"And that's when I told him, 'You're confusing everyone, turn the other way!' And that's how the flatfish came to face the opposite direction of the flounder."
"Wow! So a flatfish is a flounder?"
"That's right. The flatfish is the flounder."
"Usopp, you're amazing!"
Chopper's eyes sparkled as he listened to Usopp's lie. Uta, overhearing nearby, wore a dubious expression.
"…Should we just let that slide?"
"It's harmless, so it should be fine," Nami replied.
Given Chopper's naivete, it felt like this might be detrimental to his education in various ways, but since Nami said it was fine, Uta decided to go along with it. Not that it mattered much; her attention was currently fixed on the gold, Usopp and Chopper barely registered in her thoughts.
Eight hundred million Berries if fully exchanged. It was an amount that would make anyone's eyes change color, not just Nami's. Not that Usopp or Chopper weren't interested, but until it was actually converted to cash, no amount of excitement would make it spendable. Even Luffy, who had been clamoring about "getting a bronze statue" and "ship repairs" just moments ago, was now quiet, his stomach rumbling.
"More importantly, it's almost noon. What are we doing for food?" Luffy asked.
"Sanji-kun isn't here… Should I cook?" Nami offered.
"Eh!? You know how to cook!?" Usopp exclaimed.
"Better than you, that's for sure. It'll be 100,000 Berries per person."
"Don't be ridiculous!!!"
That wasn't just blowing their allowance; it was wiping it out entirely. Luffy, Usopp, and even Zoro, who had only been listening, all voiced their objections.
"Then I'll cook!" Luffy declared.
"Hold on, Luffy! You can't cook! Let's just go to a restaurant!" Usopp countered.
"Won't Zepo cook for us?" Robin suggested.
"That's right, leave it to me," Zepo confirmed, raising his sunglasses and giving a wink. Even if he couldn't match Sanji, Zepo was a decent cook; they wouldn't starve with him around.
However, there was a reason Usopp, knowing this, had specifically suggested going to a restaurant.
"But the fridge is empty."
"Yeah, it is…" Nami sighed.
Sanji typically managed the ship's provisions. Nami would determine the rough schedule to the next island, and Sanji would ration the food accordingly for the journey. The Going Merry wasn't a large ship, so they couldn't stock excessive amounts of extra food. The refrigerator was simply too small for the number of people.
This time, because the distance from Skypiea to Midgard wasn't far and they had loaded mountains of gold, they had packed less food. The plan had been to buy provisions after exchanging the gold on this island, so currently, the ship was bare. In fact, having banked on the exchange, they didn't have much cash either.
"Then we'll pay with treasure!" Luffy announced.
"Yeah, like that'll work," Zoro scoffed.
Even if they actually possessed gold, "paying with treasure" was generally perceived as a scam. It was essentially asking for credit, something unlikely to be granted to first-time customers. Zoro's skepticism was understandable.
"Then what do we do!?" Luffy demanded.
"What do we do… what do we do?" Usopp wondered.
"Don't look at me. We really are in a bind here," Nami said.
"Somehow… being Luffy's crewmate seems like hard work," Uta commented.
Since it didn't directly involve her, she could say it lightly, but as his childhood friend, Uta was starting to feel a bit of a headache coming on. He had always talked about paying with treasure back then, but that had only worked because Makino at the bar knew him. And even then, someone had probably settled the bill without Luffy knowing. Uta had never met Luffy's parents, but she assumed it was them or some relative. Though it was still strange how much time he spent hanging around the bar.
But that was beside the point.
"Well, fine. I'll treat you this time. You'd better be grateful!" Uta declared.
"Really!? Thanks, Uta!" Luffy cheered.
"He fully intends to be treated," Usopp muttered under his breath.
"He can't resist when food's involved," Zoro added.
"Wait, Luffy. Does Uta even have money?" Nami interjected with a practical question.
They had only just met her on this island, and she hadn't returned to her lodging even once so far. She probably carried a wallet, but treating this many people would require a significant amount of cash. Trying to dine and dash on this island could lead to being chased to the ends of the earth.
Faced with this reasonable doubt, Uta puffed out her chest with a smug look.
"Don't worry. I have my wallet, and—worst case, I'll get them to let me pay with treasure."
"You too!?" Usopp and Zoro exclaimed.
"So it comes back to that…" Nami sighed.
However, unlike Luffy, Uta held an official position. If she proved her status as a guest of Twilight, the bill would likely be sent there, making it not entirely impossible. The only downside was that Uta would probably get scolded later.
Arguing wouldn't make money appear, and the exchange would take some time. Accepting Uta's offer seemed the only option.
"It's decided then!"
Clapping her hands together, Uta sealed the plan with a bright smile.
***
Going to a restaurant didn't mean the entire group traipsing over together. Since the gold was still on the ship, half the crew went out to buy food and bring it back.
Uta walked ahead cheerfully, the ends of her hair bouncing upwards as if reflecting her good mood.
"Where are we buying from?" Nami asked.
"Smells gooood… Let's go this way!" Luffy sniffed the air.
"Ah, wait up, Luffy!!" Usopp called out.
The port area had plenty of eateries. While there were various options that would satisfy Luffy, he used his exceptional sense of smell to pick a direction and dashed off. It was unclear what criteria he used, but he abruptly stopped and ducked under the shop curtains without hesitation.
Drawn in by the enticing aroma filling his nostrils, he entered, only to find a single girl inside. There were no other customers. However, a mountain of plates sat on the table before her.
"Delicious!! Hey pops, another round of this!!" the girl called out.
"…Fine by me, but you really got the cash for this? That's a hefty amount. If you're planning to dine and dash, I'm calling the guards," a voice replied from the kitchen.
"I ain't gonna dash! Doing that here means getting chased by nasty folks."
"Long as you know."
Hearing the cook in the kitchen conversing with the girl while tossing ingredients in a wok, Luffy and the others stared, astonished that one girl could eat so much.
"Hm, customers? Sorry, just sit wherever. Call me when you decide what you want."
"Ah, yeah… We wanted takeout, is that okay?" Usopp asked.
"Takeout? Sure thing, I'll get it ready."
Most people ate and drank at the taverns, but quite a few took food back to their ships to eat with their crewmates. It wasn't unusual.
"Alright, what do they have…" Usopp and Nami peered at the menu, while Luffy, without even glancing at it, declared:
"Give me one of everything on the menu."
"Do you even know the meaning of restraint!?"
Smack! Usopp slapped Luffy upside the head. Uta and Nami looked on, exasperated.
"But you're gonna pay Uta back later, right?" Usopp asked Luffy.
"You were actually planning to pay her back…" Nami muttered, surprised.
"Don't be rude! Of course, I'll pay her back!" Luffy retorted.
Uta had intended it as a treat, but Luffy apparently planned to reimburse her once the gold was exchanged. Nami, on the other hand, seemed to have fully expected a free meal. Either way, the limit was whatever cash Uta had in her wallet. Credit wouldn't work.
As they discussed the menu, they noticed the girl who had been devouring the mountain of plates staring intently at Luffy. Her hands, busy eating, hadn't stopped moving, though.
"Hey, that girl's staring really hard… Know her?" Nami whispered.
"Nope," Luffy replied.
Uta glanced over at the girl, their eyes meeting squarely. Yet, the girl continued to watch Luffy's group, almost to the point where it could be considered glaring.
Realizing her plate was empty, the girl was about to order more when—her baby Den Den Mushi rang. After exchanging a few words in a low voice, she glanced at Luffy once more before standing up.
"Pops, the bill. Is this enough?"
"Thanks for your business."
The girl, wiping her messy mouth with her sleeve, pulled a wad of bills from her pocket and placed it on the table. The cook emerged from the back, took the necessary amount, and handed the rest back to her.
"See ya, Straw Hat."
Leaving only those words behind, the girl—Bonney—exited the shop. The four blinked, exchanging glances.
"She seemed to know you, Luffy," Nami remarked.
"Well, he's got a 100 million bounty. Guess people know him," Usopp reasoned.
"Makes me blush," Luffy grinned.
"Don't blush, don't blush! You're a target, you know? Do you get that?" Nami scolded.
Perhaps because he considered a high bounty an honor, Luffy just smiled. Shortly after, their takeout lunches were ready, and Luffy's group cheerfully started back towards the ship.
***
Meanwhile, Sanji.
Although questioned to some extent at the royal castle, the incident had occurred at a shop run by a Twilight informant, so he was released without much delay.
It was past noon. Having eaten a late breakfast, he wasn't hungry, but he decided to take a break with Drake at a café inside the royal castle. Various things had happened, causing information to become confused.
"…So, what's the actual situation?" Sanji asked.
"Cipher Pol is definitely after Robin. There were government officials involved. But… with Germa also making a move…" Drake trailed off.
It seemed Germa was seriously aligning themselves with Twilight. While Germa was technically a World Government member nation, they must have factored in the possibility of expulsion. Entering Twilight's economic sphere meant reducing pirate damage to some extent even without Navy protection. Just like member nations did to non-member nations, they could essentially push pirate damage elsewhere. Thus, expulsion wasn't a significant risk.
Kanata's actions were like a poison destroying the collective of World Government member nations from within. If discovered, she would surely be stripped of her Warlord title.
But Drake couldn't fathom the reason for Germa moving at this particular timing.
"…I don't know the details. But at least, it's probably not a bad thing for you guys."
"Well, yeah… As long as Robin-chan isn't in danger, I guess it's a good thing."
"I called Bonney earlier. Once we confirm the government agents are really gone, you should leave the island quickly."
If the agents cooperating with the government were gone, it was best to leave the island promptly and disappear. Wherever they went next, missing this timing meant being constantly pursued. Nico Robin was like dynamite. Whichever power got their hands on her could trigger a war.
"I wanted to look around a bit more…" Sanji sighed.
"You're pirates. Having to flee an island isn't unusual… Besides, it seems better for you not to encounter Germa too often."
"..."
Yonji had clearly said "family." It provided more than enough information for Sanji to grasp the situation. He didn't know the specifics, but it was obvious from watching them that their relationship was strained. Sibling relationships, parent-child relationships – they probably weren't good. It was something Drake, who had a decent relationship with his own father, couldn't understand.
Sanji, perhaps wanting to avoid thinking about his father, changed the subject.
"…Where does the Log Pose point after this place?"
"The next island is the City of Water, Water 7. It's an island with many shipwrights."
"An island of shipwrights, huh… We need ship repairs, so it might be just right."
"Although, it's best to avoid it right now."
"? Is there a specific time to enter the island?"
"Climates vary from island to island, but most islands have a period when the weather gets rough periodically."
For Water 7, that period was marked by the high tide known as Aqua Laguna. It was an annual storm that assaulted the island, forcing an island-wide evacuation. The outer seas became tempestuous, and unless ships were moved inland, the high tide would wreck them. Therefore, anyone aware of the situation would naturally avoid visiting during this time.
"An annual storm that attacks the island…"
"The weather on the Grand Line is often unpredictable, but these kinds of cyclical phenomena are usually known. There might be slight variations, but I haven't heard about the storm hitting yet this year. To be safe, it's better to wait."
"So we need to kill time on another island. Any interesting places?"
"There's Pucci, the Town of Gourmet Food; San Faldo, the Town of Carnival… and Banaro Island, the Town of Gambling."
Eternal Poses for islands accessible from Midgard were usually sold everywhere, but these three were Drake's recommendations. Sanji took a drag from his cigarette, making a mental note.
"You know a lot… Well, thanks."
"Wandering around various islands is my job. I remember the characteristics of different islands to some extent."
As an intelligence operative for Twilight, traveling extensively meant this knowledge came naturally.
As they were talking, Bonney appeared, and Drake stood up. Sanji followed suit, and the three headed to another informant's location.
"Met Straw Hat earlier. Dunno if he's strong or weak, but he's got a 100 million bounty. He must be strong, right?" Bonney remarked.
"Yeah. He's the man who'll become the Pirate King," Sanji replied.
"Pirate King, huh…" Drake mused.
"Just saying the words gets you laughed at here in Paradise," Bonney commented.
"You think so too?" Sanji asked Drake.
"I'm not interested. But… I think only those who can still say it after knowing reality can achieve it."
This sea was full of powerful individuals. Numerous Vice Admirals, three Admirals, one Fleet Admiral. The Seven Warlords who aided the World Government. The four pirates known as the Emperors of the Sea. While defeating every single one wasn't necessarily required, achieving the goal without the resolve to overcome them and circumnavigate the globe was impossible. It was a dream only permitted to those who would not break, even knowing that reality.
"…Not all of the Four Emperors are aiming for Pirate King. There's a chance," Drake considered.
Of course, there were concrete reasons why those aiming for it hadn't succeeded. If Robin, as his crewmate, eventually learned the truth of history… perhaps Luffy might become the Pirate King.
But Drake didn't know the specifics, nor felt obligated to provide further information, so he fell silent.