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Chapter 56
The night was very, very deep...
Jepack, who was about to close his eyes and sleep, suddenly sensed a sneaky figure quietly entering his room!
"It's Guina—she wouldn't come with scissors, right? 〣( oΔo )〣?"
He saw Guina groping her way through the darkness to Jepack's side. She extended her mischievous little hand slowly toward Jepack's face!
"Yame-ro! Should I keep pretending to sleep? She probably isn't here to cut me, right?"
Just as Jepack was struggling internally, his cheek was gently pinched by a warm small hand. At the same time, a voice whispered in his ear:
"Just consider this your reward for accompanying me to practice swordsmanship tonight and teaching me your own insights!"
After a while, Jepack felt he could no longer keep pretending to sleep. He reached out and grabbed Guina's hand.
In the darkness, Guina let out a startled cry: "You… you weren't asleep?"
"Just woke up!"
"Then… I'll leave!"
How could Jepack possibly let such delicious prey walk away? He pulled Guina over and pinned her down.
"Woman, you're playing with fire…"
On the other side, Tashigi, who had returned to the Navy base holding two swords, personally began maintaining them.
This time the cursed sword didn't resist or emit any evil aura—it had likely been suppressed by Jepack's Ten'en and didn't dare act up again. It stayed quietly in Tashigi's hands.
"Tashigi, why are you out shopping again on your day off? Oh—two famous swords. Nice luck!"
Standing beside Tashigi was a muscular, tall man with a scar on his right chest, two cigars in his mouth at once.
He had short silver-white hair, reddish-brown eyes, wore an open white thick jacket with teal fur trim on the collar, cuffs, and hem, the word "Justice" printed on the back, and several cigars fixed on the jacket.
He also wore brown leather gloves, blue jeans with a brown belt, and brown thick-soled military boots.
"Captain Smoker—these aren't swords I went looking for!"
Tashigi saluted when she saw it was Smoker and explained that the two swords weren't ones she had sought out to buy.
Hearing this, Smoker became even more interested and asked: "Not ones you went looking for? Then where did the two famous swords in your hands come from?"
"Also—if I'm not mistaken, the one you haven't finished maintaining yet is a cursed sword that was just recently suppressed, right?"
After hearing Smoker's questions, Tashigi continued polishing the famous sword in her hand while explaining aloud: "This is a thank-you gift from someone I helped. I refused many times, but in the end it still ended up in my hands!"
"The one in my hand is indeed a cursed sword that was recently suppressed—Third Generation Kitetsu!"
Smoker was shocked by Tashigi's words and asked in disbelief: "What? Someone was that generous to just give away famous swords? Is he your good friend? What did you help him with?"
"Speaking of which, what I helped with was really just a small thing…"
Then Tashigi roughly explained what happened in the afternoon to Smoker, skipping over some parts vaguely.
After hearing Tashigi's story, Smoker became interested in Jepack too. He thought to himself: "Sounds like a very strong guy. If I get the chance, I definitely want to spar with him!"
Then he remembered that a few days ago when Vice Admiral Garp passed through Loguetown, he had also mentioned someone named Jepack.
"You said his name is Jepack, right?"
"Yes, Captain. Doesn't the name sound familiar to you too? When I heard it this afternoon, I also felt like I'd heard it somewhere before!"
"Of course it's familiar. Didn't you hear it a few days ago when Vice Admiral Garp passed through here? You were there too. Maybe the person you met today is the same one Vice Admiral Garp kept talking about."
At this point, Tashigi finally remembered where she had heard the name. She clapped her hands.
"Ah! So it was the one Vice Admiral Garp mentioned. No wonder the name Jepack felt so familiar!"
Smoker finally asked one last question: "Do you know where he is now?"
Tashigi hadn't heard Smoker's last question—she was lost in thought about Jepack's figure.
After Smoker gave a light cough to prompt her, she slowly answered: "He said he'll stay in Loguetown for a few more days. His ship is docked at the port over there."
"He even invited me to come visit them and have fun…"
Smoker didn't listen to the rest of what Tashigi said. His mouth twitched, and he turned to walk out the door.
Just before leaving, he said to Tashigi: "Wipe the drool off your mouth—it's about to drip onto your famous swords!"
"Ah~!" Tashigi quickly wiped her mouth, but there was no drool like Smoker said. She realized she had been teased by Smoker.
Her face gradually turned bright red. Good thing Smoker had already left—otherwise she'd have been laughed at again!
The next morning, on the deck of the Ten'en.
Nami and Jepack were talking.
"Did you manage to coax Big Sis Guina last night?"
"I think… probably… I should have coaxed her, right?"
Jepack had worked super hard the entire night before, but he still wasn't completely sure if he had succeeded.
"What do you mean 'probably' or 'should have'? You're useless!"
Nami made a disdainful gesture and mocked Jepack.
"You little brat—want another punishment? How dare you provoke me!"
"Yame-ro~ Big Sis Guina, save me!"
Seeing Guina appear on the deck, Nami immediately pounced toward her.
Guina caught Nami's flying hug, then met eyes with Jepack.
Seven parts cold, three parts shy—showing that Guina's mood was still not very calm. It seemed she had only forgiven Jepack halfway.
Then Guina pointed at Jepack and said coolly: "You—today's meal plan is up to you. Make sure it's energy-replenishing!"
"Nami, come on—let's train!"
With that, without waiting for either of them to reply, she dragged Nami toward the training room.
Being dragged away, Nami shouted: "Yame-ro! Jepack, save me!"
"Sorry Nami—looks like I can barely save myself. I can't save you!"
"Jepack, you're just a FVV ?( ?; ?; )?┌∩┐!"
Two hours later, with nothing to do, Jepack prepared to go wander around Loguetown again. Before he even got off the ship, he heard a loud shout.
"Who is Jepack?!"
Smoker stood at the port shouting Jepack's name. In his heart he thought: "I should've asked Tashigi clearly last night. Now I have to yell in a place full of people!"
From far away, seeing Smoker with two cigars in his mouth, Jepack exclaimed:
"Damn, isn't that Smoker? What's he coming to find me for?"
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