Smoker suddenly woke up and saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
Not that unfamiliar, it seemed to be inside a military ship...
"You're awake, Colonel Smoker."
Smoker glanced at Tashigi, who was standing by, sat up halfway, looked down at the bandages wrapped around him, and said, "Why am I on the military ship?"
The last thing he remembered was fighting with Sage before fainting.
"The Straw Hat Gang's doctor saved you and handed you over to us..." Tashigi pursed her lips and said.
Smoker was silent for a moment, reached out to touch his body, then found a cigar on the bedside cabinet, lit it, and took a deep draw, the smoke brewing in his mouth before being slowly exhaled.
"Straw Hat..."
He left the bed, opened the room door, and walked from the stairs to the deck, where the first thing he saw was the stars twinkling, the bright moon like a lamp, moonlight reflecting on the sea, covering the port city Nalohara with a layer of silver garment.
"The Straw Hat Gang has retreated, but the Disaster Pirates are still staying in this city. We found their pirate ship, but there are quite a few guards there. Should we attack?" Tashigi followed behind hesitantly.
It's not hesitation due to fear of Disaster, but...
"Earlier, you couldn't stop them?" Smoker said deeply.
"Yes..."
Tashigi lowered her head, her hair falling down to cover her eyes.
She clenched her fist and said, "We tried to stop them earlier but failed."
The Navy she led to chase the Straw Hat Gang was defeated by the Straw Hat Gang and 'Ghost' Gin and 'Iron Wall' Pearl, but strangely enough, they were also saved by the Straw Hat Gang, at least Colonel Smoker was saved.
"Then let's not waste the subordinates' lives. Even if we attack the ship, we can't capture that 'Disaster'.
Smoker bit down on his cigar, looking at the round-topped buildings in the city ahead, especially the taller ones, brightly lit, shimmering with bright lights for a long time, with faintly audible lively cheers from there.
"That guy isn't someone we can deal with just by bringing a hundred people, besides..."
He has more important matters to attend to than Disaster.
In a foggy state, he seemed to be treated by someone there and heard some words...
"What do you think?" Smoker asked.
"Colonel Smoker, Disaster is indeed formidable, we should call for reinforcements..." Tashigi says.
"It's not that kind of matter, and we left our post without orders; there's no support to call for."
Smoker shook his head, saying, "You must have heard it too, I have an impression of the matter concerning Princess Vivi and Alabasta..."
"Yes!"
Tashigi stood up straight, "I heard it!"
She heard it more clearly than Smoker, knowing about Alabasta, dancing powder, and...
Crocodile!
...
Inside an entertainment venue in Nalohara, there was loud noise... no such thing.
In the huge hall, over a hundred people were laughing wildly, holding wine glasses, sometimes challenging drinks with people next to them, or opening their mouths to wait for the dancers serving them to feed them.
Each of them had a table full of Alabasta's unique food, with a scantily clad dancer serving them.
In the center of the hall, a group of dancers followed the music's rhythm, performing a dance full of Alabasta style.
At the head, there was a huge dining table, with not only Alabasta's food but also delicacies cooked by Marika borrowing the kitchen.
Sage sat at the head, not moving at all, with quite a few well-proportioned and good-looking dancers around him, serving him one by one.
He picked up a wooden wine cup, let a dancer pour him a glass of wine, raised it towards the hall, and laughed loudly, "Everyone, get lively!"
"Ooh!!"
The subordinates raised their glasses cheering for Sage.
Sage's crew found a good venue, so he generously rented the entire place, told them to bring the wine he previously reserved, and started the feast.
All the good food, good drinks, and fun things were brought out, focusing on luxury and extravagance!
If you have money, you should enjoy life; he became wealthy not to bury money in the ground but to enjoy life.
Of course, Alabasta has dancers, they even sell dancers' outfits, Sage is willing to spend money so even if a store doesn't have that many dancers, he'd have the owner find dancers from other stores and gather them for him.
You have to put on a show!
It really is...
A never-ending show of grandeur, never-ending extravagance, endless delicacies, endless money!
Unending songs and dances, relentless wealth, unparalleled opulence, everlasting youth!
"This is what I want!"
Sage drank another glass of wine, swallowed the food in front of him like a whale, instantly digesting it.
After two consecutive fights, especially against Ace where he used Life Return for treatment, he was naturally hungry too, such a technique requires energy to be used freely.
Ever since mastering Life Return, his appetite has increased significantly, aside from the factors related to training, he also deliberately stores some for healing during battles.
Life Return is different from Life Return, he doesn't know about others, but for this technique, he can use it precisely until he breaks through to a realm he has been conceiving.
"Still too early..."
Sage clenched his fist, disregarding it, laughed loudly at everyone, "Tonight, drink till you're drunk, don't let anyone leave without passing out, hoho hahahaha!"
"Captain, we won't fall!" Several pirates laughed loudly underneath.
Lily also sat at the huge dining table, elegantly cutting a piece of meat and putting it into her mouth, then picked up the drink next to her, took a sip and turned to Sage, "Sage, after staying here for two days what then?"
"Lily, don't talk business during the feast, nothing is more important than the feast, talk after it's over!"
Sage waved his hand at Lily, hugged a dancer, and let her pour more wine, appearing indulgent and unrestrained.
Pirates are such creatures, and Sage...
He is quite dedicated.
Apart from certain principles, whatever pirates should do, he will do!
"Ah, this noodle tastes good." Marika exclaimed in surprise after taking a bite from the other side of the dining table.
Nearby, Renedia kept grabbing food with her small hand, burying her head in eating while staring at Lily and Marika's grand busts and slender waists, muttering fiercely:
"I'm eating! I'm eating! After eating I'll grow big teeth!"
Although the dancers had good figures too, comparing to these two, they were still somewhat lacking especially Lily...
Damn it, don't know how to grow into that ratio!
She decided to take these two as motivation, and eat crazily until she gets there!
"Hey, the wine ran out, pour another cup!"
After drinking a cup, the dancer serving around Sage still didn't move, he slammed the wine cup on the table and ordered, "Don't slack off!"
The dancers didn't move, collectively staring at the center, their eyes full of shock and awe.
At this moment, Lily instantly stood up and grabbed the sword hilt.
Marika's action of picking noodles paused, her hand grabbing the chair beside her.
Renedia turned her head, still eating, and complained, "Who are you!"
"Having fun, aren't you... Norton Sage." A voice sounded from Sage's side behind.
Sage continued without stopping, picked up a fork, stabbed a piece of meat, took a big bite, chewing up even the bones.
"Don't ruin my mood... Crocodile."