At home, Bellemere had twice mentioned the person who bought all their family's oranges.
Thanks to this person, their lives had improved significantly over the past few days.
Of course, this was mainly for Bellemere.
She no longer had to eat only one meal a day and oranges for the other.
"I need a bit more this time. I'm going on a long voyage."
Cyrus's gaze swept over the two girls behind Bellemere as he spoke with a smile.
"Are you going on a long voyage, sir? The seas aren't calm right now." Bellemere asked curiously.
"It's fine. I'm just going out to see the world."
"I see. But even for a long voyage, the oranges won't keep for very long."
It was the same thing she'd said before. Faced with money she could earn, Bellemere offered another reminder.
"I know, so let's be quick." Cyrus took out the money and placed it on the table, preparing to turn and leave.
"Sir!"
Bellemere called out to Cyrus.
"Thank you for the last two times. I'd like to treat you to a meal, as a farewell."
Bellemere said after a moment's hesitation.
"I see. No problem, but I still need to go buy a few things."
Cyrus didn't refuse, nodding as he spoke.
Bellemere, Nami, and Nojiko watched Cyrus leave.
"He's going to sea at such a young age?"
Bellemere mused, then called for Nami and Nojiko to help.
"Is he a pirate?" Nami asked curiously, looking at Cyrus's distant figure.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Nojiko clamped a hand over Nami's mouth.
"Pirates don't pay when they take oranges!"
Nojiko whispered in Nami's ear. Nami could only make muffled sounds.
Watching her two adopted daughters play around, Bellemere smiled, seemingly in a very good mood.
The three of them, one adult and two children, worked up a sweat moving all the oranges to the ship at the docks.
After returning to their original spot and waiting for a while, Cyrus came back carrying many things.
"Here!"
Cyrus handed the large and small bags to Nami and Nojiko.
"Huh?"
The two girls looked dazed, subconsciously taking the things Cyrus handed them.
"A gift. It's only natural to bring a gift when you're a guest."
Upon hearing they were gifts, the two girls immediately felt that the things in their arms weren't so heavy anymore.
Although they still wobbled as they walked.
Bellemere thanked him repeatedly along the way.
"Wow, it's a book on navigation!"
Back at Bellemere's house, Nami rummaged through the things Cyrus had given them.
When she pulled out several books on navigation skills, she was overjoyed.
"You like them?"
Cyrus sat at the table with a grin.
"My dream is to become the greatest navigator and draw the most perfect sea chart."
Nami replied immediately upon hearing his question, clearly having had this ideal in her heart for a long time.
"Oh, such a grand ideal. That won't be so easy to achieve."
Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"Nami, come and help!"
Nojiko, who was helping Bellemere cook, turned her head and shouted.
Nami answered, then carefully placed the books to the side as if they were treasures before trotting over to help.
Cyrus watched the three of them busying themselves together, then looked around the not-so-large house.
It wasn't big, but it was clean.
There just weren't many things, a clear sign of a tight budget.
But that made sense.
After Bellemere brought Nojiko and Nami back, she raised them by herself, so their life was certainly not wealthy.
It seemed it was because she had only managed to save 100,000 Belly that she had to sacrifice herself, using that money to buy Nami and Nojiko's lives.
The purchasing power of Belly in this world was similar to that of the island nation in his original world.
It was roughly equivalent to five thousand in his original world's currency, which was indeed not a large sum.
'But from now on, she should be able to watch Nami and the others grow up peacefully.'
'As long as that rat Nezumi doesn't cause trouble.'
Cyrus thought.
While the three of them were busy, they kept stealing glances at Cyrus.
Although Cyrus was tall, one could still tell from his face that he wasn't very old.
Going to sea at this age?
It seems this young man has had many stories of his own.
Bellemere guessed in her heart.
Soon, a large table of food was ready. Of course, the ingredients were brought by Cyrus.
Bellemere was a little embarrassed about this.
Nami and Nojiko had long since taken their seats, clearly looking forward to this meal.
"Bellemere, are you home?"
Hearing the voice from outside, Cyrus knew who it was without turning his head.
It was Genzo, who had a crush on Bellemere.
"Just in time. Eat with us. We have a guest today. It's the gentleman who bought all my oranges."
Bellemere opened the door.
"Oh, oh!"
Genzo was taken aback and glanced at Cyrus, who was sitting at the dining table.
Only after Genzo sat down did Cyrus raise his eyes to look at him.
"Did you come for something?" Bellemere asked as she got utensils for Genzo.
"I just received news that Gishua Village was attacked by pirates. It seems they were Fish-man Pirates. A lot of people died."
Hearing Bellemere's question, Genzo said with a solemn expression.
"What?"
Besides Cyrus, Bellemere and the two girls looked at Genzo in surprise.
Gishua Village was also in the Conomi Archipelago, not far from Cocoyasi Village.
"But don't worry. Those fish-men were killed by a Pirate Hunter. The Navy arrived afterward, but many people still died."
Genzo sighed, his heart heavy.
"A Pirate Hunter?"
Nami was curious.
"Yes. They say he's a tall young man, very strong. He killed dozens of Fish-man Pirates in just a few moves. If he hadn't stopped those Fish-man Pirates, we would have been in trouble here too."
'Being so close to us, those vicious pirates might not have spared this place.' Bellemere listened quietly.
Her expression flickered, especially when she heard Genzo mention that the Navy arrived afterward, but she said nothing.
Genzo saw her reaction and knew that Bellemere had been in the Navy before.
"So strong!" Nami's eyes were sparkling.
Cyrus listened quietly as they discussed him, not interrupting, and calmly ate the food in front of him.
This little bit of food wasn't enough to fill the gaps between his teeth, but he wasn't hungry right now anyway.
"Well then, farewell!"
Cyrus put down his knife and fork, stood up, grabbed his sword from beside him, and waved as he walked to the door.
"It was delicious, thank you!"
Cyrus turned his head and smiled, then pulled open the door and walked out.
"Wait!"
Genzo was stunned, looking at the back of the figure carrying a sword.
"The information I received said that the Pirate Hunter who killed the pirates was carrying a very long sword."
His words made Bellemere and the two girls freeze, and they looked toward the door at Cyrus's retreating figure.
'Was it him?'
...
'Was it him?'
A middle-aged man with a gloomy expression and a red cloak looked at the photo in his hand.
The photo was of Cyrus in the town outside the 16th Branch base.
"Yes, my lord. According to the information sent back by our informant, this is the person who handed over many pirates to the Navy, including Koso!"
Koso was the Zoan-type user Cyrus had captured.
"His location?"
"He's still in the Conomi Archipelago."
"Find him!"