Just after the drunks were thrown outside, Kuro returned with the rest of the crew. He stared, wide-eyed, at the now sparsely populated tavern, but one look at Kanata's sour expression was all it took for him to figure it out. "Ah, I see. Someone picked a fight, huh?"
"I heard this was one of the most civilized nations in the Grand Line, but it seems the public order isn't quite up to par," Kanata grumbled.
"It's on the outskirts of town. It's not that strange to find a few scoundrels here, is it?"
Since there was no chair large enough for Feiyun, she sat directly on the floor while the others found seats at the tables. Soon, a server began bringing out drinks, and once everyone was present, they raised their glasses in unison.
"A toast to our safe arrival on this island—cheers!"
"""Cheers!!"""
Kanata, who disliked alcohol, drank juice while the others began to dig into the various dishes that arrived. With such a large group coming in all at once, the kitchen seemed to be in a frenzy. Watching the voracious appetites of Samuel and David, Kanata thought she should probably offer some extra money.
After the food had been served, she ordered another juice. The owner came out, so she took the opportunity to ask something that was on her mind.
"Are there many of their kind around here?"
"Hm? ...Oh, those thugs. They're only around this time of year."
"This time of year? I heard the rainy season is coming soon. Is that why?"
"That's right. Being in the desert when the rainy season hits is like asking to drown."
He explained that travel in the Alabasta desert is restricted once the rainy season begins. The parched sand doesn't absorb water easily, and the torrential downpours cause the surface layer of sand to be swept away like a mudslide. Anyone washed into the basin of the Sandora River, which runs through the center of the island, is as good as dead. The self-proclaimed sand pirates apparently evacuate to the vicinity of the towns during this period.
"But hey, the rainy season ain't all bad. Especially in a country with so little rain like this one," the owner said with a smile. The heavy rains bring down the normally high price of water. The gentle flooding of the fifty-kilometer-wide Sandora River also revitalizes the soil, allowing for a bountiful harvest. During the dry season, everyone works tirelessly, but it's customary for families to spend their time relaxing together once the rains come.
"I see... There's a reason for everything, after all."
"That was an interesting story."
However, if they wanted to do any sightseeing, they would have to cross the desert. They wouldn't be able to travel safely until the rainy season was over. Of course, that restriction didn't necessarily apply if Kanata was with them.
"There's no need to take unnecessary risks. We'll wait until the rainy season passes."
"How long does the rainy season last?"
"About two months."
"That long? Wouldn't it be better to head to the next island and come back after it's over?" Kanata asked, a look of despair on her face. Apparently, even this was considered the cooler part of the year. The scorching daytime heat was what this island called winter. There was no salvation.
While Kanata slumped over the table in despair, Georges moved to her table and posed a question to the owner.
"We just got to this island and we're a little short on cash. You know of any day labor jobs?"
"Work? Let's see... The rainy season is almost here, so they're working on the levee. I saw some guys heading to work yesterday and today, so I'm sure of it."
"Levee construction, huh? Technical skills aside, our guys can handle the heavy lifting."
"That's for sure. A giant would be worth a hundred men. I hear they found a crack in the levee this year, so they're behind on a lot of urgent repairs. Come by this tavern tomorrow morning. I'll introduce you."
The flooding of the Sandora River basin affected the harvests in the farming villages, but levees were still necessary to prevent catastrophic water damage. They prepared designated floodplains, and the levees were built to keep the water from overflowing beyond them. The owner explained that those were the levees currently under repair. The Sandora River basin was immense. The length of the levees was considerable, and transporting materials was slow and difficult due to the surrounding sand.
"...I see. This might be just the job for us. I'll go talk to them tomorrow, so you all can have the day off. Sound good, Kanata?"
"Do what you want. We can't leave this island until the Log Pose is set, anyway."
Although they had some savings, they couldn't shake the financial anxiety without earning money from time to time. Expenses could pile up quickly. This time, in particular, their funds had taken a big hit because Scura had purchased a large quantity of medicine and clean bandages. Given what they were, she couldn't complain.
"But is it okay for outsiders who aren't from this island to suddenly take on a job like that?"
"Well, if they don't finish before the rainy season, the levee could collapse. I'm just making the introduction. The higher-ups will make the final decision."
In fact, the work was apparently so urgent that even the Royal Army had been mobilized. As long as they weren't wanted criminals, they welcomed any help they could get, even from strangers.
(I'm a wanted criminal, but... I guess I'll just hide my face,) Kanata thought.
She hated hot places. She decided to stay quietly on the ship. She had bought a lot of new books upon returning to civilization, so she wouldn't be bored. This habit was, of course, one of the things straining their finances. When she got tired of reading, she would just start training her Haki, so boredom was never an issue.
"In any case, we'll see after we meet them. You better be there too, Kanata."
"No."
"What do you mean, no? How is this going to work if the captain doesn't handle the negotiations?"
"You do it. I'll be on the ship, killing time."
"You've got to be kidding me..."
Georges held his head in his hands, exasperated by Kanata's unusually stubborn and childish behavior. Everyone stared at this rare sight, but Kanata, with a perfectly composed expression, simply requested another juice from the owner. She hadn't been drinking, so she couldn't be drunk. Georges sipped his own drink, wondering if the heat of the desert kingdom had finally gotten to her.
☆
Since they had a business meeting the next day, they made sure everyone cut back on their drinking and ended the night at a reasonable hour.
"Looks like the initial payment wasn't enough after all."
"Those two can really eat," Kuro said, chuckling as he left the tavern with Kanata.
A few raindrops began to fall. The rainy season hadn't started yet, but the rain was likely becoming more frequent. Kanata beckoned to Samuel and tossed him an umbrella she had fashioned from ice.
"Hold this so I don't get wet. I made it big enough so you'll stay dry too."
"Oh, this is nice."
The desert at night could drop below freezing. While it didn't get that cold in the oasis town, there was no doubt it would get chilly. It was best to stay dry. Kanata quickly created more ice umbrellas and tossed them out one after another. They were, however, just ice shaped like umbrellas. Their durability was decent, but while they would last until the ship, rough handling would break them easily.
"Alright, let's head back. Don't slip."
The sight of a young girl leading a group of burly men through the night streets made everyone instinctively give way. The intense heat of the day was gone, and Kanata thought that this country would be tough for those not used to the drastic temperature swings. The reason everyone here always wore cloaks was likely to protect their skin from the scorching sun during the day and the biting cold at night. That was the nature of their culture.
"So Georges is handling the meeting tomorrow. Did we get everything we needed today?"
"Hey, you're coming too, you know... But yeah, we got all the essentials."
They had used up almost all their medical supplies and bandages on Little Garden, so this time they bought a much larger quantity, along with food, water, and clothes.
As Georges stroked his chin, wondering if they needed anything else, Scura spoke up from behind him.
"I want to go to the Drum Kingdom, the great medical nation. Do you think we could get an Eternal Pose for it here?"
"Drum... Yes, it would be a good idea to visit. There's no harm in advancing our medical knowledge. If we're lucky, we might even pick up another doctor. Even if our crew isn't that large right now, it must be a lot of work for you to manage everyone's medical records by yourself."
Even if not a full-fledged doctor, someone with enough knowledge to assist Scura would be a great help.
"...You're right. I don't find it to be a burden, but creating a situation where a doctor can focus solely on treatment is ideal."
The crew had been taught the basics of first aid for their own injuries. With nothing but time on their hands on Little Garden, Scura had taught them in between Junci's training sessions, saying it would make a huge difference. Not that it reduced the number of injuries, so his workload remained the same.
"Alright, securing an Eternal Pose for Drum is a new priority. Anything else?"
"Not at the moment."
"Okay. Scotch, look for one tomorrow."
"Me? Alright, I guess..."
Kuro couldn't help but laugh at Kanata's determination to not lift a finger. Georges just shrugged, thinking, "This is a lost cause," and decided he had no choice but to go and handle the negotiations himself tomorrow. It was rare for Kanata to be this selfish, so he decided to let it slide this one time. I just hope it goes well, he thought, putting a cigarette to his lips and letting out a puff of smoke.
Incidentally, there were a few of the ruffians from earlier who had woken up and were plotting revenge, but they quietly gave up after seeing the group of clearly not-your-average men and a giant standing behind her.
☆
The next day.
It was another clear and incredibly hot day. Kanata was, as expected, laid out in her cabin, so Georges went to the tavern from the previous night as planned. He could have gone alone for the discussion, but since they had other shopping to do, he took Scotch and Junci with him.
"I hope this gets settled quickly."
"How much money do we actually have?" Scotch asked.
"About seven million Beri."
"That still sounds like plenty..."
"We managed to earn a fair bit back in the West Blue. It's enough for now, but we have a giant on board and a lot of big eaters. You can never have too much money."
"That's true."
Now that Kanata was a wanted criminal, it was difficult to earn money through legitimate means. It would be great if they stumbled upon some treasure, but such lucky breaks were rare. Hunting pirates and taking their loot was the quickest way, but there was no guarantee that pirates would have any money. They would be lucky to get even the necessary supplies.
"In that sense, our self-sufficient life on Little Garden might have been ideal in a way."
"Don't remind me. I'm done with that kind of survival... I want to hang out with some girls."
"You've got Kanata."
"She's... easy on the eyes, but she's, you know..."
"Yeah, we know."
"You two, if she heard you, she'd probably knock you into next week," Junci warned.
"It's fine, she's down for the count with the heat right now," Georges laughed.
As they were talking, they arrived at the tavern. They knocked and waited for the owner to emerge. The owner, looking slightly sleepy, came out and led them, saying, "There's a place where the construction workers always gather."
"Still, it's surprising you have connections like that. Were you a construction worker yourself, old man?"
"Heavens, no. It's just that some of the guys who drink at my place are in the business. Lately, with all the thugs around, they've been staying away from my place on the edge of town."
The effects of the rainy season were felt in many ways. It offered a glimpse into the everyday life of this country. After a short walk, they arrived at a guardhouse-like building. The owner went inside and returned a moment later with two other men. He looked strangely nervous, which Junci found odd, as Georges stepped forward.
"Hello there. Are you the ones who want to help with the construction?" a young man asked.
"That's right. We have more people, and we heard you were behind schedule, so we were hoping you could hire us."
"Hmm... It's true that we are behind schedule. Do you think we can make it in time if we hire more people now?" the young man asked, turning to the older man beside him.
The older man checked a document in his hand and replied, "At the very least, at our current pace, we will not meet the deadline. We've had a lot of injuries recently from a Sandora Giant Lizard attack, so any extra hands would be greatly appreciated, but..."
"I see. How many people are in your group?"
"There are thirty-four of us in total, and one of us is a giant. We should be more than capable of handling the physical labor."
"A giant! That is a great help!"
Technical aspects aside, levee repair was mostly heavy lifting. Even one giant would make a world of difference in efficiency.
Behind them, Scotch and Junci were whispering, "He definitely didn't count Kanata in that number." They probably figured she wouldn't come out in this heat anyway.
The discussion seemed to be settled, and they were told where to go and to start helping from tomorrow. The only thing left was the Eternal Pose for the Drum Kingdom that Scura had requested last night.
"Well then, we'll see you tomorrow. And—I apologize for the late introduction. I am Nefertari Cobra. I am the one responsible for this construction project. If you have any problems, please come to me."
The young man introduced himself with a smile and shook Georges' hand.
***
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