122 Surprise! (2/2)
”But-” Angella began, only to be shushed by an old women reading smut in the backdrop.
The shopkeeper gulped inaudibly as he looked at the women, his attention briefly moving from Angella to the old women. ”As I was saying, a hundred thousand berries and not a single berry lesser!” he announced once again as he looked at Angella, his eyes clearing all traces of fear that it once held.
”Ugh.. Goddamnit old man!” Angella hissed as she brought out a few thousand berry notes and picking a few books off the pile. Her budget of the ship's funds could in no way sustain her reading habit.
With a sigh she sat down as she cradled the book glaring at the man as he began to open his mouth.
'I've bought your books, what else do you want?' her eyes seemed to say challengingly as she began to flip through the yellow paged encyclopedia.
”Hey.. Old man, what's with the flag in the centre of town?” She asked flippantly as she shut the thick parchment like book.
”Oh! That, that's ol' Edward's flag!” The man began as he stretched to his full height. ”He's a pirate, but a really good one! He was born here on the island, I remember the lad when he was a child.. He used to play with my older brother!
He had a full gang racket goin' on, riding sphinx into the sunset an' all! But when the world government stopped protecting the island, he went out and became a pirate! Been caring for the island ever since..” the shopkeeper said finishing his nostalgia train.
Unfortunately however, Angella was too busy wrapping her head around the fact that THE Whitebeard had played with this swindler's brother..
**********
I groaned darkly as I walked out of the market. My back itching as I moved forward. The sheer humidity in the town alongside the occasional tamed sphinx colliding into me had taken its toll on my body.
The dark canopy of the houses above covered the streets from the sun's perplexingly harsh glares as I walked forward.
The occasional businessman bumped past, for him the day was young and a whole ocean of opportunities lay ahead.
Only after going around town had I realized how vast and unique the island itself was. It had been built atop a collection of rolling hills, with a massive selection of cultivable land in the form of step farming pastures available to the island's food suppliers.
The sphinx on the island had taken up the position of cattle, doing everything from helping with the cultivation to transport.
At the very center of the island was the markets, with a cache of men and women hawking all forms of goods, from the everyday food produce to a more antique collection of sea shells and other odd trinkets.
With a huff I moved past the last of the traders, before smiling in satisfaction. At the very horizon of my view was a cozy looking tavern.
Wooden walls surrounded the small establishment, with a rickety sign with the words ' the eager eater' on it.
As I neared the establishment, sounds of shattering plates and breaking tables rang out. My suspicions were awoken, though it was swiftly squashed in favor of annoyance as a street side vender called out to me.
A plushy in his hands of one pineapple headed pirate in all his orange glory sat on his carpet stall.
”One for your young'un perhaps?” he queered through his yellow teeth, before sighing in disappointment when I nodded in the negative.
And thus I journeyed forward, an itch in my throat I reached for the door. Before jumping out of the way as it flew off its hinges alongside the bulky body of a bald bare chested man.
At this point my observation Haki was ringing, and with just a glance I knew why. For within this unfortunate establishment was a group of two individuals that stood sizing me up cautiously.
One Marco and another Thatch of the whitebeard pirates stared out at me expressionlessly, the duo holding each other by the scruff of their shirts with a dribble of food falling off their heads…