Over the past two days of observation, Sherlock felt that Maya was a very paradoxical and intriguing person.
Usually, she wore a soft, cute expression that made her look easy to pick on. However, the moment her hand gripped a sword, her entire aura inverted completely, becoming exceptionally dominant and sharp.
To say she was timid—well, despite being a dry-land duck who couldn't swim, she actually dared to set out to sea all by herself.
To say she lacked a brain like Luffy—yet after being captured and turned into a slave, she knew how to hide her true strength and bide her time to escape.
Furthermore, from Maya's body, a certain bespectacled man had sensed a strange, inexplicable fluctuation multiple times, as if some unknown connection existed between the two of them.
All in all, Sherlock was quite interested in this beautiful young girl whom he had bought for one billion Berries.
"Speaking of which, why did you leave your hometown, the Island of Lost Traces, to venture out into the sea?"
The bespectacled man suddenly asked.
"Ah, well..."
Hearing this, Maya froze briefly. After a moment of hesitation, she let out a gentle sigh.
"I suppose it was under the influence of my father."
"Your father?"
Sherlock narrowed his eyes slightly. He had sharply caught the flash of grief that flitted across Maya's eyes just now when she mentioned her father.
"Mm."
Maya nodded, then briefly recounted her father's story to Sherlock.
Although the Island of Lost Traces was isolated from the rest of the world, as an ideal paradise, its comfortable and easy living environment left the island's inhabitants with little desire to head out to sea on adventures.
However, Maya's father—Thor—was clearly not among them.
According to the elders on the island, Maya's father had been filled with an adventurous spirit since he was a child.
As far back as many years ago when Thor was still very young, he had already set out to sea to explore. In the decades that followed, he went to sea again and again, traveling further each time.
If the Island of Lost Traces were to pick its number one adventurer of the past millennium, it would undoubtedly be Maya's dad.
"Your father was truly impressive..." Sherlock gently pushed up his glasses.
Judging from the blue-haired girl's description just now, if her father Thor were judged solely on adventure, he was a badass comparable to Mont Blanc Noland, the famous (great) adventurer (liar) from the North Blue.
In a sense, Thor was even more formidable than Noland.
After all, when Noland went out to sea on his adventures, he had a whole ship of companions, whereas Maya's dad badassedly soloed everything by himself.
Who could blame the people on the Island of Lost Traces for lacking adventurous spirit? Thor truly found it difficult to find companions to adventure with.
"Navigation, swordsmanship, botany... Father taught me many, many useful skills."
"When I was very young, he told me that he hoped when I turned eighteen and came of age, I could be like him—bravely venturing out to sea, and telling him stories of my adventures when I returned."
A look of melancholy crossed Maya's face. She wrapped her arms around her knees, curling her body into a tight little ball on the bed.
"Regrettably, he will never get to hear them again."
"Could it be..." Although he had already anticipated it, the bespectacled man's expression still shifted slightly upon hearing this.
"Mm. Three years ago, my father passed away in an accident."
Maya let out a long breath. Having her sad memories stirred up, her mood sank to the absolute bottom.
Bright moonlight shone through the cabin window. Sherlock could clearly see the faint glint of tears in the corners of Maya's eyes.
"Ah, excuse me for making a fool of myself."
The blue-haired girl suddenly snapped back to reality, wiped the corners of her eyes, and smiled:
"It's really strange. For some reason, beside you, I just couldn't help speaking out everything in my heart."
The corners of Sherlock's mouth curled up slightly. As a perfect listener, he could always make people who confided in him subconsciously open up their hearts.
This reassuring feeling, which made others drop their guard and open up easily, was practically like a hidden passive skill.
"So, your adventure at sea this time was to inherit your father's legacy?"
The bespectacled man retrieved a handkerchief from his Mirror Space and handed it to Maya, while shifting the topic.
"And that Devil Fruit you ate—was that also something your father brought back from the outside after his adventures?"
"No, that was something I discovered on the island by accident."
Maya shook her head, concentrating as she recalled for a moment, her brows furrowed. "That happened when I was very, very young. I've nearly forgotten the specific details."
"I only remember that the taste was really, really, REALLY awful!"
Saying this, a dramatic expression appeared on the blue-haired girl's elegant and refined face.
"Haha, indeed. That terrible taste is truly unforgettable for a lifetime."
Sherlock couldn't help laughing, nodding in deep agreement.
And so, the Straw Hat crew spent a tranquil night.
The next day.
Due to the sudden storm yesterday, the pirates participating in the race were completely scattered.
Sanji stood at the top of the mast looking around, but couldn't spot a single fellow pirate ship.
Although their destination was the same, it would probably be difficult for them to meet again mid-way.
Moreover, very fortunately, unlike yesterday's raging storm, today was blest with clear skies for miles—a rare stretch of fine weather.
Because of this, everyone on the Going Merry could tend to their own matters.
Inside the Usopp Factory, a certain "East Blue-renowned" great inventor was working fervently on his inventions.
(Strange, what is Usopp tinkering with again?)
Chopper poured the ground medicinal powder into a small bottle, looking in confusion at the long-nosed fellow beside him who was surrounded by a floor full of parts.
After completing Sherlock's black knight armor, Nami's Climate Baton, and the upgrades to his own slingshot, the Usopp Factory hadn't been open for several days.
Usopp's latest invention, however, successfully piqued Chopper's curiosity.
So the little reindeer crept over to Usopp's side, and just as he was about to ask, his attention was drawn by a dazzling and beautiful light.
"Whoa, such pretty jewels! Usopp, where did you get these..."
"Shh—keep it down, Chopper!"
Usopp hurriedly reached out to cover the little reindeer's mouth, looking around vigilantly. Only after ensuring he hadn't attracted the attention of a certain money-grubbing navigator did he let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Listen, Chopper," Usopp placed both hands on the blue-nosed reindeer's shoulders, his expression dead serious:
"Before I finish this invention, under no circumstances can you let Nami know that Sherlock gave me these jewels!"
"Huh? Mm... I got it."
Chopper nodded half-understandingly, his dark deer eyes blinking once or twice. He then lowered his head to inspect the props beside Usopp.
A few Skypiea Dial shells, a small pouch of jewels, several pieces of scrap metal in various shapes, and a bunch of unnameable materials and tools.
"But Usopp, what is this latest invention of yours anyway?"
Chopper scratched his head. The simple little guy couldn't guess what Usopp was trying to pull off.
"Heh heh..." Usopp gave a mysterious smile and reached out to pick up the small pouch containing the jewels.
"Chopper, do you remember the 'Bait Plan' Sherlock mentioned on the night before we set sail?"
Without waiting for Chopper's reply, the long-nosed fellow poured all the jewels out of the pouch.
Under the sunlight, the jewels reflected a brilliant and alluring light, even making the somewhat humble cabin illuminate slightly brighter.
It was worth noting that although these jewels were of various different colors, they were almost identical in size—about the size of a fingernail—clearly having been meticulously handpicked.
And the quantity was neither too many nor too few: exactly seven of them.
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