The Bruma Jackson slowly docked at the bustling trade island known as "Golden Sand Bay."
On deck, Tesoro stood tall, gently tapping his golden ledger with a finger.
Everyone already knew what this meant. That's right payday. And nothing got the crew more excited.
"Everyone, gather." His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire ship.
From the lookout, Rhett leapt down with a grin, swaggering over. "Tesoro, is it finally time for my allowance?"
Because honestly, what could be better than payday?
"Captain, show a little restraint," Tesoro replied dryly.
Rhett pouted. He glanced at the rest of the crew they weren't any better.
Enel sat cross-legged atop the mast, pretending not to care, though his ears twitched at every word.
Moria rubbed his hands together, chuckling greedily.
The two little ones, however, stayed calm. To them, money in the Dawn Pirates meant nothing.
Tesoro slowly flipped open the golden ledger. "Last week's expenditure report—"
"I don't wanna hear it, I don't wanna hear it!" Rhett clapped his hands over his ears, whining. "Just give me my allowance already, Tesoro! Please, I beg you, let's skip the lecture and hand out the money!"
"Captain," Tesoro pushed his glasses up, smirking, "because you snuck into the storage room and broke the door, which you still haven't fixed, you are fined 500,000 Berries. Your allowance is wiped clean."
"What?!" Rhett tried to argue, "That was me testing a new technique! It was for the crew's safety! Science requires sacrifice!"
"Science doesn't require breaking doors," Tesoro countered coldly.
Perona floated by, batting her eyes. "Tesoro, my new dress…"
"Little Perona, of course. Go with Della later, she'll help you."
"Thank you, Tesoro!" she beamed.
Enel snorted. "A god has no use for mortal currency—"
"You melted part of the deck. Repair costs come out of your allowance," Tesoro cut him off.
Moria's shadow twitched, and he tried to sneak away, but Tesoro spoke without looking up. "You stole 1,000 Berries from the pantry. Don't think I didn't notice. Since the amount is small, consider this a verbal warning."
Laboon let out a cheerful "Ooooh!" Tesoro crouched to pat his head. "Our Laboon is a well-behaved whale. Double rations of dried fish, and half the captain's allowance goes to you as a reward."
The deck instantly filled with wails and protests.
Rhett dropped to his knees, clutching Tesoro's leg. "Please! Give me another chance! I promise I'll behave on the island! Tesoro, without Berries I'll die, I swear! You'll lose me forever, Tesoro! Look into my eyes, you can't just look empty inside like that!"
Tesoro raised an eyebrow. "And what guarantee will you give me?"
Stella chuckled softly, stepping in. She knew they were all only fooling around. Tesoro would never truly withhold money, and Rhett would never use his captain's authority to push anyone.
Work had its hierarchy. Family did not.
Green light bloomed gently from Stella's hand. "How about this? If no one causes trouble on the island today, I'll bake a cake tonight."
"Deal!" Everyone shouted at once, their moods instantly shifting.
Allowance secured, Rhett lay back in his deck chair, basking in the sun while waiting for the ship to dock.
Lina approached, cradling a small basket. She spoke softly, "Captain, I'd like to buy some flower seeds. May I?"
Rhett waved lazily. "Go ahead, but be back soon. Enel, go with her. Don't let anyone mess with our navigator."
Enel stretched as if reluctantly standing, but Lina shook her head. "It's fine. I'm only buying seeds. I'll be quick."
Her voice was gentle as always. What could he say Lina had such a sweet temperament.
Rhett raised a brow, then smiled. "Alright, but be careful."
He wasn't worried. Lina could handle herself.
Ten minutes later, the Nirvana docked at Golden Sand Bay.
Rhett was already locked in a ridiculous staring contest with a takoyaki vendor. Sparks practically crackled in the air between them.
"Old man, if you can't handle it, just admit defeat. I'm the biggest eater on the seas. If you can't fill me, I won't hold it against you." Rhett smirked arrogantly.
The vendor scowled. "Listen, kid, my takoyaki is famous across this whole street. Big portions, guaranteed to fill you up."
And just like that, a strange male pride ignited between them.
"Oh? Then you're bold."
"I'll cook, you eat. If you beat me, I'll admit you're the better man."
Rhett slapped a fat wad of bills on the counter. "Cook. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"I'll only charge for ingredients. Bring it on!"
"Bring it on!"
No one could explain why, but this was the kind of heated showdown only men seemed to understand.
Elsewhere, Moria had handed Rhett his share of money to fetch food for him, preferring to stay in his room reading manga.
Perona was busy pranking a patrol squad of Marines, her Negative Ghosts leaving them wailing on the ground. "We're worse than seagulls…"
Laboon sat by the pier, tail swishing as he munched happily on a bag of dried fish, watching the chaos around him.
And Lina
She wandered through the crowd, finally stopping at a flower shop. The kindly old woman inside greeted her with a smile. "Looking for something, child?"
Lina pointed shyly at a shelf. "Some sunflower and bellflower seeds, please."
The woman wrapped the seeds and handed them over, and just as Lina reached for her purse, a thick arm shoved between them, snatching her basket.
"Well now, look at this pretty little thing," sneered a burly pirate, his scarred face twisting into a grin. His crew crowded behind him, leering.
Lina instinctively stepped back, her voice trembling. "P-please, give it back…"
The pirate captain laughed. "Oh, I'll give it back. But only if you have a drink with us." He reached for her wrist.
Lina darted aside, eyes suddenly sharp. Her hand slid to the hilt of her rapier.
"I don't want trouble," she said coldly. "Return the basket."
The man sneered. "Trouble doesn't ask what you want."
Just as Lina prepared to draw, the sky darkened. A blinding bolt of lightning slammed into the ground at the pirate's feet, sending him stumbling back.
"Who's there?!" the captain roared.
"Mere mortals… You dare lay hands on a god's comrade?"
Enel descended from the heavens, lightning crackling black and red around his body, eyes sharp with disdain.
The pirates froze. "It's… it's the Thunder God Enel! From the Dawn Pirates!"
Enel touched down in front of Lina, expression contemptuous. "Three seconds. Disappear."
"Three." Sparks danced between his fingers.
"Two." The pirates began to retreat.
"One."
"Run!" they screamed, scattering in terror.
Enel's name carried weight, second only to Rhett himself.
He flicked a hand, a thunderbolt striking the ground before them. "Next time, it won't miss." His voice was cold, like the whisper of death itself.
The pirates scrambled away, tripping over themselves.
After all, Enel was Rhett's crewmate. And Rhett was not a man to cross.
Lina let out a breath, her voice soft. "Thank you, Enel."
He turned, the lightning fading as he resumed his lazy demeanor. "Hmph. I just happened to be passing by. Don't get the wrong idea. I didn't come just for you."
Lina smiled gently. "I know."
Enel glanced at her, muttering under his breath, "I saw it."
She blinked. "Saw what, Enel?"
"Nothing."
They walked side by side back to the port, their shadows stretched long under the sunset.
Back on the ship, after hearing what happened, Rhett silently stared at the two of them.
He had seen this before. "Well, Rayleigh, isn't it obvious? Time for a duel."
Enel flushed red, snapping, "Shut up!"
Lina clutched her seeds, bowing her head. "Thank you, everyone, truly."
Perona floated over and hugged her. "Next time, I'll come with you, Lina!"
Rhett glanced at Enel. Enel gave a small nod.
Rhett raised his arms. "Then it's settled. Time for a feast, my crew!"
"Yeahhh!"
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