Vivian: ???
"Do you really think you can hide? It's useless! A man like you, wherever you go, you're like a firefly in the dark, so distinct, so outstanding…"
"Your sharp eyes, extreme observational skills, godlike marksmanship, and modest personality have already betrayed you!"
Kuto's words were heartfelt, with a hint of frustration.
But Vivian felt awkward listening to it.
He wondered if this guy was a fencer or something.
But that wasn't the point now.
The point was… he got promoted!
"Who needs to understand the truth?"
Vivian slammed the table again, the force chipping a corner of the desk, startling both Smoker and Kuto.
"If it weren't for your fearless efforts to exhaust Ashburn, how could I have had the chance to deliver the final blow?"
"So, I need to apply to retract this promotion order. The credit isn't mine alone; at least half belongs to Kuto."
"Vivian, you…" Kuto's eyes showed a hint of emotion.
Thinking about how he had previously judged Vivian with such dirty thoughts, he felt deeply guilty.
"Alright, stop arguing about this."
Smoker, feeling a headache, intervened, glancing at the damaged desk corner. He thought about how he had spent 100,000 Berries on this desk just last month. Vivian didn't know his own strength.
But he didn't plan to pursue compensation. After all, he was their superior. Getting angry over a small amount of money would make him look petty.
So, he reached into his coat, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Vivian, "Here, have a smoke and calm down."
"A cigar?" Vivian's eyes lit up, quickly taking it.
Smoker's cigars were something he had long wanted to try, but they were too expensive. Plus, the tobacco shop in Loguetown prioritized supplying cigars to the Smokers, so he rarely had the chance.
Lighting the cigarette, he put it in his mouth.
But before he could savor it, Smoker continued, "How does it taste? Once you get promoted to officer rank, you can smoke these freely."
Cough cough cough…
Vivian: (O_O;)
This damn Smoker, setting me up?
"I'll have the details of your capture of Ashburn resubmitted to headquarters. But before that, I want you two to join me and Tashigi in capturing a pirate crew," Smoker said, pulling out two more cigars, lighting them, and placing them in his mouth.
"Capture pirates?" Hearing this, Vivian felt uneasy, and sure enough, options appeared before him.
[Option 1: Nod and agree to Smoker. (Reward: Frostmourne from the Warcraft universe)]
[Option 2: Shake your head and refuse Smoker. (Reward: Fire of Happiness from the ??? universe)]
[Option 3: Ask Smoker who the pirates are and give your answer the next day. (Reward: Random skill experience +1)]
Frostmourne?
Fire of Happiness?
"Isn't 'Fire of Happiness' a weapon from Warcraft RPG?" Vivian was puzzled but chose option 3.
"Can I ask who you're planning to capture?"
"It's the Straw Hat crew who recently defeated the Fish-Man Pirates. Their captain is Monkey D. Luffy, with a bounty of 30 million Berries…"
"Who did you say?" Vivian's voice suddenly rose several octaves.
"Monkey D. Luffy. Is there a problem?"
Smoker exhaled smoke continuously, arms crossed, looking at Vivian. "I know, 30 million Berries is quite a lot in the East Blue. But in the Grand Line, it's nothing."
"Yeah, Vivian, Captain Smoker was sent from the Navy Headquarters. Even if the opponent is a pirate with a 30 million Berries bounty, they can't possibly be his match," Kuto chimed in.
Silence.
Vivian couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
Oh right, not his match.
What about adding Garp, Shanks, and Monkey D. Dragon to the mix?
He didn't want to get too involved with the main characters to avoid unnecessary trouble. Now they wanted him to help capture the future Pirate King?
Are you kidding me?
Following the prompt, Vivian sighed, "I just finished escorting the civilians back and I'm a bit tired. Can we discuss this tomorrow?"
[You chose option 3, reward: Craftsman experience +1]
"Alright."
Seeing the fatigue on Vivian's face, Smoker nodded, "If there's nothing else, you can leave now."
"Yes, Captain Smoker."
…
"By the way, why did you go to Captain Smoker's office?" Vivian asked Kuto as they left.
"Oh, it's because of a recent murder case within the navy."
"Murder case inside Navy?"
"Yes." Kuto nodded, "While you were away this past month, two navy soldiers were brutally murdered at night."
"That's terrifying."
Vivian was shocked, then asked, "Did you catch the culprit?"
"Yes, we caught him last night."
Kuto took out a profile with a photo and handed it to Vivian, "It's a corporal named Sisiberry. Apparently, he was infatuated with Officer Tashigi and couldn't stand her interacting with other soldiers, so he killed them in their sleep."
Not only did he kill them, but he also dismembered them and stuffed the parts into a trash can. The gruesomeness of it made Kuto's scalp tingle when he discovered the bodies.
Vivian was taken aback.
He suddenly realized something.
If he had refused to go out to sea with Papanov, would that guy have come to attack him at night?
Thinking about how he had invited Tashigi to his quarters for dinner before leaving, he felt a chill.
"No matter the world, there are always extreme people…"
Looks like he would have to be extra careful when sleeping from now on.