair the tracks earlier, walking toward them with a broad grin. Beside him was the burly man with the "ship" tattoo on his chest—Dairus Stone.
Trailing alongside them was a tall woman dressed in a work uniform, her fair legs wrapped in fishnet stockings.
"They're shipwrights from the Galley-La Company," Hibari recognized Barry.
The three immediately stepped forward to greet them.
Just then, Barry, still smiling, suddenly caught a glimpse of the woman's long, curvy legs from the corner of his eye. His face flushed red, and he couldn't help but shout angrily, pointing at her.
"Hey! Kalifa! Can you not wear such revealing clothes? You're making Iceberg look bad, that old virgin! You really have no shame!"
The woman, whom he called Kalifa, pushed up her glasses on her nose. She didn't even glance at Barry. Instead, her captivating gaze landed on Rorschach.
But her response was as sharp as ever.
"You're the one embarrassed, Barry—you pathetic virgin who's never been with a woman. How I dress is my choice; it's none of your business."
"You shameless woman! Dressing like that will corrupt the children!"
Barry kept grumbling.
Meanwhile, Hibari remained on high alert, eyeing the sultry and mature-looking Kalifa with suspicion.
Noticing Kalifa staring intently at Rorschach, Hibari's alertness shot up to the maximum.
She clenched her fists tightly.
"Seriously, why do all these older women keep staring at Rorschach? He's only fourteen! Can't they have some self-awareness?"
She stole a glance at Kalifa's black work outfit, which failed to hide her towering "Red Line" peaks, then looked down at her own developing "Reverse Mountain."
She instantly felt a little discouraged.
But soon, she quietly cheered herself up.
"I'm still young, only thirteen—I still have room to grow. But these older women… they've already peaked and won't get any better…"
Rorschach stepped forward with a smile, about to greet Barry, whom he had met once before, when Kalifa spoke up before he could.
"Rear Admiral Rorschach? Iceberg-san requests your presence."
Rorschach was momentarily surprised. "Iceberg-san already knows we've arrived in Water 7?"
Kalifa remained noncommittal, pushing up her glasses with the pad of her right index finger. "This is Water 7—Iceberg-san's territory."
"Heh, it seems Iceberg-san runs a tight ship when it comes to the city's security. Lead the way."
"Follow me."
Kalifa gave Rorschach a deep look before turning around, swaying her hips as she walked forward in her black high heels.
Her black, form-fitting work dress, paired with the mesh lingerie and garter stockings underneath, accentuated her mature and alluring figure to perfection.
Her flowing blonde hair and the faint yet intoxicating fragrance she carried only added to her charm.
As a CP9 operative, this woman's beauty and aura were undeniably top-tier, on par with Headquarters' Tashigi and Peacock.
Even Rorschach, who had decent self-control, found his eyes occasionally wandering to her curvaceous figure.
"We'll catch up later, Barry. I also want to check out Dock No. 1 at your Galley-La Company."
As he passed Barry and Dairus Stone, Rorschach patted Barry's shoulder with a smile.
Barry laughed heartily. "No problem! I'll personally give you a tour. After that, I'll take you to Bruno's bar for a couple of drinks!"
Before long, Rorschach and his group, led by Kalifa, arrived at the Galley-La Company headquarters, which also served as Iceberg's residence and office in Water 7.
The white building's façade prominently displayed the large letters "GC"—the abbreviation for Galley-La Company.
Iceberg had clearly been expecting them and was already standing at the entrance, waiting.
"Welcome to Water 7, Rear Admiral Rorschach."
Seeing Kalifa escort Rorschach over, Iceberg immediately flashed a warm smile and stepped forward to shake his hand formally.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Iceberg-san," Rorschach replied with a smile.
"So, how do you like Water 7 so far?"
"It's wonderful. The scenery is beautiful, the people are hardworking and kind, and the transportation system is efficient. It's truly an outstanding city. Managing it so well speaks to your great capabilities, Iceberg-san."
Rorschach spoke sincerely.
"Hahaha, Rear Admiral Rorschach, you flatter me. Come, let's not stand around at the entrance. Let's go inside and have some coffee."
Iceberg gestured invitingly, about to lead Rorschach to his office for a proper discussion.
But just then, Barry and Dairus Stone, whom they had parted with not long ago, came running over in a hurry.
Before they had even stopped, Barry, panting heavily, shouted anxiously, "Iceberg! Bad news—Franky's gang is fighting the Navy!"
(End of Chapter)
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