"I heard that last time you came to Alabasta, you deliberately avoided little Tiana?"
Momousagi suddenly interrupted their conversation. Taro leaned back in his deck chair and looked up to see Momousagi towering over him, and what entered his field of vision,
Well, was quite magnificent!
This perspective gave Taro a very direct impression. In just a second, he snapped back to reality and scrambled up from the deck chair in a fluster.
Seeing Taro's reaction, Momousagi's gaze towards him grew even more contemptuous.
"You still haven't answered my question. Why did you avoid little Tiana?"
Taro was originally somewhat flustered from inadvertently seeing Momousagi's impressive view. Now, hearing her speak to him in an accusatory tone, he also felt annoyed and immediately wanted to retort.
However, seeing Tiana also looking at him, he finally explained softly to Tiana:
"I wasn't avoiding you. It's just that last time I came to Alabasta, time was tight and there were many matters to attend to, so..."
Momousagi snorted coldly, "Excuses, all excuses. You went to see some beautiful woman, didn't you?"
Damn it, are you fucking crazy? Why are you always targeting me?
Taro couldn't be bothered with her and continued speaking to Tiana, "I really had matters to attend to."
Momousagi was about to speak again when Tiana stood up and stopped her.
"Gion, Taro really had matters to attend to that time. This time, since there's nothing, didn't he come specifically to pick me up?"
Hearing this, Momousagi felt Tiana was truly hopeless. She glared hatefully at Taro and finally stopped speaking.
The atmosphere among the three became awkward once again.
Taro had originally planned to chat casually to ease the tension, then find a suitable opportunity to clarify things with Tiana. Now that plan was ruined.
With his plans disrupted, Taro felt frustrated. He downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, bid farewell, and flew back to his own ship.
As soon as Taro left, Momousagi began to complain to Tiana.
"Little Tiana, aren't you silly? He's clearly hiding something from you."
Tiana looked at Momousagi with a complex expression, "Gion, why are you like this? Who doesn't have secrets?"
"I just don't want you to be deceived!" Momousagi remained indignant.
Tiana pulled Momousagi closer, "Now that you've driven him away, you shouldn't worry about me being deceived anymore!"
"Vice Admiral, why are you back so soon?" Mike was greatly surprised to see Taro return.
Taro glared at him, "This is my ship. When can't I come back?"
Mike finally noticed Taro didn't look too pleased and gave an awkward smile before falling silent.
Lying back on the beach chair and closing his eyes, Taro pondered.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's words this morning carried hidden meanings, and Momousagi's sudden appearance also felt strange.
Something unexpected must have happened.
It was already afternoon. With only 6 days left until Ace's execution, Vice Admiral Tsuru not allowing him to return to Marineford at this time was definitely problematic.
But in his urgency, Taro couldn't figure out where the problem lay nor who to inquire with, making him even more frustrated.
"Buri buri buri"
The den den mushi rang. Taro was momentarily stunned before answering.
"Hello, this is Taro."
"Taro, it's me, Tiana." Tiana's voice came through the den den mushi.
"Our fleet has been stopped for a long time. Aren't we heading to Marineford soon? Tiana is very puzzled!"
Taro rubbed his forehead. Because of Vice Admiral Tsuru's instruction not to rush back, he hadn't given the order to return.
Taro's flagship, along with the two warships led by Tiana and two troop transport ships, were still drifting offshore.
"Uh, we're not going back yet. When we left, Vice Admiral Tsuru said there's no need to hurry back."
Tiana seemed to discuss something with someone on her end before hesitantly saying after a while, "Then what should we do now...?"
Taro thought for a moment and said, "How about this: contact the Alabasta royal family. We'll rest and resupply at Nanohana Port for a few days and give the Marine Soldiers a break!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Marine Soldiers nearby who heard him cheered excitedly. Soon, all the Marine Soldiers on the ship received the news.
The Marine Soldiers didn't know Vice Admiral Momousagi was also there. They only thought Taro had the highest rank, so the fleet naturally followed his orders, making them unable to contain their joy.
Taro glared at them to quiet down before speaking to Tiana again, "You heard the cheers, right? Let's decide on that."
Before hanging up, remembering that not-so-successful sightseeing experience, he added, "Oh, and change into civilian clothes. Let's go explore!"
Taro's request for rest and resupply was quickly approved by King Cobra, and the fleet immediately headed towards Nanohana Port.
"All Marine personnel, quiet! Listen to the orders clearly!"
Old Mike held a loudspeaker den den mushi in one hand and the "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" written by Taro in the other, reading aloud:
"Obey orders in all actions. Disembark in batches. Activity is limited to Nanohana Port and the surrounding areas only!"
"Do not take a single needle or thread from the masses. Trade fairly!"
"Compensate for any damages to the masses' property!"
"Fighting and brawling are prohibited..."
"..."
"The above are Vice Admiral Taro's direct orders. Those who violate will face military discipline!"
Although the wording was somewhat strange, the Marines understood the meaning in the orders and responded in unison:
"Yes."
Taro nodded in satisfaction, channeled his Internal Energy, and shouted loudly, "Disembark!"
The fleet instantly erupted in excitement!
Changed into civilian clothes, Taro waited at the dock wearing a long robe. Soon, Tiana in red attire walked over.
To Taro's surprise, Momousagi had also come along. She was still in her peach-colored short dress, just without the Marine cloak.
Damn it, don't you need to return to Mary Geoise?
"Hehehe, little brother, you don't seem too willing for me to come along?" Momousagi saw Taro's reaction and gave a fake laugh.
If you know, then don't follow.
Taro's mouth twitched, and he also put on a hypocritical smile, "How could that be? You're most welcome!"
"Taro, where are we going now?" Tiana didn't notice the oddness between the two.
"St. Dora River estuary. A boat will pick us up later. Let's go see Elmar!"
The three walked leisurely towards the river estuary. After a while, Taro suddenly felt this path was somewhat familiar.
Looking more carefully, damn it, isn't that my own grave on the hill ahead?
Taro's expression immediately turned strange. He glanced sideways at Tiana, who happened to look back at him, seemingly also remembering this place.
"That thing isn't still there, is it?" Taro asked.
Tiana became even more embarrassed, "The local residents seem to come here often to pay respects, so it wasn't convenient to remove it. Tiana is very sorry!"
Taro: "..."
Momousagi's curiosity was piqued, "What are you two talking about?"
Taro and Tiana simultaneously fell silent with tacit agreement.
In the end, Momousagi still saw Taro's tombstone and burst into unrestrained laughter,
Only stopping when she drew angry glares from the local residents who came to pay their respects.
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