[Girls' Ship]
The next morning, Gurd returned to the bar with Caesar in tow.
Caesar followed behind Gurd, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
Learning that the Beasts Pirates were his ultimate backers had eased his mind somewhat, but the reputation of the Beasts still loomed large in his heart.
He didn't dare move. Absolutely didn't dare move.
Private Room 208.
"Sit."
"Yes, Lord Gurd!"
Gurd observed the stiffly seated Caesar, who was so nervous he was sweating, and shook his head with a smile: "No need to be nervous. Want me to order a few Girls for you?"
"Eh, really? Can I?"
Caesar's eyes lit up, his cheeks blooming with excitement.
Gurd was speechless.
So this guy was actually a clown.
Gurd took out his wallet, slapped a stack of Berries on the table: "This is all for you. Later, you can order as many Girls as you want. If it's not enough, just put it on my tab. Right now, I have some questions for you."
"Lord Gurd, ask away!"
Caesar quickly pocketed the money, looking at Gurd as if he were his savior.
What a great guy—not only rescuing him from Big Mom's clutches but also giving him money to indulge.
Shurorororo~~
His luck was amazing!
Gurd's expression grew more serious as he asked in a low voice: "I want to know the current situation on Punk Hazard. The more details, the better."
"That dump?"
Caesar was taken aback, not understanding why Gurd would be interested in Punk Hazard. That place was just a bunch of research facilities—useless to Pirates.
"Lord Gurd..."
Caesar rambled on, most of it boasting about his Land of the Dead and his own genius intellect, with the rest spent badmouthing Vegapunk.
The only relevant point was that he had blown up Punk Hazard with the Land of the Dead.
"Shurorororo~~~~"
Caesar's face twisted into a grin, his smug expression rivaling Chopper's when praised, just short of dancing around.
"That sight was truly spectacular!"
"..."
Gurd sighed deeply.
If not for fear of missing some crucial detail, he would have kicked Caesar in the face already—all that nonsense was useless.
"Caesar."
Gurd spoke softly: "I asked about now. Now. Do you understand?"
"..."
Caesar's grin froze.
His instincts told him the man before him was getting angry. If he kept blabbering, his life might be in danger.
"After the Land of the Dead detonated, it released lethal poison gas. Right now, Punk Hazard is entirely engulfed in it—a true no-man's land."
"Good."
Gurd nodded slightly.
"Then, is it possible to enter the research facility?"
"Shurororo~~ I can do it myself, but no one else can."
Caesar shrank his neck, forcing a nervous laugh.
The deadly poison of the Land of the Dead was created using his own abilities—only he was immune. For anyone else, even one of the Four Emperors, surviving too long on the island would be impossible.
Gurd stroked his chin.
This was something best done personally. Sending Caesar to retrieve it made him uneasy—not because he feared betrayal, but because Caesar might run into trouble along the way.
What if he encountered the Marines halfway? Or got hijacked by other Pirates? Or if the Big Mom Pirates came after him again?
The real question was whether his durability could withstand the poison gas.
Wait—he could just wear a hazmat suit!
Gurd smacked his forehead, realizing he had almost fallen into a mental trap.
"Can you make protective suits?"
"I can."
Caesar finally caught on and cautiously asked, "Lord Gurd, is there something on the island you want?"
"Yes."
Gurd nodded.
Caesar grimaced. "Lord Gurd, Punk Hazard is currently blockaded by the World Government. Any ship approaching will be detected immediately. If you really want to go, you might have to wait."
He desperately wanted to return, but not now. If the Marines caught him again, he'd be thrown into Impel Down, and his life would be over.
Gurd frowned.
He had reclaimed Caesar precisely because he didn't want to wait.
But with World Government forces stationed there, it would indeed be troublesome. Punk Hazard was close to Marine HQ, and warships could arrive quickly.
The three Admirals, Garp, Sengoku—any of them could show up. And reinforcements could arrive at any time.
Jack's infamous scene flashed vividly in his mind.
After a long deliberation, he asked, "How long until the Marines withdraw?"
"At least a month, at most three!"
"..."
Gurd glared at Caesar, his fists clenching.
Couldn't this idiot have said so earlier? He'd been agonizing over it for nothing.
Just three months.
The tasks he had on hand would take one or two months to complete. Besides the Numbers trade, he still needed to find a Flying Six candidate to report back.
Annoying.
This guy really deserved a beating.
"Stay in the shop. Don't go anywhere."
Gurd stood up and left, stepping into the hallway.
The manager was waiting outside the door. Seeing Gurd, she immediately bowed. "Mr. Gurd, Lady Stussy wishes to invite you for a drink."
"Lead the way."
Moments later, on the rooftop terrace.
Stussy sat with her legs crossed, one arm propped on the table, smiling at Gurd.
"Mr. Gurd, please have a seat."
"Alright."
Gurd pulled out a chair and sat down, studying Stussy intently.
Not only was she dressed provocatively, but her personal style was also striking—especially her golden short curls and seductive red lips.
She was indeed a stunning beauty.
"Mr. Gurd, it's impolite to stare at a lady like that."
Stussy winked at him with her left eye, her voice a blend of softness and magnetism, sending a tantalizing shiver down the spine.
Playful yet alluring.
The vibe of a mischievous older sister!
Gurd instantly brightened, his gloomy mood lifting considerably. He grinned. "Miss Stussy, may I ask you something bold?"
"What is it?"
Stussy smiled, picking up her juice and lightly biting the straw. Her expressive lips parted and closed, exuding temptation.
She was definitely doing this on purpose!
"Heh, I'm a straightforward man. I don't like beating around the bush. This is the Girls' Ship, right? So I just wanted to ask—"
Gurd chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
"How much would it cost to buy you?"
"Pfft!!!"
Stussy spat out her juice, some even shooting out of her nose. Her carefully maintained older sister image crumbled instantly.
"Cough! Cough! Hack!"
Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, tears streamed from her eyes as she choked. It took her a while to recover, and the first thing she did was turn away from Gurd, swiftly grabbing her makeup bag.
Her makeup was ruined!
She had to fix it!
As the Pleasure Quarter Queen, she had to be impeccably groomed at all times—especially when her face was a mess.
It took a full half hour.
Stussy finally finished tidying herself up and turned to face Gurd, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes.
Vulgar Pirate!
She looked even prettier when angry.
Gurd picked up a cherry and slurped it into his mouth.
Lero lero lero~~~~
"Miss Stussy, you still haven't answered my question!"
"Mr. Gurd, you're right. I am indeed a member of the Girls' Ship, and naturally, I have my price too."
Suppressing her anger, Stussy's face bloomed with a smile again as her sexy tongue licked the corner of her lips.
"My price is 10 billion Berries !"
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