When Carina and Sanji returned, the look Sanji gave Karl was completely different from before.
This guy who looked about his age was actually the strongest bounty hunter in the East Blue.
You really can't judge a person by appearances!
"Carina, what did you go do?"
Seeing Carina sit down beaming, Nami couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked.
"Hee-hee… I'll tell you after we get back." Carina kept it a secret, making Nami itch even more.
The meal took Karl more than half an hour.
Plates piled up on the table, drawing looks of either amazement or disdain from some patrons.
Fortunately the sea restaurant's chefs were anything but ordinary; their speed in the kitchen, for once, kept up with Karl's speed at the table.
As Sanji kept bringing dishes, his gaze toward Karl improved a little.
The guy ate a lot, but he didn't waste food.
Being able to put away that much clearly meant he was very satisfied with Baratie's cuisine.
"…I'm done."
"Check, please!"
After sweeping through another round of food, Karl finally let out a breath and spoke to Carina.
After paying, Carina looked at the bill in her hand and actually nodded with satisfaction. "Only a little over eight million—acceptable."
More than acceptable; it was a bargain.
With the recipes Zeff had gifted them, the food Carina and Nami made would taste several times better.
That eight million-plus was money well spent.
After also packing some Baratie seasonings to go, the three sailed away from the Sambas Sea straight for Loguetown.
Two days later, the three landed at Loguetown again.
The first thing Carina did ashore was take Karl and Nami to the Loguetown shipyard to buy a brand-new medium-small sailing ship.
It was a twin-masted triangular-sail ship not far off from the Going Merry: the mainmast thirty meters high, forty-three meters in length, displacement of eleven hundred tons, with three decks.
Price: 23.58 million Beli.
"Only a little over 1.2 million Beli left—we're broke again."
After paying, Carina winced and said to Karl, "For a while we'll rely on fishing for food. Once we reach the Grand Line, remember to work hard."
"Don't worry, we'll make it back fast," Karl said, uncharacteristically comforting.
Carina got to be willful once; Karl naturally wouldn't let her down.
Once they reached the Grand Line, he'd find a chance to take them to Sky Island. As long as they got that gold, they'd never worry about money again.
After topping up fresh water, the three left Loguetown that very day, steering their new ship toward the entrance to the Grand Line.
"Carina, the bathtub in the bathroom is huge."
While Nami handled the helm, Karl and Carina went to tour the interior.
After they entered the bathroom, Karl suddenly slipped an arm around Carina's shoulders, grinning wickedly. "My second request is up—how about we try out the new bathroom?"
"Do you have a death wish? It's broad daylight." Carina flushed and couldn't help giving Karl an elbow.
"C'mon, we're just taking a bath in the day. It's not our first time."
Ignoring her protest, Karl shut the bathroom door, and soon steam from the hot water filled the air.
An hour later, the two emerged wearing towels.
More than once, while Karl wasn't in that suit of armor, Carina drove an elbow into his body.
She used only a bit of strength; to blade-proof Karl it did nothing—like a tickle.
"Electric massage—where did you learn that kind of bad trick, you menace?"
Carina gave Karl a "death stare" and demanded, "Be honest—did you sneak off to the Pleasure District without me?"
"No, no…"
Karl shook his head quickly. "You know I'm always with you—when would I even have the chance to go to a place like that?"
"Hmph… you've used up all three requests. Don't make me do that kind of thing for you again."
Carina rolled her eyes, gave him another elbow, and went back to her room.
Karl returned to his room satisfied. After putting on his armor, he came out to the deck, looked at Nami at the helm, and asked in high spirits, "Nami, how long until the entrance?"
"At the new ship's speed, about half an hour. I'll be able to see the Red Line," Nami replied.
"Thanks for the hard work."
Karl picked up an orange from the table, peeled it, split the flesh in two, and held one half to Nami's lips.
"Thank you."
Nami thanked him and ate the piece Karl offered.
So she wouldn't get bored, Karl stood by the rail and chatted with Nami.
When Carina came out, a thick fog suddenly spread ahead of the three, and a red wall like the world's barrier loomed in and out of sight.