Chapter 89: Boundless Generosity and Bottomless Wealth!
Chapter 89: Boundless Generosity and Bottomless Wealth!
Smoker suddenly awoke, his eyes adjusting to the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
Not entirely unfamiliar, it seemed to be that of a naval ship.
"You're awake, Colonel Smoker," a voice said.
Smoker's eyes darted towards the speaker, and he recognized Tashigi standing by his side. He propped himself up, running his hands over his body wrapped in bandages, and asked, "How did I end up on a ship?"
His last memory was of his battle with Sag, after which he had lost consciousness.
"The Straw Hat Pirates saved you and handed you over to us," Tashigi replied, her lips pressed together.
Smoker remained silent for a moment, reaching out to feel his body before finding a cigar on the bedside cabinet. He lit it and took a deep inhale, the smoke swirling in his mouth before he slowly exhaled.
"The Straw Hats?" he asked.
He rose from the bed and opened the door, making his way up the stairs to the deck. The first thing that greeted him was a starry sky, with the moon shining like a lamp. The moonlight bathed the ocean and the port city of Nanohana in a silvery glow.
"The Straw Hat Pirates have evacuated, but the Disaster Pirates are still in the city," Tashigi followed behind, her voice hesitant. "We found their ship, but there are quite a few crew members guarding it. Should we attack?"
Her hesitation wasn't due to fear of the Disaster Pirates, but rather...
"You couldn't stop them before?" Smoker asked in a low voice.
"Yes," Tashigi admitted, lowering her head as her hair fell over her eyes.
She clenched her fists. "We tried to stop them, but we failed. We were defeated by the Straw Hats, along with 'Ghost' Agin and 'Iron Wall' Paul."
Ironically, they had been saved by the Straw Hats. At the very least, Colonel Smoker had been rescued.
"Then let's not waste our men's lives," Smoker said, taking a drag from his cigar as he gazed at the row of circular, spire-topped buildings in the city ahead. One particular building stood taller than the rest, its windows aglow with bright lights, and the faint sound of lively cheers could be heard from within.
"That guy isn't someone we can handle with a hundred men or so," Smoker continued, "and..."
Compared to the Disaster Pirates, he had more pressing matters at hand.
In his hazy state, he vaguely recalled being treated by someone and overhearing a conversation.
"What do you think?" Smoker asked.
"Colonel Smoker, the Disaster Pirates are indeed powerful. We should call for reinforcements," Tashigi suggested.
"Not about that," Smoker shook his head. "We've deserted our posts. There's no one to call for support."
"You should have also heard about Princess Vivi and Alabasta," Smoker continued, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes!" Tashigi straightened. "I heard about it!"
She knew about Alabasta, the dancing powder, and...
Crocodile!
...
In a certain entertainment venue in Nanohana, the place was filled with the lively sounds of drums and gongs, though there were no firecrackers.
In the vast hall, over a hundred men indulged in revelry, holding wine cups and laughing boisterously. They occasionally challenged those nearby to drinking contests or opened their mouths to be fed by the dancing girls attending to them.
Each man had a table filled with unique Alabasta delicacies, and a scantily-clad dancing girl by their side.
In the center of the hall, a group of dancing girls moved to the rhythm of the music, performing a dance in the distinct style of Alabasta.
At the head of the hall was a massive dining table laden not only with Alabasta cuisine but also with delicacies prepared by Marika in the kitchen.
Sag sat at the head of the table, unmoving, with a row of dancing girls of exceptional beauty and figure attending to him.
He picked up a wooden cup and had a dancing girl pour him a glass of wine. Raising the cup towards the hall, he laughed loudly, "My men, let's liven up the place!"
"Ohh!!"
His men cheered and raised their cups in response.
Sag's men had found a great venue, and he generously rented out the entire place. He ordered the alcohol he had previously purchased to be brought over, and the feast began.
All the delicious food and drinks were served, along with entertaining performances, showcasing his abundant wealth.
Being a wealthy landlord was about enjoying life, not burying money in the ground.
There were indeed dancers in Alabasta, and even shops that sold their outfits. Sag was willing to spend lavishly, and if one store didn't have enough dancers, he would ask the owner to find more from other establishments to make up the numbers.
He wanted to put on a grand display!
Endless extravagance, boundless generosity, endless delicacies, and money to burn!
Unending dances, endless riches to plunder, endless luxury to savor, and endless youth to revel in!
"This is the life I desire!"
Sag drank another cup of wine and devoured the food before him like a whale, digesting it instantly.
Having fought two intense battles, especially against Ace, and using Life Return to heal himself, he was understandably hungry. This technique required energy to use freely, and he was already feeling the strain.
Ever since he mastered Life Return, his appetite had noticeably increased. Aside from the fact that he was cultivating, he was also consciously storing some energy for emergency healing during battles.
Life Return was a technique that required finesse, and he was determined to master it fully and break through to the realm he had always envisioned.
"It's still too early for that," Sag thought, shaking his hand dismissively. He laughed heartily at his men, "My boys, drink until you drop tonight! No one leaves until you're all passed out! Hahahaha!"
"Captain, we won't pass out!" Some of the pirates below the table laughed along.
Lili was also seated at the massive dining table, elegantly cutting a piece of meat and placing it in her mouth. She took a sip of her drink and turned to Sag, asking, "Sag, what's our plan after staying here for two days?"
"Lili, no talking about business during the feast! If there's something more important than this celebration, we can discuss it after we're done!" Sag waved his hand at Lili and hugged a dancer, asking her to pour him more wine, reveling in his wild and carefree attitude.
This was the life of a pirate—and Sag was committed to it through and through.
Aside from certain principles, he would do whatever it took to be a true pirate!
"Mmm, this noodle dish is delicious." Marika, sitting at the other end of the table, took a bite and couldn't help but exclaim in delight.
Nearby, Renetia was also indulging in the food, her small hands grabbing at the dishes. She looked up from her feast, her eyes fixated on Lili and Marika's bountiful chests and slender waists, and thought to herself, "I'll keep eating! I'll grow up to be just like them!"
The dancers' figures were impressive, but they couldn't compare to these two. Lili, in particular, had such an enviable physique. Renetia was determined to use them as her motivation to eat her way to a stunning figure!
"Hey, I'm out of wine! Pour me another cup!" Sag shouted after finishing his drink. However, the attending dancers remained still, and he banged his empty cup on the table, demanding, "Don't slack off!"
The dancers froze, their eyes widening in surprise and fear as they looked at the center of their group.
In that instant, Lili stood up abruptly, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Marika's chopsticks paused mid-air, and she grabbed the chair next to her.
Renetia, still eating, turned her head toward Sag's back and asked angrily, "Who are you?"
"Nice to meet you, Norton Sag," a voice replied from behind Sag.
Unfazed, Sag picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of meat, popping it into his mouth and chewing noisily, bones and all.
"Don't ruin my mood, Crocodile," Sag said nonchalantly.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
