"A glass of vodka!"
Nia tossed a handful of banknotes onto the bar and leaned forward, resting her chin on one hand. She lounged lazily, her posture effortlessly drawing attention.
"How about sharing a drink, beautiful lady?"
A man, clearly entranced by Nia's appearance, slid into the seat beside her. Adopting what he thought was a suave demeanor, he spoke in a low, affected voice.
Nia's gaze flicked to him briefly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. The man, encouraged, pulled out a few large-denomination bills from his wallet and handed them to the bartender.
"Please open a bottle of Stein's red wine for me—the one from the Migio Winery. Their red wine is light and sweet with a rich, spicy undertone, just like this lovely lady here."
"Apologies, sir, we don't carry that brand," the bartender replied curtly.
"Ah, in that case, Stoven's white wine will do. It's a bit green, but still a fine match."
"Sorry, we don't have that either."
"Well, vodka will have to suffice," the man conceded with a chuckle. "After all, the most important part of drinking isn't the wine—it's the company."
Nia regarded the man coolly, her golden, cat-like eyes narrowing slightly. Her gaze drifted to his hands, noting the calluses on his palms and fingers—evidence of extensive training with swords or firearms. She also observed his poised gait when he had approached.
Military? Government agent? she mused. No… not skilled enough for that.
Not that it mattered.
"It sounds like you've had your fair share of fine wines," Nia said, her tone teasing. "But I've never heard of the ones you mentioned."
"Well," the man said with a smug grin, "I'm a lieutenant commander in the Navy Headquarters. My experiences come with the rank."
"Oh, a lieutenant commander? Impressive." Nia tilted her head, feigning awe. "I've heard the Navy Headquarters is on the Grand Line. You must've had some incredible adventures."
"Absolutely," the man replied, puffing out his chest. "The stories I could tell are beyond anything someone from the North Blue could imagine. Especially about the Grand Line. It's a world full of wonders and dangers you wouldn't believe."
The man's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he noticed Nia's apparent interest.
Hook, line, and sinker, he thought smugly. His routine never failed—reveal his rank, boast a bit about the Grand Line, and watch women from the lesser seas fall head over heels.
---
Across the tavern, Rhodes watched the exchange with mild disappointment.
"I thought he might be interesting," Rhodes muttered. "Turns out he's just another guy trying to use his rank to impress women."
"Don't underestimate her," Neru replied calmly. He observed the scene with a detached air. "Catwoman Nia isn't as simple as she looks. There's a reason she's earned that nickname."
---
Back at the bar, Nia finished her vodka in one gulp. She waved dismissively at the lieutenant commander, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"I thought I'd hear something exciting from you," she said with a sigh. "But all you've spouted is nonsense. I've never been to the Grand Line, but even I can tell someone like you wouldn't last a second against a sea king, let alone one that can swallow a warship."
Her words hit like a slap. The man's confident expression faltered.
"You're boring," Nia continued, her tone dripping with disdain. "I'm not interested in men who talk big but deliver nothing. Now, move along before I lose my appetite for drinking."
"You—!"
The lieutenant commander's face turned crimson with fury. He had fabricated most of his stories, embellishing tales he'd heard from others, but no one had ever called him out so brazenly.
His embarrassment turned to anger as the patrons around him began to smirk. Desperate to save face, he grabbed Nia's wrist, his grip tight.
"You shouldn't act so high and mighty, woman!" he spat.
Nia's expression remained unchanged. With a single fluid motion, she twisted his arm and flipped him over her shoulder.
Bang!
The lieutenant commander crashed to the floor with a loud thud, his vision spinning.
"Pathetic," Nia muttered, sneering down at him.
She turned to leave, but as she walked away, the lieutenant scrambled to his feet, his face twisted with rage. He lunged, throwing a punch at the back of her head with all his strength.
---
Rhodes raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"She'll handle it," Neru said nonchalantly.
---
The lieutenant commander barely registered the blur of motion before it was too late.
Boom!
Nia's long leg came crashing down in a devastating axe kick, striking him squarely on the head. The force drove him back to the ground, his body crumpling like a ragdoll.
"Tsk," Nia said, brushing off her hands. "I told you I wasn't interested. Annoying men are the worst."
She nudged the unconscious officer with her foot, then bent down to pick up his fallen wallet.
"Guess I'll take this as payment for my trouble."
She removed a few bills, stuffing them into her pocket, and tossed the wallet onto the bar counter.
"That should cover the damages," she said to the bartender. "Now, pour me another drink."
With that, Nia sauntered toward Rhodes and Neru's table, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Well," Rhodes said, a smirk playing on his lips. "She is interesting after all."
"How about a couple of drinks together, gentlemen?"
Pulling out a chair, Nia sat across from Rhodes and Nailu, her golden eyes assessing them carefully.
Compared to the pompous navy officer from earlier, these two men were leagues above the rest. Especially the short-haired one—Rhodes. Her instincts screamed that he was monstrously powerful, like a humanoid beast.
Still, if they joined her, this mission would be much smoother.
Taking the glass of wine the bartender brought, Nia pushed it toward Rhodes and Nailu. She motioned for them to speak.
"If you've got something to say, let's get to the point."
Rhodes picked up the glass, took a sip, and frowned slightly.
"Beer's more my style," he muttered before turning his attention back to Nia.
"Exciting news," she began, her voice steady. "I've accepted a commission to deliver someone to Mignon Island. The client's associates will handle everything once we arrive. Safely completing the job nets us a reward of 5 million beli. If you two join, we split the payment evenly."
Mignon Island.
Rhodes mulled over her words. It was close to Feiyan Island—just half a day's journey away. After a moment's thought, he raised his glass to hers.
"Let's get one thing straight," he said firmly. "I don't do kidnappings or human trafficking."
"Relax," Nia replied with a smirk. "I have my principles, too."
"Good." Rhodes clinked his glass against hers. "Then it's a deal."
---
"Is this where the client lives?"
Rhodes raised an eyebrow as he stared at the run-down warehouse in front of them. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years.
"Can someone living here really afford 5 million beli?"
Before Nia could respond, a disheveled man emerged from the shadows. He was in his early thirties, wearing filthy, grease-stained white work clothes and a battered fisherman's hat. His unkempt beard and dark circles under his eyes gave him the appearance of a mad scientist.
"You're here for the commission, right? I'm Gray, a scientist."
Rhodes studied him skeptically.
Does this guy really have the money?
Sensing their doubt, Gray hurriedly explained, "Someone else will pay you when we get to Mignon Island. You just need to get me there safely."
The explanation didn't exactly inspire confidence.
"I'm working with the Felker family," Gray continued, oblivious to their skepticism. "They're a prominent mafia group that recently gained notoriety. One of their higher-ups learned about my expertise and invited me to join them."
Without waiting for questions, he launched into a monologue.
"I've been researching how to make warships traverse windless zones like the Navy does. It's a fascinating challenge, but I've hit a roadblock. The Felker family promised to fund my experiments if I designed weapons for them. I've always wanted to build the ultimate warship! Something even stronger than the ancient weapon Pluton!"
Rhodes sighed. This man wasn't just a scientist; he was a talkative eccentric.
"My goal," Gray rambled on, "is to surpass Pluton. Can you imagine? A battleship that would make the world tremble! I've got ideas, incredible ideas, but materials and resources are so scarce here in the North Blue. If only I'd been born in the South Blue—"
"Hey, is that a gun?"
Gray's eyes lit up as he noticed the firearm hanging from Nailu's waist.
"I've got something for you!" he exclaimed, darting back into the warehouse. He returned moments later with a sleek, black rifle.
"This is a prototype I recently finished, made with the finest materials thanks to the Felker family's support. It's far superior to what you're using now. Consider it a bonus for taking this job."
Nailu accepted the weapon, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He tested its weight, balance, and craftsmanship.
"This is impressive," he admitted, admiration in his tone. "It's clear you're a real talent. I can see why the Felker family recruited you."
Gray beamed at the praise, while Rhodes nodded subtly.
"If you've got nothing else to pack, let's get moving," Rhodes said.
Gray shrugged. "I don't need anything. The important stuff is all in my head. Everything else here is just junk from past experiments. But I'll miss this place. I've spent years here. If only I weren't stuck in a bottleneck…"
As Gray began rambling again, Rhodes rubbed his temples, already regretting the decision. Thankfully, Nailu stepped in to divert Gray's attention by asking questions about firearms.
---
"Where's your ship docked?" Rhodes asked Nia as they prepared to leave.
"West coast," she replied. "The ship's fully stocked with food and water. We can set sail immediately."
As they walked toward the port, Nia couldn't shake an odd feeling. Somehow, Rhodes had naturally taken the lead in their group, giving directions and setting the pace.
Wait a minute… wasn't I the one who invited them?
The strange realization lingered as they reached the dock.
"Here it is," Nia said, gesturing to a simple two-masted sailing ship.
Gray examined the vessel critically, muttering under his breath. "A classic design, but so basic. If it were up to me, I'd add a ram at the bow, upgrade the main gun, and increase firepower with more cannons on each side—"
"Shut up!"
Nia smacked him on the head, her patience finally snapping.
"It's just a ship. If you want upgrades, do it yourself when you've got the money. Now get on board!"
Gray rubbed his head, grumbling under his breath, but obediently followed them onto the ship.
"Set sail!" Nia called, her voice firm.
As the ship left the port, the odd trio began their journey to Mignon Island, each quietly wondering what awaited them.
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