One Piece : Wild Hunt

Seeing the look of befuddlement on Thomas's face, Vivi made her way over to his side, linking her left arm through his right as she asked, "What is it? Did something happen?"
Furrowing his brows in consternation, Thomas showed Vivi Drake's Bounty Poster, explaining, "This is one of my Heroic Spirits. Before we separated, she promised me she wouldn't go out of her way to attack any Marine vessels. Her second in command is someone I trust, so I can't believe she would do something like this..."
As vicious as Drake could be, Thomas considered her to be honorable or, at the very least, prideful. She was also supposed to be aiming to become a Shichibukai, so it didn't really make sense for her to sink an entire fleet of ships. Something, or someone, must have forced her hand...
Diverting her attention from Drake's dauntless smile and ample bosom, Vivi looked up at Thomas, suggesting, "Why not send Astolfo over to find out what happened? With Griff's flight speed, she should be able to make a round trip in just a few hours."
Though he was tempted to do exactly that, Thomas ultimately shook his head, stating, "I gave Drake free rein until we encountered each other in the New World. Even if these crimes are accurate, I want to trust that she had a good reason to commit them. If not...I'll deal with her myself..."
Nodding her head, Vivi replied, "I understand," before leaning against Thomas's arm. She had never met Drake, but if Thomas trusted her, she would give the pink-haired Pirate the benefit of the doubt. After all, she knew better than most that circumstances sometimes forced you to do things you otherwise wouldn't...
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With Caenis ensuring they didn't get swept away by stray currents, the Merry still had food and water to spare as the Desert Island of Alabasta came into view. As a result, Lucy didn't immediately rush off when their ship anchored at Nanohana, the central port city that managed most of Alabasta's exports.
"Wow, if you just looked at this city, you wouldn't think there is a drought," remarked Nami.
Smiling sadly, Vivi replied, "Nanohana is considered the 'face' of Alabasta. If Crocodile plans to rule the country, he can't compromise the major port cities. Without them, there is no Alabasta..."
Inserting himself into the conversation, Thomas asked, "So, what's the plan? Will we rush to the capital, focus on taking out Crocodile, or bring an end to the drought? It's your decision to make, Vivi."
Though the original plan was to lure out Crocodile and his forces by returning Alabasta's rainfall, that was before Thomas knew about the existence of Install Cards. He also felt guilty about delaying Crocodile's downfall to give himself and the Straw Hats a chance to grow, so he was prepared to rush over to Rainbase right then and there if Vivi asked him to.
As this wasn't the first time Thomas had placed the decision in her hands, Vivi maintained a calm and dignified countenance as she answered, "First off, we should focus on acquiring food, water, and suitable clothing. Once we have everything we need, we'll sail up the Sandora River and get a feel for the situation while Karoo races to deliver a missive to my father. I want to hear what he has to say before we make our final decision."
Nodding in affirmation, Thomas replied, "Sounds good," before shifting his gaze to Lucy to see if she had anything to say. In response, she returned a smile and asserted, "This is your and Vivi's adventure. We're just here to lend a hand."
Smiling wryly, Thomas was tempted to point out that he was the one who was supposed to be accompanying them. Instead, he gave a second nod before passing his gaze over everyone present. Depending on how long it took to deal with Crocodile, he would be parting ways with the Straw Hats in as little as a few days. They were bound to meet again, but the thought of parting with friends was rarely pleasant.
Interrupting Thomas's thoughts, Lucy's smile became even broader as she donned her straw hat and shouted, "Adventure waits for no one~!" before leaping off the ship.
Bolting to the taffrail, Nami shouted, "Lucy! Don't rush off on your own...!" Unfortunately, once Lucy set her mind to something, there was very little anyone could do to stop her.
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Nami turned to Thomas and asked, "Can you send Benienma to keep an eye on her...?"
As Nami's behavior and tone had become progressively more 'amicable' over the past few days, Thomas didn't hesitate to answer, "Sure," before calling out, "Beni."
Appearing from Thomas's shadow, Benienma asked, "Is there something Master requires of me?"
Nodding, Thomas explained, "Lucy ran off to explore the city. You don't have to intervene unless she is in serious trouble, but keep an eye on her for us, okay?"
Cupping her hands together, Benienma lowered her head and replied, "As you will," before disappearing faster than the people present could blink. In the wake of her departure, the people remaining discussed splitting up into three groups. The main group, consisting of Thomas, Vivi, Nami, Illya, Chloe, and Ruby, went to acquire food, water, clothes, and other supplies. While they were away, Atalanta, Usopp, and Chopper would stay behind to guard the Merry while Astolfo and Caenis scouted the area, the former by air and the latter by sea. There were a few Marine and Baroque Works ships in the area, so leaving the Marry unguarded wasn't an option...
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"How do I look...?" asked Vivi, her body garbed in a purple and pink outfit reminiscent of a belly dancer. The top accentuated her ample bosom and left much of her back, shoulders, and abdomen completely exposed. The bottoms were comparably tame, consisting of a skirt that hung low on the hips and extended to the ankles, but if you caught it at the right angle, the fabric was fairly light and translucent.
Without hesitation, Thomas replied, "You look incredible," with a fiery light in his eyes. His 'intensity' caused a potent blush to color Vivi's cheeks, but before they could enter into their own little world, Chloe chimed in to ask, "And what about the rest of us~?" in a teasing tone.
Resisting the urge to exhale an exasperated sigh, Thomas looked over to find Chloe wearing a turquoise outfit that gave her the appearance of a Djinn/Genie. Except for a bikini-like top and bottom that left very little to the imagination, the fabric covering her arms and legs was transparent, accented by golden accessories.
Having gotten used to Chloe's preference for scant attire, Thomas wasn't even remotely surprised by her ensemble. What 'did' surprise him was the fact that Illya was also showing off more than a bit of skin. She wore an ankle-length skirt similar to Vivi and Nami, but her top was little more than a strip of white fabric accented by black and gold, hugging her lithe body like a strapless tube top.
Covering her chest, Illya's face lit up redder than a cherry tomato as she turned her body to the side and stammered, "D-D-D-Don't look at me like that! They didn't have a lot of tops in mine and Chloe's sizes, okay!?"
Stimulated by Illya's behavior, Ruby wriggled in a 'disconcerting' manner as she exclaimed, "Magnifique~! What a marvelously charming reaction~!"
Glaring at the writhing magical wand, Illya growled, "You're not helping, Ruby..."
Undaunted by Illya's threatening tone, Ruby teased, "Staring at me with such an intense and passionate gaze is only going to make me even more excited. When will you learn that there is nothing more endearing than an angry and teary-eyed magi-"
Before Ruby could finish speaking, Illya promptly grabbed and threw her away with the finesse of a professional discus thrower. It wouldn't take long for her to return, but Illya had bought herself at least a momentary reprieve.
Exhaling a weary sigh, Illya retreated into the clothing store to purchase a shawl while everyone observed her with varying degrees of empathy. The moment she was gone, however, Chloe acted as if nothing had happened, returning her gaze to Thomas as she asked, "Well? How do I look~?" while spinning around.
"Like a brat," replied Thomas. Then, shifting his gaze to Nami, he briefly considered complimenting her before returning his attention to Vivi. Chloe just laughed off his remark, but Nami was slightly annoyed. She might not be fishing for compliments, but very few girls enjoyed being 'ignored.'
Crossing her arms in a manner that emphasized her breasts, not that she could avoid it, Nami remarked, "You don't have to be so 'cautious' around me, Tom. Vivi and I are friends. She isn't going to get upset if you stare or compliment me."
Shaking his head, Thomas preempted Vivi's response by asserting, "It has less to do with Vivi and more to do with my pride. I simped for you like an idiot, and all it got me was pain and frustration. I don't hate or resent you, but I'm not going to let you keep breaking me down or treating me like a fool..."
Furrowing her brows, Nami lowered her gaze as she muttered, "I said I was sorry..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone. She had actually apologized multiple times at this point, but, despite 'accepting' her apology, Thomas still behaved distantly around her. His past trauma, related to the betrayal of the woman he loved and his best friend, made him extremely reluctant to give people second chances. He wasn't lying about not hating her, but the 'appreciation' he once held for her was long gone.
Suppressing her urge to lash out, Nami said, "I need to cool my head..." before following after Illya. As she departed, Chloe, reading the 'room,' added, "And I'm going to go check on Illya," before giving Thomas and Vivi a playful wink.
Waiting until they were alone, Vivi grabbed Thomas's hands, staring up at him as she whispered, "You know Nami isn't a bad person, Tom. She truly is sorry for the way she treated you..."
Exhaling a tired sigh, Thomas replied, "I know...however, the only reason she feels that way is because of the distance between us. If I pandered to her like I used to, there's a chance she might default to treating me like a lackey or errand boy. If that happened, I don't think I could stop myself from resenting her..."
Wrapping his arms around Vivi, Thomas's expression and tone softened as he added, "I don't mind strong and independent women. What I can't stand are those who break down and try to use others. Nami is a good person. I know that. But she is also greedy, selfish, and prone to violent outbursts when she's scared or doesn't get her way. The past me would have tolerated all of that because of her beauty. Now, I have incredible women like you, Caenis, and even Astolfo to support me...why would I let myself be broken down by someone who only sees me as a means to an end?"
Without waiting for her response, Thomas lowered her face to plant a kiss on Vivi's lips. There was a lot the blue-haired Princess wanted to say, but she briefly set them aside to focus on reciprocating Thomas's kiss. At the same time, hidden just out of view, a certain orange-haired, brown-eyed woman had a despondent look on her face as she considered the type of person she was, compared to the kind of person she wanted to be...
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(A/N: Every time Nami got excited to learn about how affluent Thomas would be, she dug deeper and deeper into the hole of his mistrust. Also, sorry for the late releases. I'm very ill at the present moment.)

After procuring clothes, Thomas, Vivi, Nami, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby returned to the port to procure food and water from a business closer to their ship. However, before they could reach their destination, someone Thomas both expected and was surprised to see barred their path.
"Thomas Jensen..." growled Smoker in his usual gravelly tone, a pair of lit cigars in his mouth.
Instead of responding to Smoker's words, Thomas briefly looked at the young, raven-haired woman standing next to him. She had short raven hair, similar to Nami, but her features were markedly more 'average.' She was far from ugly, but she gave off the impression of a 'girl-next-door,' especially with her thick, red-rimmed glasses. As for her body...she was deceptively curvy...
Shifting his attention from the woman, Thomas didn't need Chloe to inform him that they were surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds, of Marines.
While staring at one of the Marines aiming their flintlock rifle at him, Thomas's expression morphed into a frown as he asked, "What's this about, Captain Smoker? You and your little lady friend a long way from Loguetown..."
Maintaining a scowl, Smoker exhaled a plume of thick white smoke as he revealed, "Orders from up top. I was told you stole something important from the World Government. Now, are we going to do this the easy way, with you surrendering peacefully, or are we going to have to involve your friends...?"
Passing his gaze over Vivi, Nami, Illya, and Chloe, Smoker's expression didn't change in the slightest despite the group's scant attire. The girl at his side, however, gripped the hilt of her katana as she grimly remarked, "Captain...unless I'm mistaken, those two young-looking girls with him are the infamous Pirates, Illya and Chloe von Einzbern. Last I checked, both had Bounties of 500,000,000..."
Hearing the woman's words, the Marines accompanying Smoker became even tenser than usual. As for Smoker, he had a faintly incredulous look on his face as he re-evaluated Illya and Chloe, asking, "You're telling me these little squirts have a combined Bounty of one billion? What are their crimes...?"
Before the raven-haired woman, Tashigi, could explain, Thomas stated, "I haven't stolen a damn thing, and I don't appreciate being falsely accused just so you have an excuse to try and arrest me."
After raising his hand to silence Tashigi's response, Smoker reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a piece of wax paper as he said, "I honestly didn't buy it when I first received the order. However, recent events have led me to believe differently..."
Seeing Smoker unfurl the Bounty Poster of Drake, Thomas's expression morphed into a deadpan as he said, "I cut ties with the Wild Hunt before I departed the East Blue..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Smoker responded, "That may be the case, but it doesn't change the fact you were once affiliated with them. You may have critical information that can lead to Francis Drake's capture. If that wasn't a good enough reason to arrest you, you're now traveling with at least two infamous Pirates...how do you plan to explain that?"
Without missing a beat, Thomas retorted, "Easily," before crossing his arms and explaining, "We have something the World Government wants. We didn't steal it, and it never belonged to them, but that won't stop them from labeling anyone possessing the items they seek as criminals. Now, even though we haven't committed any crimes, we're going to be vilified and accused of assaulting Marines just because idiots like you choose to carry out illegitimate orders..."
Before Smoker or Tashigi could respond, Thomas gestured to Illya and Chloe, asking, "Want to know the crimes these girls are actually 'guilty' of...?"
Staring into Smoker's eyes, Thomas's expression and tone hardened as he revealed, "A random Celestial Dragon took an interest in them and wanted to enslave them against their will. Because they refused to become some inbred piece of shit's pet, they were pursued and nearly killed by Admiral Kizaru. Now, unless you intend to explain to me how it's 'wrong' to resist being enslaved against your will, you and your Marines can fuck off before someone gets hurt or someone else's property is damaged..."
Though he had heard the rumors about Celestial Dragons, Smoker had never witnessed their atrocities. He also believed that the Marines were 'necessary' to protect the people and counteract the growing number of Pirates tormenting the seas, so, while he could empathize with Thomas's, Illya's, and Chloe's plights, he was determined to take them in.
Catching Tashigi and his subordinates by surprise, Smoker half-turned away from Thomas's group, saying, "There's a large clearing to the North of the city. If you're genuinely concerned with causing collateral damage, we can settle things there..."
Adopting a severe expression, Thomas replied, "I'll accompany you to the outskirts, but only if you let these girls go. They didn't do anything wrong, and your orders were to capture me, not them."
Surprised by Thomas's words, Vivi attempted to say something but was silenced by the former shaking his head. As heroic as his words sounded, the truth was that he simply wanted to test his strength against Smoker and his Marines. With the EMIYA Install Card and his Command Spells, he could escape even if he was captured and imprisoned.
Seeing the 'resolute' expression on Thomas's face, Smoker only hesitated for a moment before answering, "Very well."
"Captain Smoker...!" shouted Tashigi. "We can't just-"
Before Tashigi could finish voicing her protest, Smoker narrowed his eyes, staring down at her as he said, "As Marines, our top priority is protecting the citizens and ensuring they're able to go about their daily lives without interruption. Also, our mission is to capture Thomas Dale Jensen. We can worry about apprehending other Pirates once we've achieved our primary objective..."
Directing the final few words at Thomas, Smoker signaled his men before turning around and leading the way. In response, Thomas turned to Vivi, greeting her anxious expression with a wry smile as he softly asserted, "Don't worry. Even if I get my ass handed to me, I'll be able to escape the moment I recover..."
Instead of responding to Thomas with words, Vivi threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. She didn't doubt his claim about being able to escape, but that didn't change the fact he was 'sacrificing' himself to buy them time and to preserve her people's way of life.
Though he suspected Vivi had misunderstood something, that didn't stop Thomas from returning her embrace, gently cradling the bluenette within his arms as various people stared at them with mixed expressions...
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After parting ways with the girls, Thomas did his best not to mind the small army of Marines surrounding him as he followed behind Smoker, followed by Tashigi. The latter had mellowed out a bit after seeing his interaction with Vivi, but she still had a hand on her sword, prepared to unsheathe it the moment he attempted to flee.
Since it took nearly an hour to walk from the port to the city's outskirts, Thomas attempted to break the ice after seventeen minutes of awkward silence, asking, "Your name's Tashigi, isn't it?"
Furrowing her brows, Tashigi pushed up her glasses as she snappily replied, "I don't fraternize with Pirates..."
Adopting a smile, Thomas retorted, "Then I guess I'm lucky, as I haven't actually done any pirating. If I have, feel free to point out my Bounty and crimes. I'm curious to know."
As the World Government had yet to issue a Bounty for Thomas's capture, Tashigi found herself at a loss for words. All she knew for certain was that Thomas was a fairly honorable Bounty Hunter that had intervened when Pirates attempted to cause a scene and murder a group of policemen in Loguetown. Now, he was willfully accompanying them to the outskirts of the city to avoid causing trouble for the people who inhabited it...
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Tashigi eventually inquired, "What do you have that the World Government would go out of their way to label you as a criminal to possess?"
Raising his right index finger, Thomas produced a wisp of blue 'flame' as he revealed, "They believe there is a connection between my Devil Fruit, the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, and something called Install Cards. However, as there is no direct connection between them, I ended up blabbing to a lot of people about the name and abilities of my fruit. That included a certain cigar addict, so now I get to be hunted and treated like a criminal despite only wanting to help people..."
Hearing Thomas's words, Smoker's perpetually grim expression became even more so as he stopped in place, turned around, and asked, "You're saying this is my fault...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas answered, "This is entirely the result of the World Government being heralded by being greedy, irredeemably corrupt asshats. You and your subordinates just happen to be the instruments they're using to try and get their way. In that regard, you, me, the citizens of Alabasta; we're all victims."
Unwilling to be left out of the conversation, Tashigi asked, "What does this have to do with the people of Alabasta...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas retorted, "Does it matter? As far as you people are concerned, I'm guilty because someone neither of us has ever met told you I am. There's no evidence linking me to a crime, but you're prepared to detain and hand me over just because someone ordered you to do so. Shit like this is exactly why I became a Bounty Hunter instead of joining the Marines..."
Puffing out her cheeks, Tashigi looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Smoker, however, readily asserted, "I won't try to argue that the Marines are perfect. But our existence is necessary to counteract the spread of piracy..."
Adopting a deadpan expression, Thomas countered, "The only thing that makes someone a 'Pirate' in this world is their unwillingness to bend the knee to the World Government. You might be fighting to curb the spread of piracy, but that isn't why the Marines exist. If that were the case, the World Government would have constructed bases near the Twin Capes or before Sabaody Archipelago..."
Shaking his head, Thomas said, "Forget it. These types of discussions are pointless. The World Government has spent 700 years convincing people they're the good guys, so I don't expect you to listen to reason. Once you increase your rank or spend some time at Saboady, you'll understand the true nature of the people you serve. Just pray that your little friend here doesn't catch the eye of a stray Celestial Dragon. She's pretty cute, so if she doesn't want to be labeled a Pirate, her only options would be to kill herself or accept being someone's pet for the rest of her life..."
Refusing to believe Thomas's words, Tashigi exclaimed, "Don't think you can deceive us! If the Celestial Dragons were truly as monstrous as you claim, the people would have revolted years ago...!"
Instead of looking toward Tashigi, Thomas narrowed his eyes, holding Smoker's gaze as he replied, "Literally anyone who's visited Sabaody can verify what I'm saying. I'm just warning you so that you and your Captain aren't forced to become Pirates for 'daring' to resist enslavement..."
Directing his gaze skyward, Thomas added, "We should hurry and get a move on. I have a good woman waiting and a lot of people relying on me to help save, so I don't really have time to play with you. Just make sure that when you report me to the higher-ups, you inflate my feats as much as possible. After all, I'm an associate of the Wild Hunt and a cohort of two people with Bounties of 500,000,000. If I'm going to be forced into becoming a Pirate, I may as well have a sizeable Bounty to wave around."
Furrowing her brows even further, Tashigi asked, "Is this a game to you?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas retorted, "I'm an innocent man about to be attacked by a platoon of Marines for a crime I didn't commit. If I make a single mistake, my life and freedom are forfeit. If I succeed, I'm guilty of resisting arrest and assaulting affiliates of the World Government. There's no way I get out of this without receiving a Bounty, so I may as well have a big one. I mean, I'm a pretty big guy, so it would be pretty embarrassing to have a smaller Bounty than the two girls I'm charged with protecting..."
Understanding that Thomas was referring to Illya and Chloe, Smoker asked, "You're protecting those two?"
Adopting a smile, Thomas replied, "Something like that. Either way, I have something the World Government desperately wants. Might as well have a Bounty that matches their desperation."
Catching Thomas a little off guard, Smoker gave a curt nod and said, "I'll keep that in mind when I make my report..." Then, without another word, he turned around, signaling for his men to pick up the pace so they could wrap things up as quickly as possible...
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Though it took a few days, news of Wapol's defeat and the existence of the Enma-tei gradually circulated through the island of Drum. Regarding the former, virtually everyone wanted Wapol to hang for his crimes. As for the latter, people from all over the island began making their way over to see it for themselves, using the ropeway system that had been opened to the public.
As part of his 'pay it forward' initiative, Thomas made it so that the people of Drum Island could make use of the Enma-tei's facilities at a discounted price. There were various rules and restrictions, but they could purchase a Bath Pass, permitting the use of the Enma-tei's hot spring, or a Communal Dining Pass, allowing them to dine in the buffet hall on the first floor.
While the citizens were initially trepidatious, especially regarding mixed bathing, the Enma-tei exploded in popularity virtually overnight. Not just because the food in the dining hall was delicious but because the Chiefs of each village could acquire food, water, and other goods at an incredibly discounted price.
Since the Enma-tei operated on the notion of Equivalent Exchange, gold and other forms of currency could be converted into just about anything a person could need, want, or desire. Thomas planned to charge a premium for 'imported' goods in the future, but the people of Drum Island wouldn't have to worry about that any time soon. Until conditions improved and the island became more prosperous, they would receive goods and services at nearly a tenth of their actual cost, a boon that would gradually diminish as the funds they 'supplied' ran out...
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While wearing yukatas that looked a little outlandish on their oversized frames, Dalton, and the duo serving as his deputies/ministers, sat across from Thomas with serious expressions on their faces. They had spent the previous night as guests within the Enma-tei, a basic 'requirement' for any who wanted to meet with Thomas. However, while they had enjoyed the experience immensely, the trio weren't particularly happy since they knew most of the funds used to construct the otherworldly building came from the 'former' Kingdom's treasury.
Fortunately, none of the men were 'foolish' enough to call Thomas out for essentially 'plundering' their country. Such funds would never have made their way to the people so long as Wapol was in control, and they would still be suffering under the despotic man's tyranny if not for the arrival of Thomas and his group. Thus, while they couldn't help feeling vexed, they 'accepted' that the Enma-tei wasn't going anywhere.
Breaking the tense silence that dominated the atmosphere, Dalton, with a grim expression on his face, was the first to say, "I wanted to thank you. I have questions about their origin, but the supplies you have distributed to the villages have provided much-needed relief to thousands..."
Shaking his head, Thomas caught the trio off-guard by admitting, "You know as well as I do that the people 'deserve' those goods. The Enma-tei exists to ensure an equal and fair distribution of wealth and supplies while your country transitions from Wapol's reign to the next."
Unable to remain silent, one of the men accompanying Dalton, an old man representing the Isshi-20, asked, "Do you seriously expect us to believe that you plundering the treasury and much of the palace's armory was for the 'benefit' of the people...?"
Worried that the man's comments might offend Thomas, Dalton shouted, "Dr. Andrews...!" in a firm, chiding tone.
Before the man could respond, Thomas answered, "Yes, because if the palace were filled with treasure and enough weapons to supply an army, opportunistic asshats would be fighting to acquire both. I've removed that temptation and ensured that the people of Drum would be well-supplied until the next administration gets things in order. Could you do the same if the money was in your hands...?"
Raising his hand to silence his two companions, Dalton stated, "Make no mistake. We are grateful to you and thankful for the services provided by the Enma-tei. What I'm curious to know is what your plans for the future of Drum Island are. I can't imagine you just packing up and leaving after constructing such a large facility..."
Adopting a practiced smile, Thomas replied, "We all have our secrets. The important thing to know is that I intend to help the people of Drum Island prosper. So long as the next administration doesn't get greedy and try to impose sanctions on our operations, we will work alongside you to realize that goal."
Narrowing his eyes, Dalton's expression and tone hardened as he asked, "And if we oppose you...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "Unless you're attempting to centralize power to reinforce your dominion over the people, there's no reason to. As you've experienced, the Enma-tei prioritizes hospitality over all else. To ensure each of our guests can enjoy their stay to the fullest, we intend to operate outside the influence of existing governments as a 'neutral' organization. Anyone that attempts to violate that autonomy will pay the price. Simple as that..."
Though Thomas's response raised a considerable number of red flags, Dalton understood there wasn't much they could do to oppose him. The ease at which Thomas and his 'organization' were able to deal with Wapol made it clear they had tremendous military might at their disposal. And as far as he knew, their influence extended to multiple islands.
Exhaling a sigh, Dalton surprised his two companions by stating, "Though I can't help feeling reluctant, we will work alongside the Enma-tei for the future of Drum Island and its people..."
Nodding his head in approval, Thomas replied, "As such, you will always be welcome within the Enma-tei. Now, as I have other matters to attend to, my staff will see you out. Have a good day, gentlemen."
As the balance of power was stacked in Thomas's favor, Dalton and his men had no choice but to comply when he dismissed them. Once they were gone, his body became illusory before a young woman with golden blonde hair, rubicund eyes, fox-like ears, and a fluffy tail appeared in his place. Thomas wasn't particularly diplomatic, so he had Hitomi, Koharu's apprentice, meet with Dalton in his stead.
Emerging from the neighboring room, after sliding open a bamboo door, Thomas, accompanied by Benienma and Koharu, remarked, "Good job, Hitomi. You can take the rest of the day off unless something requires your attention."
Bowing low enough that her forehead nearly touched the ground, Hitomi replied, "Thank you, Goshujin-sama," before quickly rising to her feet and excusing herself. In her wake, several chubby sparrows entered the room, hastily removing the tea sets, snacks, and cushions laid out for Dalton and his entourage before replacing them with new ones.
After observing the sparrows with intrigue for several seconds, Thomas redirected his gaze to Koharu, stating, "You'll be on your own until we get another Enma-tei up and running. Remember our arrangement and make sure everyone follows the rules. No 'disappearing' people, even if they're Pirates..."
Though the people who lost their lives in the Enma-tei would disappear from the memories of others, it was far from 'perfect.' Haki was Spiritual Energy mixed with Willpower, so anyone with sufficiently advanced Haki would be unaffected by the memory erasure. This included high-ranking Marines and members of the World Government, so Thomas didn't want to give them an excuse to stamp out the Enma-tei before he could spread its influence throughout the Grand Line.
Bowing in a way that intentionally emphasized her cleavage, Koharu replied, "Fear not. Everyone in the Enma-tei is indebted to Goshujin for providing us the opportunity to serve our sentence in the Mortal World. None of us are in a hurry to return to Hell, so we will respect Goshujin's wishes and serve to the best of our ability."
Reinforcing Koharu's statement, Benienma revealed, "Those summoned to serve in the Enma-tei must offer tribute to Hahaue. If they are ousted and forced to return to Hell, they will not receive a second opportunity."
Adopting a smile, Koharu playfully remarked, "We rather enjoy not having our skin peeled, tails ripped off, and bones used to create soup stock for hungry Oni. If anyone violates Goshujin-sama's orders, we will not afford them an ounce of mercy."
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "That's a mental image I could have done without..." before pulling an expensive-looking pocket watch to check the time. The Merry was scheduled to depart around 10 AM, so he had around twenty minutes to make his way over.
Returning the watch to his interior breast pocket, Thomas gave Koharu one last look, smiling as he said, "See you around, Koharu. The next time we meet, I'll seriously consider accepting your invitation for a drink..."
Narrowing her golden eyes, Koharu's tails flickered behind her as she said, "Then we shall be counting the seconds until our reunion. Be well, Goshujin-sama. And may fortune favor you during your travels..."
Exhaling a chuckle, Thomas remarked, "Well, I 'do' have EX-Rank Luck..." before providing a playful wink and turning around to depart alongside Benienma. The past few days in the Enma-tei had solidified his decision to part ways with the Straw Hats, not because he didn't enjoy spending time with them, but because he felt like he could accomplish infinitely more as a business magnate than a Pirate...
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Seeing Thomas arrive alongside Caenis and Benienma, Nami teased, "I was half-expecting you to stay behind."
Rolling his eyes, Thomas directed his gaze to Vivi as he replied, "I'm not the type to break a promise. Not if I can help it."
Adopting a radiant smile, Vivi walked forward to grasp Thomas's hand, whispering, "Thank you..." in a faint tone. His help was no longer strictly necessary, but after experiencing the wonders of the Enma-tei, Vivi was certain her country would benefit tremendously from having one near the heart of their territory, particularly within Rainbase. Just the Enma-tei's ability to convert gold into food and water was a tremendous boon for a Kingdom encircled by deserts.
Instead of responding to Vivi with words, Thomas planted a chaste kiss on her lips, prompting the nearby Ruby to remark, "Oh my~!" while Illya covered her face in embarrassment. At the same time, Nami reacted with an eye roll before walking off to instruct everyone to get ready to depart. They only had about seven days' worth of supplies, and Alabasta was at least ten from the Drum Kingdom. Caenis's ability to manipulate sea and ocean currents negated this factor, but Nami elected to operate the ship on the premise that they wouldn't always be able to rely on her presence. After all, once they concluded things in Alabasta, they would need to sail on their own merits...
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Around four days into the journey to Alabasta, Thomas was killing time on the quarterdeck with Vivi when a News Coo flew down from overhead. He had purchased a premium subscription that provided monthly updates for all Pirates with active Bounties, so, seeing the New Coo carrying a thicker than normal parcel, Thomas quickly made his way over to see if there was any news related to the Four Emperors, the Wild Hunt, or himself.
Fortunately, while their actions on Drum Island would typically earn them a sizeable Bounty, the fact that Wapol had cut his Kingdom off from the rest of the world meant there was no way for the news to spread quickly. News Coos also tended to avoid islands with harsh climates, so there was little chance of them flying over and finding out something had occurred.
After flipping through numerous listings related to the Four Emperors and their Commanders, Thomas's brows perked up as the Bounty Poster of a fierce-looking woman with hot pink hair entered his view...
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[WANTED]
[Photo of Drake standing on the bowsprit of her ship]
Dead or Alive
Francis Drake
Bounty: 1,638,000,000 Berries
Crimes: Francis Drake is charged with the crimes of sinking thirty-seven marines warships, consigning 11,928 courageous Marines to their deaths, and severely injuring three Vice-Admirals.
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(A/N: That's one way to make your debut as a Pirate...)

Chapter 76: Stubborn