The Days of Being the Richest Man in the Ninja World

[V3] - Chapter 20. You Definitely Do!

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Time passed little by little.

After one hour.

Still, no one had arrived.

After two hours.

Still, no one had arrived.

After three hours…

It was still just the two of them.

Ace and Deuce looked at each other in surprise.

Everyone's working overtime this late today?

Wasn't the Yuto Group against excessive overtime?

If this went on any longer, the Dance Hall would probably realize he had dined and dashed again!

Just thinking about it—

Ace shivered all over, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

If he failed to escape again…

And the debt increased by another five million…

He was done for!

How long would he have to keep working to pay it off?!

After hesitating for a moment, he looked at Deuce and asked, "Did you tell them?"

"I already did!" Deuce nodded seriously. Still… it had been quite a while, and he was feeling a bit uneasy inside. But seeing the worry on the Captain's face, he quickly added, "Don't worry! From what I've gathered, that Boss behind the scenes isn't around right now. So even if we get caught, I believe with all of us together, we can definitely make it out!"

"You're right!" Hearing Deuce's words, Ace also relaxed a bit.

Even though he couldn't use his powers right now, his partners were strong too. As long as everyone was together, no matter what danger they faced, the Spade Pirates wouldn't be afraid!

Because that's the Spade Pirates.

That's his partners!

Thinking of the partners he trusted, the corners of Ace's mouth curled up, and a confident smile appeared on his face. "Then let's wait a bit longer!"

As those words fell—

At that moment.

Suddenly.

A burst of hurried footsteps came from the dark alley behind them.

The two of them looked at each other again.

They were finally here?!

Their partners… had arrived!

From this moment on—

The Spade Pirates assemble!

He—

Portgas D. Ace—

No longer has to keep working here!

Honestly—

Before setting sail, he had confidently told Luffy that he would make a name for himself on the seas and become a great pirate. Yet… not long after entering the Grand Line, he was forced into labor to pay off debts—and even had his arm and leg broken during an escape attempt.

If Luffy found out…

He couldn't even imagine what kind of face Luffy would make!

But now—

All of that was over!

He nodded to Deuce, signaling [get ready to leave], and walked outside with excitement.

That kind of excitement inside him…

It was hard to put into words.

You know, he had taken quite a beating just trying to escape!

With a slight smile, Ace walked toward the source of the footsteps, arms spread wide—showing the wide heart of the Spade Pirates' Captain. "You guys made it! Now, our Spade Pirates—"

Before he could finish—

A voice rang out from the darkness, "Hey, little brother~ What's up? What's with the spade and peaches?"

Hearing that familiar voice…

The smile on Ace's face froze slightly. He quickly looked up at the shadows from which the figures emerged—especially the one in front—

Damn it!

Didn't Deuce say that guy wasn't in Alabasta?

Why's he here?!

As Ace stared at the man in front of him in disbelief—

"Instead of going home to rest after work, what are you doing sneaking around here?" Yuto looked at him sternly. "Were you planning to skip out on your debts again and make a run for it?"

"I…" Ace fell silent, quickly blocking Deuce beside him and earnestly looking at the Boss. "No! Definitely not! We were just out for a walk! Hahaha~"

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Then do you know how much you owe now?"

"One hundred million… five hundred… ten million Berries!"

As soon as he finished—

Yuto shook his head and sighed, "It's not that little!"

"Hahaha~ Yeah, true!" Ace chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head. "I guess things aren't finished yet, so I haven't racked up that much debt!"

Forget it, forget it.

Just under five million.

Compared to that hundred million… it was nothing!

However—

Just as Ace felt relieved—

Yuto expressionlessly pulled out a bill and said, "The total is one hundred ninety-five million! Almost two hundred million! May I ask, Ace-san, when do you plan to pay?"

As the words dropped—

"What?!" Ace's voice instantly rose, his face full of disbelief. "Why did it go up that much? That was just a little while! How did it increase by ninety million Berries?!"

Deuce, who overheard, was also shocked and quickly said, "Exactly! Are you guys scamming our Captain, this idiot? I thought the Yuto Group was a decent company—turns out the Boss is black-hearted too!"

"Deuce, you…"

"Hey hey hey, don't go falsely accusing us!" Yuto immediately interrupted Deuce, who was glaring resentfully at his partner. He said seriously, "Our Yuto Group has always been committed to honest business. We never cheat or exploit anyone! Every charge is clearly itemized! Here's the bill—want to see it?"

"Then why… did the amount jump so much? Things haven't even wrapped up yet!"

"You mean that?" Yuto sighed and his mouth twitched slightly, but his face stayed expressionless as he calmly said, "An enthusiastic citizen overheard you were buying and took out a few bottles of vintage wine from the cabaret's reserve—also opened several 'Shenron Sets.'"

"…"

What the heck is a Shenron Set?!

…

The next day.

The Spade Pirates failed to escape their debts once again.

And to prevent another attempt, Yuto directly staggered the working hours and overtime schedules of the Spade Pirates' crew members. He didn't believe it… with everyone separated, that debt-dodging Ace would still try to abandon his crew and run off.

Of course.

Comrade Bin-chan, who had neglected her duties, also had her internship extended.

In response, Bin-chan expressed her dissatisfaction and even seemed to threaten resignation. But unable to afford the hefty compensation fee, she could only compromise and take out her anger on his daughter—relentlessly squishing the girl's cheeks!

However.

As for this nearly 200 million… could the Spade Pirates really pay it off?

If not… maybe go find Ace's grandfather?

The son's debt is repaid by the father.

Now that his father's no longer around, the only option left is the grandfather.

If they don't pay up, who knows whether the Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp, will allow Yuto Group's food delivery to continue reaching Marine Headquarters?

After all—

Vice Admiral Garp is a close friend of the current Fleet Admiral.

Surely Fleet Admiral Sengoku won't just sit by and let the Marines' pride default on their debts, right?

At this moment—

Helpful fellow Kuzan knocked and then strolled lazily into the room.

Yuto looked at him in surprise, "Thinking of switching jobs?" Then, excitedly grabbed his hand, "You're more than welcome!"

"…"

Kuzan looked speechlessly at this guy, but remembering his mission this time, he sat down and lazily said, "The higher-ups hope you can help with something."

"???"

Help with what?

Yuto looked at him in confusion.

Before he could ask—

"The Fleet Admiral hopes you can keep the Spade Pirates here and not let them return to the sea," Kuzan said with a whistle, lazily continuing, "Of course, it's your choice. I'm just passing on the message!"

As those words fell—

Yuto was briefly stunned, then squinted slightly, and leaned back in his Boss chair, crossing his legs, speaking with a troubled tone, "You guys are putting us in a tough spot. You know, we're an honest business—how could we dare to offend pirates? It's terrible~"

"…Is that so?" Kuzan shrugged helplessly, "Then forget it."

He was only here to pass on the message anyway, since it wasn't even an official mission.

Just as he was about to get up and leave—

Yuto's eyelid twitched, and he quickly said with a serious face, "But for the peace of the sea, as the Yuto Group, dedicated to peace, we can't refuse!"

"???"

"Just a small request!"

"So troublesome! Then forget it!"

"Small request! Just a small one! At least hear it out."

"…Go on."

"May I ask… does Marine Headquarters need food delivery service?"

"…No, we don't!"

"No! You do!"

"We really don't!"

"You definitely do!"

"…"