A few days later, Nami returned to the Dream Chaser from the island, slumped on the ground in dejection.
"Sigh, still no one is willing to go to the Grand Line with us. Why are these people so cowardly?"
As she finished, she gnashed her teeth and slammed her palm against the deck.
Over the last few days, they had passed through three or four islands, asking many people if they were willing to join them and set sail together.
There were indeed some people willing to go out to sea, including bounty hunters who possessed more courage than the average person.
But once they heard they were heading for the Grand Line, they shook their heads like rattles and refused to go no matter what.
"It can't be helped. After all, like you said, Nami, the Grand Line is a dangerous place. It's normal they don't want to go."
Goku, on the other hand, looked completely carefree. He sat leisurely on the ship's railing with his hands behind his head, his short legs swinging back and forth.
Unable to take it anymore, Nami shouted at him:
"Hey! Goku! Stop acting like it doesn't matter! If we don't find anyone, we won't be able to go to the Grand Line!"
Goku pondered for a few seconds and looked at Nami seriously. "Nami, can we really not go to the Grand Line with just the two of us? I think I can protect you."
Nami choked on her words for a moment before sighing. "It's not a matter of whether you can protect me or not."
She then pointed at the sails. "Let me ask you, if we encounter a storm and I tell you to pull in the sails immediately, can you do it?"
Goku nodded without hesitation.
"Then let me ask you, if the sails need to be retracted and the helm needs to be turned at the same time, can you do it?"
Goku froze for a moment. He glanced back and forth between the sails and the helm, then shook his head.
"Then let me ask you this: if we need to retract the sails, turn the helm, and a leak springs in the hull that needs immediate plugging, can you do it?"
This time, Goku didn't hesitate and quickly shook his head.
"And what if we haven't eaten and are starving, and we suddenly run into all those things that need doing? Can you do it then?"
Goku broke into a cold sweat and shook his head frantically.
Doing physical labor on an empty stomach? That was absolutely impossible!
He finally understood why Nami wanted to recruit new crewmates. He nodded heavily, his eyes full of determination. "I get it, Nami. I'll definitely find new partners!"
...
In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed, and Goku and Nami still hadn't found a third companion.
One day, while Goku was sailing on the Dream Chaser, he suddenly spotted a massive ship in the distance that looked like an island.
"Hey! Nami, look! What a strange ship!"
Goku leaned over the railing and shouted, pointing at the giant vessel.
Nami stepped out of the cabin, shielding her eyes from the sun as she squinted into the distance.
After a moment, she seemed to recognize the ship. "Is that the Sea Restaurant Baratie?" she asked in surprise.
"A sea restaurant?" Goku turned his head, his face full of curiosity.
Nami explained, "The Sea Restaurant Baratie... I don't know exactly when it was founded, but I heard it's been around for a long time."
"They say many top-tier chefs gather there. Plenty of wealthy people and nobles travel from far and wide just to satisfy their palates with the delicacies prepared by these master chefs."
"Delicacies?!"
At the mention of food, Goku's eyes instantly sparkled.
"Hey! Nami, I'm hungry! I want to eat there!"
Having expected this, Nami had already walked to the helm and adjusted the Dream Chaser's course toward the Sea Restaurant Baratie.
"It's already been arranged! My dear Captain," she said with a playful smile.
...
At the Sea Restaurant Baratie, guests were flowing in and out of the entrance shaped like a giant fish head.
Many ornately decorated ships arrived one after another from afar, docking at the entrance.
Shortly after, groups of nobles dressed in fine silks or wealthy men with visible gold rings and necklaces stepped off.
Wearing smiles and escorting female companions, they walked elegantly toward the entrance as if entering a high-society venue.
Right then, a figure dashed past them, whipping up a gust of wind that made several women scream as they clutched their skirts to prevent an embarrassing exposure.
"Yahoo! Good food, here I come!"
Goku charged straight through the door like a spinning wheel, leaving a crisp voice echoing in everyone's ears.
"Whose brat is that?! So reckless, without a shred of elegance. I wonder who raised him!"
Several nobles frowned in displeasure, their eyes scanning the crowd behind them.
But everyone they looked at spread their hands with innocent expressions, signaling that the boy had nothing to do with them.
Nami walked briskly past the crowd with a straight face, looking neither left nor right, while chanting internally:
*Don't look at me, don't look at me. I don't know him. He has nothing to do with me.*
...
Inside the restaurant, many people were already seated, elegantly tasting the delicacies crafted by the chefs.
Goku rushed in, skidding to a halt with a screech. He looked left and right, exclaiming in surprise, "Whoa! There are so many people!"
Patty, a bearded restaurant chef, set a dish down in front of a guest and then zipped over to Goku. "Welcome! Valued guest, please follow me!" he boomed.
However, after speaking, he realized Goku was just a child. He looked behind the boy and asked, "Where are your parents?"
Goku blinked and pointed at Nami, who had just walked in.
"Alright! Then please follow me, you two valued guests!" As Patty spoke, he led them to an empty table.
He handed them a menu and said, "Take a look at this first, valued guests. Call us when you've decided."
With that, he vanished in a flash.
The restaurant was packed and incredibly busy; he didn't have time to wait around for them to read the menu.
After he left, Nami opened the menu. "What do you want to eat, Goku?" she asked while browsing.
Sitting next to her, Goku leaned his small head in to look at the menu with her.
"Can I eat everything on here once?" he asked with total sincerity.
Nami's hand shook. "No!" she snapped. "I know you can eat a lot, but the food here isn't cheap. Do you have any idea how much it would cost to eat everything?!"
After spending a large sum on the Dream Chaser and stocking up on essential sailing supplies, their shared funds were running low.
As the person in charge of their finances, Nami had to consider their journey; she couldn't let Goku blow most of their money in one sitting.
"Okay, I get it," Goku said, scratching his cheek.
"You order then. I'll eat whatever."
Just then, a tall, thin man with blonde hair and curly eyebrows approached a nearby table carrying a bottle of red wine.
Just as he was about to pour the wine, his eyes caught sight of Goku and Nami's table, and he froze.
"Th-That is...?!"
He slammed the bottle onto the table. "Pour it yourselves."
Then, with hearts in his eyes, he rushed to Nami's side and knelt on one knee. A red rose appeared in his hand like a magic trick.
"Ah! Beautiful lady, I thank the sea for granting me this encounter today!"
——
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]