133 The Difference #133

Kieran leaned against a nearby building, his eyes trained on Galley-la Company's headquarters. He was focused and alert, following Cedric's orders to observe Khalifa and gather any information that might confirm her involvement with CP9. Beside him, Baby Five bounced on her heels, her curiosity seemingly endless.

"Hey, Kieran, do you like busty or petite women?" Baby Five asked with flushed cheeks, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Kieran sighed, trying to maintain his concentration. "We're on an important mission. Can we focus?"

Undeterred, Baby Five persisted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on! I only want to know your preference for women. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes? Do you like long or short hair?"

Kieran shook his head with an exasperated expression. "Baby Five, I don't have any preferences. I actually like men..." he said, trying to shock her into staying quiet.

Baby Five's jaw gaped, but before she could continue her questioning, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Cedric's sudden appearance at Galley-la Company's front yard. Cedric strode confidently, unbothered by the need to hide his face or identity. In his hands, he carried his golden trident and a black suitcase.

Just as Cedric reached the entrance, he was intercepted by Tilestone, one of the company's foremen. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! YOU ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY!" He exclaimed, his voice needlessly loud.

Cedric maintained a friendly smile, his charismatic aura filling the air. "Oh, hello there! I'm here to commission a ship," he replied, opening the suitcase to reveal the stacks of Beri notes inside.

Tilestone's eyes widened at the sight of the money, his voice echoing through the yard. "I SEE, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE COMING!"

Cedric tilted his head slightly, his smile unwavering. "Appointment? Ah, my apologies. I didn't know I needed one."

However, as they continued their conversation, Cedric suddenly felt a tug on the suitcase. He turned around to see Paulie, another foreman, trying to pry the case from his hand. Cedric unblinkingly stared at the blonde foreman, and the latter stared back, his expression turning more sheepish with every passing moment.

The tension built, the surrounding air thick with anticipation. Then, with one swift motion, Cedric slammed his trident into the ground, causing the earth to tremble beneath them. The force of the impact startled Paulie, causing him to let go of the suitcase and stumble backward, landing on his backside with a thud.

Cedric dusted off his hands with a satisfied grin. "Sorry about that, friend. It's been a while since someone tried to rob me, and I couldn't help but overreact...."

Still recovering from the unexpected encounter, Paulie slowly stood up and awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, if you're really sorry, you should give me 10% of the money inside the suitcase..."

Kieran watched the entire scene unfold, a mixture of amusement and awe washing over him. Cedric's unyielding presence and his ability to command attention fascinated him. It was one of the reasons why Kieran decided to follow him.

Still, Kieran didn't get to overthink it before Cedric shocked him again.

Cedric's grin widened as he delivered his audacious proposition to Paulie. "Tell you what, my friend. If you join our crew and become our shipwright, I don't mind giving you an entire suitcase full of money."

Paulie's eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping. He stared at Cedric, momentarily speechless at the shameless attempt to poach one of Galley-la's shipwrights in the company's headquarters.

Before anyone could react, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows, maintaining his disguise as a foreman. It was Rob Lucci, the enigmatic CP9 agent who had infiltrated Galley-la. With a swift motion, Lucci delivered a sharp knock on Paulie's head, stunning him into momentary silence.

Lucci's voice was cold and calculated as he addressed Paulie. "You're getting carried away, Paulie. Stick to your responsibilities." He declared, speaking through Hattori, the white pigeon nestled on his shoulder.

Cedric chuckled, thoroughly amused by the unfolding spectacle. He watched as Lucci effortlessly dragged Paulie away, leaving the scene behind.

As Tilestone recovered from the commotion, he shook his head and shouted, "FINE! YOU CAN GO IN AND DISCUSS YOUR COMMISSION WITH THE BOSS. BUT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU DECIDE TO VISIT AGAIN!"

Cedric flashed a charismatic smile and nodded. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind..."

With Tilestone's permission granted, Cedric strode past the foreman and into the depths of Galley-la Company's headquarters. Kieran asked Baby Five to stay put and followed Cedric closely, his mission to investigate Khalifa's activities at the forefront of his mind.

As he ventured deeper into the building, Cedric couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur and bustling energy that filled the corridors. Galley-la Company was an impressive operation known for its exceptional shipwrights and their craftsmanship.

Cedric approached the reception area where Khalifa, the secretary of Galley-la Company, sat at her desk. Her icy gaze met Cedric's, and she immediately adopted a defensive posture.

"Hey, what's with those dirty eyes? Are you sexually harassing me?" Khalifa snapped, her tone laced with accusation.

Cedric chuckled, his golden trident resting against his shoulder. "Oh, no, no. I assure you, I have no such intentions."

Khalifa arched an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Then what is it that you want?"

"I'm here on business, of course, but before we get to that, I gotta ask you one question..." Cedric replied, and quickly went on before Khalifa could respond. "What, in your opinion, is the difference between flirting and sexual harassment?" He asked, trailing at the end of his sentence.

Khalifa opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a single word, Cedric interjected, not allowing her a chance to speak. "Let me enlighten you. The difference lies in whether the person making the advances is attractive to their target."

Khalifa's face contorted with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She was ready to snap, only to pause as she thought about it. "I suppose... no, it doesn't work like that! Sexual harassment is sexual harassment!"

Cedric chuckled, unperturbed by Khalifa's objections. "You're missing the point, but let's not get caught up in semantics. I'm here to discuss a commission with your boss, Iceburg,"

Khalifa's frustration was palpable, but she relented, realizing that arguing further with Cedric would lead nowhere. She gestured towards the office door. "Fine. Go on in. Iceburg is waiting for you."

Cedric nodded appreciatively and proceeded towards Iceburg's office, leaving Khalifa behind, still perplexed by the encounter.

Observing the exchange, Kieran couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Cedric's audacious behavior. His captain had a unique way of pushing people's buttons, effortlessly keeping them off balance. It was as if Cedric had a knack for turning any situation into a playful game, even in the midst of a serious mission.

As Cedric disappeared into Iceburg's office, Kieran's mind buzzed with anticipation. He didn't know what Cedric planned but looked forward to seeing what he had in store.

...

Garp marched with determination towards the familiar house on the outskirts of the Goa Kingdom. With a stern expression, he barged into Dadan's home, where Luffy and Ace were engaged in a lively conversation about their aspirations to become pirates as usual.

Startled by Garp's abrupt entrance, Luffy and Ace froze mid-conversation. Their eyes widened as they exchanged nervous glances, knowing that their grandpa's legendary "Fist of Love" was about to make an appearance.

Garp stomped his foot and shouted, "What's this I hear about you two scoundrels wanting to become pirates again? Have you lost your marbles?"

Luffy scratched his head, trying to find the right words. "Well, Gramps, being a pirate is fun, you know? Adventure, freedom, and all that!"

Garp's eyebrows twitched in frustration as he gave his youngest grandsons a knock on the head. "Fun? Adventure? Freedom? That's not what being a marine soldier is all about! You two will become strong marine soldiers, defending justice and upholding the law!"

Before Luffy could respond, Ace chimed in. "Stop bullying my brother. You are a dirty geezer! Even if you force us into the Marines, we'll just leave and become pirates like Cedric!"

Garp's eyes widened in disbelief, his tone that of shock. "You little shit! Cedric isn't my grandson. Don't even try to make that comparison!"

Garp's anger flared up, and he couldn't contain himself. He reached out and picked up Luffy and Ace by the nape. "You two might think you're free to do as you wish, but you forget that you are MY grandsons! You will do as I say without complaint!"

"Or you will feel my fist of love!" Garp concluded as he knocked the two brothers' heads against one another, causing them to scream in agony.