Chapter 136: Are You Going To Talk Or Not?
"Everything is ready, Nami. Stop fooling around."
Before long, Bellemere was standing there with a helpless look, watching Nami who was completely absorbed in listening.
The future genius navigator of the Straw Hats would one day surpass Roy in navigation and meteorology.
But right now, she was still just a little girl whose family could not even afford proper books.
Of course she was fascinated by the sailing stories Roy was spinning.
In Nami's eyes, Roy was no longer just a fat sheep to be fleeced or a generous guest who brought money and gifts.
He was a man with real experience, someone who had actually traveled seas she had only ever seen on a page.
To her, Roy was already a treasure trove of nautical knowledge.
Her best listener partner.
A friend she could really talk to.
Well, technically, it was mostly Roy talking and Nami soaking it all in, so "mutual confidant" might be a little early.
"Okay, okay, I get it…" Nami finally looked at Bellemere with a pained expression. "Can you let big brother finish just a little more? Just a little bit?"
"Just a little bit more," Roy added, also looking at Bellemere. "I am almost done."
To be honest, he hated being interrupted halfway through anything.
Especially in the middle of a story. It was painful for the teller and for the listener.
"…Fine," Bellemere sighed, sitting down off to the side. "I will listen too."
Nami immediately sat back down next to Roy, chin in both hands, tilting her head and staring up at him with shining eyes.
Bellemere drank water and listened.
Nami poured water for both of them.
And just like that, the entire afternoon slipped away.
By the end, Roy felt more exhausted than a performer doing a long comedy routine.
He had lost count of how many cups of water he had drunk and his throat was still dry.
"Alright, let us go," Roy finally said, standing up.
He went to the door, took hold of the cart, and started pushing the potted orange trees back toward the ship.
Little Nami followed closely behind, reluctant to let him go.
Bellemere and Nojiko, who had just come back, could only watch and laugh.
That little thief cat's greatest love in life really was nautical knowledge.
"Big brother, will you come again tomorrow? I will peel an orange for you!"
"Big brother, will you come again tomorrow? I will pour water for you!"
"Of course I will. There are not many listeners this adorable in all of East Blue."
Nami kept chattering beside him, sweet enough to give anyone a toothache, trotting along as he pushed the cart.
She had not even heard half of his adventures yet.
If Roy just left after this, it would be unbearable.
"Alright, you, go home." Roy dug a finger into his ear and jerked his thumb back toward the house.
"It is a promise," Nami said seriously, smiling like a little fox. "You are Nami's best friend now. You cannot lie to Nami, or I will be really sad."
In the span of a single afternoon, Roy had been promoted from "fat sheep" to "best friend," entirely on the strength of his sea stories and knowledge.
Roy looked at this little con artist and did not buy it for a second.
"Yeah, yeah. I promise. I will tell you all about great voyages all over the world," he said, rubbing her head.
Nami skipped happily back to Bellemere's side at last.
Roy finally had some peace and pushed the cart the rest of the way toward the coast.
Of course, he had promised he would finish the story.
He had never promised when.
Favorability with Nami, plus sixty points.
Take it slow. He was not in a hurry. There was still so much he could talk about, and plenty of time to nurture Nami's Favorability.
Passing by the spot where Sanji was training, Roy scooped the kid up and took him back with him.
Back on the ship, he prepared dinner.
After they had eaten, Sanji went to bed early.
It was a hot night, so Roy and Hancock spent some time "discussing" advanced nautical knowledge and "sharing" a bit more water to quench their thirst.
Then they went to sleep.
…
The next morning.
"Knock knock knock!"
"Knock knock knock!"
Tiny fists hammered on the cabin door, accompanied by Sanji's childish voice.
"Master, wake up!"
"Master's wife, wake up!"
"I am hungry!"
"Knock knock knock!"
Sanji let out a helpless little sigh. "Why is Master getting up so late today?"
"Quit yelling. Go prep the ingredients, I am coming," Roy's irritated voice finally came from inside.
"Oh…"
Sanji shuffled off toward the kitchen, still baffled. Why was his master so grumpy today?
Not long after, at the door, Roy finished getting dressed, washed up quickly, and then headed straight into the kitchen to start cooking.
In the bedroom, Hancock pursed her lips, put her clothes back in order, then slowly made her way to the kitchen as well.
She reached into a jar, grabbed a handful of goji berries, and dropped them into a pot of hot water.
Then she took out a few more nourishing herbs from other jars and tossed those in too.
Hancock's heart warming tonic.
"Master, why do you drink this every day?" Sanji asked, puzzled, watching the floating berries and herbs.
"This stuff is good for my health," Roy said with a crooked grin.
He was planning to hunt down a few Cipher Pol agents soon and secretly learn the Six Powers.
As for Tsuru, she was already a high ranking figure in the Navy. Their paths might not cross again.
Roy sighed.
He was not having any problems yet, but he believed in taking precautions early.
This was called preventative health care.
Those who understood, understood.
Most importantly, Roy wanted to learn the Six Powers and Life Return.
Life Return was said to be an advanced skill that only those who had mastered the Six Powers could touch.
But what an ability it was.
To be able to control every part of your body freely, even your hair, just by focusing your will.
It was a tremendous boost to combat power, and at the same time…
It was simply a very entertaining skill.
Total control, from head to toe.
Add that to a diet packed with nourishment.
Ahem. You get the idea.
If Cipher Pol agents heard what he was thinking, they would probably curse him out.
If the Navy brass heard it, they would be so furious it would make their blood pressure spike.
Stussy would probably cover her mouth, chuckle, and give him a discreet thumbs up.
"Can I drink some too?" Sanji asked, eyes shining with curiosity.
"Your nutrition is just right as it is. If you drink too much of this, your body might go out of balance," Roy said with an evil little smile.
He was mostly just scaring the kid.
This kind of thing was pointless for Sanji anyway.
Besides, Sanji was no longer the gentlemanly chef from Baratie.
He was the straight laced, hard training Sanji under Roy.
And speaking of balance…
Yesterday Roy had paid back billions of Berries.
He had just finished making amends to Hancock.
Greedy woman.
His back still hurt.
His wallet hurt even more.
"Teasing Sanji again?" Hancock yawned softly, then laughed under her breath.
"What is wrong?" Roy asked, looking over at her from the cutting board.
"You have finished eating. Come with me," Hancock said lazily. "We still need to discuss a little business deal worth more than one billion."
"You still want to talk about that?"
Are you going to talk or not?
"Of course we are going to talk."
Sanji watched the two of them with growing suspicion.
His master and mistress really did not look like a harmonious couple right now.
"Your master is a very shrewd businessman," Hancock said lightly, giving Roy a sideways glance before turning and walking out of the kitchen with a smile.
"Master… since when did you change from an unorthodox swordsman into a businessman?" Sanji asked, completely confused.
In his mind, a master's fists were always stronger than any sword.
But he had never once seen his master act like a merchant.
"Go," Roy said, flicking a bit of water off his fingers. "You are my henchman now. Do not say a word."
He grabbed his cup and drained the goji tea in one long gulp, finishing every last berry in it like he was eating a mouthful of fruit.
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