Chapter 89: Joyful Emotions
Chapter 89: Joyful Emotions
Lida ordered a massive spread of dishes and asked for a drink. Soon after, Klah arrived with Navy carrying a paper bag, placing the steaming bundle of buns before Lida.
Lida grabbed a hot bun from the bag and bit off half in one go.
"Mmm, delicious!"
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she dove into the meal.
"Really?"
Kuro took a bun from the bag. Under Lida’s glare—like a mother tiger guarding her cubs—he took a bite.
"Hmm, it’s actually pretty good."
Soft, juicy, and fragrant.
Moments later, the waiter brought Lida’s ordered dishes.
Kuro poured himself a glass of red wine, sipped it slowly, gazed at the azure sky, and exhaled contentedly.
Comfortable.
This carefree, safe life was the most comfortable one.
As Kuro savored this rare moment of comfort, a shadowy figure watched them from a dark corner of the building across the street, eyes filled with grim resolve.
Clack-clack-clack.
"Buy some flowers, please, kind Navy Mr.!"
A series of tiny footsteps echoed. Kuro was mid-bite when a frail, childish voice piped up beside him.
He looked up to see a girl no older than seven or eight. Dressed in a tattered robe, she wore a chef’s tall hat patched with sewn-on scraps, her expression stubbornly brave.
Her frame was far thinner than Lida’s usual physical strength-maintaining loli form.
She clutched a bunch of wildflowers—clearly plucked from the streets, unprocessed.
Had this country’s beauty standards become so warped that even children idolized thinness?
Not quite.
Kuro glanced at her. "Klah."
Klah, standing by his side, pushed his glasses up and approached the girl. She flinched back, visibly afraid.
Klah crouched and forced a smile. "Girl, how much for all these flowers? I’ll buy them all."
She looked at her flowers, then at Lida devouring her meal, and swallowed hard. "I don’t want money… Can I eat something?"
Klah blinked. "Girl, with money, you can buy lots of food."
He pulled out a wad of Beri and extended it toward her. "Take it. Buy yourself a feast."
"I don’t want money!"
She stepped back again, shaking her head. "I just want to eat one meal."
"What’s this!"
Suddenly, several figures in black cloaks burst onto the street. The leader—a brute with a face like a meat cleaver—bellowed at the girl.
She startled, dropped the flowers, and bolted into an alley.
"Don’t run!"
The patrolmen chased after her. The leader approached Kuro, plastering a fake smile on his face.
"Interrupting your meal, Navy Officer, is a grave shame. I’m Kai Shao, patrol captain of Morgant Kingdom. To apologize, today’s meal will be on me."
"Is that so? Thanks then."
Kuro watched Lida demolish her dishes. Saving money was nice.
"But why stop a girl selling flowers? Isn’t that allowed?"
Kai Shao grinned. "The Kingdom’s rules: Only licensed individuals may trade."
"What about working?"
"Same. Only licensed citizens may work. But rest assured, Navy Officer. There’s a policy—Civilian rations ensure no one starves."
His smile turned reverent. "All Prince of Pleasure’s decrees. The people must obey."
Lida, now licking her fingers, interjected, "But what if people are starving?"
"Nonsense. Look around—everyone’s happy."
Kai Shao gestured to passersby, each grinning with unfeigned joy. Even himself.
"Alright, you’re dismissed."
Kuro waved him off.
Kai Shao bowed. "Navy Officers, enjoy your stay in Morgant."
After the brute left, Lida muttered, "How can you be happy if you’re starving? That girl wasn’t happy."
Kuro tapped her head. "Other nations’ affairs aren’t our business. Even the World Government respects sovereignty."
Still, his eyes narrowed, a faint crimson gleam flickering in his pupils.
Observation Haki, activated.
This Haki sensed danger, enemies—and emotions.
Undeniably, Kai Shao’s words rang true.
The citizens in long robes Kuro scanned felt genuinely joyful.
On this street, no one emitted anything but "happiness."
Yet as Kuro expanded his Observation Haki across the island, his brow furrowed.
Across the island, aside from tourists, only the flower girl felt negative emotions: sadness, hunger, anger, despair.
How could one child harbor so much?
"Her own sorrow… or someone else’s?"
Kuro lit a cigar, his face blurred by smoke.
This island… was strange.
Too many smiles.
Beyond the "happy" facade, Kuro sensed nothing else.
A utopia?
"Eat up, Kuro! Let’s go play!"
Lida’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He nodded and stood.
But then, a middle-aged man with dark skin and a vertical scar between his brows approached, bowing.
"Greetings, Navy Officer. I’m Xi Wa, your tour guide to Pleasure Island. Please allow me to show you Morgant’s splendor."
"Guide? We don’t need one."
Klah stepped forward. "We’ll explore alone."
"Impossible."
Xi Wa smiled, gesturing to the crowd. "All visitors to Morgant must have a guide—Kingdom tradition. Guides ensure you fully experience Morgant’s joy. Please accept this."
"Unaccompanied tourists are unwelcome here. But guides are free—our duty."
Kuro studied him. "Fine. Lead."
"Gratitude for your kindness." Xi Wa pressed his palm to his chest, bowing deeply.
"First, this is Morgant’s commercial street. Here, you’ll find toys unique to Morgant, like the most revered Prince of Pleasure doll."
He pointed to shops. Except for a few oddities, each store overflowed with identical dolls:
A young man in noble attire, masked eyes, surrounded by signed photos and merchandise.
(End of Chapter)
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