"No, no way. I'm determined to be a Sea King. How can I give up the entire forest for a single tree!"
Taro shook his head and muttered to himself, trying to find a reason to convince himself.
"Sea King? The one you mentioned during the Marineford War? I saw it in the newspaper!"
Vivi's brow furrowed, and the gratitude she had just felt toward Taro vanished instantly. "Taro, I didn't expect you to really be that kind of person!"
Taro was stunned. "It was reported in the newspaper? Why has no one ever mentioned this to me?"
Taro hadn't read that issue of the newspaper. The World Government had hidden too much, and he knew that issue was full of lies, so he hadn't planned on reading it at all.
However, he never expected that his dream of being a "Sea King" would be reported truthfully!
"Because everyone thought it was impossible! With your strength, how could you be obsessed with beauty? It was just an excuse to refuse the Revolutionary Army's recruitment!"
Vivi thought this was a matter of course, but now, she was starting to have doubts. "Could it be that those were your true feelings?"
Taro wanted to cry but had no tears. Now that someone was finally willing to believe that what he said was the truth, he didn't know whether he should admit it!
"Let's not talk about that. You still haven't told me, what's this about Hina being my fiancée?"
Taro rubbed his brow in distress and asked.
"Gion told me. It was the last time you two came together..."
Vivi relayed the words Momousagi had said when she was here last time to Taro.
Taro was instantly dumbfounded. He had thought Momousagi was a lesbian, but damn, everything was a mess now.
"If I said that the matter between Hina and me has been a misunderstanding from start to finish, would you believe me?" Taro wiped his face speechlessly.
Vivi looked at Taro with a face full of disdain. "What do you think?"
Taro: "..."
Sighing, Taro waved his hand helplessly. "I understand. You can go now!"
Vivi stared at Taro suspiciously for a good while. "Is it really a misunderstanding?"
"Yes." Taro nodded dejectedly.
"Then after all this time, you haven't made any attempt to explain yourself. How despicable!" Vivi frowned and gave Taro a look of disgust, then turned and left.
Taro's mouth opened and closed silently twice, but in the end, he couldn't say a word.
Fine, scumbag Taro, confirmed!
Seeing Taro walk in with a dejected face, Betty looked up from a pile of documents, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Oh? Got lectured?"
Taro glared at her without saying a word, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and gulped down two large mouthfuls to vent his frustration.
Seeing that Taro seemed quite discouraged and wasn't in high spirits, Betty's eyes darted around, and her expression became a bit more serious.
"The leader sent a message. Nico Robin wants to meet you and is asking for your opinion!"
Taro was somewhat surprised. He froze for a few seconds before looking at Betty. "What does she want to see me for?"
Why isn't she training properly at the Revolutionary Army's base? What is she up to now!
Betty shook her head. "I wouldn't know. I'm only responsible for passing on the message!"
Taro lightly touched his forehead and thought for a moment. "When? And where?"
"As soon as possible, and the location is up to you!" Betty replied without hesitation.
So urgent?
Taro couldn't figure out what was happening, but considering Robin's special status—as both a core member of the Straw Hat Pirates crew and the sole survivor of Ohara, while also being at the Revolutionary Army's base—it likely wasn't a small matter.
"I understand. I'll head to White Earth Island as soon as possible!"
Betty raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, quite surprised. "You actually know where our base is?"
"Uh, Dragon told..."
"Don't bother with the lies!" Betty stopped Taro's falsehood.
"The leader wouldn't tell you that."
Then the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "You have your own sources of information. The leader mentioned this, and we have no intention of interfering with your plans! You don't need to deceive me with lies!"
Being exposed to his face, Taro felt a bit awkward and quickly changed the subject. "Have you finished your investigation records? Are you leaving with me this time?"
"No, I'm staying for a while longer. You go on your own!" Betty shook her head gently.
Taro was a bit surprised. You're a Revolutionary Army executive, don't you have your actual job to attend to?
You're too idle!
"Your work in the East Blue..."
Hearing this, the look Betty gave Taro became even more playful. "You know a lot about us, more than I—or even the leader—judged!"
Then, she waved her hand. "Someone else is taking over my work!"
"Alright then!"
...Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.
"Jinbe, now, shouldn't you give me a reasonable explanation? You should know that given Fish-Man Island's geographical location, what the consequences are without the protection of a powerful force!"
Sitting on the throne, Neptune had his arms crossed, his expression exceptionally solemn.
A few days ago, after Jinbe had once again caused a major scene at Marineford following Rayleigh and Luffy, he returned to Fish-Man Island.
The first thing he did was meet with Neptune to stop the contact between Fish-Man Island and the Sabaody Garrison.
"Your Majesty the King, you should know that the Marine is an organization under the World Government. We have been an affiliated nation of the World Government for 200 years."
"But the status of the Ryugu Kingdom hasn't changed, and humans' discrimination against Fishmen and Merfolk hasn't improved. Why would you agree to the Marine..."
Jinbe looked up at Neptune, very confused.
"Ho ho ho ho, Jinbe, I didn't agree to the Marine setting up a garrison on Fish-Man Island, I agreed to Taro!" Neptune's large orange beard shook as he interrupted Jinbe.
"Shirahoshi's crisis has been resolved, and it was Taro who helped! Ho ho ho ho, Neptune!"
The fact that his beloved daughter had gained her freedom put the father in an excellent mood.
Jinbe frowned. "Even so, as the King, you shouldn't use the safety of the nation as a reward!"
Neptune waved his hand. "No, Jinbe! Although I did have some selfish motives in this matter, when I reached an agreement with Taro, he didn't know that I would use Shirahoshi's freedom as a condition! I had already made the decision long ago!"
Jinbe was somewhat surprised and was about to speak when he heard Neptune ask: "If not for Taro, who else were you planning to find to protect Fish-Man Island? Jinbe!"
"Big Mom!" Jinbe uttered a name.
Neptune's expression grew serious. He swam down from the throne and stood before Jinbe.
"On what basis could you convince her to protect Fish-Man Island? As far as I know, her 'appetite' is not small!"
Jinbe naturally heard the mockery in Neptune's voice regarding Big Mom's appetite. His expression was grave as he said solemnly:
"On my way back to the city, I obtained something—something that a pirate like her is destined to be unable to refuse!"
"What did you get?" Neptune was startled and followed up with a question.
"A poneglyph!"
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