The cabin air still carried the mingled scent of rose perfume and cigarette smoke, while the crystal chandelier above the bed swayed, casting ambiguous patterns of light.
Bahr lounged lazily against the embroidered pillow, the corner of his cigarette-laden lips curling smugly. His fingers twirled Daisy's golden locks as he basked in utter contentment.
They say a cigarette after the deed is as blissful as immortality—clearly, the ancients weren't lying. Holding a beauty like this was far sweeter than brawling with muscle-bound brutes out at sea.
What "Pirate King" or "Navy King"? None could compare to the carefree life of the "Sea Clam King"!
Daisy's cheeks were flushed, as if smeared with strawberry jam. Her fingertip traced circles on Bahr's chest, her gaze coquettish. "By the way, I still don't know your name!"
They had agreed to uncover the secrets of "Magic," but the moment they entered the room, his restless hands had undone the bow of her dress first.
"People call me East Blue Yanzu," Bahr drawled, lazily blowing a smoke ring.
Fishing for clams was all about mystery—these days, what self-respecting "Sea Clam King" would be foolish enough to reveal his real name?
Daisy tilted her head and blinked, clearly missing the sarcasm behind the nickname. But she didn't press further, her fingers trailing down Bahr's chest. "Yanzu~ Where are you headed after we dock?"
The sweet, coquettish lilt of her voice was enough to make one itch.
The sudden onslaught of affection nearly made Bahr choke on his cigarette, setting off alarm bells in his mind: Oh no, this is heading into 'raising clams' territory. I just came to fish, not to reel in a whole romance subplot—this isn't how the script goes!
Fun was fun, but trying to turn this into something more? That was crossing the line.
Clearing his throat, he forced what he thought was a world-weary smile. "Me? I drift wherever the winds take me—a true vagabond of the seas!"
As he said this, Bahr even mentally soundtracked himself with the theme of a wandering swordsman.
Daisy's eyes lit up like lightbulbs, and she pressed herself against him, the scent of Chanel No. 5 nearly drowning him. "If you've got nowhere to go, why not come back with me? My family's estate has a huge, soft bed—way comfier than this ship!"
"An estate? Damn, she's a hidden gem—a rich one at that. And a huge, soft bed..."
Though tempted, Bahr maintained the facade of a man who'd "seen it all," smirking dismissively. "Are you telling me what to do?"
He'd always believed in the principle: Play hard to get, and they'll chase harder. Before the conquest, a gentleman; after? Well, those in the know, knew.
Daisy flustered, her hands fumbling under the covers. "No, no! I just... I don't want to let you go!"
Bahr's lips twitched as he took in her hopeful expression, thinking to himself, Is it me you can't let go of, or my... 'fist'?
Still... the sheer thrill of conquest was intoxicating.
"Sure, of course! I'd love nothing more!" Bahr replied with a grin, though his mind was already scheming. The moment the ship docked, he'd slip away unnoticed.
Mooching off a rich lady sounded tempting—mansions, luxury cars, all up for grabs. But who was Bahr? A man destined to become the "Sea Clam King," roaming freely through the "clam beds" of the entire ocean! How could he let himself be tied down by just one "clam"?
The estate might be nice, but a man's true journey was the stars and the seas!
Daisy's face instantly lit up with joy upon hearing this. She flipped over and straddled Bahr, her determined posture making it seem like she had already claimed him as her personal mount.
Bahr exhaled smoke rings, watching the golden-haired Daisy with a gaze that radiated "wisdom" as if he saw right through everything. His mind was crystal clear: "Well, this rich lady is definitely after my body—no, wait, my strength!"
What a shame, though. Daisy wasn't bad at all. If she hadn't gotten greedy, he might have stuck around with her a little longer!
While Daisy was happily clinging to him, outside in the hallway, a girl with short orange hair crouched in a corner, furiously drawing circles on the ground, gritting her teeth. "This guy, taking so long—if he doesn't come out soon, my legs are gonna give out!"
With a click, the door finally opened. Bahr stepped out, refreshed and stretching, ready to replenish his energy. Meanwhile, Daisy had already been coaxed into dreamland, looking like a kitten that had been thoroughly pampered.
Honestly, this "clam-fishing business" was seriously labor-intensive. Luckily, he was a "strong man."
Not to brag, but his stamina was on par with going toe-to-toe with Akainu and Aokiji—he could keep going for ten days and nights without breaking a sweat.
"Um, excuse me!"
The girl stepped forward, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw Bahr's high-end outfit. Clearly, this was top-tier stuff. For a moment, she completely forgot why she had come in the first place.
This was a big fat cash cow!
Bahr turned his head, his pupils narrowing slightly. Wasn't this the Little Cat Burglar, Nami? What was she doing here? Taking in the gleam in her eyes, he instantly understood—she had her sights set on him.
Keeping his composure, Bahr lazily leaned against the doorframe. "Hey there, little girl. What brings you to me?"
If she really dared to steal from him, she'd better be ready for the consequences!
Snapping back to reality, Nami bit her lip and straightened her back as if steeling herself. "Sir, have you heard of Arlong and his crew? They're notorious pirates with a 20 million bounty. I was hoping you could help take them down!"
Remembering how Bahr had obliterated a pirate ship from a distance, a spark of hope ignited in her eyes, as if she could already see the dawn of her village's salvation.
"Why should I help you?"
Save her village? He wasn't some charity worker. If he really had a savior complex, the first people he'd beat up would be the Celestial Dragons!
"Money! Tons of Berries, as much as you want!" Nami hastily patted her chest, though internally, her heart was bleeding. That money was her lifeline, but for the sake of the village, she'd go all out!
"I'm not interested in money." Bahr shrugged indifferently. With his strength, making money was child's play.
Gritting her teeth, Nami tugged at her skirt, revealing a hint of her waistline, and forced out a sickly sweet smile. "Sir, I'm not exactly bad-looking. If you help me, I… I'll do anything!"
Damn! This Little Cat Burglar was pulling out all the stops for her village, even resorting to her "trump card"!
Bahr stroked his chin, giving Nami a once-over. Her short orange hair was playful and cute, her big eyes sparkling with vitality. Though she wasn't as mature as she would be three years later, she was still a fresh and tender "Little Clam Spirit"!
The offer was tempting, but it was clearly taking advantage of her desperation…
"Fair trade. Deal."
Nami was the one who came to him—he hadn't forced her. No moral guilt-tripping here; Bahr wasn't the type to fall for that.
"Clam fishing" isn't the same as regular fishing. This whole "I only take what I catch myself" mentality? As a professional "clam fisher," whether it's hooked or scooped up in a net, it's all fair game.
Turning down such readily available benefits? What kind of "Sea Clam King" would that make?
As for Nami becoming a Pirate King's crew member in the future? Like he cared! They were both "Kings" – who was afraid of whom!
Nami forced a smile while internally screaming: "Typical lecher, only after looks!" But she kept her guard up verbally: "Let's be clear upfront – you deal with Arlong's crew first. After that... I'm at your disposal."
The man before her was undoubtedly strong, but Arlong was a fishman – a hundred times stronger than any human. Had she not witnessed this guy's monstrous strength firsthand, she'd never have considered this plan.
The last thing she needed was to fail and get herself trapped too.
"Relax!" Bahr stepped forward, slinging an arm around Nami's shoulders while thumping his chest. "That bunch of minnows led by Arlong? Not even enough to fill my teeth gaps!"
Hesitant before the strong, aggressive before the weak – that's how you play the game!
Nami stiffened but maintained her plastic smile, subtly edging half a step back. Internally, she cursed this old fox's wandering hands. Yet with her village's salvation at stake, she steeled herself: "Then let's hurry! I'll prepare a boat—"
"No, no, no..." Bahr wagged a finger with a scheming grin. "We'll discuss that after disembarking!"
While the "fresh clam" Nami presented more challenge, he couldn't just let the "ripe clam" Daisy slip away either. She deserved a proper "farewell shock" – a memory to last a lifetime!
Nami instantly understood, rolling mental eyes hard enough to see her brain: "Of course – can't keep his dick in one pants, can he?"
But after enduring Arlong's oppression for years, what were a couple more days? Like an angry hamster stuffing its cheeks, she'd just have to bear it for now