Two groups gradually merged, with Brigadier General Adkin and General Louis at the forefront, discussing the local customs and the treaty locations.
Following behind them was Longinus, meticulously observing and memorizing his surroundings. Suddenly, a sneaky figure slipped through the crowd.
“Brother Longinus, Tina missed you so much!” Tina expertly linked her arm with Longinus’s left arm, looking up at him with a bright smile.
Feeling the numerous intense stares from behind, Rougishufelt was somewhat helpless. His Haki of Observation could even distinguish between the curious glances of his colleagues and the jealous, angry looks of the nobles of the Kingdom of Heisca.
Longinus’s helplessness wasn’t due to the potential trouble; he didn’t think any minor nobles could cause him much trouble. He was simply feeling sorry for the kingdom’s future, wondering if the lolicon sentiment had already spread throughout the upper echelons of the kingdom’s society.
Noticing the commotion behind him, Brigadier General Adkin turned around, eyes gleaming with gossip. “You must be Tina! I’ve heard that a little girl often visits our navy base, bringing gifts for the soldiers each time. Many soldiers privately call you a little angel!”
Tina, not shy at all, gave a standard military salute. “Brigadier General, this is what I should do.”
At this moment, Louis also turned around, his sharp gaze fixed on Longinus.
“Explode, come on, explode!” The nobles of the Heisca Kingdom laughed inwardly, waiting for the navy officer to get into trouble.
However, to their disbelief, the usually stern and overly protective father laughed heartily, walking up to Rougishuand and giving him a bear hug. “Haha! Brother Longinus, it’s been too long! I always knew you’d find your place in the navy.”
“Uncle Louis, it has indeed been a while. You look even more spirited than before,” Rougishusmiled.
The nobles, with dark thoughts, felt their worldview shattered. What was this? Such blatant favoritism?
Though indignant, they didn’t dare voice their displeasure. Both men were untouchable: a navy brigadier general and a kingdom general.
The group quickly fell into a familiar conversation. After entering the royal city, Tina whispered to Longinus, “Brother Longinus, you came just in time. Our kingdom’s special food festival is famous all over Saintin Island. It just started yesterday and features delicacies from various kingdoms. I’ll take you to try some later!”
“I think you’re the one who wants to go,” Rougishureplied, patting her head with a doting smile.
“Hehe, a bit of both!”
“But will Uncle Louis agree? He doesn’t have time to watch over you now.”
“Don’t worry! As long as it’s you, Brother Longinus, Dad will definitely agree.”
After saying this, Tina ran up to her father, gently shaking his arm. “Dad, I want to go to the special food festival later. I’ve been looking forward to it for so long.”
Louis frowned slightly, hesitantly saying, “That place is too far from the royal city. I can’t leave right now, and it would be dangerous…”
“Brother Rougishuwill go with me. You know how strong Brother Rougishuis.”
“Brother Rougishuis indeed reliable. With him, I can be at ease. But…” Louis looked to the side, troubled.
Brigadier General Adkin understandingly said, “Longinus, why don’t you take the young lady around? Just make sure to be back before the treaty negotiations start.”
Feeling sold out, Rougishureluctantly agreed, “Alright, I got it.”
…
Tina wasn’t exaggerating. The food festival showcased delicacies from all over Saintin Island, like Alabasta’s scorpion barbecue, which had a unique flavor.
“Mmm! Tina is so happy! I’ve been waiting for this for so many years. Every time this festival comes around, Dad always has a ton of work and never lets me go out alone.”
“Knowing Uncle Louis’s personality, letting you out is already rare,” Rougishusaid, tasting various foods. Though he wouldn’t indulge in pleasures, pursuing beautiful things is human nature, and he wouldn’t deny it.
“True.” Tina nodded in agreement and then curiously asked, “Brother Longinus, the newspaper recently reported about your heroic rescue of hostages. Can you tell me more about it? I really want to know.”
“You know my strength, calling it heroic is an exaggeration. Those pirates were…” Seeing Tina’s stubborn and determined gaze, Rougishusighed and raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, here’s how it happened…”
After a vivid description, Tina’s eyes sparkled with admiration. She even forgot to eat the barbecue in her hand, letting it go cold and hard. “I’m so envious! I hope I can become a navy officer protecting justice like you, Brother Longinus. Unfortunately, Dad says I have to be at least 16 to join the navy.”
“Ah!” Lost in her dreams, Tina was suddenly bumped by a dirty child and almost fell.
Fortunately, she had some basic physical training, so she quickly regained her balance despite being caught off guard. After steadying herself, she realized the culprit had disappeared into the maze of alleys. Angrily, she stomped her foot. “That little beggar was so rude!”
It wasn’t the dirtiness that bothered her; she just felt embarrassed to be startled in front of the admired Brother Longinus!
On the other hand, Longinus looked at her more seriously and reminded her, “Check if anything is missing. That fleeting sensation felt like… a Devil Fruit user!”
“A Devil Fruit user? That’s impossible!” Tina’s eyes widened, unable to associate the dirty beggar with something worth over 100 million berries. However, trusting Rougishucompletely, she quickly checked her belongings.
“Damn it! The pocket money I brought to treat you, Brother Longinus, was stolen by that thief!”
“Just some pocket money? That’s manageable,” Rougishusighed in relief.
“Although it’s only 30 million berries, I can’t stand that thief bumping into me and stealing my money!” Tina ground her small teeth in anger.
“Cough…” Rougishualmost choked on his saliva, looking at Tina as if seeing her for the first time. “How much did you say?”
“Thirty million berries! Don’t worry, Brother Longinus, it’s just my pocket money for the month. I’m just mad at the thief.”
Rougishudidn’t mind the money. With the pirates he’d captured over the past two years, their bounties exceeded 300 million berries. Though the navy wouldn’t give him the full bounty, the accumulated rewards amounted to nearly 100 million berries.
However, he couldn’t casually take out 30 million berries as pocket money as Tina did.
No wonder those nobles saw him as someone living off a rich girl!
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