The fleeting idea of turning Tom into a star like Brook passed quickly. It was better not to do that before they could even afford meals, and Tom might not enjoy it anyway.
The next two days consisted of training, drawing rewards, and running the tavern.
Tom's fame spread from the first groups of guests. Some treated it as a tall tale, while others believed it immediately, as the seas were vast and anything could happen.
Many came to see Tom, and the tavern business improved. Tom earned plenty of small treats each day from playing piano.
Regular tavern-goers gradually developed the habit of bringing snacks for Tom and ordering extra drinks to support the business.
Some noticed Artoria's beauty, but she looked so young that no one approached her.
That afternoon, Zhang Da Ye locked the tavern doors and rode the bubble car, taking Tom and Artoria along.
The bubble car, bought for 10,000 Beli, was used for shopping.
Unlike the single-rider bubble car where one had to sit inside, this one had the machinery mounted above a donut-shaped bubble with a cargo bed at the back.
In bubble car terms, it was like a small tricycle used by the mess team's Zhou.
If a guy rode a bike with a girl on the back, it usually resembled a first-love scene.
But a guy on a tricycle with a girl in the cargo bed looked more like an elderly couple taking a stroll.
Today, Grandpa Zhang was taking 15-year-old Artoria and their pet cat to buy supplies, including ingredients and… a telephone snail.
When transferring the tavern, Old Bob introduced Zhang Da Ye to the wine merchant Gulagas and left his telephone snail number, though Zhang Da Ye had never bought one.
The tavern's original telephone snail was taken by Bob—not because of the cost, but because he didn't want to change numbers.
Telephone snails resembled snails, large and small. Once captured in the wild and equipped with special devices, they could be used. They seemed to enjoy being captured, representing a life without want.
The three finally chose a blue, ordinary telephone snail and three juvenile ones—effectively buying a landline and three mobiles.
After purchasing ingredients, Zhang Da Ye rode back.
Artoria and Tom poked the telephone snails curiously, waking them to feed with vegetable leaves.
They spent most of their time asleep, only waking to communicate or eat.
"Good luck this time, we got some Sea King meat, though pricey," Zhang Da Ye said. "Tom, do you know how to cook Sea King?"
Sea Kings were relatively common in the Grand Line, but few fishermen could catch them, so they weren't always available.
Sea beasts and Sea Kings weren't the same. Marine mammals were beasts, while fish-like or amphibious non-mammals were Sea Kings.
For example, the Dragon Pirates' Manatee Moo Moo was a sea beast, whereas the Near-Sea King that bit Shanks' arm was a Sea King.
Sea Kings were usually more aggressive and powerful, harder to catch, and more expensive.
Tom recalled recipes, but Artoria cut in: "This is meat from a fish-type Sea King. You could stew, pan-fry, or deep-fry it. If stewing, you'll need these ingredients…"
"Stop! How do you know so much?" Zhang Da Ye asked, astonished at her detailed list.
"Da Ye, don't you know? We read the same newspaper daily. A recent food column introduced this," Artoria said confidently. "You told me to gather information about this world from newspapers. Looks like you haven't done enough."
Zhang Da Ye: "…"
I gave you the newspaper to read, not the food column! No wonder your snacks disappear so fast… Our tavern's going bankrupt from you eating it all!
Back at the tavern, Zhang Da Ye stored ingredients in the fridge and placed the telephone snails on the bar. Its shell showed its number, 0210. Telephone snail numbers varied widely.
Zhang Da Ye picked up the receiver and dialed Gulagas' number, 4396.
"Blrrr… Kacha."
The telephone snail sprouted an orange mustache, its eyes reshaped, and a deep voice emerged: "I'm Gulagas. Who's this?"
The three watched in awe. Tom sneaked a hand to tug its mustache, but it was just a light effect.
"Hello, Uncle Gulagas, this is Da Ye's tavern. I'd like to order wine, same types and amounts as usual. Preferably delivered today."
The mustached telephone snail paused, then looked enlightened. Except for Tom, this was their first time seeing such expressive animal faces.
"It's young 'Dashing Da Ye'! Delivery to Bob's old tavern address, right?"
"Yes, 59GR Baker Street 221B, unchanged."
"No problem. Delivered before five."
"Thanks."
"Kacha." The snail hung up, closed its eyes, and its mustache disappeared.
"Amazing creature," Artoria said, resting her hands on the table, face at eye level with the snail.
Zhang Da Ye suspected she was acting cute and joked: "Indeed, amazing. But I wonder if it tastes good."
Artoria's eyes glimmered. The snail woke startled in its dream, scared but frozen.
"Don't worry, just joking," Zhang Da Ye patted the snail. "Let's focus on how to cook Sea King meat."
Artoria was slightly disappointed, but eagerly flipped through the newspapers and showed Tom the page on Sea King cooking.
Tom brought out four recipe books, drooling. Being a cat, he naturally favored fish, and this 'big fish' was irresistible.
Zhang Da Ye ignored the two foodies, aiming to finish today's training before Gulagas arrived.