The second mate heaved a sigh.

The pirates looked at Salia with anticipation, eager to see what kind of surprise the newcomer had in store.

Salia pointed toward the snowy ground, her voice melodious. "This is the surprise."

The pirates followed her gesture and looked down.

Seizing the moment, Salia executed a sliding tackle, sending the men blocking her path flying with a series of sharp impacts. She slipped smoothly out of the circle formed by the Red Hair Pirates and stood tall and steady beside Beckman.

At that same moment, a massive snowball materialized high above the pirates' heads, casting a giant shadow over them. Before they could react, the psychokinetic hold on the snowball vanished, and it crashed down from the sky, burying the pirates beneath a mountain of snow.

Salia offered Beckman a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that."

Beckman remained on guard. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he gave a cold sneer. "Psychokinetic, don't you think your behavior is a bit excessive?"

While the other pirates were caught up in the commotion, Beckman had kept a clear head. He had noticed the disturbance when Salia used her Devil Fruit powers to form the giant snowball—as had Shanks and Mihawk in the distance. However, since his captain hadn't intervened, Beckman hadn't stepped in either. Besides, he figured that letting those troublesome crew members suffer a little and learn a lesson wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Even so, facing this "outsider" with psychokinetic abilities, he felt compelled to maintain a stern front and speak up for his men.

Salia pulled an anonymous crystal card from her pocket and slipped it into Beckman’s hand.

"The limit on this card is ten million berries," she said calmly.

Beckman paused mid-smoke. He removed the cigarette with his left hand and used his right to examine the crystal card, turning it over repeatedly. As the first mate, he managed the Red Hair Pirates' finances; without him, the crew would have been bankrupt within a month given their penchant for constant partying.

Beckman was well aware of these anonymous crystal cards issued by the World Government—they were standard currency in the underworld. The minimum value for such a card was three million berries, but the one in his hand held ten million. With ten million berries, the crew’s financial situation would instantly turn from deficit to surplus. As the one holding the purse strings, it was hard for Beckman not to be tempted.

He looked quietly at the woman opposite him, raised an eyebrow, and softened his tone. "So, what is this card for—"

"Mr. Beckman, tell me, was my behavior just now excessive?" Salia hummed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She looked at him craftily. "I suggest you think carefully before you answer. If you answer correctly, this card is a welcome gift for a handsome man like you."

Beckman calmly tucked the crystal card into his pocket. "I didn't see anything."

"Congratulations, that is the correct answer." Salia gave him a thumbs-up. "The card is yours." She leaned in slightly. "If I happen to have any further 'friendly communications' with Shanks or the rest of your crew, I hope you’ll continue to remain silent."

Beckman: "..."

*Friendly communications...* Does she mean she intends to fight them? Anyone capable of catching Shanks' eye is bound to be a massive headache.

"Don't go overboard," Beckman said after a moment, his mouth twitching.

Salia snapped her fingers with a flourish. A wave of invisible psychokinetic energy extinguished the glowing ember of Beckman’s cigarette.

"The fire is gone now; I’ve put it out for you." She winked at him, offering a promise. "So, rest assured, I definitely won't go 'overboard'."

How could friendly sparring with others ever be considered going overboard? They were all excellent mentors, and she had already paid the tuition—she knew exactly where to draw the line.

Beckman looked at his extinguished cigarette and sighed helplessly. This woman was just like his captain—a person who could understand perfectly well what was being said, yet always chose to act as if she didn't. She was just as difficult and mischievous.