Lin Xia tried hard to control his gaze, attempting to only meet Boa Hancock's eyes, but his own eyes seemed to have auto-aim, constantly and unconsciously drifting downwards.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat, smiling as he said,
"I know many merchants on the island. If the Kuja first mate needs anything, I can help negotiate. Perhaps we can get a discount."
Boa Hancock slowly stood up, and with her movement, a waft of fragrance entered Lin Xia's nostrils.
Instantly, Lin Xia felt a warmth deep in his nostrils, as if something was about to flow out.
He quickly tilted his head back slightly, trying to make whatever was in his nostrils flow back in.
A glint flashed in Boa Hancock's eyes, and she took two steps closer to him.
Lin Xia immediately took half a step back, but his gaze remained uncontrollably fixed on her, still auto-aiming, his cheeks slightly flushed.
Boa Hancock chuckled, "Speaking of which, we rarely come to West Blue. However, the Kuja Pirates have always bartered for goods and never paid with money, you know~"
She took another step forward, and Lin Xia continued to retreat another half step.
"Do we really have to pay here?"
Lin Xia simply turned sideways and calmly replied, "This is an island of absolute free trade. Any method is acceptable as long as both parties agree."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding vendors started shouting:
"Take whatever you need! Everything in my shop is yours!"
"Just give me your shoes, and you can take everything in this shop!"
"Bah! Asking for shoes is disgusting! May I please have your und..."
"Bang—" The last person didn't finish his sentence before he was surrounded and beaten to the ground by the angry crowd.
"Hey, hey, hey, who are you, kid? You're talking big without even catching your breath. Are you the boss of Red Feast Island?"
Roger was already annoyed seeing Boa Hancock constantly approaching Lin Xia, so he quickly stepped forward to block Boa Hancock and questioned him.
Lin Xia smiled, "I'm just an ordinary Marine. This place is indeed managed by our branch."
After speaking, he walked two steps in front of Garp, his face sinking as he whispered,
"I don't need to tell you how important this place is, right? If you're going to fight, wait until he's out at sea!"
Garp nonchalantly picked his ear, blowing on his fingertip. "I'm a Marine. What kind of Marine sees a Pirate and doesn't arrest him?"
Lin Xia's eye twitched. He grabbed Garp's collar and pulled him close. "This isn't your first time on Red Feast Island. Don't you know what the situation is?"
His voice dropped even lower, "If Lin Guang also made a move, what are the chances of taking down Roger?"
Garp paused, surprised that Lin Xia would ask such a question. He frowned in thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head:
"If we really go all out, this island will definitely sink, and we might not even be able to catch him."
"Then what the hell are you talking about?!" Lin Xia released his collar.
If he could use Garp to take down Roger, this huge trouble, then it would certainly be worth a try.
After all, no matter in which world, the appearance of a "protagonist" always meant immense trouble.
And the "protagonists" of this era were undoubtedly Rocks and Roger.
Lin Xia waved to Lin Guang, waiting for a long while, but no one came over.
He looked back in confusion, only to see Lin Guang's wide eyes, staring intently at Boa Hancock.
His gaze also drifted away with the smoke rings Boa Hancock exhaled.
—Damn, what the hell is this kid doing?!
Lin Xia quickly walked over and slapped him hard on the shoulder.
With a crisp "slap," Lin Guang finally came back to his senses.
Seeing Lin Xia's dangerous smile, he quickly explained:
"Sir, I was just thinking..."
"Thinking what?" Lin Xia actually didn't mean to blame him.
After all, he was just a young man. It was normal for him to be unable to resist Boa Hancock's charm; even an old hand like himself almost crashed.
"Thinking why she can be so beautiful?" Lin Guang said, then turned to look at Boa Hancock again, his gaze gradually becoming hazy.
Suddenly, he raised his right hand and plunged it towards his eyes!
"Ah ah ah—!" Lin Guang cried out in agony, covering his eyes.
This action even made Roger gasp, and he, along with the surrounding crowd, inwardly exclaimed: This kid is really ruthless!
Seeing this, Boa Hancock took the cigarette from her right hand, leaned close to Lin Guang, and exhaled "Hoo~~" at his face.
An alluring fragrance mixed with the scent of tobacco rushed into Lin Guang's nostrils.
His hands, which had been covering his eyes, suddenly pinched his nose and twisted it sharply—
"Crack!" The sound of bone breaking.
"Hiss—!" A collective gasp echoed throughout the crowd.
Lin Xia's eye twitched. He quickly walked over and stood in front of Lin Guang:
"Kuja first mate, is it really good to keep teasing children like this?"
Boa Hancock's black gemstone eyes sparkled, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and her pink lips parted:
"You're right~ Can I play with a big child then?"
As she spoke, her right hand brushed a long strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her small, delicate ear, and her snow-white neck.
Bang bang bang! Innumerable sounds of people collapsing echoed on both sides of the street, one after another.
Lin Xia gritted his teeth—This woman is truly a demon! An unparalleled demon! And that also means absolute trouble!
He quickly turned and said, "Kuja first mate, although there are many things in the commercial street, the quantities are small. How about you follow me to the wholesale market nearby? Perhaps you'll find what you need there."
After speaking, Lin Xia made a gesture for her to follow.
Boa Hancock did not decline and stepped to follow.
Behind her, Roger was never more than a step away, only lacking his hands holding her skirt hem.
Behind Roger was that scoundrel Garp, his eyes fixed on Roger in front of him.
If Lin Xia didn't know that this guy had a wife and an 11-year-old child, he would definitely think he was interested in Roger.
Lin Xia gave Lin Guang a look, and the latter understood, blocking all the onlookers outside the commercial street.
As he walked, he introduced, "Red Feast Island is divided into four areas: the Port Nightlife Zone, the Health and Leisure Zone, the Commodity Wholesale Zone, and the Residential Zone. Given the size of the Kuja main ship, coming here is most suitable."
After Lin Xia finished his introduction, he received no response.
The sound of footsteps echoed loudly in the night sky.
Lin Xia suddenly spoke, "An excellent woman like the Kuja first mate must have very high standards for men, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt Roger's grateful gaze directed at him.
Lin Xia's lips curved upwards; you're thanking me a bit too early.
Boa Hancock lightly tapped her chin with her finger, slowly saying, "Men on the sea are all the same~ They're all irresponsible guys who run off as soon as they pull up their pants."
Roger immediately patted his chest and guaranteed, "I'm not like those irresponsible men!"
Lin Xia glanced sideways. This guy would abandon his wife and child in the future, turn himself in to start the so-called 'Great Pirate Era,' causing his wife to die in childbirth and his child to resent him for life.
He had zero responsibility.
He smiled and took over the conversation, "There are still many excellent men on the sea. I think only the most top-tier figures are worthy of you, the most beautiful woman in the world."
Lin Xia seemed to suddenly think of something, clasping his hands together:
"Oh, right, as the Kuja Pirates' first mate, the most beautiful woman in the world."
"At the very least, a figure of the Pirate King's caliber would be worthy, right?"
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
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