The Days of Being the Richest Man in the Ninja World

[V3] - Chapter 21. Agreed

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"What the heck?"

At this moment.

Marine Headquarters.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku raised an eyebrow and answered the Den Den Mushi with a serious expression, speaking without the slightest hesitation, "What does he take the World Government for? What does he take Marine Headquarters for?"

He even wants to start a food delivery service?

What a joke!

Marine Headquarters has its own exclusive marine mess hall—why would we need outside food delivery?

Where would that leave the Marines' face? Where would that leave the World Government's face?

If people in Marine Headquarters all start ordering delivery, what would that look like?

And to maintain the solemn image of Marine Headquarters, how can we cooperate with a businessman like this?!

You have to know, even that Gild Tesoro, the man with the Gold-Gold Fruit and who controls 20% of the world's Berries—on the surface, the Marines have no cooperation with him. Only secretly... is it tacitly acknowledged that he can use the World Government's power.

There's no helping it. That bunch of pigs up top owes him a huge sum of money, so even the Marines have to obey the World Government's orders.

So when he heard that Kuzan had called and said that the businessman who settled in the first half of the Grand Line and defeated Crocodile actually wanted to cooperate with the Marines, Sengoku was furious inside.

He had always done his best to uphold inner peace and safeguard Marine interests, yet because of those pigs, the Marines had to secretly protect that businessman.

Although this was merely about ordering food, a simple delivery-type cooperation that didn't affect the Marines at all—

Just a small matter. Still, as Fleet Admiral of the Marines, there was no way he could lightly accept a proposal from just a mere businessman.

Moreover.

This secret mission was really just to make that bastard Garp uncomfortable!

If it didn't work out, then forget it!

The only bit of luck… was that Kuzan seemed to have a good impression of that guy. According to intelligence gathered by Tsuru, the assets of the Yuto Group were all proper businesses and had no links with any pirates. So, that so-called Yuto Group was likely just a capable commercial group with some strength.

That's not rare at sea. After all, without some strength, it would be impossible to build such a large business in the chaotic seas. And those with real ability... most had gone to sea as pirates at some point.

So when Sengoku heard about the Yuto Group, he actually somewhat admired that Boss Yuto. But still, he took a deep breath, resumed the face of the Marine Fleet Admiral, and said calmly, "In that case… forget it!"

Then—

He glanced at the freeloader beside him and lowered his voice, "Also, remember—the task I gave you is top secret, and make sure that bastard doesn't hear a word of it!"

As the words fell—

A helpless voice came from the other side, "Got it!"

"And hurry back! Don't just wander around outside!"

"Sorry~" whistled the eye-patch-wearing Den Den Mushi, "Eh, just now I found signs of corruption and abuse of power within the East Blue Marines, so I must head there personally!"

"East Blue? Are the claims true?"

"Not sure yet. That's why I'm going to check it out myself!"

"Understood. Reject that guy's proposal. Since he's not a pirate, be polite." Fleet Admiral Sengoku said lightly, then, seeing Garp rummaging through his drawer, his face instantly changed and he quickly said, "I'm hanging up! Come back early!"

After saying that—

He immediately hung up the Den Den Mushi, and his tone suddenly rose, "Garp! You bastard, what are you doing?!"

"Ah hahaha~, I saw you were busy and didn't want to disturb you," Garp said, unfazed, laughing loudly as he pulled out a half-eaten bag of senbei from the drawer and poured it directly into his mouth. While chewing, he complained, "How come there's only half a bag left? That's not enough! Sengoku, this is seriously not enough food for me!"

"Damn it! What's that got to do with me? That's my snack!" Sengoku snatched the bag, but it was too late—only crumbs remained inside. His face turned dark, "You bastard! That was my afternoon tea snack!"

"Don't be stingy~"

"You actually called me stingy?!"

"Hahaha~ Just buy more next time!" Garp patted Sengoku on the back, nearly knocking the air out of him, "By the way! What were you and Kuzan talking about? Sneaking around like that?"

As the words fell—

Sengoku's expression changed, but quickly returned to normal. He replied expressionlessly, "Nothing, just telling him to come back as soon as possible!"

"Is he in Alabasta now?" Garp didn't mind.

After all, he hardly bothered with Marine business these days. Besides, Sengoku was his comrade—from youth, they'd grown up together, hunted Roger together. Even if he didn't say, Garp believed Sengoku would never harm him.

Still cheerful, he said, "I know, I called him yesterday too—told him to bring back a Yuto Milk Tea for me to try. I heard it tastes great!"

"…I know! Now get lost!"

"Fine, your snacks are all gone anyway! No point in staying if there's nothing good to eat here!"

"…"

"Oh~ right!" At the doorway, Garp suddenly seemed to remember something, turned around and said, "I also finished the snacks you hid in your dorm."

"How did you know?"

"Of course! We've known each other for so long—don't I already know where you like to hide your snacks? For example, the photo album in the third drawer from the top on the right side, tsk tsk, Sengoku!" Garp raised his eyebrows and teased, "You need to take care of your health! I told you to get married earlier back then!"

"Get lost!"

"Oh oh oh, don't be shy~ Also… I told Kuzan! Later when he brings back the stuff he bought, remember to reimburse the expenses!"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!" Sengoku immediately picked up the Den Den Mushi and threw it at the shameless Garp, but Garp was prepared and shut the door right away, so it only hit the door. Looking at the tightly closed door, he cursed, "That bastard!"

Damn it!

That third drawer on the right was discovered by that guy!

And he even dared to threaten him!

His face turned red, then pale. Finally, he took a deep breath, ominous black lines emitting from all around, picked up the Den Den Mushi with a gloomy face, and when the Den Den Mushi put on an eyepatch, the corner of his mouth curved slightly as he coldly said, "Promise that guy! And…" He paused slightly, "Make that guy have Garp's grandson work hard! Work overtime every day! And…" a roar followed, "Oppress him mercilessly!"

…

Time shifted slightly to a little earlier.

The moment the call had just ended.

Kuzan shrugged and looked at Uchiha Yuto in front of him, helplessly saying, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku rejected it." Then he straightened up seriously, "The Marines don't need delivery! We have the best kitchen in this entire sea—we don't need outside food. So, Yuto-san…"

However—

Before he could finish—

The Den Den Mushi rang again. Seeing the seagull-hat-wearing Den Den Mushi, Kuzan immediately knew who was calling. But why the sudden call?

His eyelid twitched slightly, and he answered, "Moshi moshi?"

After a while.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he looked at the disappointed Boss Yuto in front of him with a strange expression.

"If it's not possible, then forget it!" Yuto casually waved his hand after seeing Kuzan hang up the call. Looks like he'd just have to hand out flyers later. No way Marine Headquarters didn't have someone who would order delivery…

So what if the Marines issued a strict ban?

They wouldn't really publicly criticize a Marine officer for secretly ordering delivery, right~?

What, is Marine Headquarters a university?

As for Ace…

Yuto furrowed his brows slightly, rubbed his chin, "It looks like we'll have to bring in his grandpa…"

Before he could finish—

"Wait!!!"

"???" Yuto looked at Kuzan in surprise, "What? Don't tell me I can't hand him over to Vice Admiral Garp? You know… he owes quite a bit of money. We really can't keep supporting him forever! The Yuto Group is a business, after all. Besides…" he looked at Kuzan with a strange gaze, "Admiral Aokiji, you spent quite a lot last night too!"

"Cough cough cough!" Kuzan quickly started coughing violently and then said seriously, "The Fleet Admiral has agreed!"

"???"

"The Fleet Admiral has agreed!" Seeing Yuto staring strangely at him, Kuzan averted his eyes and repeated, "Marine Headquarters has agreed to your request!"

"…Well, thank you very much!"

"So, about last night's expenses…"

"That was all done by an enthusiastic citizen!"

"Portgas D. Ace…"

"This guy must work honestly to pay off his debt!"

The two of them looked at each other and smiled, then… both squinted in satisfaction, prompting Robin, who had long been suffering from the Marines' nonsense, to roll her eyes as she watched the two guys buddying up again.

Only now…

Staring in surprise at the East Blue before her, Robin muttered to herself, "I didn't expect… we'd actually reach East Blue this quickly!"