The pirate attack barely caused a ripple across the Conomi Archipelago. Word had gotten around beforehand, thanks to Dante, but since he hadn't made any official announcement, life on the islands continued as usual. There was no panic.
It wasn't until the celebratory banquet last night that everyone got the full story. So, while there was some surprise, things settled down again by morning.
The people of the Conomi Archipelago had a lot of faith in Dante.
Besides... even the pirates who'd come to plunder had no idea what really happened. They'd come to raid, sure, but they barely glimpsed the island's outline before passing out.
When they woke up, they were already captured.
They had no idea what hit them.
So, this whole incident involving the Marine 16th Branch, despite the initial stir it might have caused elsewhere, was resolved surprisingly peacefully here.
It wasn't even as eventful as last night's banquet!
Today was a holiday.
Thanks to the pirates arriving last night, the higher-ups were busy today figuring out work assignments for them. So, many factories gave their workers the day off.
Pike's leather factory was one of them.
He didn't mind working constantly, morning till night, day after day. As long as he could eat his fill, and his daughter wasn't bullied or left hungry, he was content.
What's more, he actually earned wages working here on the Conomi Archipelago.
It felt unbelievable.
Elsewhere, refugees like them were lucky just to scavenge through trash. Even when they found work, their masters, slave drivers, really, barely fed them, let alone paid wages. But here...
He, a father who should have been picking through a garbage dump with his daughter, now had a job that let him eat his fill, sleep soundly, and even earn enough wages to buy his daughter new clothes.
That old woman who served them food back then, everything she'd said had come true.
It was like a dream.
Pike looked down at his daughter, Katie, holding her hand. She wasn't wearing the ragged, gray, ill-fitting dress scavenged from the trash heap anymore.
Instead, she wore a pink dress he'd bought specially after getting paid. A smile spread across his face.
'If this really is a dream,' he thought, 'please just let Katie grow up happy like this before I wake up.'
Just then.
"Daddy?" Katie, pretty in her pink dress, looked up, blinking. "What's wrong?" she asked, curious why he'd suddenly stopped walking and stared down at her.
"Nothing, just thinking how my cute Katie looks today!" Pike laughed, scooping her up. "That pink dress really suits my little girl!"
'No more scavenging trash,' Pike thought, relief washing over him. 'No more fighting like stray dogs over rotten scraps. No more sleeping in a stinking dump...'
It was so good. So much better.
"Of course! It's the first gift Daddy bought me. I'll treasure it," Katie giggled, hugging him back. Then her voice softened. "I wish... I wish Mom could see it too."
Pike fell silent, looking at Katie's downcast face. Sadness flickered in his own eyes.
Katie's mom had starved to death. Even rotten garbage others threw away had been precious food to them back then. Unfortunately, it hadn't been enough for her. As Pike and his wife both tended to give majority of their food to Katie.
But seeing Katie looking down, Pike took a deep breath, managing a comforting smile. "Mom would be so happy seeing you happy now, Katie," he said softly.
"Can Mom... see it?"
"She definitely can! So, you have to be happy too, okay? Don't make Mom worry!"
"Yeah! I will always be happy!" the little girl nodded firmly. "I won't make Mom worry."
"That's my girl. Since Daddy has the day off today, how about a reward for being so good?" Pike hugged her, smiling. "What do you want? A doll? Another dress? Some snacks?"
Katie's eyes lit up, but then she lowered her head, hesitant. Pike guessed what his considerate daughter was thinking. "Don't worry," he added quickly, "Daddy still has money."
They'd only been here a few days, but his kind boss had already given him an advance on his wages. After buying the pink dress, and with food and housing covered, he still had a decent amount left.
"This is just a special treat because you are being so good daughter today, okay?"
"I am always very good girl."
"Oh yeah? While I was at work, did you stay put and behave? No crying?"
"Yep! I didn't cry. I stayed right here and behaved, waiting for Daddy to come home."
"Then what do you want?"
"Hmm... Can I look around first?" Katie furrowed her brow, tilting her head as if deep in thought. "Can Daddy to buy it later?"
"Then I will take you for a proper look around today!" Pike agreed with a smile.
He knew... it was thanks to Dante that he could afford this, that he could grant his daughter's wish like a real father should.
'I'll definitely work hard,' he vowed silently. Holding Katie close, Pike walked with his daughter down the bustling streets of Cocoyasi Town.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Pike. He works at the leather factory. Got noticed for his skill, landed a good position," Robin remarked casually, noticing Dante watching the father and daughter. "He's diligent, serious about his work. Probably up for commendation soon."
As a competent secretary, she kept track of such details, like talented individuals among the recent refugees.
Watching Dante eat the Cocoyasi Town specialty, Captain's Chicken Nuggets, Robin's eyes softened slightly. Having followed this 'Boss' for a while now, she remembered well what Cocoyasi Town used to be like.
She never expected it to develop like this in just a few years. Even now... it felt a bit unreal. She remembered drifting aimlessly on that small boat, just staring at the sea... Then he'd spotted her, this 'Boss', and eagerly invited her aboard. A faint smile touched Robin's lips at the memory.
Back then, she'd only planned to stick around with the demoted, seemingly down-on-his-luck Captain for a little while before slipping away again. But somehow... so much time had passed.
'Is this 'Boss' a good person?' she mused. 'A Marine? He'd dragged his own subordinates and civilians out to sea to become pirates the moment he hit the East Blue. He was still technically a Marine, yet he was secretly sheltering her, the 'Devil Child', from Headquarters. How could he be a good person?'
Robin was lost in thought, a faint smile playing on her lips, and her gaze made Dante shift uncomfortably.
'Why's she staring at me like that after bringing up that father and daughter?' he wondered. 'Something she wants to tell me later tonight? Or maybe she wants...'
Dante glanced at the 'Captain's Chicken Nuggets' in his hand, speared a piece with his fork, and held it out. "Want one?" he asked, puzzled.
Pulled from her thoughts, Robin blinked at the piece of chicken held out to her. After a moment's surprise, she smiled faintly, brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, leaned in, and took a bite.
Dante watched, surprised, as she finished the piece. She frowned slightly, dabbed her mouth delicately, and commented, "A little greasy, but not bad."
Dante blinked, surprised she'd actually taken it. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then-
"Well, well!"
A familiar voice came from behind. Even without turning his head, Dante knew it was Nami.
They turned. Sure enough, Nami stood there, having appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Before Dante could say anything, Nami planted her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks as she glared at him.
"While I'm slaving away, you two are just relaxing and eating around back here...?" she grumbled.
Before she could finish-
*Chomp*
Dante speared another piece and promptly stuffed it into Nami's mouth.
After a moment, Nami frowned after swallowing the mouthful. "Mm, a little greasy!"
"Is that right?" Dante nodded, glancing at the now-empty chicken nugget container. "I thought they were a bit greasy today too. I'll have a word with them later - can't have them ruining my Captain's reputation." He added with satisfaction, "Couldn't finish them all myself. You two have the last pieces."
Hearing his excuse, both Robin and Nami paused.
Robin just shook her head with an amused sigh. Nami glared again, cheeks puffed, but before she could retort-
"Anyway," Dante cut in smoothly, changing the subject. "How did we do on the profits this time?"
"Profits?" Sure enough, Nami's anger vanished instantly. Her eyes lit up like berries shone in them. She grabbed Dante's arm excitedly. "We hit the jackpot! We really cleaned up this time!"
(E/N: I know I wrote Katie to speak in third person before, but I just found it frustrating to do, I already know I will absolutely hate writing Hina dialogues, but for her I will try to keep in line with her character, for Katie thankfully she is still a child, so it can be easier to alter.)
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