Captain, Tipani, and I are going to buy some ingredients. Want to come along?
At that moment, the Dragon Wolf was docked at the port city of Rapeseed, in the Kingdom of Alabasta.
"Go ahead, just be back early," Fang Yi said with a wave of his hand, his tone one of complete disinterest, leaving them to go by themselves.
Ever since they had left the Navy's G-8 base and passed through several islands, Tipani had shown him firsthand what a woman's shopping ability truly meant. Now, Fang Yi had no interest whatsoever in anything that involved spending Berries.
Over these past few days, everyone had also noticed something else: Tipani seemed utterly defenseless against anything pink. If it was pink, she wanted it. Her cabin had already been turned into a pink wonderland.
Back at the G-8 base, it hadn't been obvious—after all, she had to wear a navy uniform and could only accessorize with a few pink trinkets here and there.
But now that she was free from the Navy, her true nature had fully emerged. Every time she saw pink clothes, she would buy them, wearing a different set each day.
Even the galley's kitchenware had been replaced—yes, all of it—by custom-made pink utensils.
As she put it: "A knife can be dull, but it cannot be anything but pink."
Now they were in Alabasta, a country most famous for its perfumes—another irresistible temptation for women. Fang Yi could already foresee that today's spending would be no small sum. So he chose to adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" policy: if he didn't see it, it was as if it never happened.
Shanks walked off chatting and laughing with Tipani, drawing envious looks from Buggy and Brook, who also wanted to tag along.
But Buggy's thoughts were much like Fang Yi's. As the ship's richest man, his stash of private funds had already been nearly emptied by Tipani. So even with the chance to go shopping, he wasn't going to risk it.
As for Brook—well, as a penniless pauper, he didn't even have the right to go shopping.
To cut down on expenses, Fang Yi had ordered a halt to all activities that required spending Berries until they found treasure or captured bounty targets to replenish funds.
Of course, essential purchases like the supplies Tipani needed for cooking were allowed.
"I'm heading out to look around," Barrett announced, having finished his training.
"Look around? Do you even have money?" Buggy asked sourly. He didn't like Barrett's arrogant attitude.
Barrett glanced at him and replied evenly: "I'm going to earn some."
Barrett wasn't particularly fond of Buggy either—earning his respect required actual strength.
"Oh? Then catch a few more! This is the first major nation after entering the Grand Line—plenty of pirates must be passing through here!" Fang Yi said, perking up from his lounge chair.
"If you know that, then why don't you do the work?" Barrett shot back.
"I'm a pirate, not a bounty hunter. If I come across a pirate, I'll take him down, sure, but I'm not going to go looking for them," Fang Yi replied lazily with a yawn.
That remark reminded Buggy—he still had his bounty hunter license. Since Barrett was a wanted man and couldn't claim bounty rewards himself, the two quickly struck a deal: Barrett would do the fighting, and Buggy would handle turning in the captures to the Navy.
Despite his dislike for Barrett's arrogance, Buggy respected his strength. The two left together, arms over each other's shoulders.
"What about you? Not going ashore? Twin Cape isn't far from here," Fang Yi asked the only one left on deck, Brook, smiling slightly.
"Ah… the closer we get, the more uneasy I feel," Brook said, head bowed. "When the time comes… what will I say to Laboon?"
"What's there to worry about? Laboon's your companion, not some stranger," Fang Yi said with a small chuckle.
Brook stayed silent, still looking down. That was exactly why he felt ashamed—because they hadn't fulfilled their promise from all those years ago.
"All he's wanted all this time isn't your achievements—just to see you again," Fang Yi said with a sigh.
"I know… Yohohoho… Still, the thought of seeing Laboon again soon is… quite exciting," Brook murmured, lifting his gaze to the sky.
Fang Yi shrugged and left him to his emotions.
Before long, Brook began playing his violin on deck, and with the music drifting in the air, Fang Yi slowly drifted off to sleep.
He had no idea how much time had passed when noisy voices woke him. Opening his eyes, he saw Tipani and Shanks back on board, both laden with big and small shopping bags.
"Yo~ you're back?"
"Captain, you're awake? I found all kinds of interesting ingredients at the market today, but Shanks said we didn't have enough money. We're pirates, aren't we? Why would we be short on money?" Tipani asked, coming right over.
"Who told you pirates can't be short on money?" Fang Yi's face darkened slightly.
"But aren't pirates supposed to be eating meat off the bone and drinking wine by the barrel? I'm not saying we have to throw banquets every day, but we shouldn't be so poor we can't even buy ingredients!" Tipani said with a pout.
"Uh… well…" Fang Yi was at a loss for words.
If he said it was because they didn't rob anyone, well, Roger's and Whitebeard's crews hardly robbed anyone either, but they were never short of money.
In fact, before setting out, Fang Yi, Shanks, and Buggy had even spent a year as bounty hunters. By all rights, they shouldn't have been broke at all.
So why were they poorer than Luffy's Straw Hats?
It wasn't like Luffy had started with anything—his ship had even been a gift. If it weren't for his monstrous appetite, his crew would have had plenty of funds.
And then it hit Fang Yi—Shanks and Barrett were massive eaters.
Realizing this, Fang Yi shot Shanks a glare, leaving the redhead baffled.
The truth was, Fang Yi had forgotten they'd spent all their savings buying the Dragon Wolf.
Roger, Whitebeard, and Luffy—none of them had started with such a luxurious pirate ship. Without such a huge vessel, their expenses had been far lower, so occasional bounties or treasure finds could last them a long time.
"Where are Buggy and Barrett? Still not back?" Fang Yi asked, glancing around. He'd been hoping to ask if they'd caught anyone.
"Nope. Where did they even go?" Shanks replied.
"Captain, don't change the subject! How long are we going to stay broke? Even if we don't rob, shouldn't we be looking for treasure?" Tipani demanded.
"Heh… Don't worry. Barrett and Buggy went to catch pirates. Being this close to Reverse Mountain, there should be plenty coming in from the Blues. If we want Berries, it's easy," Fang Yi said confidently.
"Catch pirates? Aren't we pirates ourselves?" Tipani asked in confusion.
"You don't know? Don't underestimate Buggy—he's a very famous bounty hunter. Barrett takes them down, Buggy hands them over to the Navy for the bounty—it works perfectly," Fang Yi explained with a grin.
"???" Tipani was even more confused. She leaned toward Shanks and whispered, "Mr. Buggy is a famous bounty hunter? Then why is he with us pirates? And… why does Barrett have to do the fighting?"
Shanks gave a helpless smile and quietly explained.
Right then, Buggy and Barrett returned to the Dragon Wolf.
"Yo~ Buggy, how'd it go today?" Fang Yi asked with a smile.
"Don't even start—nothing! Barrett wasted time fighting some guy for no reason," Buggy grumbled.
"Oh? Someone here could go toe-to-toe with Barrett?" Fang Yi and Shanks both asked in surprise.
Barrett smiled slightly. "Mm. The guy was pretty strong. He relied on a Devil Fruit, but still—not bad."
It had been a long time since Barrett fought like that. Though neither had gone all out, fighting to a draw meant the opponent was quite powerful—at least far stronger than Buggy.
"You didn't get his name? If he's worth it, we could invite him aboard," Fang Yi said curiously.
"Uh… I forgot," Barrett admitted with some embarrassment.
When Barrett fought, he tended to forget everything else. Fang Yi turned to Buggy.
Don't look at me! You think I'd stick around for a fight at that level? I left as soon as they started, Buggy said quickly.
At least tell me what ability he had, Fang Yi said, exasperated.
Sand, Barrett replied with a small smile. Pretty sure he's a Logia—he could turn his body into sand. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted against me.
Sand? Oh—it's that guy, Fang Yi said in sudden realization.
Who? Shanks and Brook both asked curiously.
Sir Crocodile—the Sand-Sand Fruit user. A year ago, he was already a famous Supernova in the New World. I heard he challenged Whitebeard and lost… then vanished. Didn't expect to find him here in the first half of the Grand Line, Fang Yi said with a shrug.