Chapter 86: Two More Fates Changed!
GR27 Area.
"Name."
"Stella."
"Age."
"Nineteen."
Tesoro stood aside, watching Stella being questioned by a Government Official. When he heard her age, he looked surprised. He had thought they were the same age.
Funnily enough, although they had known each other for a year, he had been busy making money most of the Time and hadn't really learned these things about her.
At this moment, it wasn't just them. The people who had previously been captured as Slaves had removed their Explosive Collars and were lining up in long queues to be investigated and arranged.
"Gender."
"Huh?"
Stella looked with a confused Gaze at the Government Official in the Suit in front of her. Tesoro, standing beside her, couldn't help but retort, "She's so beautiful, can't you tell?"
"Looking like a Woman doesn't necessarily mean she is a Woman. Who knows if she's from the Kama Bakka Kingdom?"
The Government Official showed a hint of impatience in his Gaze, tapping the notebook in his hand with the tail of his Pen. He said, "I need to record this. Just answer what I ask!"
Stella nodded and replied softly, "Okay, female."
"Which Sea Area, which Kingdom, which Island are you from?"
"South Blue, Strawberry Island. Not affiliated with any Kingdom."
Hearing this, the Government Official made notes while nodding inwardly, thinking, "As expected, most Slaves are Freemen not managed by any Kingdom. After all, if you capture them, basically no one will care."
"Do you want to stay here, or do you want to return to your Hometown?"
"This..."
Stella hesitated, looking at Tesoro. The latter showed a hearty smile, holding her Right Hand, and said, "If you want to go back, I can go with you!"
But as soon as he said this, the Government Official in front of them reminded him, "According to regulations, the Marines only transport the enslaved personnel. You cannot go together."
"Then I'll just take a Ship and follow."
Tesoro didn't mind. The money he had earned this year was enough to buy a small Ship. Just then, a Navy Lieutenant who was maintaining Order nearby walked over and smiled, "Leaving aside whether we'd allow you to follow the Warship, ordinary Ships can't keep up with Warships. Plus, with the extreme Climate on the Grand Line, there's an eighty percent chance you'll get lost, not to mention the risk of being swallowed by the Nautical Mile!"
Many people had witnessed the scene of Tesoro and Stella passionately kissing earlier, so the two had become a major focus in this Zone, naturally attracting more attention from the surrounding Marines.
Tesoro's face changed, and he opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. He really didn't want to be separated from Stella again, but he also didn't want to stop her from returning to her Hometown. This made him incredibly conflicted.
"I choose to stay here!"
Stella held Tesoro's hand back, looked at him gently, and made her decision. Their Gazes met, and she smiled, "I believe you will definitely have the Ability to personally send me back, right?"
Tesoro's Adam's Apple bobbed. He nodded heavily and made a Promise with a determined Gaze, "I will definitely earn enough money to buy a Strong large Ship and send you back to the South Blue!"
But just as this handsome man and beautiful Woman were gazing at each other affectionately, the Navy Lieutenant felt a bit sour and a bit annoyed, and he snorted coldly.
"Just having money and a Ship isn't enough. What if you encounter Pirates on the way?"
"Do you have the capability to protect her and yourself? If you ask me, you should let this lady go back with our Warship. Otherwise, she might never be able to return in this lifetime!"
Hearing this, Tesoro was dumbfounded. He had never left the Sabaody Archipelago since birth. Although he often heard about and saw Pirates, he hadn't really had much interaction with them, except for serving Pirate customers who came to the store while he was working. Naturally, he hadn't experienced the terror of Pirates.
However, he wasn't stupid and knew what the result would be if he encountered Pirates at sea.
"What should I do then..."
"It's okay, then I won't go back. I'm willing to live here with you forever!" Stella smoothed Tesoro's furrowed brow with her slender and fair fingers.
"I'm sorry..." Tesoro looked at the Beauty in front of him with reluctance.
"Alright, since you've made your decision, you can leave." The Government Official waved his hand, signaling them to go. He still had to record the people behind them.
According to the records, they would divide the people who decided to return to their Hometowns into several teams based on the Sea Area, then send them to designated Marine Warships to stay for a few days before departing together at the appointed Time.
"Thank you for your hard work, and thank you to this kind Mr. Marine for your reminder."
Seeing Stella's beautiful smile, the Government Official and the Navy Lieutenant immediately felt much happier. It was truly pleasing to the eye, and her voice was incredibly pleasant to listen to.
This made their Gazes towards Tesoro become complicated. Why was this kid so lucky? He looked poor and weak, only his appearance was decent.
However, the Gazes of envy, jealousy, and hatred could not stop Tesoro from slowly leaving, holding Stella's hand.
"I'll take you home first, Stella!"
"Okay, is there anyone else at home?"
"No, that annoying old lady drank herself to death two years ago. The house became mine, and from now on, that will be our home!"
Stella nodded as she walked. She had heard Tesoro mention before that his mother, who really disliked his singing, even though Tesoro sang very well...
But just as this reborn couple reached the bridge connecting the GR27 Area and the GR26 Area, three more Men in Black in Suits walked over.
"Who are you?"
Tesoro quickly blocked Stella, asking cautiously.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Gild Tesoro?" The Man in Black standing in the center smiled and asked. Tesoro hesitated for a moment and replied, "I am. What is it?"
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Bielde, a Senior Director from the Propaganda Department, a Direct Subordinate Department of the Proclamation Government Institute. Please guide me in the future."
"Uh, hello, Senior Director Bielde. Is there something you need from me?" Tesoro asked with a confused look.
Senior Director Bielde looked at him gently and smiled, "It's like this. Our Propaganda Department was recently established. We plan to launch several Performers and cultivate them into Stars. Singers are a top priority. After careful consideration and investigation, we have selected you as one of the candidates."
"What?!"
Tesoro's eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape as he looked at the middle-aged man who seemed to be a big figure in front of him. Stella behind him covered her mouth with both hands.
"Wait, wait, there are so many questions here, let me think first..."
Tesoro immediately snapped back to reality, forcefully suppressing the excitement in his Heart, forcing himself to calm down, and asked through gritted teeth, "First, how can I confirm that your Identity is real? Also, how did you notice me, a nobody passerby?"
"Regarding the Identity, we can take you to a Marine Branch for confirmation. As for why we chose you..."
To be honest, Senior Director Bielde didn't know either. He was just as confused and full of questions. The higher-ups had only sent a Name and a general appearance, then ordered them to find this person and select him as a key cultivation target.
As for the reason.
There was none.
Having no reason was the big problem. It meant it involved Confidential Matters, things that even he, a Senior Director, wasn't allowed to know. Therefore, he had to treat it even more seriously.
This was political wisdom!
"It was a Talent Scout. Our Talent Scout accidentally saw you on the street and thought your image was very good. How about it, do you want to try the path of a Singer?"
Tesoro and Stella exchanged Gazes. The latter nodded, indicating her support for him to try. The former hesitated for a few seconds before saying,
"Let's go to the Marine Branch first. If you can find Officers wearing a Coat to verify, I'll believe you!"
Anyway, he now had a very high degree of goodwill and trust towards the Marines who had saved Stella.
"Alright."
"By the way, do you have any songs you've written yourself? If not, we can arrange for someone here to write for you."
"Uh, yes, I do..."
From this moment on, the fates of two more people were changed.
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(End of this chapter)