Law couldn't help but complain.
The bald old man scratched the few remaining hairs on his head awkwardly. "Sorry, I got greedy when I saw that big stack of Berries in your hands."
"At least you're honest..." Law twitched at the corner of his mouth, speechless.
"Alright! Thank you for renting two Bru, that'll be 1,700 Berries. If you wish to disembark somewhere in Water 7, simply tap the Bru's neck three times. If you just want to dock temporarily, tap it twice. Enjoy your trip!"
The old man took the money, smiling as he watched Rorschach, Hibari, and Law jump onto the wooden seats mounted on the Bru's backs.
Rorschach and Hibari shared a Bru, while Law took a single-seater.
"This Bru is really stable! It doesn't wobble at all. I wonder how it moves..."
Hibari, seated in front of Rorschach, leaned forward curiously, peering into the water.
Below the surface, she saw that the Bru had four legs.
Each leg ended in a broad, fin-like appendage, which was propelling its three-to-four-meter-long body smoothly through the water.
The first stretch of the journey was somewhat dull, as they passed through dim, open tunnels.
Following the No. 2 water entrance, they glided up a gently sloping waterway until their view suddenly opened up.
"We're out! Look, we've reached the top of the city walls we saw earlier! The Upper City must be ahead!"
Hibari turned back, glancing at the vast, deep blue ocean behind them before shifting her gaze to the towering, majestic Water 7 fountain. The boredom on her face vanished, replaced by excitement.
She turned to Rorschach, eyes full of anticipation. "Rorschach-nii, do you think we can find some Aqua Meat here? I really miss the taste of grilled Aqua Meat! This is its place of origin, so it must be even more delicious here!"
"Aqua Meat, huh?"
Hearing that name, a flicker of sorrow passed through Rorschach's eyes.
He thought of Old Tommy from Sabaody—
That kind-hearted old man who, despite his fear, had stepped forward to beg Pitman to let them go.
Hibari didn't know that Old Tommy had died. Rorschach hadn't told her.
"Rorschach-nii? What's wrong?"
Sensitive to emotions, Hibari immediately noticed the hint of sadness on his face and looked up at him with concern.
"It's nothing."
Rorschach reached out and ruffled her hair.
Law, not far away, glanced over briefly, adjusting the brim of his hat without saying a word.
Suddenly, Rorschach's expression froze. He lifted his head, looking toward the shore along the right-side waterway.
There, he saw a familiar-looking pushcart.
A woman, wearing an apron tied around her waist, was busy grilling fragrant Aqua Meat while a small girl, only about knee-high, helped her. Both were working up a sweat.
"Rorschach-nii! Look, there's a grilled Aqua Meat stand right over there! It smells so good! Let's go buy some! I don't think Law has tried it yet."
Hibari quickly noticed the barbecue stand as well.
Rorschach nodded, his gaze complex as he stared at that familiar pushcart.
Law's expression also changed slightly, as if he had realized something.
On the shore, the woman running the grill noticed the three of them approaching. Her face lit up with a friendly smile.
She gently patted the small girl beside her and pointed toward Rorschach and the others.
Moments later, Rorschach and the others saw the little girl—who had a doll-like face, a pair of black-rimmed glasses resting on her tiny nose, and short legs—hurrying toward them.
Standing at the water's edge, she spoke in a soft but clear voice:
"Honored guests, would you like to buy some grilled Aqua Meat? You can try one for free! The first skewer is on the house, and from the second skewer onwards, each one is only 100 Berries!"
The little girl didn't seem the least bit intimidated by the fact that Rorschach and the others were wearing Marine uniforms.
Hearing her soft, childlike voice speaking so articulately, Hibari's face showed a hint of surprise.
"What a cute little girl! And she's so smart, too, Rorschach-nii!"
She stood up lightly on the edge of the wooden boat, then, with a gentle push of her foot, effortlessly leaped across the three-to-four-meter-wide waterway, landing right in front of the little girl.
She crouched down, smiling as she looked into the child's glasses-covered eyes.
"Little girl, can you tell me your name?"
The young girl watched Hibari's graceful movements with wide eyes, making her look even more adorable.
However, she wasn't shy at all. Like a little adult, she pushed up the black-rimmed glasses on her nose and replied:
"My name is Emily. I'm five years old, and this is my mother, Margery. So, honored guests, would you like to try our specialty—delicious grilled Aqua Meat from Water 7? My mom's grilling skills are among the best in the entire city!"
"Emily, huh? That's a lovely name. Yes, we came over because we smelled the delicious Aqua Meat. Hmm~ This aroma... it's exactly the same as the grilled Aqua Meat I had in Sabaody! Does all Aqua Meat taste the same?"
Hibari reached out and patted Emily's bun-styled hair before giving in to the urge to pick up the smart and adorable little girl. Carrying her, Hibari walked to the food stall, smiling at the busy woman.
By now, Rorschach and Law had also stepped onto the shore and arrived at the stall.
Seeing Rorschach's towering figure—standing much taller than the pushcart—Margery was a bit surprised, but she didn't show much fear.
Instead, she smiled warmly, nodding politely to the three of them while placing several skewers of glistening, translucent Aqua Meat onto the grill.
When she pointed at her ears and mouth with an apologetic expression, Rorschach was momentarily stunned.
She was deaf and mute.
Margery had an ordinary appearance, just a simple civilian woman.
Her skin was dark and rough, and her hands were covered in callouses—clear signs of years of hard labor.
But through it all, she maintained a kind smile, and her gaze was filled with deep affection whenever she looked at her daughter.
"My mom says, honored guests, please wait a moment. She will first grill three skewers of Aqua Meat for you to taste. The meat is tender and delicious, so it won't take long to cook."
Emily's soft, childish voice carried a hint of maturity as she translated for her mother.
At the same time, she tilted her head up, curiously studying Rorschach, seemingly fascinated by his unusually tall and imposing figure.
"There's no rush, we have plenty of time. Also, Rorschach-nii and the others have big appetites, so bring out all the Aqua Meat you have—we're ready for a feast!"
Hibari grinned and nodded at Margery.
Hearing this, Emily wiggled out of Hibari's arms, happily running to her mother and gesturing with her small hands.
Watching her daughter's hand signs, Margery's smile deepened.
Suddenly, she stepped out from behind the stall, bowed deeply to Rorschach and the others, moving her lips soundlessly while making more hand gestures.
Emily quickly stood beside her mother, mimicking her movements as she bowed as well.
"My mom says, honored guests, thank you so much for your patronage. She will make sure to grill the Aqua Meat to perfection. As a token of gratitude for your generosity, today's meal will be at a 20% discount. Thank you very much."
"No need to be so formal! Please, stand up. We're just here to enjoy some grilled meat," Hibari said, feeling a bit flustered as she hurried to help them up.
Meanwhile, Rorschach stood silently in front of the stall, feeling as if a heavy stone had been placed on his heart, making it unbearably heavy.
Before long, Margery handed over three freshly grilled skewers of Aqua Meat.
"Honored guests, please have a taste first. If it's not to your liking, please let us know," Emily said obediently, continuing to translate for her mother.
Hibari, eager to try the food, wasted no time and took a big bite.
The moment she tasted the meat, her eyes lit up. Unable to contain her excitement, she turned to the mother and daughter who were watching her with anticipation and exclaimed:
"It's so delicious! Tell me, does all the grilled Aqua Meat in Water 7 taste like this? I once met a man grilling Aqua Meat in Sabaody. He said his hometown was Water 7. The taste of his grilled meat was exactly the same as yours!"
(End of Chapter)
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