Issho hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is there a place where I can gamble while drinking?"
"Hahaha, of course there is."
Lynch pulled a note from the West Blue Intelligence Organization out of his coat and led Issho and Kuina toward their destination.
The amusing part? Issho and Kuina couldn't even make eye contact. One relied on a walking stick, while the other wore a black satin blindfold.
Before long, they arrived at the largest tavern in the area.
As they pushed open the door, the rich aroma of wine mixed with the scent of dancers filled the air.
The bar, named Violet, had a distinct appeal—no toy workers, just beautiful, hot-blooded dancers doubling as waitresses. This unique charm attracted seasoned patrons, making it one of the most famous pubs in the region.
"Hahaha, you lost! Drink up—no cheating with fish!"
"Keke~ Head to the second floor, and it'll cost you extra."
"Come on, come on, cheers!"
Stepping inside felt like stepping into another world. Amidst the dazzling lights and indulgent laughter, this was entertainment at its finest.
The tavern was packed with people drinking, gambling, and tourists heading upstairs with dancers in their arms, seeking pleasure.
"How many partners does this handsome guy have?"
A sultry-voiced dancer, dressed in little more than a suggestion, sauntered up to Lynch.
Kuina snorted, while Tashigi blushed at the sight.
'T-This… This is basically the same as running naked in the street!'
Issho coughed heavily, realizing that the place his brother had brought him to was anything but proper. Still, he had to admit—the young women here were stunning.
"I brought my own company, so I'll pass," Lynch said before turning to Issho .
"But find three for him—good-looking ones. Money isn't a problem."
With that, Lynch pulled out a handful of Baileys and pressed them into the dancer's hand.
Her smile widened instantly. She hooked her arm around Fujitora's and cheerfully called out,
"Sisters, come keep this gentleman company~"
Issho stiffened as if turned to stone.
"Welcome, dear guest~ We're here," two more dancers cooed as they leaned in and kissed his cheeks, leaving behind two bright lipstick marks.
The usually calm Issho turned red with embarrassment, waving his hands frantically. "No, no! I can't, I really can't! Little brother, you're putting me in a tough spot!"
"Haha, Uncle Issho, take your time and enjoy yourself. I have something else to do, so I'll catch up with you later," Lynch said with a chuckle.
Turning to the dancers, he added, "Put everything on my tab for Mr. Issho tonight."
"Understood, sir~ No worries!" the dancer replied cheerfully.
As Lynch walked away, leaving behind the excited dancers, Issho let out a long sigh.
"You can follow if you want, but keep your hands to yourself," he warned before heading straight for the gambling tables.
With a beautiful woman by his side, his luck couldn't be too bad, could it?
Sure enough, after winning two rounds...
"Ararara! Young girls really are the best!"
"Yes, young girls are the best."
A calm voice interrupted, and before Issho could react, Aokiji had appeared beside him. "Mr. Issho, I've found you."
—
Meanwhile, Lynch led the two younger ones to a quiet corner of the pub, watching the strippers on stage.
"Brother Lynch, why are we even in a place like this?"
Tashigi whispered, her face turning as red as an apple at the dancers' bold movements.
"Waiting for someone," Lynch replied simply.
According to intelligence from the West Blue network, Violet frequently visited this tavern.
Violet—the second daughter of King Riku.
A Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user.
Glare-Glare Fruit.
Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Aokiji stood up from the table and stretched before turning to Fujitora. "Mr. Issho, are you really not considering joining the Marines?"
"Not for the time being," Issho replied calmly.
"Well, if you ever change your mind, we can grant you the rank of Rear Admiral anytime," Aokiji said.
Issho had a long history with the Marines.
For powerful individuals like him, the Marine system usually spent years assessing their character before deciding on recruitment.
The truth was, the Marines had reached out to Issho long ago, which was why he was later fast-tracked into the Admiral position during the world conscription.
But for now, things were different. The current system still valued seniority and military achievements.
While many considered Issho worthy of Rear Admiral, giving him an Admiral's rank outright would cause a riot—it would shake the foundation of the Marine's long-standing merit-based structure.
In the future, however, the Marines would be left with no choice. As pirates grew stronger and the situation worsened, they would be forced to break tradition.
The Summit War proved this—Whitebeard's battle left entire regions in ruins, including Issho homeland.
—
As Aokiji walked past the tavern entrance, he glanced in Lynch's direction, hesitated for a moment, then quickened his pace and left.
"It seems our luck is bad today," Kuina muttered.
"Yeah, looks like she won't be showing up after all," Lynch said, standing up after three hours of waiting.
Just as he was about to leave, a striking figure appeared at the tavern's entrance.
"A glass of Viper cocktail, and the rest the same as usual. Thank you."
After placing her order with the bartender, Violet casually took a seat not far from Lynch. She reached into her bag, pulled out a notebook, and began reading quietly.
"Brother Lynch, what are you looking at?"
Tashigi followed his gaze and suddenly blurted out, "Wow! They're huge~"
Violet had flowing brown hair, striking light brown eyes, and a red flower tucked elegantly in her hair. She exuded an exotic charm.
She wore a flamenco-style dress—a fusion of a flowing skirt and a form-fitting cheongsam top that hugged her curves. The design left her arms bare and subtly revealed the sides of her chest.
"Elegant yet seductive." That was Kuina's first impression.
"I'm looking at the pattern on her dress," Lynch said, eyes locked on the intricate Madara dots decorating Violet's outfit.
Kuina scoffed. "Brother Lynch, stop pretending. Just admit you're staring at her chest. Who even cares about some random dots?"
"Ahem… You can't just be so blunt about these things. We cultured people have to be more refined in our observations," Lynch coughed, trying to maintain his face
Kuina's eyes flickered with concern. "Her breasts are really big… I don't think I could hold one even with both hands."
She couldn't help but worry—would she end up like that too?
As she grew older, her body was changing, and her chest had been getting noticeably larger lately. It troubled her.
Please don't grow any bigger… she thought. If they got too big, wielding a sword would become a hassle.
If things continued this way, she might have to start wrapping them with a special elastic band just to move properly.
Meanwhile, Lynch casually waved over a dancer and gestured toward Violet. "Tell that lady I'll cover her tab."
The dancer gave a knowing smile. "Sir, are you trying to court Miss Violet?"
She was used to scenes like this. Every time Violet visited, there was always someone trying to approach her.
"No, just treating her," Lynch replied simply.
"I'm sorry, sir, but Miss Violet has a rule—she doesn't accept drinks or meals from anyone," the dancer said with a polite shrug.
Violet was a regular here, and most of the staff knew her well. It was rumored that she was a friend of the bar's owner.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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