When Saeko said that Reze and Kotonoha in the steamers were the 'perfect nyotaimori', Itsuki was a bit confused.
She quietly leaned close to Miku and whispered, "Miku, how can they still be...?"
Reze was definitely one of the loudest every night, and Kotonoha's combat power had expanded from 102 to 120 over the years.
Although her natural talent was a factor, without Makoto's diligent work, the expansion couldn't have been this dramatic.
Miku glanced at Itsuki expressionlessly and said flatly, "Weapon Devil-Human who have had a Devil's heart transplanted can recover from physical injuries by drinking blood."
Itsuki was stunned for a moment, an expression of disbelief slowly dawning on her face.
'Wow, so drinking blood can even restore that membrane, huh?'
'They sure know how to have fun.'
Afterwards, Makoto and his group began their dinner.
Reze lay in the steamer, allowing Makoto and the women to pick off the dim sum from her body, a perpetually sly smile plastered on her face.
Kotonoha kept her eyes tightly shut the entire time, her eyelashes fluttering constantly, her face red from the roots of her neck to the tips of her ears, looking like a startled fawn.
But during the tasting, Makoto also noticed a problem… Yu, Ace, Beam, and the others were not around.
"Where are Ishigami and the others?"
Makoto asked, picking up a pork dumpling.
Saeko smiled slightly and explained, "I told them beforehand to eat in town today."
Makoto glanced at her.
'Wow, you've prepared thoroughly.'
While Makoto's group was enthusiastically enjoying their dinner, no one noticed Kalifa quietly slip away from the dining room.
Or rather, no one cared.
Kalifa looked around to make sure no one was following her, then hid in the restroom of Otherworlder-Go.
She closed the door, locked it, and took a small portable Den Den Mushi from her pocket.
Puru puru puru~
The Den Den Mushi rang a few times, then the connection was made.
The Den Den Mushi's face simulated an old, dignified one.
One of the Five Elders, Garling.
Just like in the original work, he had become one of the Five Elders.
However, because of Makoto's butterfly effect, he had replaced not Saturn, but Nusjuro, whose heart had been kicked in by Makoto back in the day.
"Garling-sama."
Kalifa's voice was very low.
"This is CP9."
"Speak."
Garling's voice was concise and cold.
Kalifa reported all the information she had gathered while undercover beside Makoto.
"Portgas D. Ace, who is under Ishigami Yu, is the son of the Pirate King, Roger."
"Hayasaka Ai has obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, and it has been confirmed that she possesses the power to steal other Devil Fruit abilities."
"The next plan for Makoto's group is to target a pirate of Emperor level. Their first target is Big Mom."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment.
Garling's brow furrowed slightly.
Under normal circumstances, upon learning that Ace was Roger's son, the Five Elders would have jumped in fright.
Back in the day, they had killed all pregnant women and newborn infants that year to eliminate any future problems, yet they had missed one.
However, compared to Makoto, the Five Elders now considered Roger's son less of a problem.
"What is Nishikawa Makoto's current attitude towards the World Government?"
Garling asked.
To be honest, unless absolutely necessary, the World Government did not intend to confront Makoto.
At least Garling didn't want to.
After all, Four Gay Bros still held his heart.
Once a hostile relationship with Makoto's forces was confirmed, Garling would be the first to die.
Kalifa thought for a moment and replied, "I think, at present, Nishikawa Makoto's attitude towards the World Government is quite good. This afternoon, he even chatted with T-Bone, the Marine captain stationed in Loguetown. This suggests that, at the very least, Nishikawa Makoto doesn't harbor strong hostility towards the Marine."
Unfortunately, Kalifa was wrong.
Makoto only had a decent attitude towards the few 'normal people' in the Marine.
If he had met someone like Garp, Sengoku, or Koby, his attitude would have been different.
Hearing Kalifa's reply, the Five Elders on the phone breathed a sigh of relief.
But Mars remembered something and said in a deep voice, "We still can't let our guard down. Don't forget, that pair of sisters in the Revolutionary Army spent a long time under Nishikawa Makoto's command."
At this, the Five Elders became alert again.
Yes, for many years, they had been very concerned about one question… regarding the Yukinoshita sisters, who now held high positions in the Revolutionary Army, did they join the Revolutionary Army of their own volition, or was it at Makoto's behest?
This point was crucial.
"Kalifa."
Garling's voice sounded again.
"Investigate this matter."
"Yes."
Kalifa responded.
The call ended.
Kalifa put away the Den Den Mushi, took a deep breath, and walked out of the restroom, pretending nothing had happened.
…
The next day.
Otherworlder-Go and Perfume Yuda officially entered the Grand Line.
The sea breeze blew from the bow, carrying the unique salty, fishy smell of the New World.
The cloud layers in the sky were unpredictable, sometimes perfectly clear, sometimes overcast.
During the morning training session, Makoto was instructing Nino on how to use the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Nino stood on the deck, her hands wreathed in orange-red flames, fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
"Not suitable."
Makoto shook his head.
He had initially intended to have Nino train following Ace's template from the original work, but soon realized it wasn't applicable.
Their areas of expertise and physical builds were different, so the template couldn't be directly copied.
Moreover, compared to Ace, Nino, being female, had a more slender build and much better flexibility, but was on a completely different level in other aspects.
Suddenly, Makoto remembered that Nino was quite good at dancing.
A flash of inspiration appeared in his head.
He took a fan from his item inventory and handed it to Nino.
"Try this."
"A fan?"
Nino took the fan, looking confused.
"Try attaching the flames to the fan and using dance moves to launch attacks."
An image of a classic fighting game character popped into his mind… Shiranui Mai.
A fan, flames, and that bewitching posture.
Clearly, developing Nino in that direction was more suitable than towards Ace.
Nino blushed slightly but obediently picked up the fan and began to dance.
Orange-red flames danced along the edge of the fan, tracing beautiful arcs in the air as she moved.
"This looks much better..."
Makoto nodded.
At lunchtime.
At the dinner table, Kalifa, holding her rice bowl, pretended to casually bring up the Yukinoshita sisters.
"I heard that the Yukinoshita sisters, the West Army Commander and Vice Army Commander of the Revolutionary Army, used to serve under the Commander, is that right?"