Chapter 11: Should We Give It a Name?
Hearing the conversation coming from the shop, Maud couldn't help but become interested in Saul's origins.
To be so close to an important figure like Shanks, and for Yasopp to treat him with such respect, Saul couldn't be an unknown character.
In just two days in this world, Maud had already understood a fundamental truth.
In this Great Pirate Era, where thousands of ships compete and powerful characters emerge everywhere, there were surely many formidable individuals who were not mentioned in the original story.
To get established in a world like this...
It was a much more difficult task than in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
Maud unconsciously gripped the musket he had gotten from Yasopp.
Now that he had a weapon, the next step was to find his second prey.
But the prerequisite for finding his second prey was to have the ability to walk freely outside.
The mere deterrence of a firearm was not enough.
It should be noted that, although he knew how to use a gun, he didn't have Yasopp's incredible reloading speed.
When he faced someone, he would probably only be able to fire one bullet before it was all over.
"Hmm?"
Maud was startled. Suddenly, he thought of a more important question.
'I don't have bullets...'
He was so focused on leaving as soon as possible that it didn't occur to him to ask Yasopp for gunpowder and lead bullets.
Maud felt a little disheartened.
----------
That same night.
The restaurant was brightly lit. The table was full of delicious dishes and wine overflowed from the glasses.
Shanks looked at the wine stains on the wooden glass and sighed: "I have tasted countless wines, but only the wine from my homeland makes me feel nostalgic."
"Why are you still here?"
Saul's eyelids were drooping and the aversion on his face was so obvious it almost seemed like a seasoning for the dishes.
"Don't be so cold, it's been a while since we last saw each other."
Shanks smiled cheerfully and put down the glass. It seemed that the hostility from the morning had completely dissipated.
Sunny poured wine for Shanks at the right moment, while Yasopp focused on eating and drinking in silence.
As for Lucky Roux, he hadn't returned after taking the wine to the ship.
Maud was sitting in a seat by the wall, glad that Yasopp hadn't left yet. He was thinking about the right time to ask him for some gunpowder and lead bullets.
Of course, he couldn't ask him at the table.
After thinking about it, the only opportune moment was...
'You need to go to the bathroom, you need to go to the bathroom, you need to go to the bathroom...!'
Maud was mumbling in his mind.
Yasopp, who was drinking, suddenly felt a chill.
"Hmm? Could it be because of the great temperature difference between day and night?"
He shook his head and continued drinking.
Saul looked at Shanks' empty left sleeve and said indifferently: "What I told you today was not a joke. For an important man like you, the fact that you often come here just to buy wine brings me inevitable trouble."
"You're right..."
Shanks looked at the wine in the wooden glass.
"So, have you thought about... joining my crew?"
"Joining your crew?" Saul scoffed: "I'm an old man who is about to go to his grave. Do you want me to join your crew to retire? Besides, it's enough that you have Yasopp."
"Um, I'm going to the bathroom."
Yasopp couldn't bear Saul's unexpected attack and got up, wanting to escape for a while.
Seeing this, Maud was happy and followed him silently.
The absence of the two at the table did not affect the conversation between Shanks and Saul.
"You're right..."
Shanks smiled, unable to refute Saul's words.
Saul drank the glass of wine in a single gulp and said calmly: "For decades, pirates have been like fish in a river, but in the end, how many have a happy ending? An old man like me, who was already surpassed by the era, I am already satisfied with breathing for one more day."
"..."
Shanks was silent.
Sunny murmured in a low voice: "Old man, but he goes to Flower Street every day..."
Shanks smiled immediately.
"Talk less and eat more."
Saul first gave Sunny a look, then looked at Shanks and snorted coldly: "What are you laughing at? If you understand, then don't come back."
Shanks said seriously: "Then tell me the location of the island where you hide the wine."
"Get out!"
-------------
In the hallway.
"Were you looking for me?"
Yasopp, standing at the bathroom door, looked at Maud, who had followed him.
Maud nodded and said in a low voice the reason why he was there: "I would like to ask you for some lead bullets and gunpowder."
"Huh?" Yasopp looked at Maud curiously: "This is a gun shop."
Asking for a weapon during the day was fine, but asking for ammunition at night?
"Yes, I know, but..."
Maud was speechless. He wanted to find an adequate reason right away, but he didn't have Sunny's familiarity to blame Saul with a simple conversation.
Seeing that Maud was hesitating, Yasopp didn't insist. He simply took some lead and gunpowder from his ammunition pouch.
"Is this enough?"
"Yes!"
Maud nodded forcefully, fearing that Yasopp would regret it, and quickly took the ammunition.
Yasopp felt a little speechless. For a few bullets?
He looked at the light from the restaurant and thought that his captain and Mr. Saul would probably continue chatting for a while, so he squatted at the bathroom door and took out a cigarette to smoke.
With the ammunition in hand, Maud had no intention of staying. He planned to go to his room to put it away.
But before taking a step, he saw Yasopp offering him a cigarette.
"Want one?"
"Uh..."
Maud couldn't refuse. He first put the ammunition safely in his pocket and then took the cigarette.
Yasopp exhaled a puff of smoke. Perhaps out of boredom, he opened his mouth to chat.
"Have you thought about giving your weapon a name?"
Maud thought for a moment and was about to answer, but Yasopp spoke first: "Ah, I always called her my 'old partner,' but I couldn't reach the end with her. A weapon, unlike a sword, is not easily remembered by its name."
"Even if you give a catchy name to a gun, people will always remember the person who uses it, but I want you to remember that a good weapon is what makes a good sniper. By the way, what name are you going to give my old partner?"
"I..."
Maud tried to speak, but again, he was interrupted.
"You know, actually, it hurt to leave my old partner. But after giving it to you, I don't know why, but I felt relieved."
"I..."
"As a shooter, your physique also has to be up to par. You can't continue like this, your body is too weak."
"I..."
"Eh, what am I doing? With Mr. Saul here, it's not my place to give you advice, haha. By the way, you still haven't told me what name you want to give the weapon."
"I..."
"How about you call it Usopp? It's such a cute name. In fact, it's my son's name. Come to think of it, he must be almost the same age as you."
"..."
The pungent smoke filled the bathroom doorway.
Maud understood.
When you're dealing with a drunk chatterbox, don't try to talk.
Just listen.