The tension on the beach finally melted away after a brief explanation and some casual conversation.
Luffy even mentioned that he knew Usopp's father from when he was a child, so their relationship somehow quickly became familiar. Especially when Luffy naively accepted all of his clearly exaggerated "heroic tales."
"Hey, you must be hungry after that long voyage," Usopp said enthusiastically. "I know the best spot in the village! The best grilled fish in all of the East Blue!"
Soon after, they were sitting at a simple eatery in the middle of the village. Their table was laden with tempting meat dishes. Luffy immediately grabbed and devoured everything within his reach.
"SO GOOD! THIS IS THE BEST MEAT I'VE EVER EATEN!" Luffy yelled with his mouth full.
Zoro sat relaxed, enjoying a bottle of local sake, grumbling upon hearing Luffy's comment. "You always say that every time you eat meat. But, this is pretty decent for a small village."
Nami watched them anxiously while counting her last few coins. "You're going to bankrupt us before we even reach the next island," she complained, watching Luffy order a third helping.
"Don't we have a lot of money? There's no way a little food like this could use up our treasure."
Nami immediately hugged the bag of treasure beside her tightly, staring warily at Zoro. "What do you mean, *our* treasure? Listen, Zoro. When I joined, the agreement was clear that seventy percent of the loot would be mine."
"Tch, you're gonna die with all that treasure."
Peter sat back, enjoying a bowl of rice and meat soup while watching his friends' antics. This kind of atmosphere really made him look forward to the arrival of the future crew members even more.
Usopp across from him kept glancing over with curiosity.
"Hey," Usopp finally said. "So... you guys need a new ship?"
Nami immediately cut in. "Our ship is too small for long voyages. Do you know where we can get a decent ship? One that won't drain our funds," she said with emphasis.
Usopp scratched his chin. "Old Man Hock usually sells small fishing boats. But for a ship that can sail long distances..." He paused for a moment. "Actually, there is one. The 'Going Merry.' It's never sailed since it was finished. It belongs to Miss Kaya, but..."
"But?" Peter asked curiously.
"It was a gift from her late parents. It's like a treasure to her. I doubt she'd be willing to sell it," Usopp explained.
Nami sighed. "It doesn't hurt to ask. After we eat, let's go take a look," she said, watching Luffy and Zoro fight over the last piece of meat.
---
With full stomachs, the group walked up a sloping path towards a large, magnificent mansion—it looked completely out of place among the simple houses surrounding it.
A tall iron fence surrounded the property, and beyond it, they could see a meticulously maintained garden. Usopp, who had been confident earlier, began to show doubt.
"She... might not be receiving guests," Usopp muttered, trying to hide his nervousness.
As they approached the large iron gate, they were stopped by the gatekeeper. Peter explained the purpose of their visit, and one of the guards went inside to report.
They didn't have to wait long before a tall, thin man with thick glasses and neat butler attire—Crowe—came out to meet them. However, his expression was cold and unfriendly.
"What is it? Get away from here. Miss Kaya does not receive uninvited guests," he said in a flat, disdainful voice, his eyes particularly staring down at Usopp with a look of contempt. "Especially not you bringing along this village liar."
Usopp bowed his head, his cheeks red with shame and anger. "Crowe, this is important. They need a ship—"
"A ship?" Crowe interrupted sharply. "The Going Merry? Don't dream. It is not for sale, especially not to a bunch of strangers wandering around with this liar." He sneered. "Now, leave before I call the guards."
An impatient Luffy pushed on the gate. "Hey, we just want to talk!"
Crowe quickly pulled something from behind his coat—a small, gleaming knife. "Don't make me get rough."
Zoro immediately placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, his posture alert. Peter observed the situation calmly but remained vigilant.
Nami pulled Luffy's arm. "Let it go, it's not worth it. We'll find another way."
Reluctantly, the group retreated, leaving the grand mansion behind. Crowe still stood behind the gate, his sharp gaze watching them leave.