31: Chapter 31 The Strange Fragrance of the Slippery Fruit

Night rain tapped against the windows, drumming against the sturdy, anti-corrosive steel hull of The white dove, making a rustling sound.

The winds and waves of the Loguetown harbor raged in the dark night, yet inside the luxurious and refined cabin of The white dove, it was warm and tranquil.

Faint cedar incense burned in the air, completely isolating the damp cold and murderous atmosphere of the outside world.

Rice walked into the spacious main cabin, his footsteps carrying a hint of moisture.

He had just sent off the Revolutionary Army leader Dragon in the midst of the storm and had withstood a lightning strike with near-miraculous means; at this moment, faint, deep blue electric arcs still occasionally flashed across the contours of his bronze skin, emitting white mist rising from the intense heat.

"Rice, you're back."

Nami sat on the sofa in the main cabin hall, holding a roll of nautical charts in her hand.

Under the warm lighting, her short orange hair appeared exceptionally dazzling, and the tattoo of a White Dove about to take flight on her left shoulder exuded a unique sense of capability in the air.

She did not greet him like a weak maid, but instead stood up straight with the bearing of a generous navigator, raising the compass in her hand toward Rice:

"The storm in Sambas is still expanding. But don't worry, I have already planned out all the windward routes for The white dove. As long as you give the order, we can charge up Reverse Mountain at any time."

"As expected of my navigator, you always do things that put people at ease."

Rice smiled gently and reached out to pinch her soft cheek.

"Hmph, don't be such a smooth talker."

Nami rolled her eyes at him with feigned petulance, then pointed mysteriously toward the heavy double mahogany doors of the master bedroom deep in the corridor, a hint of amused teasing flashing in her eyes:

"Nojiko is in the orange grove organizing the saplings. As for that slippery Miss Alvida you kidnapped, she is in your bedroom right now. Makino, the head lady, has already gone in, so as the Captain, aren't you going to go check on her?"

Rice laughed dumbly, patted Nami's slightly jealous shoulder, and then walked with an unhurried pace toward the exclusive master bedroom in the center.

...

"Creak..."

As the heavy mahogany door was gently pushed open, a rich, sweet, and strangely milky fragrance that was almost enough to make one's bones go numb instantly rushed toward him.

Inside the spacious and cozy master bedroom, red-copper wall lamps emitted a warm, soft orange glow.

On the super luxurious bed, large enough for five or six people to lie flat, sat a stunning, tall woman.

Alvida was currently wearing only a thin, white silk undershirt, her long, silky, wavy black hair scattered across her fair, flawless neck. Due to the ability of the Sube Sube no Mi, her skin reflected a lustrous, glowing sheen under the lights, like the most gentle white jade.

The special nautical ropes that had originally been wrapped around her were now untied, scattered on the mahogany floor to the side.

Standing by the bed was none other than the head lady of this ship—Makino.

She was wearing a simple and elegant house dress, her expression as gentle and composed as always.

As the irreplaceable mistress of The white dove, when facing this stunning female pirate who had been kidnapped, Makino showed not a hint of hostility, but instead displayed the tolerance and wisdom befitting a head lady.

In her hand, she held a bowl of the top-tier, special chilled whipped cream from the East Blue, which she had just learned to make that afternoon in the kitchen of the Baratie from the sous-chef, Sanji.

"Miss Alvida, try this. Although that man Rice is rough, he has always been considerate to his women."

Makino used a small spoon to scoop up a dollop of snow-white, fluffy whipped cream, smelling of rich vanilla, and gently offered it to Alvida's lips.

That warm smile, devoid of any hostility, instantly left the usually arrogant and self-satisfied Alvida somewhat dazed.

"This lady... is not so easily pleased."

Alvida blushed with feigned shyness and snorted with dissatisfaction.

But the moment the warm, sweet cream melted on her tongue, the ultimate deliciousness still caused a flash of shock in her beautiful eyes.

"It's... delicious. Is this really that rude guy's ship?"

Alvida clutched her collar, looking around somewhat uneasily.

This bedroom was not only spacious and luxurious, but there was even a tempered glass skylight overhead that offered a clear view of the night sky, and a spacious pure copper spiral staircase on one side led directly to the open-air deck above.

The comfort and tranquility here were something she had never felt on the cold pirate ships.

"How is it, my head lady, how did the sweet treat training go?"

Rice leaned against the door frame, his tall, slender body radiating a masculine heat that was impossible to ignore.

A mischievous smile flashed in his black pupils as he closed the door behind him.

"Rice, you're finally back."

Makino stood up gently and rolled her eyes at him with amusement:

"Miss Alvida has quite a few complaints about you, her 'kidnapper'. However, she seems quite satisfied with this bowl of cream."

"Rice! You rough bastard!"

The moment she saw Rice enter the room, Alvida's delicate body trembled, and a layer of panic instantly appeared in her watery eyes.

The white silk shirt she wore, which appeared extremely silky due to the Sube Sube no Mi ability, opened slightly as she twisted, revealing large expanses of flawless, smooth skin that put snow to shame.

Rice strode forward and sat on the edge of the bed.

He took the silver bowl from Makino's hand, his deep black eyes locked onto Alvida with undisguised possessiveness:

"Miss Alvida, on The white dove, since the ropes have been untied, it means you no longer have any chance to escape."

"You... what do you want to do?!"

Alvida let out a coquettish cry, instinctively wanting to shrink back.

But due to the Sube Sube no Mi ability, her bare feet had almost no friction on the silky carpet and bed sheets, and her body slipped, causing her to fall passively into Rice's burning embrace, which felt as if it were cast from steel.

Cold and warmth collided in an instant.

...

"Since it's 'sweet treat training', how can just using a spoon show off Makino's skills?"

Rice chuckled mischievously.

...

"Mmh..."

The cold fragrance of the chilled cream, the body scents from Makino and Alvida resulting from their fruit abilities and bathing, and the overbearing masculine pheromones from Rice all intertwined in this instant, making the air in the entire master bedroom thick and viscous.

Outside the window, thunder and rain raged, and the wind howled.

And inside this luxurious The white dove, in the night illuminated by flickering red candles, it did not cease for a long time.