Ghost Shark, but in the world of One Piece

Page 25

Alice raised her eyebrows and waved the gift box in her hand with a smile as she watched the small figure rushing towards her.

......

"What? Sister Tina, you lost 70 million Berries?"

In a luxury hotel in Latavia, Lauren Tina had just finished showering when she saw Tina slumped dejectedly on the sofa, a cigarette dangling from her mouth.

Did you relapse because you were so depressed?

However, Laurentina did not see the cigarette case and lighter, which were most likely gifts from colleagues.

"Tina is very sad; her sister is low on energy." With that, the pink-haired woman pitifully stretched out her hands, seemingly...

Hoping for some comforting words.

Laurentina sighed, wrapped herself in a towel, and gently hugged her sister.

Smelling the incense and unique, girlish fragrance in the room, Tina's expression relaxed a bit.

The elegant and soft Laurentina was like a smooth jelly to her; just feeling her bouncing around in her arms filled her sense of taste with the sweetness of juice.

"Initially, I actually made 30 million Berries, but I didn't stop in time..."

Tina said with a hint of regret, "But this is how most gamblers in the world lose everything."

The girl hugged her sister tightly in comfort, the blood in her veins flowing merrily, her fingertips tangling in her long hair, her heart beating not exaggeratedly, but powerfully.

"call."

After fully recharging, Tina inhaled the fragrant, moist scent, feeling immensely satisfied. Nothing beats a family hug when feeling down.

"How are your other colleagues doing?" Laurentina couldn't help but ask.

She knew very well that once she arrived in Latavia, many people would be tempted to try their luck and play a few rounds.

Hopefully things won't get too bad. It would be ridiculous if the whole team lost everything on just one trip.

Facing the probing gaze directed at her, Tina feigned displeasure in response, her eyes seeming to say, "Who's the adjutant here, you or me?"

"More than half of my subordinates lost a lot."

"Specifically?" Laurentina asked earnestly.

"Seven...seventy percent."

call.

These guys have lost everything just on a vacation.

There's clearly more appealing art here, and even the amusement park and ski resort are quite nice.

Why choose to be a gambler?

Seventy percent! No wonder it's the world's number one money pit.

......

Early the next morning.

Alice set off early, and Susan arrived at the Wheat Cake Shop just as Alice arrived.

"Good morning, Alice." Susan smiled and waved. "I didn't expect you to actually save up 500 million Berries. That's amazing."

"Hmm, Grandma Susan speaks so sweetly, please say more."

Alice smiled smugly, but then asked curiously, "But isn't 500 million Berries a bit too cheap?"

In Latavia, where land is incredibly valuable, the land use fee for the cake shop was exorbitantly high. After deducting that amount, Susan sold it to her almost at cost price.

“It’s a normal price.” Susan opened the door and ruffled Alice’s blonde hair. “After all, I’m getting old, and I can’t do this job anymore.”

Yes, Grandma Susan is almost 70 years old.

The figure that helped me master the knowledge of pastry making has also grown old.

Looking at the withered, silver hair before her, Alice felt a pang of sadness.

Upon entering the cake shop, Susan rummaged through the cash register and finally found the necessary documents, including the business license and seal.

“Let’s go, Alice.” Susan, carrying her old handbag, grabbed the girl’s wrist with one hand. “In half a day, this shop will be yours.”

Alice's injured wrist has been healed and is now fully recovered, and she no longer feels pain.

"By the way, why are your clothes covered in mud? Did you slip and fall somewhere?"

Hmm? I changed out of my work clothes yesterday; they were probably splattered with mud by accident.

"No, it just got dusty."

Alice smiled broadly.

What is this little pain compared to realizing my dream right away?

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Hope, Like a Dream (Please support, comment, and favorite)

Five million Berries was an amount Alice could never have imagined.

When I was a child, my mother worked three jobs to pay off our debts as quickly as possible.

Back then, you could hear her coughing every night—because the factory didn't have any dust control equipment.

Her violent coughing lasted all night, which also caused her to have trouble sleeping. 200 million peles, 15 months, the price was her life.

How many years of a mother's life could 500 million Pele buy?

Alice clutched the heavy banknotes tightly. She was only 15 years old. Her father ran a cake shop, and she could catch pirates and earn a salary in the future.

These years of scrimping and saving, training during the day and reading at night, have been filled with all sorts of hardships.

500 million Pelés.

In Alice's eyes, these crumpled banknotes are the staircase she built with her sweat, and at the top of the staircase is the dream she has been pursuing.

Everything will be alright, come on Alice!

In a little while, Wheat Ear Cake Shop will be yours, and the family's debts will soon be paid off.

Wheat ears represent harvest, and also hope.

Just a little bit more, Alice.

The girl repeatedly practiced the Lamaze breathing technique, inhaling and exhaling, patting her cheeks with her small hands, trying to calm herself down.

“Alice, I understand how you feel.” Susan patted her hand and teased, “Aren’t you like a young girl about to be led into her wedding room, feeling both sweet and uneasy?”

Open...the package?

Alice was stunned for a moment by the sudden appearance of yellow waste, and then white smoke began to billow from her head.

Seeing the girl's increasingly flushed cheeks, Susan couldn't help but laugh and encouraged her, "Don't be too nervous, your future has just begun."

During their conversation, the two quickly became friends.

We arrived at the notary office.

"Transfer the ownership of this cake shop to this child."

Susan reached for her handbag, about to take out her money, when Alice suddenly handed it to her.

"Am I faster?" the girl said, arms crossed, a smug look on her face.

How can Susan's grandmother pay the notary fee of 5 Baileys?

Susan tapped the other woman's forehead, glaring at her with feigned anger, her eyes looking at her own silly son.

"Lower District - Yueer Street - Wheat Ear Cake Shop?"

The notary office staff checked the documents carefully twice, and after confirming that there were no errors, their expressions immediately turned strange.

"Is the transfer of ownership confirmed?"

The male employee's gaze darted back and forth between Susan and Alice, occasionally casting a look of disdain at Susan.

"I'm sure!" Aunt Susan nodded with a smile.

"OK then."

The employee took out a large document for the two people to sign, then printed the document, stamped it, and the whole process took nearly two hours.

Alice was visibly overjoyed when the certificate bearing her name was stamped with the red seal.

My long-cherished dream has finally come true!

Alice already had a whole host of plans in mind.

For example, store renovations, new product development, promotional activities, etc.

The girl pulled Susan straight out, and as they left, she happily bowed to the male employee to express her gratitude.

The employee sighed, silently lit a cigarette, and felt as if he had been shot in the heart.

Alice led Susan down the street, her hair damp with sweat from excitement, exuding a rich, honey-like fragrance.

Her hair clung to her forehead, fluttering in the breeze from time to time. The girl's eyes were bright, her gaze like that of a simple fawn chasing a stream in the wilderness.

I feel a lot more relaxed.

"Alice, slow down." Susan, who was being led by the hand, gave a helpless smile. "My old bones are about to fall apart."

"Ah, I'm sorry!"

Seeing Susan panting heavily, Alice belatedly realized what was happening and immediately lowered her head in embarrassment to apologize.

"This is!"

On the slightly noisy street, a figure passed by Alice and immediately noticed the two people who had just passed by.

That bitch? And that old hag Susan?

Moses' face was wrapped in bandages, his eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth in resentment.

It's all because of this woman that he, a handsome man, has been disfigured!

I'm clearly a guy like Cavendish too.

What a damn bastard.

Wait, are they coming from the notary office in this direction?

Notary office... Notary office...

Moses seemed to remember something, his eyes lit up, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

Seven hours have passed since Alice became the owner of Wheat Ear Cake Shop.

"cheers!"

Wishing Wheat Ear Cake Shop booming business!

"May our ship's doctor, Lieutenant Alice, become very wealthy!"

In the bustling cake shop, everyone connected to Alice gathered together.

His own father and sister, Grandma Susan, Uncle Neil, Brother Huck, Laurentina, and other naval colleagues.

"That's absolutely amazing!" Laurentina exclaimed, giving a thumbs up. "You're your own boss!"

"Alice, I never expected you to do that!" The dejected young man, Hack, clapped his hands vigorously. "Where's your new cake? Bring it here!"

Colonel Tina looked on with admiration, rarely showing such gentleness to anyone other than her sister, and jokingly said, "I'd like to join Wheat Ear Cake Shop!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the bankrupt sailors, who shared the same plight, burst into laughter, all saying that they could also become employees of Wheat Ear Cake Shop.

Surrounded by the crowd, Alice smiled brightly, looking a little smug, and said proudly, "Welcome! I, the shop manager, will give you a slight raise as a thank you, even if it's just a little bit."

Then, she gestured a universe with her fingertips to the crowd, roughly the size that would make Koreans angry.

Alice laughed heartily, and through the cheering crowd, she saw her father, dressed in a miner's uniform being mended, smiling as he wiped his eyes with his calloused fingers.

That dull, hardworking man, who felt he bore a huge sin, couldn't help but secretly shed tears in the dim corner.

Those were tears of guilt and pride, tears of burying the past and finding redemption.

Alice's smile was gentle in the orange light.

She led her younger sister through the crowd and gave her father, who was as silent as an old ox, a relieved hug.

Those who have regained hope embrace each other gently, and the friends watching also smile. Everyone is silent, and it is a beautiful scene.