I, Kizaru, only came to the chat group after I became invincible

Chapter 443 Help
“Yes, our city is built in a natural bay,” Thomas explained. “There are many waterways connecting the various areas, making water transportation very convenient.”

The scenery along the way was truly breathtaking. The buildings on both sides were not only inlaid with crystals of various colors, but their designs were also exquisite. Crystal sculptures could also be seen in the waterways, shimmering with a dreamlike glow in the sunlight.

"It's so beautiful!" Nami exclaimed, her eyes glued to the surrounding scenery. "It feels like a fairytale world!"

“I’m going to draw lots of pictures here!” Usopp exclaimed excitedly.

The small boat continued its journey, gradually leaving the bustling commercial district and arriving at a quieter residential area. The buildings here were more exquisite and occupied larger plots of land, clearly indicating an affluent neighborhood.

“We’ve arrived.” Thomas pointed to a huge mansion ahead.

When everyone saw the mansion, they were all stunned. It was a typical luxurious estate, covering an area of ​​at least tens of thousands of square meters. The main building was three stories high, surrounded by large gardens and fountains. Most astonishingly, the entire building was inlaid with various precious crystals, which sparkled with iridescent colors in the sunlight.

"This...this is your home?" Nami's eyes widened.

“Yes.” Eileen nodded somewhat shyly. “It’s an old family house.”

"An old house?!" Luffy exclaimed in shock. "This is even more luxurious than a royal palace!"

“It’s nothing really,” Thomas said modestly. “It’s just a bit bigger.”

Borsalino surveyed the estate, silently estimating its value. The crystal decorations alone were worth at least tens of millions of Berries. It seemed the couple's family was indeed extremely wealthy.

"Um... are we really okay staying here?" Sanji asked, sounding a little worried. "Such a luxurious place..."

“Of course, no problem!” Thomas said enthusiastically. “Come on, let’s go in!”

The manor gates opened automatically, and several servants in uniforms came out to greet them.

"Welcome home, young master and young lady!" The servants bowed respectfully.

“Young master? Miss?” Chopper looked at Thomas and his wife in confusion.

“Yes, we are indeed children of this family,” Thomas admitted somewhat sheepishly. “Our father is the president of the largest crystal trading company in Crystal Harbor.”

"The Crystal Merchant Guild President?!" Nami's eyes turned into the shape of gold coins. "Then..."

“Yes, my family does have some money,” Eileen said, blushing. “But that doesn’t matter! What matters is that you saved our lives!”

“I see.” Robin nodded thoughtfully. “No wonder you were robbed by pirates; they were probably watching you all along.”

“That’s true.” Thomas sighed. “We went out to sea hoping to experience the life of ordinary merchants, but we didn’t expect to encounter danger.”

"Thank goodness I met you all!" Eileen looked gratefully at the Straw Hat Pirates.

Led by servants, the group entered the luxurious mansion. The living room's decor was even more astonishing, with a huge crystal chandelier, exquisite furniture, and precious works of art, all showcasing the family's wealth and taste.

“Please make yourselves at home!” Thomas gestured to everyone. “I’ll go tell my parents; they must be very eager to meet our savior.”

“There’s no need for this formality,” Borsalino said, sounding a little uncomfortable. “We just did what we were supposed to do.”

“To us, you are our saviors!” Eileen insisted.

Soon, a middle-aged couple entered the living room. The man was tall and dressed in an elegant suit, while the woman was dignified and graceful, exuding an aristocratic air. They were Thomas's parents—Alex Valentine, the president of the Crystal Merchants Guild, and his wife, Isabella.

“Thank you all for saving our child!” Alex bowed deeply as he entered. “I am Alex Valentine, and this is my wife, Isabella.”

"Please don't be so polite!" Luffy quickly waved his hand. "We were just helping out!"

"Just helping out?" Isabella looked at them, touched. "You risked your lives to save our child; we will never forget this kindness!"

"Are you all businessmen from out of town?" Alex inquired. "What kind of business do you do?"

“We… um… do some grocery business,” Nami answered somewhat nervously. “We deal in all sorts of goods.”

“I see.” Alex nodded. “That must have been tough. Constantly traveling, without a fixed abode.”

"It's alright," Sanji said politely. "I'm used to it."

“Now that you’re in Crystal Harbor, why not take a few days to rest?” Isabella said warmly. “We’ll arrange the best rooms for you all!”

"Thank you so much!" Chopper said, moved.

"Oh, right!" Alex suddenly remembered something. "Tonight is our chamber of commerce's annual celebration banquet; everyone must attend!"

"A banquet?" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Is there lots of delicious food?"

“Of course!” Thomas said with a smile. “It’s the grandest banquet in Crystal Harbor, with all sorts of delicious food and entertainment!”

“And they’ll be inviting all the big names in Crystal Harbor,” Erin added. “It’ll be a social event!”

“A major social event.” Nami said with some concern. “Is it appropriate for small business owners like us to participate?”

“Of course it’s suitable!” Alex said firmly. “You are our honored guests!”

“And this is also a great opportunity to introduce our saviors to everyone,” Isabella added.

Borsalino sensed the situation was somewhat complicated. Attending such a high-society banquet meant he was likely to encounter knowledgeable people, increasing the risk of revealing his identity. But refusing would be impolite.

“Then we shall gladly accept your offer.” He finally agreed. “But we don’t have formal attire.”

“That’s easy!” Isabella exclaimed immediately. “We have professional tailors who can make custom-made suits for everyone!”

"No need to go to such lengths," Sanji quickly refused.

“What’s this little thing?” Alex waved his hand dismissively. “Thomas, take the guests to rest, then arrange for a tailor to come over.”

“Yes, Father!” Thomas replied respectfully.

And so, the Straw Hat Pirates were settled into luxurious guest rooms to rest. Each person had a private suite, lavishly decorated and fully equipped.

“This is amazing treatment!” Usopp exclaimed, lying on the soft, large bed. “The rich are really something else.” Franky toured the room's various amenities. “Even the bathroom is bigger than the entire room on our ship!”

In the afternoon, professional tailors arrived at the manor to make custom-made suits for everyone. The Straw Hat Pirates members weren't quite used to this treatment, but at Thomas and his wife's insistence, they cooperated and completed the measurements.

“Mr. Borsalino has a very good build,” the head tailor exclaimed. “He would look very handsome in a formal suit!”

“Not at all,” Borsalino waved his hand modestly. “As long as it doesn’t attract too much attention.”

“You’re too modest!” the tailor said with a smile. “With your presence, you’ll definitely be the center of attention at the banquet!”

This is exactly what Borsalino is most worried about. As an undercover agent, the most important thing is to keep a low profile and not attract too much attention.

As dusk fell, all the formal attire was completed. The Straw Hat Pirates members, after changing into their formal wear, all underwent a significant change in demeanor.

Luffy, dressed in a black tailcoat, looked undeniably handsome, though a little uncomfortable. Zoro's dark green tuxedo perfectly complemented his hair color, giving him an air of nobility. Sanji, always conscious of his image, looked even more dashing in his formal attire.

Nami looked stunning in a blue evening gown, her jewelry sparkling. Robin's black dress exuded elegance and sophistication, showcasing her intellectual beauty. Chopper's little suit was incredibly cute, making you want to hug him.

“Everyone is so beautiful!” Eileen exclaimed. “Especially Miss Nami and Miss Robin, they look like princesses!”

"You flatter me," Nami said somewhat shyly.

Borsalino, dressed in a golden tuxedo, exuded an extraordinary aura. His composed, aristocratic demeanor made it hard to believe he was just an ordinary businessman.

“Mr. Borsalino looks absolutely stunning!” Thomas exclaimed. “This tuxedo is like it was tailor-made for you!”

“It fits perfectly.” Borsalino adjusted his tie with satisfaction. “Thank you for the arrangements.”

As night fell, the banquet was about to begin. The Valentine family's luxurious carriage line arrived at the manor gate, ready to escort the guests to the banquet venue.

“The banquet is being held at the Crystal Palace,” Alex explained. “It’s the most luxurious building in Crystal Harbor, specifically used for important celebrations.”

"A crystal palace?" Chopper asked curiously. "That sounds amazing!"

"It's a palace built with pure natural crystal," Isabella said proudly. "It's famous throughout the Grand Line!"

The carriage procession moved in a grand procession through the streets of Crystal Harbor, attracting the attention of many citizens along the way. The Straw Hat Pirates looked out the carriage windows at the night view and were all awestruck by the beauty of the city.

Crystal Harbor is even more beautiful at night than during the day. Countless crystals sparkle under the lights, and the entire city seems to be immersed in a dreamlike glow.

"It's so beautiful!" Nami exclaimed, pressing her face against the car window. "It feels like a fairyland!"

“It’s truly beautiful.” Borsalino was also moved by the scenery. “It must be wonderful to live in a place like this.”

Soon, the carriage team arrived at the Crystal Palace. The building truly lived up to its name; constructed entirely of transparent crystal, it emitted a soft glow in the night. The palace's design was beautiful, possessing both classical solemnity and modern style.

"Wow! What an amazing building!" Luffy jumped excitedly off the carriage. "It really is made of crystal!"

“Of course!” Thomas said proudly. “This is the culmination of three generations of our family’s hard work!”

A large number of guests, all upper-class people dressed in magnificent attire, had already gathered at the palace gates. Many people cast curious glances at the arrival of the Valentine family's carriage.

"President Alex!" a plump middle-aged man greeted him. "This year's celebration is once again so grand!"

“Thank you all for your support!” Alex replied politely. “Let me introduce these are our distinguished guests.”

Alex began introducing the Straw Hat Pirates to the other guests, of course, as their savior. Hearing their heroic deeds, many looked at him with admiration.

"So he's a hero who stood up for what was right!" a lady exclaimed, moved. "That's truly remarkable!"

"It's rare to find such a righteous young person in this day and age!" another businessman exclaimed in appreciation.

Borsalino spoke politely to these people, but always maintained a proper distance. He could sense that many of them were experienced and had extensive connections, and he had to be careful in dealing with them.

The banquet hall was even more breathtaking. Beneath a massive crystal dome, countless exquisite tables were set out. A dazzling array of delicacies filled the air with enticing aromas. On the central stage, a band was playing beautiful music.

"This place is so luxurious!" Nami exclaimed.

"And the food looks delicious!" Luffy's mouth was already watering.

"Please help yourselves!" Thomas greeted everyone warmly. "These are some of Crystal Harbor's most famous dishes!"

After the banquet officially began, the guests started socializing and dining. The Straw Hat Pirates also joined in, but they were all careful to keep a low profile and avoid attracting too much attention.

Borsalino, holding a glass of champagne, stood in a corner of the hall, observing his surroundings. He noticed several people watching them, their eyes filled with a kind of probing.

"It seems I've attracted some attention," he thought to himself. "Hopefully, nothing goes wrong."

As he was pondering, an elderly man in military uniform approached. The man appeared to be in his sixties, with various medals adorning his chest, clearly a high-ranking officer.

“Hello, sir,” the elderly man greeted politely. “I am Vice Admiral Bronson, Commander of the Crystal Harbor Naval Base.”

“Hello, Lieutenant General Brunson,” Borsalino replied calmly. “I am Borsalino, a businessman from out of town.”

"I heard you bravely repelled the pirates and rescued the Valentine family's children?" Lieutenant Admiral Bronson inquired.

"I just happened to run into them and offered to help," Borsalino said modestly.

“Being able to defeat more than twenty pirates single-handedly is not something an ordinary merchant could do.” Vice Admiral Bronson looked at him meaningfully. “You must have a special training background, right?”

Borsalino sensed danger. The vice admiral was clearly testing his identity.

“I practiced some martial arts when I was younger,” he replied casually. “When doing business abroad, you always need some ability to protect yourself.”

“I see.” Lieutenant General Bronson nodded, but the suspicion in his eyes remained. “Where are you from?”

(End of this chapter)