King Cobra returned looking far more relaxed, with Mock's arm draped casually over his shoulders. If the king had been a bit taller, he might have returned the gesture, promising to treat Mock to a drink next time.
The sight made Princess Vivi, who was watching from the doorway with her arms crossed, scowl. She marched over, grabbed her father by the ear, and looked ready to drag him off for a stern lecture.
Of course, nothing truly untoward had occurred. Romance Dawn was a reputable establishment, free from any illicit activities. In the beginning, Dante had occasionally visited for relaxation, but he no longer felt the need. He had found more fulfilling ways to unwind, free from any such complications.
'Speaking of which,' he thought, a business idea taking root, 'I should open a Romance Dawn branch in Rainbase.'
He imagined it would be a massive success, especially with Alabasta's exotic atmosphere and charming traditional dancer outfits. He vividly remembered how stunning Robin, Nami, Kuina, and even Vivi had looked when they'd worn those same outfits after the incident in Alabasta. It had been a true feast for the eyes.
The year-end banquet was still in full swing. It was an annual event he had started back when the Conomi Archipelago was sparsely populated, meant to boost morale and help everyone relax. It followed the timing and open customs of a traditional year-end party. Everyone would gather to eat and drink, discuss the year's accomplishments, and share their goals for the next one, welcoming the new year with renewed energy.
Over the years, as more people joined the 16th Branch and settled on the archipelago, the tradition had been passed down and expanded, evolving into an island-wide carnival to ring in the new year. New and old members celebrated together, making the banquet a special festival that helped newcomers integrate and deepened the bonds between everyone.
Because of this, even though Vegapunk couldn't leave his workshop for security reasons, Dante had a portion of the banquet's delicacies sent over to him. Wapol and Enel, who were with the scientist, got their share as well. The three of them were participating remotely, watching the festivities through a live feed from the archipelago's surveillance system.
Vegapunk was still a wanted man on the high seas, and with his distinctively large head, he couldn't risk moving about freely. He understood his situation perfectly. He hadn't originally been a World Government researcher, he had founded and led MADS, an illegal scientific research team funded by Du Feld.
It was only after the team grew too ambitious and their discovery of the Lineage Factor became public that the World Government absorbed them. Having gone through that once, Vegapunk knew it was best to simply focus on his research in peace. If the World Government found him again, he could lose more than just his freedom.
He had slowly grown accustomed to his new life here, immersing himself in new projects. As for Wapol, Dante left him for Vegapunk to manage. And Enel... well, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was certainly tempting, but the man had only just arrived and was as arrogant and insufferable as ever.
'Vegapunk is low on power for his lab right now,' Dante reasoned. 'I'll let Enel stay with him for the time being. Whether it comes to beating some sense into him or something else, it can wait until Vegapunk no longer has a use for him.'
At the end of this year, the 16th Branch was more crowded than ever. Kuina, Kuma, and Bonney had joined, while Princess Vivi and King Cobra had stayed on to enjoy the celebration. Alabasta was left in good hands, Mock's pirate flag flew over the kingdom, and with the combined forces of Baroque Works and the Royal Army, no major incidents had occurred. There had been a few short-sighted troublemakers at first, but after Kuma, Mock, and Kuro were dispatched to handle them, such disturbances had dwindled.
Rainbase was also thriving. As a major nation on the Grand Line, it attracted a steady stream of tourists, merchants, and pirates, all of whom boosted the city's economy. Sales of Tangerine Wine and Tony's Cosmetics were booming. The cosmetic formula Chopper had provided was already in production and had become wildly popular from the moment it went on sale. With a certain young and beautiful princess promoting it, the entire stock in Alabasta had sold out almost instantly.
The marketing was simple but effective: "A secret recipe from a America's royal family!" Ladies passing through, whether merchants or pirates, made sure to buy a set. With the traveling relying on the seas, there were still many uncharted islands and kingdoms. As long as it worked the merchants would focus on trying to locate America to become middle man.
And the demand was so high, some travelers had to delay their voyages, sending crewmates to queue overnight just to get their hands on it, which in turn gave the local economy another unexpected stimulus. Of course, with prosperity came chaos, so a great deal of effort was put into maintaining order.
During her report, Vivi had looked immensely proud, and King Cobra was visibly pleased to see his daughter growing into such a capable leader. He had come mainly to see the home of his kingdom's saviors and had been thoroughly impressed. He was confident they could govern a kingdom of their own.
As the banquet wound down, Dante's core group gathered for a quieter get-together. Nami and Vivi, now fast friends, were chatting quietly, though Nami occasionally put her hands on her hips to ask why Vivi had so many questions. Nearby, Robin sipped her tea with her usual elegance, a book open in her lap.
Mock had his arm around King Cobra's shoulder again, the two of them making plans to visit Romance Dawn later. This earned them another glare from Vivi, who finally stood up and dragged her drunken father away. Kuro and Nota were sharing a bottle of wine, discussing plans for the training camp.
As for Kuma, he sat quietly, nursing his drink and smiling as he watched Bonney wander happily among the others, her laughter echoing in the festive air. Seeing that hope had returned to Kuma's face, he seemed to smile more these days. He had already sent a tired Bonney back to Vegapunk for the night, she still needed treatment, but her recovery was now just a matter of time.
Even the perpetually grim-faced Daz Bonez, an outsourced contractor, was there, drinking silently by himself.
Soon, the lively year-end celebration drew to a close, and a quiet calm settled over the Conomi Archipelago. The Marine 16th Branch was ready to welcome a new year and new challenges.
After he and Robin had helped get a drunken Nami, Vivi, and Kuina back to their rooms, Dante walked over to Kuma, who was still sipping his drink.
"I've already arranged for people to clean up," Dante said. "You don't need to worry about it."
"It's alright, Boss. I'd like to drink a little more, if you don't mind," Kuma said, looking up at Dante through his frameless glasses. His expression was a unique blend of heartiness and gentleness. "Please, let me stay. I can help clean up later. Thank you, Boss. Bonney and I are so happy... truly, so happy."
As he spoke, tears welled in the eyes of the nearly seven-meter-tall man.
"I had actually started to accept it," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought Sapphire Scale might truly be an incurable disease. I just... wasn't willing to give up. But now... Bonney can be cured. She can really be cured."
Kuma looked up at the star-filled night sky, a faint smile on his lips. "I wonder if Ginny can see this," he murmured. "I kept my promise to you, Ginny." He turned his gaze back to Dante. "I've been wanting to thank you properly, Boss. Thank you so, so much."
When he finished, Dante felt a warmth he wasn't quite used to. "...It's nothing." He gave the giant's broad back a firm pat. After a moment, he added, "Just do your job well."
"Please, rest assured. I will do my job, even if it means sacrificing my life. I won't have any regrets."
"No need to be so dramatic."
"Thank you so much, Boss," Kuma said again, his gaze drifting back to the twinkling stars. His lips curved into a soft smile. "Boss, you know so much about the world. Do you think... Joy Boy really exists?"
"I think so."
"My father always said he exists, but I knew he had his doubts. So did I. But now, Boss," Kuma said, wiping the tears from his eyes, "you are Bonney's and my Joy Boy."
'What?' Dante unease at the declaration. But seeing Kuma's warm, earnest smile and the unwavering conviction in his eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more. He just stood up and patted the seated man's shoulder. "Then keep working hard. As a new Shichibukai, you're going to be busy."
"It will be my pleasure, Boss."
"I'm turning in for the night. You should get some rest soon, too."
Dante gave a small wave, leaving Kuma to his peaceful stargazing, and headed toward his own house.
As he rounded a corner, a voice, smooth and playful, drifted from the shadows.
"Boss..." Robin was leaning against the wall, having appeared from nowhere. She offered him an smile and a playful wink.
"You're my Joy Boy, too."
"..."
'This sly woman must have been listening the whole time.'
Before Dante could show his irritation, Robin blinked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said with a smirk. "You must be tired as well, Boss. Am I right?"
===============
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