"Huh?"
Sanji, who had been entranced by the exquisite beauty of two stunning ladies, suddenly heard a grating noise that pierced his ears. Irritated, he quickly turned to see who dared to interrupt his sweet moment.
However, when he noticed the group of Pokémon surrounding Kuro, the fire in his heart simmered down a bit. He grumbled in annoyance:
"What's the rush? A good meal is worth the wait, you know?"
After delivering his retort, Sanji gave a gentlemanly nod of farewell to Nami and Carina before heading back toward the kitchen.
"This chef is rather interesting~"
Carina's eyes sparkled as she observed the Poké Ball hanging from Sanji's waist. She mused.
Nami smiled, took the complimentary drink that Sanji had just served, and sipped it slowly. The sweet aroma lingered on her lips as she remarked:
"Anyone who can run a restaurant here likely didn't do so without some impressive skills. You probably couldn't survive otherwise."
"Speaking of which, have you really made up your mind, Carina?"
"Yeah..."
Carina's voice was soft, but her smile remained.
"The path of combat was never really my thing. And on the very first day we entered the Grand Line, the Dimensional Merchant announced the news of the Pokémon Contest Spectacular..."
"I think it might just be fate!"
Carina sighed, but there was an undeniable excitement in her heart.
With the Revolutionary Army's tasks temporarily at an end, the three of them bid farewell to Sabo and Koala and left the Goa Kingdom, heading toward the broader stage of the Grand Line.
After over a month of sailing across the East Blue Sea, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Grand Line, the legendary Reverse Mountain.
Thanks to Nami's exceptional navigation skills, they easily reached the Pokémon Center atop Reverse Mountain.
And as soon as they set foot there, all three of their Rotom Phones chimed simultaneously with a new message.
The message from the Dimensional Merchant Leo was...
The Dimensional Merchant had seen greater possibilities in the world. Beyond pure battles, he decided to create a new competition—a grand contest called the Pokémon Contest Spectacular!
Unlike the Pokémon League, where victory is decided by battle, the winner of this contest would be determined by how much support the contestants could garner from the audience.
Even if you lost in battle, you could still win the contest if you had more fan support than your opponent.
In other words...
The outcome of the Contest Spectacular wouldn't hinge solely on raw power. Instead, it would be determined by the contestant's and their Pokémon's charm, the number and loyalty of their fans, and the dazzling effects displayed during the contest. That's the key to victory in the Contest Spectacular!
Carina, who never had much interest in combat, found herself tossing and turning all night after reading the contest rules. Finally, by morning, she had asked Nami if she could enter the Contest Spectacular.
Although Nami had already resurrected her adoptive mother Bellemere and sent her back to Cocoyashi Village to her sister, she couldn't bring herself to stop striving forward.
She couldn't rest, knowing that countless islands, villages, and towns across the world were still being oppressed, just like Cocoyashi Village once was.
Perhaps, as Sabo had said...
Nami was a born revolutionary, destined to be a liberator!
But to realize the world she envisioned, she knew she needed more strength.
The Pokémon League Tournament was the perfect training ground for her!
And so, she came to the Grand Line.
Except...
Clink!
Two elegant goblets collided in the air, producing a crisp sound.
The drinks inside shimmered brightly, reflecting a captivating light in the sun.
"I never expected that the first thing we'd do on the Grand Line would be to go our separate ways."
Nami smiled, feigning regret.
Carina arched an eyebrow and snickered:
"It can't be helped. Unlike the League, the Contest Spectacular can only be held in a fixed location."
"But..."
Carina took a sip of the lemon-flavored drink, the cold rim of the glass pressing against her pink lips.
She continued:
"Don't forget, I'm still the chief of staff of your band of thieves! When you reach the top of the world, don't leave me out~"
She downed the drink in one gulp, the lemony flavor lingering.
"Hehe!"
Nami's eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed playfully, following Carina's lead and finishing her drink as well.
The warm sunlight bathed Nami and Carina, casting a radiant glow on their snow-white skin.
...
As night fell, the darkness enveloped the land.
The bright moon generously showered its light across the vast sea.
At this time, the Pokémon Center remained lively.
For these newcomers on the brink of their grand voyage, every breath of air taken here felt more intoxicating than anywhere else in the world.
Inside Usopp's arms store...
"We finally sold out!"
After a long day, Usopp and Buggy slumped to the ground, back-to-back, utterly exhausted.
The other pirates from the Buggy Pirates fared slightly better, but they were still visibly tired.
Yet, amidst the fatigue, the petite and lively Kaya remained full of energy.
She effortlessly pulled several cash-filled boxes toward her, quickly counting the day's earnings.
Under Kaya's supervision, the loose Beli bills quickly transformed into bundles of banknotes, which she placed into two separate boxes.
After a while, Kaya clapped her hands with a satisfied smile and handed one of the boxes to Buggy.
"Today's total revenue is 200 million Beli..."
"As agreed, this is your 100 million Beli. Thank you for your hard work, Captain Buggy!"
Kaya said cheerfully.
The moment Buggy's crew heard the words "100 million," their ears perked up, and they immediately became energized.
"It's no trouble at all!"
Buggy hugged the box of cash like it was a treasure. Making 100 million Beli in just one day? Who could complain about that?
Sure enough, teaming up with this long-nosed kid was paying off!
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could resurrect Captain Roger...
Buggy thought to himself.
Although he often appeared greedy and self-centered, Buggy harbored a deep, unhealed wound in his heart—the loss of his captain, the Pirate King Roger, who was executed by the Navy.
As a trainee on the Roger Pirates' crew, Buggy had been with Roger since childhood.
Back then, he was just a small boy ridiculed for his red nose. He had run off to sea in a fit of anger, determined to become a notorious bad guy.
But Roger was the first person in the world to accept his red nose without mockery.
After countless adventures together, Roger had become an irreplaceable figure in Buggy's life.
Unlike Shanks, who carried some unknown mission...
Buggy was just a selfish man.
He couldn't understand why Captain Roger had sacrificed himself to start the so-called Great Pirate Era.
In Buggy's eyes, staying together with everyone was what mattered most.
So when Usopp and James struck a deal, Buggy made a special request about resurrection.
After confirming that it was possible to bring back Captain Roger, he immediately resolved to work with Usopp in the arms business to save up enough Beli for Roger's resurrection.
And that's how the Buggy Pirates came to work alongside Usopp and Kaya!
"What? Two hundred million Berries!?"
Buggy's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an exclamation.
Usopp, who had just heard the day's earnings, suddenly perked up and shouted in surprise:
"I never expected to make so much money as soon as we reached the Grand Line! It seems like this place is really a goldmine!"
Despite the Energen Stars crafted by Usopp, which possess significant power, their actual production cost is only a few hundred Berries each. With a selling price of 100,000 Berries apiece, it felt like they were making money out of thin air.
The only drawback was that manufacturing this kind of ammunition was highly complex, and currently, only Usopp and Buggy could do it. Even with both of them working together, the daily output of Energen Stars was limited. Plus, Dartrix, who handled the most crucial part of the process, didn't have infinite stamina. After a certain number were made, Dartrix had to rest.
At best, they could produce around 500 units in a day. If it weren't for the stock they brought along, they wouldn't have achieved such high profits today.
However, judging by the enthusiasm of today's customers, it was clear that the market for Energen Stars was strong! The Starting Point Tribe is just a gateway for people from all over the world entering the Grand Line. Newcomers arrive daily, and the passenger traffic is steady. With these unique qualities, as long as Usopp and the others remained here, they could easily earn tens of millions of Berries every day. In a month, that's a billion Berries in profit!!!
The thought of it all made Usopp giddy with excitement. Indeed, knowledge is the most valuable asset.
After splitting the earnings with the Buggy Pirates and agreeing on the next day's schedule, everyone left Usopp's arms store and headed toward the living area. Walking under the moonlit sky, Usopp felt like the future was bright.
Perhaps it was the courage gifted by this hopeful future, but before he knew it, his and Kaya's hands brushed against each other. Usopp's bold hand took hold of Kaya's small, delicate one, and a sweet tension hung in the air between them.
Blushing yet holding onto each other, they returned to their temporary residence in the living area.
...
...
At the same time, across from Usopp's arms store, Sanji closed the door of his restaurant and looked at the burly Krieg and Gin with a stern expression.
Although the three of them had been working hard all day, none of them showed signs of fatigue. In fact, Krieg and Gin were grinning with joy.
Unlike Usopp and his crew, Sanji and his team had arrived at the Starting Point Tribe half a month earlier. At that time, they had no idea there was an island catering to trainers atop the Upside Down Mountain.
With Zeff's encouragement, Sanji, eager to prove himself, led the well-behaved Krieg and Gin on a journey to open a new restaurant on the Grand Line, hoping to win over diners with his culinary skills.
Unexpectedly, before they could enter the Grand Line, they discovered the potential of the Starting Point Tribe. When they saw people arriving here eating leftovers and dry rations from the sea, Sanji realized... there was a demand for a restaurant here!
Thus, a branch of the Baratie restaurant was established in this remote location.
Given the scarcity of ingredients, the restaurant's prices were high. Fortunately, those who made it up the Upside Down Mountain often carried gold and silver treasures, and as they were newly exposed to the wonders of the Grand Line, they spent their money generously.
After half a month of operation, their restaurant finally had a full house today, with customers lining up! This success signaled that it was time to open a second branch in the Starting Point Tribe.
Despite only a few months of training, under the tutelage of Zeff and Sanji, Krieg and Gin were now competent enough to be called "chefs." While they couldn't match Sanji's brilliance, they were proficient. Especially Gin, whose blade skills, honed from years of combat, were now comparable to Sanji's.
So, Sanji had decided to entrust the responsibilities of the second branch entirely to them!
...
"I'll leave everything in your hands," Sanji said seriously, patting both of them on the shoulder as they made their way back to their quarters.
Though still young, Sanji was their mentor in the art of cooking.
The approval from Sanji made their faces light up with excitement. They both stood tall and declared loudly:
"Don't worry, Chef!!! We won't let you down!!!"
"Good. I have faith in you." Sanji replied with a smile. At eighteen, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one as he walked ahead.
"Ahem..."
After taking his first puff, Sanji immediately coughed and gasped in discomfort. Awkwardly, he removed the cigarette and muttered in confusion:
"Strange... they make it look so enjoyable, but why can't I find any pleasure in smoking?"
...
...
It was three in the morning.
As the last group of people returned to the living area under the moonlight, the entire tribe finally fell into complete silence.
At this time, in the battle zone, Zoro stood alone in the middle of a battlefield, scratching his head in confusion:
"Where the heck did those guys get lost!?"
(End of this chapter)