"Hey, hey, hey, don't do that!"
The big man toppled forward, straight down at him. Spandam could already picture it, if that massive body actually came crashing down on him, the ending would be anything but pleasant.
Unfortunately, Spandam's desperate shout did nothing to stop the fall.
Three seconds later, the man's bulky frame slammed down, pinning Spandam to the ground. The guy was so broad and heavy that Spandam's figure disappeared completely beneath him.
Just behind them, a black-suited agent blinked once, then silently shuffled two steps back.
"Huh. You're not dead?"
Jason shook his head, feeling surprised. After sneaking away from Rojen earlier, he had stuffed himself with food and drowned it with liquor. That drunken stupor was exactly why he'd slipped on the steps and taken that spectacular fall just now.
"Get off me!" Beneath him, Spandam's muffled voice trembled with rage and humiliation.
"Who's talking?" Jason froze. He sat up, glancing around.
His massive weight shifted again, his rear landing squarely on Spandam's stomach, earning another sharp grimace from the long-suffering officer.
"Below you," One of the men in black muttered, pointing directly at Jason's backside.
Jason finally turned and spotted Spandam. His own face was flushed from alcohol, but now it carried an awkward tinge of embarrassment.
"Sorry, sorry, I slipped!"
"You idiot!" Spandam roared, his voice cracking. "Get off me, now!"
Jason made to stand, but his drunken body moved sluggishly. He stumbled, lost his balance, and, Whump!
"AAHHH!" Spandam shrieked. The man's sheer bulk pressed down like a mountain. He swore his ribs were seconds away from snapping.
"Sorry! My bad, my bad!" Jason scrambled upright at last, babbling apologies.
"You okay down there?" He even turned, extending a hand to help the man up, at least he knew it was his fault.
"Get away from me!" Spandam wheezed, sucking in air between pained hisses. The fat brute's weight had nearly suffocated him.
"Heh… heh…"
Jason scratched his head, withdrew the offered hand awkwardly, and started to walk off.
"Stop right there!" Spandam shouted, hauling himself up with sheer indignation. "You think crushing me is something you can just walk away from?"
"Uh?" Jason blinked, turning back. "What else am I supposed to do?"
That innocent, almost childlike expression of saying, 'I didn't do anything wrong, did I?', made Spandam's blood boil. What kind of blockhead had stumbled into his path?
"You idiots!" Spandam whirled on his subordinates, barking at the men in black. "You just stood there and watched me get flattened?!"
The agents lowered their heads. Their lips twitched with suppressed laughter, but they kept their faces angled down. None of them harbored much respect for their superior anyway.
"Grab him! Now!" Spandam shrieked. "I'll have him dragged to Judicial Island for trial. To assault an official of the World Government in public, I'll see him sentenced to death!"
"Sir," One tall, gaunt subordinate murmured carefully, "Right now we should focus on the mission. Drawing attention here would only complicate matters."
"Tch…"
Spandam's eyes flicked around. Sure enough, curious onlookers were beginning to gather. He let out a sharp, nasal scoff, glaring daggers at Jason.
"Don't think you'll get away. I'll deal with you later."
Throwing down the threat, Spandam stormed off with his entourage in tow.
Jason stood frozen, baffled, still not sure what the hell had just happened.
"…Weirdo," He muttered at last. Then he staggered off toward the harbor, gnawing on a greasy chicken leg as though nothing at all had occurred.
By dusk, Rojen's crew trickled back onto the ship one by one, each carrying supplies, things the vessel would need for the coming stretch of their journey.
Every time they stopped at an island, resupplying had become second nature, a routine everyone had long since grown accustomed to.
"Jason-Nii San, you're back!"
The six Dragon-Elephant brothers were huddled together playing cards. Seeing Jason return, they greeted him with their usual boisterous laughter.
"Mm, I see you're keeping busy." Jason gave them a nod. Compared to before, his mind seemed clearer now.
Before long, Rojen returned and gathered everyone.
"We'll stay here for one more day. The day after tomorrow, we set off for the Sabaody Archipelago."
His tone hardened.
"Keep your eyes open for suspicious individuals on this island, especially around the shipyard. If anyone from the World Government shows up, eliminate them on the spot."
"Tom San has agreed to build us a ship. The small problems that crop up along the way… we can handle those for him."
That was the order he gave aloud, but in truth, Rojen knew such measures were temporary at best. They couldn't truly solve Tom's troubles. At most, it was luck; if they crossed paths with danger, they'd deal with it as it came.
To oppose the entire world… unless Tom left Water 7 altogether and vanished into some unknown corner, sooner or later he would be taken.
Still, by the timeline of the original story, Tom was safe for more than a decade yet. That knowledge eased Rojen's heart.
Delay it as long as possible. That's all we can do.
Shaking his head, he retired to his cabin.
The night passed without incident.
At dawn the next morning, the crew disembarked and made their way into the city.
Water 7's customs and culture fascinated them, and it seemed they had arrived just in time for some sort of festival.
"Hey, Third, look at the people on the streets, why's everyone wearing masks? Some kind of special event today?"
The six Dragon-Elephant brothers whispered among themselves as they walked.
All around them, passersby wore masks of every shape and color. It lent the streets an eerie, almost mystical air.
"Maybe so. Let's go ask."
After a few quick questions, the six soon returned with masks of their own, joining in the fun. They pointed and laughed at each other's choices, mocking flaws, trading jabs, and enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Down at the harbor, Jason had picked a mask shaped like a bear's face, perfectly matching his towering figure.
"Crocodile, what do you think of this mask, huh? Pretty striking, right? Really grabs the eye!"
Crocodile only shook his head and walked on without a word, leaving Jason behind in just a few steps.
"Hey! You boring bastard!" Jason shouted after him. "This is the Water Capital's one-of-a-kind mask carnival! I spent all last night thinking about which mask I'd wear today!"
Crocodile raised a hand in a lazy wave, as if bidding him farewell, and didn't look back.
"Trens!"
Jason turned toward him instead, only to find Trens wearing a half-mask, the kind one might see at a masquerade ball.
"Well, would you look at you… don't you look dashing," Jason muttered with mock bitterness.
Trens was naturally handsome. With the mask, he exuded an extra layer of mystery, a unique aura that drew the eye.
"Heh heh. Jason-Nii San, your mask is mighty fierce too," Trens chuckled.
"Now that's good taste! Makes it worth spoiling you, doesn't it?" Jason roared with laughter.
He always liked Trens, the kid's straightforward, honest nature sat well with him.
Watching the three of them clown around on the dock, Rojen could only shake his head helplessly.
Those three… still the same as ever. Never an ounce of composure.
(End Of This Chapter)
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