Chapter 144: Enough Already (Patreon)

Chapter 144: Enough Already

"Brrring— Brrring—"

"Who is it?" The sound of the Den Den Mushi rang out clearly across the wide bay. After just a few rings, it was answered, and the receiver's Den Den Mushi instantly puffed up, morphing into a face twisted with arrogance—sunglasses sliding down the bridge of its nose, lips curled into an eerie grin.

"Yo, Doflamingo," Bahr drawled lazily, his tone betraying little emotion. "Forgotten me already?"

"Hmm?" The Den Den Mushi paused for a moment before erupting into that signature "Fufufufu" laugh, laced with its usual mix of arrogance and calculation. "So it's you, 'Blasphemer' Bahr. Heard you started the Cross Guild. Seems you're finally getting serious."

"Cut the crap." Bahr had no patience for small talk and got straight to the point. "I need a batch of high-quality weapons, delivered to Fish-Man Island as soon as possible."

"Weapons? Sure thing." The Den Den Mushi's expression instantly turned shrewd, its eyes narrowing behind the sunglasses. "But, brother Bahr, you know the good stuff doesn't come cheap..." He dragged out the words, fingers tapping lightly against the Den Den Mushi's shell. "Even brothers settle accounts—money matters..."

"The Cross Guild is just getting started. Funds are tight," Bahr interrupted with a chuckle. "How about an IOU? I'll pay you back when things ease up."

Though he had the Golden Pillar, he couldn't use it recklessly—it was his emergency reserve. Between crew expenses and ship maintenance, money was tight. He couldn't blow everything on the first batch of weapons.

"Fufufu, that's not how business works." Doflamingo's laughter turned colder, the Den Den Mushi mimicking his raised brow. "No IOUs in this game. You think I'm running a charity?"

"Aren't we partners?" Bahr countered, his voice laced with amusement. "No trust between us?"

Partners were supposed to help each other out. Getting the Cross Guild off the ground now meant more profits later—surely Doflamingo understood that.

As for when those profits would come... that was a problem for another day.

The line fell silent for a few seconds before laughter crackled through again, though this time with a hint of intrigue. "Fine. For the sake of our 'partnership,' I'll send a batch over first."

His tone shifted abruptly, turning mysterious. "But some details can't be discussed over the line. You'll have to come to Dressrosa yourself."

Bahr's fingers traced the cold shell of the Den Den Mushi as he hesitated.

Dressrosa? He wasn't worried about safety, but Doflamingo suddenly demanding a face-to-face meeting reeked of ulterior motives.

"...Hah." Suddenly, Bahr frowned, pushing aside the long hair tangled around his arm with a sigh. "Serra, behave."

"Mmm..." Serra murmured vaguely, her voice soft and coquettish. Instead of moving away, she nuzzled further into his palm, her caudal fin lightly splashing in the water.

"A woman's voice?" The Den Den Mushi clearly faltered before bursting into another round of "Fufufufu" laughter. Doflamingo's tone dripped with undisguised mockery. "You're indulging in such pleasures while talking to me? Bahr, you sure know how to enjoy yourself."

Bahr neither confirmed nor denied, speaking indifferently into the Den Den Mushi, "None of your business."

Doflamingo didn't press further. His laughter gradually subsided, and his tone regained a more serious note. "So? Made up your mind yet? If you agree to come, I'll arrange a shipment of top-notch weapons for you—enough to arm half the Cross Guild."

Bahr's fingers traced the smooth curve of Serra's cheek as he watched her pout. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "Fine. Send over the Eternal Pose."

"Straight to the point." Doflamingo's laughter grew even more triumphant, the Den Den Mushi's eyes narrowing into slits. "I happen to have a man on Fish-Man Island who has a direct pointer to Dressrosa. I'll have him deliver it to you right away."

"Got it. Wait for my message." Bahr moved to end the call.

"Hold on." Doflamingo suddenly interjected, his tone turning serious. "The things you've been up to lately have drawn quite a bit of attention. Keep a low profile when you come to Dressrosa. I don't want unnecessary trouble because of you."

"Understood." Bahr tapped his fingers against the reef, his expression unreadable.

"Don't keep me waiting too long." Doflamingo's teasing voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi before the line went dead with a dial tone.

Bahr tossed the Den Den Mushi to Robin, who caught it effortlessly, her fingers brushing against its cool shell.

"Doflamingo is no saint," Nico Robin remarked from the side, her tone cautious and her gaze piercing. "His methods are ruthless, and he's unpredictable. Meeting him could be risky."

"I know what I'm doing." Bahr waved her off, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "He's after profit. As long as the stakes are high enough, he won't try anything—for now."

After all, Doflamingo harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Celestial Dragons. Facing someone like Bahr—who wasn't afraid to throw punches at them—he wouldn't dare scheme prematurely.

And even if he did—let him try.

"All of you stay on Fish-Man Island," Bahr said, his tone turning brisk as he looked at Robin. "First, keep those restless pirates in check. Second, speed up the recruitment. Once Doflamingo's weapons arrive, you'll handle the distribution—who gets what and who gets armed first."

"That arrangement works." Robin nodded, a rare glimmer of approval in her eyes. "Now you're finally starting to act like a leader."

"Oh?" Bahr raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out his words. "Was I not good before?"

Robin didn't answer. Instead, she turned and walked away, the sea breeze lifting the hem of her dress to reveal a glimpse of her slender waist. As she passed Bahr, she shot him a sidelong glance—one that spoke volumes.

His previous hands-off approach, preoccupied with women, could hardly be called "good."

Bahr arched a brow, watching Robin's swaying figure retreat into the distance. A wry, slightly irritated smile tugged at his lips—this woman really needed to be put in her place every now and then.

Nighttime, inside the ship's cabin.

The warm glow of the wall lamp cast a soft light as Bahr leaned against the headboard, lighting a cigarette. The ember flickered between his fingers, smoke curling upward in lazy tendrils.

He took a deep drag, exhaling slowly, his expression relaxed and content.

Truly, there was nothing quite like the refined, intellectual allure of Nico Robin.

Nico Robin lay beside him on her side, her long black hair strewn messily across the pillow, cheeks flushed as if from wine, her breathing still carrying the faintest unsteadiness of exertion.

She glanced at Bahr exhaling smoke and couldn't help cursing this beast inwardly.

Lately, Bahr had been surrounded by many people—busy with Cross Guild affairs and dealing with those clingy women—which had actually allowed her a long stretch of peaceful rest.

She'd thought she could maintain this tranquility until he left Fish-Man Island, never expecting him to suddenly drag her into the cabin earlier, claiming he wanted "a proper farewell."

After going so long without, she'd nearly forgotten how it felt, and he'd practically shaken her apart.

She knew full well this was "retaliation." What a petty man.

Too lazy to move, Robin paid no mind as the thin blanket slipped to her waist, revealing skin still marked with faint red traces. Watching the swaying lamplight on the ceiling, she suddenly spoke, her voice carrying the rasp of recent exertion: "I read the Historical Text in Sea Forest."

"Oh?" Bahr raised an eyebrow, turning his head toward Robin as he flicked ash into the bedside tray. "What did it say?"

"It was Joy Boy's letter of apology." Robin's gaze shifted to him, carrying the unique focus of an archaeologist. "Eight hundred years ago, Joy Boy made a promise with the mermaid princess of that era but failed to keep it for various reasons. So, he left this Historical Text in Sea Forest's coral grove, apologizing to Fish-Man Island."

She paused, her thoughts drifting back to that mysterious underwater forest, where stone tablets carved with ancient script stood silently, as if whispering of time-buried history.

"The exact nature of the promise wasn't detailed in the text, but from Noah's Ark's existence and the occasional fragments revealed by Sea Kings, we can speculate it likely involved helping Fishmen and Mermaids reach the surface to live."

Here, Nico Robin lifted her eyes to Bahr, a glimmer of inquiry flashing within.

This man knew many secrets—perhaps he could unveil a corner of this mysterious history for her.

"How much do you know about Joy Boy? What else lies hidden behind this sealed history?" Her tone remained calm, devoid of urgent probing or deliberate testing, as if discussing an ordinary document.

Even as her heart surged with thirst for historical truth, her expression maintained its usual composure—a habit honed through years in darkness, never easily revealing emotion.

Bahr studied the quiet determination in Robin's eyes, his cigarette-holding fingers pausing briefly as smoke obscured his expression. "A little, but not much."

He didn't elaborate further, merely stubbing out his cigarette before saying, "With history, knowing too clearly isn't always good."

Robin gave Bahr a sidelong glance, responding with a soft "Hmm" before dropping the subject. She knew his nature—when he didn't want to speak, further questions were pointless. Yet those stone-carved words had taken root in her heart, quietly sprouting.

Joy Boy's apology, an unfulfilled promise, the Fishmen's long wait... What truth lay behind these fragments?

Turning onto her side, she pressed her cheek against the cool pillow, the lingering irritation from their earlier exertion gradually replaced by historical contemplation.

Perhaps, by following this unfathomable man, she might one day uncover the truth concealed by the World Government.

Lost in thought, Robin suddenly stiffened. Her mind, just withdrawn from the haze of history, was abruptly pulled back to reality. She turned her head slightly to see Bahr leaning in close, his breath carrying a faint trace of tobacco as it brushed against the nape of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Enough, are you done yet...?" Nico Robin frowned, her voice laced with a barely detectable fluster. She was about to say, "Go find someone else," but the words were cut off by lips suddenly pressing against hers.

This brute...

The rest of her protests dissolved into fragmented whimpers, lost in the mingling of their breaths.

The cabin lights grew dimmer, and the sound of waves outside the window seemed to fade into the distance. Only the rhythm of their intertwined breathing remained, rising and falling softly in the quiet of the night.