A/N: Don't forget to comment, review, collect and send me those beautiful powerstones for motivation so I never drop the book đ
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After leaving Denji and Bellé-mer, Benn spoke first as they walked.
"Shanks, it seems convincing Denji will prove rather troublesome."
Shanks smiled.
"Indeed. He has the eyes of someone who seeks adventure, but it also seems like there is something holding him back. Figuring out what that is will help us recruit him more easily."
Benn frowned slightly.
"What if it fails?"
"I won't fail," Shanks replied confidently. "I will definitely make Denji a crew member of mine."
They walked until a small bar came into view. The sign read Traveler.
Benn glanced at it.
"What an interesting name."
Shanks laughed lightly.
"Let's go in."
Pushing open the two wooden doors, they were greeted by a warm, cozy interior.
Shanks smiled appreciatively.
"Now this is comfort."
A girl behind the counter welcomed them.
"Ah! Customers, welcome to our bar."
Shanks returned the smile and walked over, taking a seat on a bar stool.
"Thank you."
Benn followed, sitting beside him.
The girl asked politely,
"What would you two fine gentlemen like to have?"
Shanks considered briefly.
"Mhhh, I'll have some meat and a beer."
The girl wrote it down and turned to Benn.
"And for you?"
Benn shrugged lightly.
"Oh, I guess I'll have the same."
The girl nodded.
"OK, coming right up." She called toward the back. "Granny Chiyo! Two orders of meat and beer!"
From the back, a voice shouted,
"You don't have to shout so loud!"
The girl yelled back.
"When I don't shout loud enough, your senile ears don't hear me!"
Granny Chiyo shouted again.
"You disrespectful brat!"
Shanks chuckled at first, then laughed heartily. The girl glanced back at him and laughed too. Benn simply stared at their exchange.
Shanks leaned back slightly.
"Are your interactions always like that?"
The girl giggled.
"That old hag is always trying to pick a fight with me."
Shanks nodded knowingly.
"Grandparents, huh. Must be nice."
There was a short pause before the girl extended her hand.
"My name is Noelle."
Shanks shook her hand with a smile.
"Noelle-chan, huh? What a beautiful name. My name is Shanks."
Noelle blushed slightly.
"Shanks sounds a lot better and cooler."
"Is that so?" Shanks asked, amused.
"Yes," she replied, smiling. Then she turned to Benn Beckman.
"What about you? What's your name?"
Benn shrugged lightly.
"You can just call me Benn."
"Noelle-san, then. Nice to meet you two," she said politely.
Shanks nodded with a grin.
"Nice to meet you too, Noelle-chan."
Noelle visibly blushed and protested softly.
"Don't say -chan so casually. You sound just like some idiot I know."
Shanks laughed again.
"So far, the girls of this village have not disappointed. So cute."
Noelle's face turned red as she scolded softly.
"Don't say stuff like that out of nowhere."
Shanks held his hands up apologetically.
"Sorry, sorry. By the way, Noelle-chan, is the bar usually this empty? I mean, it's just me and Benn here."
Noelle shook her head.
"It's usually more lively later in the day. In the morning, everyone is busy with work."
Shanks nodded.
"I see. Makes sense."
Noelle smiled shyly.
"Then⊠can I ask a question?"
"Sure, go ahead," Shanks said kindly.
Noelle's eyes lit up.
"It might be obvious, but you two aren't merchants, are you?"
Shanks smiled.
"Well, we are not merchants indeed. We are pirates."
Noelle's eyes widened with excitement.
"Oh! So⊠like, what do pirates do, per se?"
Shanks was taken aback.
"You don't care that we're pirates?"
Noelle shook her head, smiling.
"Well, Denji-kun hates pirates more than anything. So if you managed to make it onto the island, it means Denji-kun determined you two are not bad people. So why would I have a problem?"
Shanks tilted his head slightly.
"Denji, huh⊠do you trust him that much?"
"No, of course!" Noelle laughed lightly. "Everyone in the village trusts Denji and his judgment."
Shanks nodded.
"Oh⊠that's cool, I guess."
Benn chuckled softly.
"I knew it. This will be hard to accomplish."
Shanks ignored the comment.
"What if I came through the back, or beat Denji up to enter the village?"
Noelle shook her head firmly.
"Impossible. Denji is really strong. You two are weak compared to him."
Shanks chuckled lightly.
"Is that so?"
"Of course," Noelle replied. "Every time pirates come here to cause trouble, Denji beats all of them up alone. Okay, maybe Yami helps here and there, but it's mostly Denji."
Shanks leaned back, smiling.
"Denji is really cool, isn't he? Well, I'm surprised. From how that girl at the entrance of the island reacted to us, I was sure the entire island would hate us."
Noelle's expression darkened.
"Which girl?"
Shanks glanced at Benn.
"She said her name is Bellé-mer, right, Benn?"
Benn nodded.
The air around Noelle changed instantly, her anger palpable. Shanks noticed and asked nervously,
"Noelle-chan, are you okay?"
"No!" she spat. "That b*tch Bellé-mer⊠wanting Denji-kun all for herself. I hate her!"
Benn chuckled quietly. Shanks' smile widened.
"What's this? I'd love to hear more."
Noelle huffed.
"You won't believe it, Shanks. Ever since that girl came here three years ago, she has monopolized Denji-kun. Before, all the girls had a tactical agreement that no one could claim Denji-kunâbut then she came and started beating up every girl around him. She even beat me up really badly."
Shanks laughed heartily.
Embarrassed, Noelle scowled.
"There's nothing funny about this!"
Shanks patted Benn's shoulder.
"Benn, it seems Denji is a second coming of Gabban-san."
Benn smiled wryly.
"Let's leave this, good-for-nothing Shanks. Nothing good can come from having a womanizer on our ship."
Shanks shook his head and laughed.
"No way. I will have my own minister of love."
Noelle tilted her head in confusion.
"Who is this Gabban you're talking about?"
Shanks waved a hand casually.
"It's a friend of mine." Then he looked at Noelle and said,
"Continue then, Noelle-chan. What did you do when Bellé-mer beat you up?"
Just then, a voice came from behind Noelle.
"She did nothing. She just watched as Bellé-mer took the man straight out of her hands."
Noelle turned around to see Granny Chiyo, holding two trays of pure meat.
Blushing and embarrassed, Noelle exclaimed,
"Granny Chiyo! That's not for you to reveal!"
Granny Chiyo simply smirked.
"Coward."