Buggy & Cricket put their hands on Iceburg's shoulder while grinning mischievously.
"Well, well, well, Iceburg-kun. You look very tired after running from your workplace. Are you alright?" asks Buggy with a teasing tone.
"Captain, he was running because he was worried about Dela-chan. So seeing her alright must make him very relieved. He must be fine right now after confirming her safety," says Cricket with a teasing tone too.
"Ooh, so that's the case, you were very worried about her, huh? I'm sorry Iceburg-kun, our appearance here has made you worried about her safety. We are such sinful pirates, after all," says Buggy overdramatically.
Buggy & Cricket keep teasing Iceburg and make him very embarrassed. Jude & Mantis hold their laugh while Dela doesn't understand what happened. Dela's parents can only sigh seeing this and look at their daughter helplessly.
Everyone here except Dela knows that Iceburg has a feeling for her. It is very clear from his action just now, even the Clowns realize it in an instant. But Dela never realizes it because she is too focused on her passion for fashion and managing the store.
Iceburg is very red now that he seems like he'll burst anytime. Buggy & Cricket finally stop teasing him before he really burst. They finally calm down after a moment and Dela gives Iceburg a drink.
Just like what everyone thought, Iceburg came here because he was worried about Dela & her parents. He never thought that the pirates would be the Clowns, after all. So he rushed here to prevent anything bad happens.
He keeps saying that he & Dela are friends, so it's natural for him to be worried. But the Clowns keep grinning teasingly and make him very embarrassed. He doesn't want to admit that he loves Dela.
"A-Anyway, I'm not worried if it's you guys because I know you. So I will take my leave now," Iceburg choose to retreat.
"Wait, Iceburg! There's something that we need to discuss, so can you stay for a moment?" asks Dela.
Iceburg nods and then Dela starts to explain her plan to join the Clowns.
"NO! Even if I know these guys aren't evil and will protect you, I still can't allow it. The sea is very dangerous and we never know what will happen. They are strong and I know that, but there are still many people that are stronger than them," says Iceburg firmly.
"What?! Why're you still not allowing it? You said that I can trust them and they'll be able to protect me because they're strong. So you would allow it if I go with them. Didn't you say that 2 weeks ago?" asks Dela rather angrily.
"It is different now. Do you know where they'll be going? It's New World, that's a very different place from Paradise. Even strong people from Paradise might not survive there. They are strong, but in New World, their hands might be full just to protect themselves. Who will protect you when they are busy protecting themselves?" asks Iceburg.
"I will protect myself," says Dela confidently.
"Dela, this is not a game. If you join a pirate crew then you will be a pirate too. The enemies that you'll face won't hesitate to kill you or worse do other things, you know what I mean," says Iceburg.
"I know all of it and have thought about it carefully. This is my decision and I won't back down," says Dela.
"Do you really know what you're going to do if you join them? Being a pirate means living in danger every time. If you just want to learn fashion from all over the world, then you can just buy the books. There's no need to go anywhere, just stay here," says Iceburg
Dela suddenly gets pissed hearing that and shouts, "ENOUGH, ICEBURG! I've followed your conditions all these times and didn't set off because you were right. But now when I've done everything that you've said, you still won't let me go to pursue my dream. I even train myself so I will be able to fight & protect myself. You keep giving me more conditions, but I've had enough. This is my life and I will do what I want," says Dela with a high tone.
Both Dela & Iceburg get into an argument until finally Dela slaps Iceburg's cheek and tells him to leave. He grits his teeth and leaves unwillingly. Dela herself is crying before she goes to the back room.
'Damn, this turns into a love drama story. It's not something that I really like but I need to do something about it,' thinks Buggy.
"Mantis, Jude, take care of Dela. I will go to talk with Iceburg. Cricket, stay here and protect the store for now. We finally get a secretary, so I don't want to make her regret her decision to join us later," says Buggy.
The others nod and do what Buggy ordered. Buggy leaves to find Iceburg and finally finds him on the Scrap Island. Iceburg is sitting on a pile of rubbles with a sad face. Buggy sits next to him and doesn't say anything.
"What do you want?" asks Iceburg.
"You know, I also have a girl that I love, and she is not in my crew. But don't get me wrong. I never forbid her from joining my crew because it is dangerous. It's because she is a Marine soldier and she loves her job," says Buggy.
"Hah, a pirate loves a Marine, unbelievable," says Iceburg.
"Yeah, it's hard to believe, right? But that's what happens," says Buggy.
"Aren't you worried about her? Being a Marine is a dangerous job, just like pirates," asks Iceburg.
"Of course, I am worried about her. But that doesn't mean that I can restrain her from doing what she wants. I love her, that's why I want her to be happy. She is happy being a Marine, so I let her become one. Rather than restraining her, I decided to support her, and you should do it too. If you keep restraining her, one day she will get fed up and do something even more dangerous. What will you do if she suddenly joins an unknown pirate crew?" asks Buggy.
"That's...," Iceburg doesn't know what to say.
"At least you know us. We will never do something that will harm her and we are strong so we can protect her. Other pirate crews might not be as good as us. Most of them might just see women as playthings. It's the reality and you know that. That's why you forbid her from leaving. But if she suddenly gets enough and leaves without your knowledge, then believe me that you will regret it forever. So think about it carefully and talk with her again. Just be honest and tell her your feeling," says Buggy as he leaves Iceburg.
Iceburg stays there and thinks about what Buggy said to him just now. He knows all of it but he just doesn't want to admit and do it. He denied all those things because he wants to keep protecting the woman that he loves.
From afar, Buggy looks at Iceburg who is still sitting there. He gets a little frustrated and thinks, 'Come on! Get up and talk with her to finish this! I need my secretary and you're stopping her from joining my crew happily. It will make her work sloppy and I don't want that. Also, if you don't finish this now then this will turn into a love drama story. This is supposed to be an adventure story, so hurry up and finish this problem before the genre changes!'
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You can read up to 35+ chapters ahead of this fanfic novel & the other one on my Pa_treon page if you are interested.
Clicking that power stone/like also seem to be a good choice, hehe.
I've uploaded:
1. Chapter 216 of Fairy Tail: Sun Eater
2. Chapter 227 of Transcended as Lord Buggy
https://www.pa_treon.com/CaptMermain
(the web didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)