Chapter 34 : The King of Fraud - Hikaru

Cocoyasi Village and Departure

Cocoyasi Village was too remote—news birds never came this way, and Hikaru had no idea whether the Navy had issued a bounty for him yet.

To stay updated, he decided that on their journey to Loguetown, Yasuie would fly at the same altitude as the news birds, making it easier to receive information.

"Goodbye, Cocoyasi Village~"

Nami and Nojiko bid farewell to their hometown with mixed emotions.

The villagers, filled with awe and gratitude toward Hikaru, refrained from approaching him. Nojiko had already warned them that he disliked unnecessary disturbances, so they chose to keep their distance.

The Power of Slipperiness

During the journey, Nojiko diligently worked on mastering her Slip-Slip Fruit abilities. She also used its power to remove the tattoos from both her and Nami's bodies.

Later, she performed a basic beautification on Hikaru's concubines, making their skin firmer and smoother.

Notably, Porche's distinctively pointed nose was corrected under the effect of the Slip-Slip ability, making her appearance even more refined.

Near Loguetown

A few days later, in the waters near Loguetown...

"Onii-chan! Your bounty has been issued!"

Nami excitedly flew into the cabin, holding a newspaper and a bounty poster.

Her sudden outburst startled Makino, who was cleaning the room.

"Oh?" Hikaru raised his hand to examine the bounty poster. "Only 300 million berries? Well, at least they got my name right. Looks like Sengoku is reliable when it comes to handling these things~"

"Hmm~"

Makino quietly finished tidying up and left without speaking further.

Hikaru didn't stop her. After spending time with Robin and the other divine consorts, Makino had already come to terms with reality and embraced her role.

Concerns About Being a Pirate

"But doesn't this mean you'll become a pirate?" Nami asked hesitantly. She had always despised Arlong and his crew, and the thought of having a bounty on her own head made her uneasy.

"Having a bounty doesn't necessarily make someone a pirate," Hikaru explained. "Take me, for example. Or even Monkey D. Dragon from the Revolutionary Army..."

"Oh, right~" Nami patted her head, realizing she had been overthinking it.

"We're almost at Loguetown. Weren't you eager to go shopping? You can ask the others if they want to join you. It'll be more fun with company."

"Hmm, are there any new candidates for the divine consorts here?" she asked playfully.

"There is one—a Navy girl. Once I kidnap her, there won't be any other women in the East Blue that interest me."

(Some have suggested Desire, but based on my research, she's not in the East Blue at this time~ I'll definitely collect her later.)

"A Navy girl? That's not bad. She can keep Hina company," Nami mused.

As they chatted, the two of them walked to the edge of Yasuie, gazing at Loguetown.

Shopping in Loguetown

"Nami~"

Robin and the other divine consorts approached gracefully, preparing to go shopping. Most of them wore luxurious long dresses, exuding an air of nobility and elegance.

Hikaru glanced at their outfits and nodded approvingly.

Whenever his divine consorts went out, they always dressed in a dignified and elegant manner, ensuring that certain parts remained covered.

This wasn't just an unspoken rule among them—it was also a reflection of his possessiveness.

Naturally, he was the only one allowed to see their more private side.

"We'll leave at noon, so don't lose track of time."

"It probably won't even take that long," Robin remarked. "Loguetown is just a small town. Once we've explored the commercial district, there won't be much left to see."

"True."

The pirate world was dark and chaotic—only the larger, more stable nations had thriving economies that attracted people for entertainment and trade.

Soon, Yasuie hovered over Loguetown.

"Let's go shopping~!"

Hikaru nodded as the goddesses descended on clouds created by Nami. From afar, they looked like celestial beings floating through the sky.

He had already scanned the entire town and confirmed that there were no unexpected threats—no powerful figures like Dragon lurking around—so he wasn't worried about Nami and the others' safety.

Now then…

"Dashiki-chan, here I come!"

In the next instant, lightning flashed, and Hikaru vanished from sight.

A Knife Shop in Loguetown

In Loguetown, there was a small weapon shop that specialized in selling only knives.

Tashigi pouted as she stepped out of the store, closing the door behind her.

She had just seen the shop's prized treasure—the Snow Walker. Unfortunately, she didn't have enough money to buy it.

Sighing in disappointment, she turned to leave—only to suddenly bump into someone who had "just happened to appear" nearby.

"Oof!"

Her red-rimmed glasses were knocked off her face, falling to the ground.

Flustered, Tashigi quickly crouched down, feeling around with both hands to find them. Her hurried movements unintentionally exposed the fullness of her chest, giving Hikaru an eye-catching view.

"Here."

Hikaru enjoyed the sight for a moment before casually handing her the glasses.

"Ah~"

Tashigi quickly took them, hastily putting them on while apologizing.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I was too careless just now—are you alright? I don't think I hurt you..."

"Actually, you did," Hikaru said, clutching his chest with a pained expression. "My chest hurts from the impact. You're a Marine officer, right? You have to take responsibility."

The self-proclaimed master of deception put on his best act.

"Ah! I'm so sorry!"

Panicked, Tashigi finally got her glasses on and looked up to check his supposed injuries—only to freeze in shock.

Everyone on the street had collapsed, lying unconscious on the ground.

She stared, stunned.

"W-What… what's going on here?" she murmured in disbelief.

"I have no idea either… Oh? Don't try to change the subject!"

Hikaru suddenly lifted her chin, turning her face toward him.

Of course, this was his doing. With just a thought, his Conqueror's Haki had knocked everyone out, instantly creating a world where only he and Tashigi remained.

"Hmm—!"

Tashigi struggled, trying to pull away, but his grip was too strong. She took a few hurried steps back, finally freeing herself.

She glared at him in anger, but then hesitated, frowning slightly.

Wait… how could a wanted criminal like Hikaru be here? Shouldn't he be somewhere in the eastern part of the East Blue?

Still confused, she gathered her composure.

"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility," she said, grabbing the hem of her coat nervously. "What do you want me to do? Pay for medical expenses? Take you to a hospital?"

Hikaru smirked.

"You don't seem like a rich woman. So how about this—marry me and be my wife. That way, we're family, and there's no need to worry about compensation."

"Ah?"

Tashigi was completely caught off guard.

"This is our first time meeting… I'm really sorry, but I have to refuse."

She was dumbfounded. How could he say something so ridiculous?

Admittedly, he was handsome and fit her tastes, but she had no time to think about marriage. She was a Marine! Her duty came first.

"You said you'd take responsibility, but now you're refusing?" Hikaru teased. "So what if this is our first meeting? We'll get to know each other better with time."

"I…"

Tashigi's mind started to spiral into confusion.

Tashigi: A Kind and Honest Marine

A straightforward and kind-hearted girl, Tashigi possessed a noble spirit. She always considered the bigger picture, had a strong sense of justice, and was fearless in battle.

However, at this moment… she was utterly lost.

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