One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 94 Heart's Whispers Under the Moon

The bright moon hangs in the deep sky, casting down silver light like a cascading Milky Way. The twinkling stars, like pearls lost in ancient legends, are set on dark blue velvet, shimmering with a dreamlike glow.

The silvery moonlight gently caressed every inch of the land, as if it were the most delicate brushstroke of nature, draping the earth in a dreamy and tranquil silver veil, immersing the whole world in a gentle dream.

When Moko pushed open the door, her eyes widened in surprise, as if she had witnessed an incredible miracle. The curve of her lips revealed her undisguised astonishment.

"Grandpa Garp, Admiral Zeff, and Smoker, what's going on here?"

The distance from the villa area to the banquet venue wasn't far. Moke and her two companions had originally planned to get ready and go by themselves, but the three people at the entrance had clearly been waiting for a long time. Were they planning to take them there?

All three were dressed in formal attire, a stark contrast to their usual naval uniforms. Garp disliked overly formal dresses, so Moko chose a more casual suit that wouldn't restrict her movements.

Zephyr's suit was picked out at the same time as Garp's, but when they returned, Moko had Tina and Ian take it to Zephyr.

The well-tailored black suit jacket suited Zefa perfectly. His brick-red tie was adorned with a silver tie clip inlaid with a small gemstone. He wore clean and straight brown trousers, and his hair was also neatly combed. His overall demeanor was mature and composed, giving people a strong sense of security.

Smoker leaned against the gate frame, his hair combed into a smooth, neat slicked-back style. His white suit was slightly wrinkled from his movements. The light was dim and hazy, but the faint glow of a cigar butt was still visible. However, upon hearing Moko's voice, Smoker extinguished his cigar without hesitation.

"Oh dear, it seems tonight's banquet is going to be quite lively! Hahaha, three beautiful princesses, I wonder if we would have the honor of becoming your guardian knights tonight?"

Garp, unusually, adopted a young man's tone to invite Moko and the other two. Moko, Tina, and Ain behind her exchanged glances and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Moko nodded gently, placed her fair and slender hand in Garp's large and rough palm, and smiled softly, "Then I'll have to trouble Vice Admiral Garp to protect me today."

"Hahaha, of course, sir, cough cough, I will definitely protect little Moko well!"

Garp quickly changed his tune, speaking in a serious tone. Watching Garp's silly antics, Moko couldn't help but think of Garp when he was young. Garp had chased Roger for half his life. With so many chases, Moko must have seen Garp when she was a child. However, Roger didn't allow Moko to show herself freely at that time in order to protect her. It was through the small round wooden window of the cabin that Moko saw the spirited Garp.

Back then, Garp's hair wasn't white like it is now, and his eyes didn't have so much vicissitude. At that time, Garp still carried the great pride of being a Marine and the determination to capture Roger. Occasionally, he would show an angry expression when Roger teased him, but there was no hatred in that expression, only appreciation, happiness, and helplessness.

Moko once thought that if her father hadn't been a pirate, he and Grandpa Garp would have been the best of brothers and confidants. Unfortunately, fate led them down different paths, two paths that were inversely related yet inseparable. Even so, when her father expressed his last wish, Grandpa Garp, a Marine, still chose to protect her father's wish as a pirate.

The Navy and pirates are enemies and cannot coexist, but family is different. Family is just family, and they are beings that deserve to be protected forever.

Moko snapped out of her thoughts and looked back, only to see Tina and Ian still standing there. Moko coughed lightly in exasperation and gestured to Smoker and Zephyr with her beautiful eyes. At this moment, it should be the gentleman inviting the lady, not leaving her standing there.

Smoker froze, snapping back to reality and averting his gaze from the bright red figure. Had it not been for the darkness, the blush on his ears would likely have been noticed. Smoker straightened up, walked over to Tina, and awkwardly scratched his face.

You look beautiful today.

Tina was not as carefree as usual at this moment. She tightened her grip on Ella, her red lips pressed together, and a subtle atmosphere gradually filled the air.

"The headdress suits you very well."

Smoker continued, his voice sounding somewhat stiff, as if trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Tina's headdress was a glass rose hair clip. The rose was so lifelike that it shimmered with colorful light under the lamp, making Tina look even more beautiful and radiant.

Just as Moko had expected, the jewelry that Smoker and his two friends bought in Nephrodite was a gift for them. When they returned, the three of them gave the gifts to them. However, since some of the gifts they picked were duplicates, the three of them did not wear them all.

Tina wore the rose hair accessory given to her by Smoker, Ain wore the pearl earrings given to her by Kuzan, and as for Moko, in order not to be accused of favoritism by those two clowns, Moko wore both the crystal stud earrings given to her by Kuzan and the diamond bracelet given to her by Borsalino, while the necklace was still the moonstone given to her by Shanks when she was a child.

Upon hearing Smoker's words, Tina unconsciously adjusted her hair ornament. Just as she was about to say something, she seemed to remember something, and her expression changed several times. In the end, Tina returned to her usual cheerful and proud demeanor, and when she looked up again, she was looking at Smoker with a smug gaze.

“Of course, Tina is very beautiful, so you’d better keep a close watch on me tonight, understand, Sir Smoker?”

Pride and confidence are what Tina should be like. Tina doesn't need to imitate anyone, she doesn't need to be gentle and considerate. And this is the Tina that Smoker knows. Smoker smiled and extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner, his voice deep.

"Yes, my lady."

Smoker didn't think Tina was being childish; instead, he played along with her antics. This inexplicable doting made Tina's eyes crinkle with laughter as she placed her fair right hand in Smoker's warm palm.

Ella, dressed in a pretty little dress, kept glancing at Tina and then at Smoker, her curious, gossipy expression perfectly capturing the essence of Moko's heart. The bickering couple and childhood sweethearts are just too adorable o(*////▽////*).

Ain, standing to the side, also had a look of pure delight on her face. She and Tina grew up together, like sisters, and naturally hoped that Tina could meet someone who would love and care for her wholeheartedly. After all Smoker had done so much over the years, Ain didn't believe that Tina hadn't seen through Smoker's intentions. However, matters of the heart still need to be worked out by both parties slowly, and Ain didn't intend to interfere. After all, she wanted to enjoy watching these two together a little longer (??w??).

"You look beautiful today."

Zefa's voice suddenly rang out, and Ain immediately snapped back to reality. Looking at Zefa, her eyes were filled with excitement and disbelief, like a golden retriever waiting for praise. Zefa wanted to pat Ain's head, but after seeing Ain's exquisite updo, he ultimately just reached out and stopped in front of Ain.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Professor Zephyr!"

Zephyr was not only a teacher to Ayn, but also a very important and respected father in her heart. How could Ayn, as a child, not be excited to receive praise from her father? She shyly placed her hand in Zephyr's broad palm.

The temperature was still the same as when she was a child. She was an orphan, and at the moment when she was on the verge of death, it was Teacher Zefa who found her, gave her food, and finally took her home. From then on, she was no longer an unwanted orphan. She had a home of her own and friends of her own.

The moonlight, light and clear, filled the tranquil night, adding a touch of gentle poetry to the world. The three guardian knights waited for their princess outside the flower-surrounded villa. They stepped onto the path paved with moonlight and starlight and slowly walked towards the brightly lit palace.

When the group appeared at the banquet, the banquet hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Moke and the other two with amazement, and they even felt their hearts skip a beat.

The beauty of Moko and her two companions was renowned in the Marine Headquarters. Their usual appearance was already stunning enough, but now, everyone felt that their beauty was beyond words. Just looking at them made their hearts pound as if they were about to stop. Everyone unconsciously held their breath, as if even a slightly heavier breath would be a desecration to the three of them.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Moko instead began to admire the banquet hall. This was the first time Moko had seen the banquet hall of the Marine Headquarters. The glittering chandeliers cast a dazzling light, like a cascading galaxy. The white marble floor was paired with extravagant granite sculptures and gold-trimmed wall decorations. The exquisite gold decorations and the intricate patterns on the carpet complemented each other. The majestic and towering pillars and the semi-circular ceiling made her feel as if she had returned to a medieval palace fortress, magnificent and elegant.

Of course, Moko's indifference to the crowd doesn't mean that the crowd doesn't care about Moko and her two companions. With such beautiful women right in front of them, how could no one try to strike up a conversation? It's just that they're restrained by Garp and his two companions standing around them. Otherwise, Moko and her two companions would definitely be surrounded by people right now.

"Young lady, you look so beautiful today!"

Borsalino's mood noticeably improved when he saw the bracelet on Moko's wrist.

"Oh my, they are all so beautiful! I wonder who they will dance with?"

Although he praised the three of them, his eyes were always on Moko. Kuzan also saw the earring he had given her, and the corners of his mouth turned up again and again, unable to suppress it.

Both generals looked at the three girls in the banquet hall on the first floor who were being watched. The three girls were like three dazzling gems. Just by standing there, they could easily steal everyone's attention and make it impossible to look away.

Sakazuki sat silently drinking his wine without saying a word. He was wearing a dark red suit that Moko had asked Aesop to send over. In Moko's memory, Sakazuki had a particular fondness for red, so she had specifically told Siyuka about it.

However, although he didn't speak, Sakazuki kept glancing downstairs out of the corner of his eye. If you looked closely, you could see that Sakazuki's gaze was also on the angelic girl who was closer to the front.

Suddenly, the sparks that had been quietly building intensified, all waiting for the three girls to make their next choice.