Chapter 31: Depressed Peach Rabbit
"Carl, you bastard, I said yesterday that all Navy personnel were to assemble you dare to ignore my orders and even come out here to drink!
In your eyes, is there even a superior officer like me?!"
Vice Admiral Gion better known as Peach Rabbit (Taotu) had learned from several subordinates that the bar Carl frequented was none other than Shakuyaku's Rip-Off Bar in Grove 13.
Without finishing the morning drill, she immediately stormed over, furious.
Just yesterday, her impression of Carl was still high a rising star of the Marines, humble despite his power, and extremely responsible.
But now seeing Carl casually sitting and sipping sake her respect for him had plummeted.
She couldn't reconcile how someone she thought was a workaholic would skip a scheduled assembly just to drink.
Taotu simply couldn't comprehend why Carl would act so irresponsibly.
"Don't be angry, Vice Admiral Taotu. Rear Admiral Pizza didn't assign me a role in this drill, so I didn't have a place in the formation.
Besides, I'm not slacking off. You think I caught that many pirates and slave traders by staying inside the base?"
"If I didn't go out gathering intel myself, how could I have achieved any of that?
I'm not sitting around doing nothing there's always a purpose to what I do."
Carl spoke matter-of-factly, showing none of the deference that Taotu expected from a junior officer.
His view of duty clearly differed from hers and the tension between field instincts and structured command began to show.
Seeing Carl so relaxed even while drinking frustrated Taotu even more.
Her mood visibly shifted, caught between confusion and indignation.
"So... could it be that I blamed you wrongly?
That you had your own plans for handling things?"
"Yes, that's what it is!"
Carl nodded without hesitation, lying through his teeth without the slightest trace of guilt.
Taotu narrowed her eyes, then rubbed her temple in frustration before slamming her palm down on the bar counter with a sharp crack.
"Hmph! Don't think you can fool me that easily.
You clearly ran off to be lazy!
Tell me honestly was that diligent, overachieving image just for show when Fleet Admiral Sengoku was watching?"
"Were you putting on an act for the higher-ups so you'd get promoted or favored?
And now that I've arrived you've dropped the façade and shown your true colors?"
"Hmph! I knew something was off.
You're not a real workaholic you're not even that devoted.
You just wanted the Marshal to see your fake diligence!"
"Well?
Now that I've exposed you, do you have anything left to say for yourself?!"
Taotu showed her graceful figure with her hands on her hips, and her face looked like she was sure of winning.
Carl sighed, then pointed to the back of Taotu.
Taotu raised an eyebrow in confusion, then turned to look behind her.
In the dim corner of Shakuyaku's bar, several unconscious pirates lay slumped against the wall each one secured with Seastone handcuffs, standard Navy issue for dangerous targets.
It was obvious these pirates had been taken down and captured by Carl, likely within the last few hours.
"I told you I was just drinking on the side. My main goal was hunting pirates and slave traffickers.
All these guys deal in human lives, even selling off children.
Now that you're here, take them back to the branch base I was about to head back anyway."
Hearing Carl's explanation, Peach Rabbit's mouth twitched involuntarily.
She had charged in thinking she caught Carl red-handed but instead, he had actually been out on a mission while drinking.
She'd never seen this kind of multitasking before.
But even so, as Carl's direct superior, she refused to admit defeat.
"Hmph! Even if that's the case, it's still no excuse for abandoning formation without approval!
Come back with me now and help run drills for the base personnel.
You know this branch and the island's layout better than I do,I need your help!"
Vice Admiral Taotu reached out and placed her hand firmly on Carl's right shoulder, clearly intent on dragging him back.
She had already lowered herself enough to not pursue further arguments.
There was no serious conflict between them—just frustration on her part over Carl's freewheeling approach to authority.
Besides, arresting two active traffickers was a considerable contribution, enough to balance out skipping the morning roll call.
This wasn't Marineford HQ, and she knew that every branch had different standards.
So long as it wasn't a major breach, she could overlook it.
"You'd better go back first. I'm fine staying right here,"
Carl replied calmly, making it clear he wasn't budging.
"Haha! If you're not going back, then I'm not going either.
Let's waste time here together!"
Taotu's pride flared as she swept her cape aside and sat heavily into a chair opposite Carl.
She raised her arm dramatically.
"Oi! Boss! Give me your finest wine—I want to drink!"
Carl's eyes twitched slightly, then turned cold.
"Did you bring any money? This is Xia Qi's Rip-Off Bar for a reason drinks here are notorious even among pirates."
"Heh! You underestimate me. My assets could cover your salary ten times over."
Taotu sneered and casually propped one slender leg over the other, placing it confidently on the adjacent table.
Luckily, the bar was empty had there been other patrons, her relaxed posture would have surely drawn unwanted attention from troublemaking pirates.
"Miss Navy," Xia Qi said with a smile, still puffing lightly on her pipe, "I suggest you take a look at our drink menu before ordering.
Carl's right we don't go easy on prices here."
Xia Qi, ever calm, had seen all kinds of figures in her bar from former pirates to Marines and bounty hunters.
She knew who Taotu was, and while not intimidated, understood the importance of discretion in Sabaody Archipelago.
"Fine, I'll take a look..."
Taotu picked up the menu lazily then nearly flipped her chair as she literally fell backward in shock.
Yes, she collapsed on the floor.
Her reaction was not an act it was a full-on panic from sticker shock.
"What is this madness?!"
"A basic shot is ten thousand Berries?!"
"Even a serving with side dishes costs three thousand?!"
"And this one—a bottle for three hundred thousand Berries?! What's in it eternal youth?!"
"This place is a scam! An outright scam! I should shut this bar down on the spot!"
Fuming, Vice Admiral Taotu stormed up to the bar counter.
Xia Qi didn't blink—she calmly reached under the counter and produced a business license.
Taotu's eyes widened as she scanned the paper.
There, in unmistakable ink, was the official seal and signature of Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself.
"Wait... what?! This place is government-licensed?
There's no way Sengoku-san gave a business pass to a dive like this..."
"Ask him yourself when he visits next time," Carl said with a grin.
"But for now, sit down and at least have a drink with me."
Taotu shot Carl a glare, then looked at Xia Qi—still smiling coolly while gently cleaning a glass with a rag.
"Hmph! Fine! Then give me a glass of cold water!"
"Pft—!"
Carl nearly choked on his own sake.
Even Xia Qi gave a short chuckle from behind the counter.
"What's your deal? I just wanted water! So what if I didn't bring any money? Can't I at least drink water in peace?"
Taotu grumbled and yanked a chair over, dropping herself opposite Carl again.
"Nothing, nothing at all you do you," Carl replied, chuckling and shaking his head, not about to explain his own embarrassing past here.
But Xia Qi wasn't going to let him off that easily.
"Miss Navy, when Mr. Carl first arrived here, he had no money either.
He also ordered a single glass of cold water.
Looking at the two of you now... you really might be a perfect match."
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