The Days of Being the Richest Man in the Ninja World

[V3] - Chapter 22. Help!

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East Blue.

The weakest of the Four Seas!

The up-and-coming pirate working in Alabasta to pay off his debt—Ace—also came from here.

At the same time, the Pirate King who once conquered the seas and reached the final island, Raftel—Gol D. Roger—was also from here.

However…

Just a moment ago, they were still in Alabasta, in the first half of the Grand Line, and in the blink of an eye, they had arrived in East Blue.

No matter how you looked at it, it was simply unbelievable!

What kind of ability was this?!

No wonder that supposedly unknown businessman dared to run businesses in both the Grand Line and East Blue.

Even Aokiji, who was lying lazily on the deck nearby, looked around in surprise. Then he frowned slightly at Uchiha Yuto beside him. [This guy... really isn't simple!]

But—

After a while, he didn't bother thinking about it.

As long as he wasn't becoming a pirate or violating the rules set by the World Government, then it wasn't any of a Marine Admiral's concern.

And since the guy was planning to sell food delivery even to Marine Headquarters, there was no way he'd be running off to become a pirate on the side, right?

He let out a casual whistle, "What a convenient ability. It looks like… I don't even need to ride a bike anymore!"

"Exactly!" Yuto nodded in agreement. "Riding a bicycle on the sea is pretty troublesome! Especially on ice—if you slip, that's no good!"

"Yeah!" Kuzan fully agreed after hearing Yuto's words. "It's way too easy to slip on ice!"

"That's why, in the vast sea, you can't really carry a bicycle around, right?"

"…What kind of normal person carries a bicycle across the ocean?"

"Is carrying a bicycle across the ocean something a normal person does?"

"No! Do you carry a bicycle across the sea?"

"…I don't!"

"Me neither!"

"…"

What are these two even talking about?!

Sitting nearby, calmly enjoying her afternoon Yuto milk tea, Robin's expression darkened again as she looked at the two of them.

After a moment—

She stopped paying attention, shook her head, and smiled as she played games with Yumi and others.

She was already used to it.

This boss of hers…

Sometimes he's a bit strange… he's black-hearted, threatens employees, and withholds salaries, but—

He's actually not that bad!

The corner of Robin's mouth curled slightly.

At this moment—

They had arrived at the East Blue branch, instantly arriving with a blink.

Then—

Under the branch manager's arrangement, they set off by boat. Apparently, the new store in East Blue hadn't even opened before it got trashed, and there were even people demanding protection fees, so they had no choice but to come in person.

Also accompanying them was a Marine Admiral and a relative brought back by the boss… Senju Tobirama.

Apparently, he came looking for his older brother.

Though no one really knew which older brother, Robin didn't particularly care.

As for that Marine Admiral Aokiji… the boss said there were signs of Marines in this area being corrupt and colluding with pirates, so he also came to investigate.

But—

Where did that guy even get such information?

As a temporary assistant intern, she hadn't heard anything about it.

Looking at the boss playing with the kids nearby, Robin hesitated, bit her lip, and asked in a lowered, slightly worried voice, "Boss! Are you sure your information is accurate? If it turns out you're falsely accusing Marines… that guy is a Marine Admiral!"

"Don't worry!" Yuto waved it off, then looked up at Robin with a smile. "What? You don't trust me?"

As soon as he said that—

Robin froze slightly, then a soft smile appeared on her delicate face. She no longer seemed concerned, and cheerfully looked at Yuto, saying, "Of course! You're my boss!"

"No matter how much you flatter me, I won't let you become a full-time employee! After all, your internship period isn't over yet!"

"…"

This bastard!

Robin's smile stiffened. She gave Yuto a side-eye, then pulled over Yumi. "Your dad is the worst!"

Seriously.

She trusted him for nothing!!!

"Even if it's fake!" Yuto grinned, winking at Robin as he smiled and said, "I'll give that guy 10 million Berries—let's see if he doesn't take it! Then we'll report him. Don't worry, I'm very experienced at this!"

As he finished—

Just when he thought the little intern assistant would give him a dark look—

Comrade Bin-chan instead became serious, thought for a moment, then nodded and smiled sweetly again, "What a great idea!"

"…" ×3

Wasn't this girl still normal just a few days ago? What happened to her now?

Senju Tobirama glanced at Robin a few times, his mouth twitching, then shook his head and stopped paying attention as he walked to the side.

He let out a sorrowful sigh.

This kind of… corruption and bribery…

It reminded him of his own student—Mitokado Homura.

"You..." Yuto looked at Robin in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and softly said, "What's wrong with you? You know this is illegal~"

"I know!" Robin smiled slightly and winked at Yuto. "But this is a mission given by the boss!"

That meaningful smile made Yuto shiver uncontrollably.

As expected of the Devil Child who roamed the seas at the age of eight!

This is the cunning Nico Robin!

Yuto let out an awkward laugh and waved his hand. "Our Yuto Group is a proper company. We can't do things like that! Even if we wanted to, it would have to be done secretly. After all, a Marine Admiral is right there! He's very strong! What if he arrests us?" He looked seriously at Robin. "We'd have to pay hush money from your salary!"

"..."

Haven't you deducted all of my salary already?

Thinking of that, Robin's smile stiffened, then turned into a gritted-teeth grin as she fiercely glared at Yuto.

Despicable!

Bastard!

Just then—

"Hey hey~" Kuzan finally couldn't hold it in, took off his eye mask, and said with clear annoyance, "I'm right here, you know!"

These guys.

They're actually talking about bribing a Marine right in front of him!

Do they really not fear getting arrested?

He looked at Yuto with a serious face. "As a Marine Admiral, how could I be so easily bought?" Then... he lazily stretched and whistled, "At least a 100 million, minimum!"

At that moment—

Senju Tobirama, who was standing by the side of the boat looking at the sea, suddenly spoke with a calm voice, "It seems like someone up ahead is calling for help! Should we assist?"

As his words fell—

The group all stood up in surprise and looked ahead.

Sure enough, they saw a small boat slowly approaching.

And on the boat—

An orange-haired girl was lying against the edge, seemingly weakened from a lack of water, feebly calling for help.

That orange short skirt, faded white blouse, graceful figure with a seafaring charm, and a delicate but still somewhat childish face—

Yuto immediately squinted, "This person... why does she look kind of familiar?"

...

My name is Nami.

Some time ago, I went to interview at the East Blue branch of the Yuto Group, but I got rejected!

They actually rejected me?!

The reason was... someone recognized her as a thief in East Blue—East Blue's infamous "Little Cat Burglar"—and the Yuto Group doesn't hire anyone with a criminal record.

It was infuriating!

Damn it!

So what if I don't go!

Just a mere commercial group—someone as youthful and beautiful as Miss Nami doesn't need it!

Besides, she'd heard that the branch on Cocomi Islands had been trashed and the employees captured by the Arlong Pirates.

But after so many days, no one from their side had shown up.

She even heard a few days ago that they were planning to send people from headquarters to negotiate. Negotiate? That clearly meant... the Yuto Group didn't want to provoke the Arlong Pirates either.

So.

What a pity!

She had no choice but to keep making money on the sea.

"Ugh!" Nami's face showed frustration. She bit her lower lip and looked down, her eyes seeming to glisten slightly. "Is there really no way to drive out the Arlong Pirates?"

After murmuring to herself, she lifted her head resolutely again.

She still had to work!

Ahead of her…

That big ship looked luxurious—so extravagant!

It had to be a big-time customer!

Surely, the people on board would save a poor, young, beautiful girl like her, right?

However—

Just as the ship slowly came alongside her; just as she thought the rescue rope would be thrown down—

Suddenly—

The big ship directly sailed past her, and the huge waves almost capsized her small boat, as if they hadn't seen her at all.

Nami stared dumbfounded, quickly steadied her boat, and then shouted loudly, "Hey hey! Help! Can someone give me a little water?" Then she blinked her glistening eyes, put on a weak, helpless girl act, and shyly lowered her head. "I... I can do anything~"

The corners of her mouth curled slightly.

[Now those muscle-brained idiots on the ship will surely agree, right!]

However—

Just as the words left her mouth—

Suddenly—

A cold voice came from the ship, "No!"

A woman's voice!