Another new side quest, huh?
After reading through the quest description carefully, Nao shook his head, closed the system panel, and chewed the last piece of grilled meat on his plate.
A wedding with three wives, held simultaneously?
Not impossible, but definitely not simple either.
The real challenge wasn't the ceremony—it was managing the dynamics of his "harem" before that day came.
Shia had known about Gion and Bell-mère from the start, so she wouldn't be a problem. No matter what, she wouldn't get mad at him; she'd only feel bad for her older brother…
The real challenge lay with the proud little rabbit, Gion, and the fiery-tempered Bell-mère.
"Rear Admiral Nao."
As Nao sat in silent contemplation, the BBQ restaurant's owner had somehow slithered over without notice. Hands rubbing together, face plastered with a sycophantic grin, he said:
"I had no idea it was you earlier, sir. My deepest apologies for the oversight. I've already spoken to the front desk—your meal is on the house, as a small gesture of apology..."
"No need," Nao said, frowning slightly, his thoughts cut short. "What kind of logic is that—eating and not paying? Do things as they should be."
The guy was fat-faced, greasy, and clearly no local from Shibari Island. Everything about him screamed shifty. Hard to feel anything warm toward someone like that.
"Oh no, sir, I insist—" the owner began again, trying to sound modest. "It's an honor to have someone of your rank personally dining at our humble shop! There's no way I could—"
"'Personally'? You think I send someone else to eat for me?"
Nao shot him a sharp glare. Across the table, Bell-mère snorted, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that—"
The owner laughed awkwardly. Just as he was about to start laying on more praise, Nao waved him off and pointed at the grilled meat in front of them.
"Tell me, boss, where do you buy this meat? It's so cheap. Aren't you afraid of losing money and closing down?"
At first, Nao had honestly thought the owner was just some eccentric retiree doing charity work. But seeing his demeanor up close? Not likely.
Which made the origin—and safety—of the meat much harder to trust.
"Well, uh... that's… that's kind of a trade secret," the owner mumbled, scratching his head. "Hard to share, I'm afraid…"
I'm a Marine; you're talking trade secrets to me?
Nao didn't have the patience to beat around the bush.
"Let me put it this way—I don't feel too confident about the safety of these bargain-barrel grilled meats. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'll just call over Captain Samo and have him bring his men to dig through your kitchen. Sound good?"
"Please don't, sir!" the man panicked instantly. After some agonized hesitation, he leaned in, glancing around furtively, then whispered:
"I'll tell you, but you must promise not to let it get out. If word spreads, this place won't survive..."
"That depends on whether you've been doing anything illegal."
Nao remained completely unmoved. He picked up his glass of milk, giving it a suspicious glance. Now that he was thinking about it… unlimited milk? That could be shady too.
Bell-mère didn't like milk and barely touched hers during the meal, but he had drunk five or six glasses.
He wouldn't get an upset stomach tonight, would he?
"No! No crimes! I've never done anything immoral, Rear Admiral!" the owner said, frantically shaking his head. Then, lowering his voice even further:
"It's like this: two years ago, I accidentally ate a Devil Fruit. Not only did I gain immense strength and grow horns on my head, but I can also expend stamina to infinitely produce beef."
"All the grilled meat served here every day is made by me. I burn myself out every night generating it. Afterwards I'm so exhausted I pass out in bed like a corpse. Rear Admiral, I earned every single Berry in this place with blood, sweat, and tears..."
Wait—seriously?
Nao blinked, momentarily stunned as he looked at the owner—who now wore the expression of a wronged little calf.
An unknown BBQ restaurant in the small East Blue actually hid a Devil Fruit user?He'd completely misjudged the guy. Judged a book by its greasy, pig-nosed cover.
"Sorry. I was wrong about you." Nao's tone shifted immediately as he offered a small, apologetic smile. "Do you know what kind of fruit it was? Maybe a Bull-Bull Fruit, Zoan-type?"
Come to think of it, the way this guy had developed his fruit's abilities was... bizarrely creative.
Anyone else with a beast-type fruit would focus on physical enhancement—using hybrid form to strengthen their body for combat.
But this guy?
He focused entirely on producing beef.
Opened a buffet restaurant.
Honestly? Kind of a genius.
If Big Mom ever got wind of this, she'd probably have him abducted and locked away in Totto Land—her personal meat factory for life.
"No idea, sir," the owner said honestly, scratching his head again. "When my body first started acting weird, I was scared out of my mind. I had to go around asking people what was going on. That's when I found out it was a Devil Fruit. Ever since I opened this place, I haven't dared tell anyone—I was scared they'd think I was some kind of monster…"
Which made sense. Nao could understand.
The East Blue wasn't exactly a hub of information. Most ordinary folk didn't even know what Devil Fruits were.
When an ability user publicly demonstrated something people couldn't comprehend, they were basically viewed as monsters. Most civilians would panic and flee.
"What about the milk?"
Nao took another sip—now that he wasn't worried about contamination, he realized it was actually really high quality. He smiled.
"Don't tell me you've got a business partner who ate a different Devil Fruit and can generate milk?"
"No way!"
With Nao's tone warming up, the owner finally relaxed completely. Puffing up with pride, he declared:
"Sir, the milk is also something I produce myself! I pushed my ability to its very limit!"
Afraid Nao wouldn't believe him, he suddenly ripped open his shirt, squeezed his chest hard—and a jet of thick, white liquid shot out on the spot.
"See? Fresh-squeezed daily. Super fresh!"
PFFFFFT—
Nao spit out his entire mouthful of milk.
————
That afternoon, Nao went back to the tangerine grove with Bell-mère, just like that morning. They chatted and trimmed trees together in the peaceful sun.
Bell-mère, of course, didn't let the "fresh milk" incident go, teasing him relentlessly.
Nao huffed that next time, he'd find a legitimate reason to have Captain Samo shut that BBQ place down and jail the owner for ten days straight—just for emotional damages.
…Of course, he was just joking.
More than anything, he was never going back to that restaurant again. No way he wanted to reopen that psychological wound.
The next few days passed quietly.
Nao slipped into a simple, pleasant rhythm between the grove and his home. Sometimes he went hiking or fishing with Bell-mère. Other times, he'd walk and talk with his parents.
He even took out the Rust-Rust Fruit.
Unfortunately, neither his dad (a seasoned Marine Captain) nor his mom (a regular housewife) had the slightest interest in becoming Devil Fruit users.
They were getting older, after all.
Bell-mère, on the other hand, was still undecided. She loved swimming and didn't want to lose that. Plus, the Rust-Rust ability wasn't exactly flashy—especially for a girl. It had limited appeal.
"Power matters more than flash. When you figure that out, go ahead and eat it."
—That's what Nao told her before leaving the fruit in her care.
He had no use for it anyway. With his "Somewhat Miraculous Fishing Rod," he'd have plenty more opportunities to fish Devil Fruits from the sea.
As for relocating to Marineford, Nao finally found the right moment to sit down with his parents and talk it through seriously over dinner.
They were clearly reluctant to leave their hometown.
But with Nao steadily rising in rank—and enemies—staying here long-term would eventually become a risk.
They reached a compromise: his parents would stay on Shibari Island for now. Once Nao was reassigned from the West Blue back to Headquarters, they'd all move together and settle near Marineford.
Otherwise...
With their only son stationed across the sea and no friends or family at Headquarters, life would feel pretty empty for two aging parents.
————
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
During this week, Nao spent a rare and leisurely time with his family. Unfortunately, as a Marine Rear Admiral, he couldn't stay here indefinitely.
His leave was almost up, and Headquarters, as well as Momousagi, had both called to ask when he planned to set off.
It's almost time to leave and report to the West Blue, huh?
On this particular morning, Nao lay in bed, looking at the sunlight streaming through the window, thinking to himself.
"You're pulling my hair..."
Bell-mère in his arms suddenly groggily pushed him. Nao quickly moved aside.
When he turned his head, he saw the girl had already turned over, her arms cradling her head, and was deeply asleep again.
Was she too tired?
Nao gently stroked the girl's smooth forehead and smiled silently. It seemed so. After all, Bell-mère had a normal human physique. What the little rabbit could endure, she might not be able to.
It looks like next time they meet, he'll have to pay attention to the time and intensity.
...
Around nine in the morning.
With his parents and Bell-mère waving goodbye on the dock, the Marine ship slowly left port, headed toward the West Blue.
"Next time we meet, it'll be at Headquarters, right?"
Standing at the bow, Nao looked quietly at the three figures waving in the distance.
Then he looked down at the pile of bento boxes in his hands and sighed softly.
They were filled with his mom's beef stew with potatoes. Easily over fifteen pounds' worth. She'd been in the kitchen at the crack of dawn, and he'd assumed she was making breakfast—turns out it was this.
No matter how far you go, moms always worry.
Nao felt guilty. He hadn't brought back anything this time.
Well, aside from three special Vivre Cards, a Den Den Mushi, and he had only secretly left all of this year's salary and bonuses, totaling around three million Berries, under the living room sofa when he left today.
As Shibari Island shrank into a speck on the horizon, Nao turned and headed to the kitchen to stash the bentos in the fridge, then hit the training room.
But as soon as he entered the kitchen, he was stunned by the sight before him.
Tangerines.
Crates of giant, golden tangerines covered every inch—pantry, hallway, all the way out to the deck. The dazzling yellow glow almost blinded him.
"What the hell happened here?!"
Snapping out of his stupor, Nao immediately called in one of the crew who'd stayed aboard.
"These were delivered last night, sir," the Marine replied sincerely. "From your mother. There's about two thousand kilograms, and she said you insisted she send them for us to eat on the way."
Nonsense! When did I ever say anything like that?
Nao was choked with anger. He glared at the subordinate, exasperated.
"Are you an idiot? Didn't you even think? Why would I make such an outrageous request? Two thousand kilograms? Are you all suffering from scurvy and need to eat tangerines as your main meal?"
"Eh? You didn't ask for it?"
The subordinate was startled, then suddenly understood, wiping away tears with a moved expression.
"I see! Rear Admiral, your mother was afraid you wouldn't accept them, so she secretly sent them ahead of time! This… this is truly touching maternal love…"
Touching my ass!
Nao stormed out, grabbed a Den Den Mushi, and called home.
"Hey, Mom. Be honest—are this year's tangerines unsellable? You trying to dump the leftovers on me?"
"Oh? What a thing to say."
Yukika giggled sweetly through the line. "Not just this year—last year too. We ended up giving them to all the neighborhood kids. Luckily you're around now, so they won't go to waste…"
"But two thousand kilos?! Mom, seriously?!"
"Oh, don't be silly—you're a Rear Admiral! I know you'll find a way to help your mom. Anyway, I've got a card game, bye now."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi closed its eyes.
"..."
Nao stared blankly at the receiver. So I'm your walking trash disposal now? All that touching sentiment from earlier? Gone.
"What now, Rear Admiral?"
Several subordinates peeked in nervously.
"NOW you ask? Why didn't you check with me last night?"
Nao growled, tucking away the Den Den Mushi. He turned to face the tangerine mountain, clenched his teeth, and gave the order:
"To avoid waste, the galley will revise the meal plan. Starting today, every one of you is eating eighteen kilograms of tangerines per day!"
Eighteen kilograms?!
No matter how delicious they were, that was suicide!
The ship was instantly filled with the wails of his subordinates:
"—No way, Rear Admiral!!!"
...
West Blue.
Branch 1 Headquarters.
In the top-floor office, the sunset streamed through the window. Gion, having just finished a stack of reports, stretched her back and stared out toward the harbor.
"Almost fifty days…"
The clouds glowed like fire, but her mood was anything but calm. She tapped her knuckles absently against the desk.
"That guy... Is he planning to let me die of overwork out here? Still hasn't shown up…"
The West Blue was a mess—pirates running wild, underground forces tangled in chaos. The situation was far worse than expected.
In the month-plus since she'd taken over as Branch Commander, she'd had to juggle endless admin tasks and personally lead raids against pirate crews. She barely had time to breathe.
And Nao? That jerk was still on vacation in the East Blue, living the good life.
He was ten days past his leave—and still no sign of him.
Unbelievable!
"Three more days. I'm giving you three more days!"
Whether she was muttering to herself or sending a telepathic ultimatum, no one knew. Gion gritted her teeth and swept the files off her desk with a loud whump.
"If you don't show up by then, I'm going to get really angry!"
As for the consequences of her anger…
Hmph, once that guy reports for duty, he'll have to sleep in a separate room, all alone, for a whole month!
Knock knock knock.
Just then, a rapid knock sounded at the door.
Startled from her stormy thoughts, Gion narrowed her eyes. "Come in."
The door creaked open. A clean-cut female Lieutenant Commander stepped in as Gion returned to her seat, face once again calm and composed.
"What is it? What happened?"