After learning about Ace's undercover mission and infiltration plan, the crew immediately cooperated, changing into civilian clothes that would help them blend in with the crowd. Deuce even took time to help Ace refine his strategy, suggesting improvements to make their cover story more convincing.
Following their discussion, Pastoral Island soon appeared on the horizon, growing larger as they approached.
Pastoral Island was a thriving settlement with a bustling port district. The harbor was filled with merchant ships and smaller boats, while the town beyond boasted numerous bars, casinos, and colorful commercial streets lined with shops catering to every possible desire. Because it flew under the protection of Whitebeard's flag, neither the World Government nor the Marines held any official jurisdiction here.
While Marine ships occasionally docked to rest and resupply, there was an unspoken understanding between all parties—everyone minded their own business and showed mutual respect, maintaining a peaceful coexistence that benefited all involved.
By noon, the crew had split up and begun exploring the town. To facilitate their investigation while avoiding suspicion, they deliberately avoided traveling as one large group.
Ace brought along several Whitebeard Pirates members and Deuce, all of them disguised as rough traders carrying mysterious cargo. Their weathered appearance and casual swagger fit perfectly with the island's seedier merchant population.
Meanwhile, Jerry traveled with Skull, Carina, and Carrot, with all of them posing as ordinary passengers who had simply stopped by during their travels. Their more refined appearance and curious demeanor made them blend seamlessly with the many tourists and legitimate travelers visiting the island.
As luck would have it, today happened to be the island's annual celebration. This festival commemorated the day many years ago when the Corbett family had first raised Whitebeard's flag, marking the beginning of their prosperity and the island's golden age under the protection of the world's strongest man. Every year, the island chose this same date to celebrate their good fortune.
The entire settlement was decorated with colorful lights and banners, creating a festive atmosphere that buzzed with excitement. Various bars and shops were offering special sales and deep discounts, while even the normally stingy casinos were giving away free chips and promotional gifts to attract customers.
This grand celebration had drawn civilians, merchants, pirates, and even some off-duty marine personnel from the surrounding waters. Their timing couldn't have been better—rather than standing out as suspicious newcomers, they blended perfectly with the influx of festival visitors.
"Wow! It's so lively here, and there are so many delicious foods!" exclaimed Carrot, her voice muffled by the large hooded cloak that concealed most of her distinctive rabbit features. Her mouth was practically watering as she gazed at the bustling crowds filling the streets and the countless food stalls lining both sides of the road, offering everything from grilled meats to exotic sweets.
Though she had an overwhelming love for carrots, that didn't mean she limited herself to just one type of food. She occasionally craved other treats, especially the colorful confections that caught her eye at every turn.
Jerry glanced over at Carina, only to discover that she was quite busy with her own activities. Along their route through the festival crowds, Carina had already skillfully lifted several wallets from passing pirates and other individuals who looked particularly arrogant or unpleasant at first glance. She was currently counting her ill-gotten gains with obvious satisfaction.
Noticing Carrot's curious gaze, Carina's good mood prompted her to share some of her "earnings." She grabbed the young mink's hand and pulled her toward a nearby confection stand, treating her to various festival sweets.
Jerry and Skull followed at a casual distance behind the two, sampling different foods as they walked and maintaining the appearance of simple tourists enjoying the celebration.
Skull would periodically break away from the group, striking up seemingly random conversations with locals and visitors alike. With his natural talent for gathering information, he extracted valuable intelligence from the casual remarks and everyday chatter of passersby, piecing together a clearer picture of the island's current situation.
Jerry strolled along while maintaining his confused tourist act, but internally he was anything but idle. His advanced Observation Haki allowed him to eavesdrop on dozens of conversations simultaneously, collecting various pieces of information while genuinely enjoying the festival atmosphere.
For instance, at that very moment, there was a young couple—he couldn't tell if they were locals or fellow visitors—walking hand in hand down the street ahead of them.
As they passed by a particularly aromatic restaurant, the woman suddenly stopped and inhaled deeply.
"It smells absolutely wonderful!" she sighed wistfully.
Seeing her obvious interest, the man responded with what he clearly thought was romantic thoughtfulness: "If you'd like, we could always walk past this restaurant again later."
The woman's expression shifted dramatically. She rolled her eyes and shook her head in exasperation before asking in a dangerously sweet tone: "Darling, after we get married, will you ever hit me?"
The man's face went through several expressions of confusion before he managed to stammer: "If... if that's what you'd like, I suppose I could learn how?"
The woman stared at him in complete disbelief, covered her face with her hands, and let out a frustrated scream before running into a nearby alley.
"I like your head!" she shouted sarcastically over her shoulder.
"Really?" the man called after her, his confusion evident in his voice. "I was actually thinking about changing my hairstyle, but I'm glad you like it the way it is! Honey, wait for me!"
Still completely missing the point of her sarcasm, he chased after her disappearing form.
Jerry, who had been following this exchange with considerable amusement, felt somewhat speechless at the man's complete obliviousness. Fortunately, he was accustomed to overhearing such bizarre conversations—with his enhanced perception picking up every bit of gossip and drama on the island, he never ran short of entertainment.
Dismissing the unfortunate couple, Jerry shifted his attention to other conversations, listening in on the various rumors and gossip circulating throughout the island.
In the largest casino on the island, a Marine lieutenant Commander was having what he believed to be the time of his life. The gambling hall was packed and noisy due to the day's grand celebration, creating perfect cover for high-stakes games.
The officer felt incredibly lucky today. After playing for only half the day, he had already won substantial amounts of money, though it still wasn't enough to offset the crushing debts he had accumulated over previous gambling sessions.
The lieutenant commander was riding high on his winning streak, imagining that if his luck continued at this rate, he might not only pay off all his debts within a single day but possibly even walk away rich beyond his wildest dreams.
What he failed to notice was that the casino's owner, Corbett, was watching him from across the room with a cold sneer. The man nodded slightly to his middle-aged female assistant—a heavily made-up woman with a prominent belly who clearly understood her boss's signals perfectly.
The assistant caught Corbett's meaning immediately. She glanced once more at the Marine officer who was now completely absorbed in his gambling, then turned away to arrange the next phase of their plan.
"Excuse me, sir," said one of several waiters who had approached with carts full of drinks. "This is a complimentary cocktail for all our guests to celebrate today's festival."
The waiter selected an ornate glass and approached the lieutenant commander with a respectful bow, offering the drink with both hands.
"Excellent! Haha, you really do provide outstanding service here," the officer replied, accepting the drink without a second thought.
"Thank you for your kind words, sir. This is simply our duty," the waiter replied with another slight bow, then positioned himself nearby as if ready to provide additional service at a moment's notice.
"Come on, come on! Let's keep this momentum going! I'm betting big this time—half my winnings on the next round!" the lieutenant commander announced loudly, his confidence soaring.
"We'll follow Lieutenant Commander's lead! Your luck has been incredible today, sir!"
"That's right! Let's all get rich together!"
The other gamblers at the table were all smiles, enthusiastically following the Marine's lead and placing their own substantial bets.
"Place your bets! No more bets!" called the dealer, who exchanged a meaningful glance with the nearby waiter and received a subtle nod in return before lifting the dice cup with a flourish.
"Ladies and gentlemen... small numbers win!"
"What?! That's impossible!"
The gamblers erupted in protests, their faces showing disbelief and frustration. The lieutenant commander pounded the table with his fist, his face flushed with anger and disappointment.
Over the next several rounds, the lieutenant commander rapidly lost every chip he had won, falling victim to what seemed like an impossible string of bad luck.
His expression was one of complete shock and disbelief—those chips had represented his hopes of buying back into the game on credit and making an even bigger comeback.
His eyes flickering with desperation, the lieutenant commander picked up the complimentary wine glass beside him and took a large gulp.
"Bah! This tastes worse than seawater!" he spat, his frustration boiling over. "Something fishy is definitely going on here!"
"This is rigged! You're all cheating! Bring out your boss—now!"
With a loud crash, he smashed the glass against the table and began shouting accusations at the top of his lungs.
Though he had no concrete evidence, he was absolutely convinced that something was wrong—it was too convenient that he lost every single bet except when the stakes were small.
When the other casino patrons heard the commotion, they automatically cleared a space around the gambling table, forming a circle of spectators. Sometimes watching drama unfold was even more exciting than gambling itself.
"Sir, if you're going to make accusations of cheating, that puts us in a very difficult position," the dealer replied with practiced calm, clearly experienced in handling such outbursts. "Even the Marines can't simply cause trouble on this island without consequences."
He turned his head slightly and gave the waiting staff member a subtle signal.
The officer was, of course, well aware that this was Whitebeard Pirates territory, but his rage had completely overwhelmed his better judgment. His face was bright red and his eyes were wide with fury.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me?"
"Making quite a scene, aren't we? Tell me, sir, didn't you make any money at all today?"
Before the dealer could respond, a new voice with a distinctly mocking tone cut through the tension.
The crowd parted as a powerfully built man in a flamboyant outfit slowly emerged from the back rooms. He wore an elaborate peacock mask that covered the upper half of his face, and his colorful suit was adorned with decorative feathers and flower patterns that made him stand out even in the festival crowd.
"Lord Peacock!" the dealers and waiters throughout the casino immediately bowed their heads and called out in unison upon seeing this masked figure appear.
The masked man waved dismissively and walked directly to the gambling table, fixing his gaze on the furious lieutenant commander through the eyeholes of his ornate mask.
"Hold on— 'Lord Peacock'?" Jerry muttered to himself from his position in the corner where he had been enjoying the show. He turned to Skull with a puzzled expression. "What kind of nickname is that? Is he related to Lord Shen? Is Po here"