A skunk.
Or perhaps a weasel would be a more appropriate term.
Though if one were to take a closer sniff, calling it a musk weasel might be more fitting.
When Maude suddenly mentioned the weasel, which was doing its utmost to flee the scene, it wasn't because he fancied a taste. Instead, he had spotted its value.
How much could it sell for?
That thought lingered in Maude's mind as his gaze upon the weasel deepened.
He happened to be short on funds to purchase a good blade.
Hmm, perhaps I'll name the new blade "Weasel" as a tribute to its sacrifice.
When Maude inquired about whether the skunk was edible, Wolfrat didn't particularly care.
The reason Wolfrat paused in thought was to try and put himself in Maude's shoes, contemplating the question from his perspective.
"It's edible!"
After two seconds of deliberation, Wolfrat confidently gave his answer.
Whether it was truly edible didn't matter—what mattered was that Wolfrat discerned Maude's interest in eating the weasel.
That alone was reason enough.
This is the third key to building strong friendships: putting oneself in the other's place.
Hearing the response, Maude smiled and said, "Then bring it along."
"No problem at all. I just so happen to know an excellent chef. If he handles it, even weasel meat can become a delicacy," Wolfrat replied, nodding while looking at Maude.
The two exchanged a brief look.
Maude maintained his smile.
Wolfrat, however, grew puzzled.
Not far away, the weasel continued crawling away with all its might.
"What's going on? Why isn't he going after the skunk but instead staring at me? Did I say something wrong?"
Wolfrat was utterly confused at first but soon felt a slight twinge of apprehension.
Until he could figure it out, he had no choice but to stand there awkwardly with Maude.
Suddenly, Wolfrat noticed Maude's gaze shift to his own blood-soaked hands.
"Hmm? He's concerned about my injuries? It seems the friendship guide truly works! If you put yourself in their shoes, they'll surely think of you in return. Mutual care—this is what friendship is all about!"
Wolfrat felt touched, a sense of his efforts finally bearing fruit.
But soon, he sensed something was off.
Could it be...
Wolfrat looked at Maude, who was still smiling, and tentatively asked, "Should I grab it for you?"
"That's not right," Maude replied, glancing at the weasel's blood-stained and dust-covered fur.
Wolfrat breathed a sigh of relief—it wasn't as he had feared.
But then Maude continued, "However, since you offered, I'll leave it to you."
"..."
Wolfrat fell silent. He had the sudden urge to press his bloodied hands against Maude's face.
Ten minutes later, the two of them—along with the weasel—arrived at the entrance of the Nightshade Bar, run by Tatam.
"So this is the place."
Maude took a moment to observe the surroundings.
It was the same location where he had hunted three pirates the previous evening. It was also where he first encountered Wolfrat, who lacked friends.
At the time, his focus had been solely on his targets, and he hadn't spared any attention to the bar nestled in the alley.
Now, Maude's gaze fell on the distinctive skull-shaped oil lamp mounted by the bar's entrance. For a moment, it stirred memories from his past.
He recalled the hunter's world, where he often frequented underground establishments to gather intelligence.
Most of these places were hidden, shadowy bars that neither saw the light of day nor served the general public.
Their decor and ambiance were consistently eerie, with skull lamps being a common feature.
The similarity to the Nightshade Bar before him gave Maude a faint sense of familiarity.
"Come on in," Wolfrat said, pushing open the door and leading Maude inside.
Beyond the short entryway, the first thing visible was a circular bar bathed in dim, reddish light.
Behind the bar stood Tatam, as usual, polishing a glass. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned toward the entrance.
When he saw Maude, a faint glimmer flashed in Tatam's eyes.
He recalled the dangerous woman with the blade from the previous night.
Silently lowering his gaze, Tatam continued focusing on cleaning the glass.
Maude briefly studied Tatam's thick brows and sharp eyes before glancing at the empty seating in the bar.
Like Sol's weapon shop, business seemed dismal.
Yet, unlike the haphazard state of Sol's shop, this bar showed a certain level of care in its design.
The lighting, ambiance, and seating arrangements all reflected the owner's effort.
Still, compared to a refined establishment like this, the rowdy pirates of Mad Hat Town seemed to prefer lively taverns. It was no wonder business here was poor.
Wolfrat walked up to the bar and dropped the despondent weasel onto the counter.
"This is Tatam, the owner of the bar and a friend of mine. Don't let his rugged looks fool you—his cooking and bartending skills are top-notch. If anyone can make a feast out of skunk meat, it's him," Wolfrat said, introducing Tatam while emphasizing his culinary skills.
The weasel trembled slightly on the counter, plunging further into despair.
"And this is Usopp, my newly made friend," Wolfrat added, gesturing for Maude to step forward.
Maude approached the bar and greeted Tatam. "Hello, nice to meet you."
Tatam silently nodded in response, continuing to polish the glass.
Wolfrat observed Maude's reaction carefully before explaining, "That's just how Tatam is—don't take it personally."
"I won't," Maude replied casually.
"Good." Wolfrat smiled, then patted the miserable weasel lightly. "Tatam, Usopp wants to eat skunk meat. Why don't you cook it up for him?"
Tatam glanced at the weasel, then shook his head, signaling his refusal.
"I'll pay extra. Triple the price?"
"..."
Tatam shook his head again.
Not one to give up easily, Wolfrat raised his bloodied right hand.
"Five times the price!"
"..."
Realizing Wolfrat wasn't going to relent, Tatam explained, "It's inedible."
"What? It's no different from rabbit meat, isn't it?"
"..."
Tatam remained silent.
Wolfrat sighed in disappointment.
Maude, however, was intrigued by Tatam. Despite his rugged appearance, his voice was gentle and melodic, creating a stark contrast that reminded Maude of a friend from the hunter's world—Melody.
Both Tatam and Wolfrat noticed Maude's reaction.
The former remained expressionless.
The latter, seeing no hint of mockery from Maude, let out a sigh of relief.
"Usopp, it seems skunk meat is off the menu," Wolfrat said regretfully.
"I suppose so," Maude replied, following the flow of the situation without explaining himself further.
Wolfrat casually tossed the weasel onto a nearby seat and said, "Tatam, make Usopp your signature drink. I'll go clean up my wounds."
"Alright," Tatam responded, beginning to mix a drink.
Wolfrat turned to Maude. "Usopp, take a seat and relax."
"Sure," Maude nodded.
As Wolfrat headed toward the stairs leading to the second floor, Maude watched Tatam skillfully mix the drink.
"You have a beautiful voice. It reminds me of an old friend," Maude remarked.
Tatam's movements paused for a moment. He looked at Maude in surprise before returning to his task in silence.
Maude smiled, shifting his attention to the starkly different ambiance of this bar compared to the bustling Battleaxe Tavern.
"This place... is pretty nice," he mused aloud.
"Thank you," Tatam replied, pushing the freshly mixed drink toward Maude.
Maude didn't intend to drink it.
"Tatam, do you sell information here?"
Tatam's eyes grew serious at the question.
Instead of answering, he countered with a question of his own. "Are you a pirate?"
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