"Hmm... Romance Dawn?"
"..."
Hearing Mock's answer, Dante looked at him, his face darkening with exasperation.
'I ask about your dream, and you tell me you want to soak your feet?'
He took a deep breath, but remembering Mock's intellect, he resumed a serious tone and said bluntly, "Do you still want to be a Pirate? If you don't, as your Boss here I can figure out a way to wipe your slate clean and help you go legit."
This wasn't difficult for him right now. With the Hero of the Marines and a Marine Admiral backing him, fishing one person out of trouble was simple, wasn't it?
"If you want to continue adventuring, you need to be prepared. It's likely going to get very dangerous from here on out." He then sighed. "Think it over carefully!"
There was no helping it. After all, following this recent turn of events, although Mock's official Bounty remained at 100 million, adding the bounty Donquixote Doflamingo had placed on him brought Mock's total Bounty to a staggering 1.1 billion.
1.1 Billion Bounty...
One had to realize that the Big Mom Pirates, the dignified Top Sweet Commander, Charlotte Katakuri, only had a Bounty of 1 billion 57 million Berry, over in the Beast Pirates, one of the Calamities, Jack the Drought, was only at 1 billion Berry, and the highest, King the Conflagration, was only at 1 billion 390 million Berry. And what about the Whitebeard Pirates?
Marco was only at 1 billion 374 million Berry! What tier were they in? And what tier was Mock in? It wasn't that he, as the Boss, wanted to belittle his own subordinate, but really... he didn't know what to say! Everything was fine, so how did he suddenly get hyped up to 1.1 billion Berry?
Moreover, the World Government's actual reward was only 100 million, the other billion was entirely privately hyped up by Doflamingo. Just thinking about it... how tempting must that be! If he continued to stay in East Blue, there was no telling how many random pirates would be attracted, maybe even the Marine would be drawn over.
To be honest, he hadn't expected Doflamingo to be so extreme, the man was already arrested, yet he still wouldn't let go of Mock.
How much hatred and resentment was that!
He even suspected... could Kuzan have done this on purpose?
"Ah? So that's it! Scared me to death." Mock stood up, scratched his head, and said carelessly, "I thought you was going to sell me off for the bounty boss!"
Ridiculous!
It was merely 1.1 billion, would he really trade his own subordinate for money?
Seemingly oblivious to his Boss's irritated face, Mock thought for a moment, looked at his Boss, and continued cheerfully, "Boss, however you want me to do it, I'll do it!"
"Then what are your own thoughts? What do you want to do? Don't say Romance Dawn!"
"Actually..." Mock scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "I still quite like adventuring."
"I knew it."
Hearing Mock's words, Dante wasn't surprised.
Back when he let Mock take over the Mock Pirates, it wasn't just because Mock was obedient, but also because this guy genuinely loved adventure. Everywhere he went, he would curiously look at this and touch that, and with his naturally familiar personality, he would quickly mingle with everyone.
Of course, although Dante didn't like the feeling of running around everywhere, he didn't have much rejection towards the concept of a Pirate.
If his crimes came to be known, Dante knew he would also need to become a pirate himself.
He wouldn't go so far as to smash other people's rice bowls after making his own fortune.
That was just how this world was.
And currently, the Pirate couldn't be eradicated! For example, East Blue...
Even after being cleaned up by Mock twice, new pirates continued to emerge endlessly.
Therefore, in this era, as long as one could maintain their original heart and not commit heinous crimes, they could already be considered the good folk of the sea.
Moreover, even in a truly peaceful era, or an era with very convenient transportation, nothing could stop some people from enjoying a self-driving tour.
And in an era like this...
Who could say they were absolutely clean?
Being able to manage one's own little patch of territory like Rear Admiral Shawn used to do was already considered pretty good.
Thus, Dante did not refuse Mock's choice, as long as he remembered his teachings.
However.
Just as Dante sighed with emotion and was about to say something...
"Of course, I also want Romance Dawn." Mock scratched his head again and said cheerfully, "When I get tired from adventuring, I'll go to Romance Dawn. It's so comfortable!"
Dante fell silent, "..."
Hearing Mock's words, Dante felt he was on verge of losing control over his emotions.
What time was it, and he was still thinking about going to Romance Dawn?
He kicked him directly and said grumpily, "Since you want to continue adventuring, then train properly for me. Otherwise, forget about soaking your feet, you'll probably lose your life."
He sighed with regret in his heart again.
A pity.
He was actually prepared to let Mock go legit, and then get his hands on that 1.1 billion!
"Forget about going to Romance Dawn for this period!"
"Boss!?"
"Since you want to adventure, your Pirate crew can't go on like this." Ignoring Mock's wailing, Dante stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "You are a great Pirate with a 1.1 Billion Berry Bounty, yet the entire Pirate crew is still held up entirely by you. What does that look like?"
One had to realize that the crew members currently on the Mock Pirates' ship... were basically very ordinary, not even having a single bounty among them. It was all carried by Mock alone.
How did this look like a great pirate crew worth 1.1 billion Berry?
Finding suitable partners wasn't that easy either.
Originally, he had wanted Mock to recruit Buggy. He believed that with Buggy's luck and cunning, he could definitely bring help to Mock.
After all, both of them relied entirely on hype. Who knows, if these two guys got together, they might have created a strange chemical reaction!
As a result...
The guy turned around and joined the army instead.
Thinking of this, Dante felt another wave of sighs in his heart.
As for who else in East Blue was suitable to be Mock's partner?
Dante seemed to think of something, turned his head to look at Kuro, who was hiding to the side with zero presence, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hundred Plans" Kuro!
He was also quite suitable!
However, as if guessing what he wanted to do, Kuro's face instantly turned black, and he shook his head violently without hesitation.
Go be a crew member for Mock? Don't joke around.
If they got into a fight with another Pirate crew later, and that guy lifted him up and shouted 'Mock-Kuro Combo', what would he do? Just thinking about it was terrifying! He would lose all his dignity!
Seeing Kuro's refusal, Dante could only sigh with regret.
If it were before, he could have just packaged the person up and sent them to the ship, but now... Kuro was technically his little brother, so he had to respect Kuro's choice a little bit.
As for others...
Dante looked at Trafalgar Law again.
Similarly, before he could say anything...
"Doc, want to come be my partner?" Mock seemed to understand his Boss's intention, cheerfully patted Law on the shoulder, and said, "Future trips to Romance Dawn... are on me!"
"Thanks for the invitation, but I won't give up the Heart Pirates." Law said grumpily with a dark face. "And don't call me Doc!"
"Okay, Doc!"
Law looked speechlessly at Mock, who was playing dumb. His eyelid twitched, but he didn't say anything more.
To be honest, he wasn't interested in so-called adventures, the One Piece, or becoming the Pirate King.
And now Doflamingo had met his end in such a laughable way.
It could be said that his promises from back then had all been fulfilled.
Therefore, strictly speaking, it wouldn't matter even if he just remained a doctor forever.
Of course, he hadn't expected Corazon's fruit to appear here. Although he was very angry at first, after thinking about it... Corazon was already gone, and when a Devil Fruit User dies, the Devil Fruit eventually respawns. It would be the same even for him.
As long as the Calm-Calm Fruit wasn't disgraced.
But thinking about it... that guy's ability was so useless that no matter how it was used, it couldn't be disgraced.
Law seemed to think of something, and the corners of his mouth hooked up slightly, but he quickly recovered. After a moment of silence, he said, "Although I won't be your crew member, the Heart Pirates can form an alliance with the Mock Pirates!"
Compared to other things, there was only one thing left that interested him now, and that was... the secrets hidden by the People of the D!
"Is that so? Forget it." Dante sighed helplessly and looked at Mock. "You'll have to find partners yourself! Next..."
He waved his hand.
"Let the banquet begin!"
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