Acting Skills

Chapter 163: Acting Skills

"Yes! Rodney is currently in contact with the Revolutionary Army leader."

Isabella reported the situation to the Den Den Mushi, and a voice came from the other side, asking, "What's the outcome?"

"It's not clear yet."

"Does Rodney trust you?"

"He does trust me, and it seems he's taken an interest in me," Isabella replied, her expression neutral.

There was a moment of silence on the Den Den Mushi, and then the voice continued, "Isabella, if you have the chance, become one of Rodney's people, gather firsthand information while being by his side."

Isabella remained silent for a moment and said, "Yes, I'm prepared to make that sacrifice."

Just as she had sworn when joining CP0, she was willing to give everything for the World Government and justice!

"Well then, we look forward to your performance." The voice on the other end hung up.

Isabella put away the Den Den Mushi, stepped out of her room, and immediately heard the argument between Rodney and Dragon.

Dragon: "Mr. Rodney, can't you sell at a lower price? We in the Revolutionary Army are also running low!"

Rodney: "Hoho, I'm a businessman, Mr. Dragon. If it weren't for the fact that you and Mr. Kapu are father and son, do you think you could set foot on my island? Hehe, this is Availton, a place where pirates are forbidden! Someone like you, no different from pirates, is lucky to have set foot on this island. That's already a great favor from me."

Dragon: "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have money!"

"Sorry, but with money, you can do whatever you want," Rodney's arrogant laughter echoed. 

"If you're broke, then get lost. Don't disturb my business here. You should know that I make hundreds of millions of Berries in a minute. Can you afford to waste my time?"

"You... You're taking advantage of the situation!"

"Huh? Do you want it or not? I don't have time to waste with you!"

At this point, Robin chimed in, "Captain, you've earned so much; just give him a little profit."

"Hmph! Robin, don't think that just because you can understand the main text of history, you can be arrogant. In my eyes, money is the most important thing. If you provoke me, be prepared to meet the Marines!"

"You..."

Isabella was puzzled. Wasn't Rodney usually the one in a better position with Robin? Why was he suddenly acting against her, and for money?

This is...

As a former spy, Isabella wouldn't easily believe that Rodney, who had always treated Robin well, would turn against her. She maintained an observant stance.

However, due to conflicts of interest with Revolutionary Army leader Dragon, it seemed that this business deal would not go through. 

Isabella was pleased with this outcome; after all, the Revolutionary Army was an enemy of the World Government. Without Rodney's support in providing weapons, the threat to the World Government would be reduced.

Rodney's voice came again, "I have principles. Money talks. But Mr. Dragon, your Revolutionary Army is so poor, yet you want so many weapons for a large-scale assembly. Are you trying to catch wolves with bare hands? I'm not running a charity here. If you haven't woken up yet, go wash your face and take a good look at your impoverished appearance. Robin, why are you staring? Get out!"

"Hmph!" Robin snorted and left, clearly "very dissatisfied." As she stormed out, she muttered, "I must have misjudged you, Rodney!"

Isabella quickly hid.

Shortly after, Dragon also came out with a cold face. "Mr. Rodney, you're not the good person I imagined you to be. In essence, you're just a wealthy arms dealer with a heart of darkness."

"Hehehe, why does that concern you, Mr. Dragon?" 

Rodney sat on the sofa, his contemptuous tone unmistakable. His eyes held an unhidden smirk as he continued, "If you're broke, then get lost, Dragon! Seeing you and your Revolutionary Army rats is as disgusting as frog urine(1)."

"You..." 

Dragon raised an eyebrow, surprised at how skilled this young man was in insulting people. He had lived for decades and was no stranger to eloquence. Many people had been inspired by his words and had chosen to join the Revolutionary Army. But he hadn't expected Rodney to be so verbally skilled.

He thought the timing was right and said, "In that case, our cooperation is coming to an end. Goodbye!"

"...Who's outside?" Rodney lay on the sofa. 

After a while, he said, "It's me," Isabella entered, her expression emotionless. She held a financial report for the first Avalon Hospital, a report format Rodney had taught her, which was exceptionally useful. 

She said, "Captain, this is the financial report for the first Avalon Hospital for the past few weeks. Take a look. The expenses for medical equipment and drugs seem excessive and don't match the actual situation. I suspect someone is secretly making money from it."

"Do you know who it is?" Rodney raised an eyebrow.

"I've identified a few targets, but it's not clear yet. To avoid alerting them, I haven't taken action. I thought it would be better to report to you," Isabella said. 

This allowed her to strike up a conversation with Rodney. She added, "How do you think we should deal with these people?"

Not sure if Isabella's words were true or false, Rodney was furious and said, "Then let these parasites undergo labor reform! I didn't invite them here to steal my money and enjoy themselves! Those who need reform will be reformed, and those who need execution will be executed. You're the head of the hospital! Don't report this to me!"

"Alright," Isabella nodded. Initially, Rodney had given her control of the first Availton Hospital because he didn't care who ran it. He just needed the hospital to fulfill its function of admitting wounded and sick patients.

Rodney lay on the sofa, his hand tapping his temple, a look of helplessness on his face. Suddenly, he asked, "Hey, Isabella, I've angered Robin. How do I appease her?"

Isabella put down the financial report she had in her hand and said, "Captain, aren't you in a relationship with Robin?"

"Cough, cough, cough, no, no, we're just friends, just friends, nothing like that. Don't talk nonsense, alright? We have a normal captain-crew relationship. But because of the Revolutionary Army's business, she thinks I'm a heartless arms dealer. Am I an arms dealer? I'm a pirate hunter!"

Is there a difference?

Isn't it all about the money?

Isabella felt disdain in her heart and said, "I'm not very sure about this, but I'm different from... a normal girl..."

It's true; Isabella's education in CP0 began at a young age. She was groomed as a medical talent and had been taught medical knowledge and Rokushiki. 

Even though she was groomed as a girl, she was primarily developed as a healer. Besides medical knowledge and Rokushiki, she was taught little else. Therefore, when it came to matters of the heart, she was completely clueless.

So, this question touched upon her knowledge blind spot.

Damn it, I'm here as a spy, not as a relationship advice guru!

"Uh... about this..." CP0's instructors had never taught her this!

Her character was that of a stern female physician. If she were to be proficient in matters of the heart, wouldn't her character be ruined?

However, if she didn't answer, she might miss this rare opportunity to get close to him.

She pushed up her glasses, took a deep breath, and said, "I think... Captain, you can buy something that Miss Robin likes to please her. That's the simplest and most practical way."

Rodney: "The problem is, what Robin likes are historical texts. How am I supposed to get that? Are you trying to make things difficult for me?"

"Um... then let Mr. Leicester cook a delicious meal for Miss Robin," Isabella muttered to herself. Rodney's face turned sour; Robin, being an Ohara survivor, had a deep interest in historical texts. 

Apart from reading historical documents, she was genuinely interested in only one historical text. How could Rodney find that?

So, it had to be a second-best option. Leicester's cooking was quite good, and Isabella believed that having Leicester cook a delicious meal was a viable option.

"I'll give it a try; my head hurts."

Ratoon's Note:

disgusting as frog urine - is a humorous and exaggerated way of describing something as extremely disgusting or revolting.