One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 68

I've always thought the two looked like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven. (This is what the villagers imagined.)

Bellemere was in charge of the inventory and registration, while Nokigo acted like a little housekeeper, busy with everything. Liu Jiu, on the other hand, inspected the ropes and the hull to ensure safe navigation.

On the morning of the departure, the dock was crowded with villagers seeing them off.

"Bon Voyage!"

"It doesn't matter if we can't sell them all, the most important thing is that you come back safely!"

"Belmel, I'm counting on you!"

"That's right, you have to be careful at sea!"

Bellemere stood at the bow of the ship, her red hair flying in the sea breeze, waving vigorously: "Don't worry! Wait for our good news!"

The manatee let out a long moo as it dragged several fishing boats linked together in the sea, moving at a surprisingly fast pace and quickly leaving Cocoyasi Village behind.

The voyage went more smoothly than expected.

With Moo Moo, the sea creature, around, ordinary sea fish dare not approach, and even the weather seems to be exceptionally kind to them.

Liu Jiu was responsible for guiding the direction of the nautical chart, while Bellemere and Nokigo were busy taking care of the oranges on the ship, ventilating and inspecting them to prevent them from rotting.

A few days later, the outline of the town of Logue appeared on the horizon.

The closer you get to the port, the more you can feel the prosperity of this "town of beginnings and endings".

Boats of all sizes lined up one after another, and all kinds of people shuttled back and forth, their noise audible from afar.

After finding a place to moor the boat, Bellemere looked at the bustling scene on the dock, and her newly risen confidence began to waver again: "So many people... where should we sell? How should we sell?"

Setting up a stall? They probably couldn't even find a decent spot. Renting a shop? They simply couldn't afford it.

Liu Jiu, however, seemed to have planned this all along. He instructed Bellemere and Noki to keep an eye on the goods, while he left the dock alone.

About an hour later, he returned, followed by several well-dressed men who looked like businessmen in charge.

"These people are purchasing agents for several of the largest taverns and fruit shops in Rogge Town," Liu Jiu introduced succinctly.

Bellemere and Nojiko were both stunned.

It turned out that Liu Jiu went directly to several of the largest sales outlets in Luoge Town. Instead of trying to sell his products in a humble manner, he let them taste the oranges he brought.

Plus a touch of domineering intimidation!

We can't possibly refuse them even this small favor, can we?

Besides, the oranges are genuine and not adulterated at all.

The oranges grown in the unique soil and climate of Cocoaxi Village are juicy, sweet and sour, and have an excellent flavor that is far superior to ordinary oranges.

Those shrewd businessmen immediately recognized its value.

Putting aside matters of life and death.

"The samples this gentleman brought are indeed quite good," a chubby purchasing manager said with a smile. "How much stock do you have? And what's the price?"

Bellemere suppressed her excitement, pulled out a list she had prepared beforehand, and began negotiations. A former navy officer, she was worldly-wise and showed no signs of nervousness, her arguments clear and logical.

Liu Jiu stood to the side with his arms crossed, occasionally adding a word or two at crucial moments, or simply giving a glance, which deterred the other party from arbitrarily lowering the price. His calm and composed demeanor not only gave people a sense of unfathomable depth, but also forced the merchants to suppress their restless, unscrupulous nature, making them dare not play any tricks.

Anyway, there's a profit to be made. Once the business is successful, they'll be able to establish connections with important figures, and who knows, they might even be able to use their connections to their advantage and take their business to the next level.

You'll benefit from both sides!

Ultimately, the oranges brought were snapped up by several merchants at a price nearly 30% higher than the local purchase price in Cocoa West Village, and some even expressed their desire to establish long-term cooperation.

They accept any fruit they can get.

Looking at the empty cabin and the heavy purse in her hands, Bellemere felt like she was dreaming. The problem she had thought would take days to sell some oranges had been completely solved in just half a day!

"How...how on earth did you do that?"

After the merchants had all left, Bellemere couldn't help but ask Liu Jiu a question. She realized that she still knew too little about this taciturn man.

Liu Jiu was feeding the manatee Moo Moo when he heard this, and without turning his head, he said, "Good stuff, no worries about selling. They know their stuff."

The logic is simple, but Bellemere knew that without his boldness in directly approaching the biggest buyer and his seemingly calm yet undeniable negotiating style, things would never have gone so smoothly.

Nokiko didn't care about anything else. She rushed over and hugged Liu Jiu's arm, her little face flushed with excitement: "Uncle is the best! He's the hero of our family... no, our whole village!"

Moo mooed in response, as if sharing in the honor.

"Since there are no problems with sales in the future, let's stay for a few more days before going back!"

Chapter 77 A Trip to Loguetown, Goodbye Shanks

With her biggest worry gone, Bellemere felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. Looking at Nojiko's bright, excited eyes, she waved her hand dismissively:

"Great! Let's have a good time in Loguetown for a few days!"

"Yeah! That's great!"

Noki cheered, holding Bellemere in one hand and tightly clutching Liu Jiu's clothes with the other, as if afraid he would run away.

MooMoo the manatee will stay at the port to watch the ships for the time being.

The three of them thus blended into the bustling crowds of Loguetown.

Nokiko was utterly dazzled. She had grown up in Cocoyasi Village and the farthest she had ever been was to the neighboring town; she had never seen such a bustling scene before.

“Belmel! Uncle! Look at that!” She pointed to a cotton candy stall on the street, the fluffy and soft sugar strands shimmering temptingly in the sunlight.

Liu Jiu silently walked over and bought three of the largest cotton candies.

Nojiko took hers, carefully licked it, and the sweet taste made her squint her eyes in happiness.

Bellemere looked at the "thing only children eat" in her hand and smiled helplessly, but she also took a bite like Nojiko. The long-lost sweetness made her pause for a moment, and then she laughed.

"Over here! Over here!" Nojiko has discovered a new continent—

A stall selling all sorts of unusual seashells and marine-themed trinkets. She squatted there, picking up this one to look at, then touching that one, completely captivated.

Just as Bellemere was about to take out her money, Liu Jiu handed over a few Berries and bought the hair clip with pink pearls that Nojiko had been eyeing the longest. He bent down and clumsily but gently pinned the hair clip to Nojiko's bangs.

Noki touched the hair clip, her little face flushed red, her eyes seemed to be filled with stars, and her voice was barely audible: "Thank you, Uncle..."

Bellemere stood to the side, watching this scene, her heart filled with a warm feeling. She suddenly realized how different it felt to have a silent yet reliable man in the house.

She used to raise her two children alone, and no matter how hard or tiring it was, she had to grit her teeth and persevere, bearing all the hardships by herself.

Now, someone can share the burden, and someone can bring such a carefree smile to the child's face.

They walked along the bustling market.

Liu Jiu still didn't talk much, but...

He would quietly pay for the snacks that Noki liked; when there were crowds, he would silently stand in front of the mother and daughter; and he would buy anything that Bellemel glanced at.

At noon, they found a restaurant that looked nice.

Nokiko looked at the unfamiliar dish names on the menu and hesitated.

Liu Jiu directly instructed the waiter to bring out all the signature dishes, with all flavors available.

When the dishes arrived, they were indeed a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Nochiko ate with gusto, her mouth dripping with oil, and Bellemere also had a great appetite.

During the meal, Nokiko chattered on about her experiences on the road, Bellemere occasionally chimed in, while Liu Jiu listened quietly, sometimes picking up a piece of food that Nokiko couldn't reach with her chopsticks, or handing her a tissue.

It's simple, yet full of the warmth and life that life should have.

Such a scene is rare in the world of One Piece.

In the afternoon, they even went to see a simple puppet show. Nokiko was amused by the comical puppets, Bellemere watched with great interest, and although Liu Jiu still had no expression, his eyes were relaxed.

Happy times always fly by, and in the blink of an eye, they had been in Loguetown for a whole week.

Nokiko knew almost every street and alley by heart. She knew exactly which stall had the best takoyaki and which shop gave the most generous portions of ice cream. Her face was tanned a healthy wheat color, and her eyes shone even brighter than when she arrived.

That evening, she leaned against the hotel window, watching the bustling crowd below, and suddenly sighed, resting her chin on her hand like a little adult:

"Bellmeal, can we stay a few more days? I feel like I haven't had enough fun yet."

Bellemere was packing his things when he heard this, and without even looking up, he said, "Kid, if we don't go back soon, the villagers will think we've run off with the money."

She paused, looked at her daughter's face which fell instantly, and her heart softened. She added, "Next time, when the oranges are ripe, we'll come again."

"Really?" Nojiko immediately perked up, skipping over to Bellemere. "Bring Nami with you next time! She'll definitely love it here!"

"Alright, alright, take her with you." Bellemere smiled and ruffled her hair, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Liu Jiu, who was sitting quietly in the corner wiping an old wine jug.

For the past week, he has covered almost all the expenses, silently following behind them like a most reliable shadow.

She also noticed that he seemed to wipe the wine pot with extra care.

Liu Jiu placed the gleaming wine jug on the table, stood up, and said in a calm, unwavering voice, "I'm going out for a bit."

"Uncle, where are you going?" Nojiko asked immediately. "It's getting dark, let's go together!"

Liu Jiu glanced at her, then at Bellemere, and unusually added an explanation: "Going somewhere to pay respects to... a deceased friend. I'll be back soon."

Bellemere's thoughts stirred slightly. But she didn't ask, only nodded: "Go ahead, Nojiko and I are waiting for you at the inn. Come back soon."

Liu Jiu picked up the wine jug and walked out of the inn alone, his figure disappearing into the twilight of Rogge Town as the lights began to twinkle.

Instead of heading towards the bustling market, he went straight to the famous square in the town center—the place where Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, was executed.

The closer one gets, the quieter the surroundings seem to become. The high platform stands like a silent silhouette in the twilight, bearing witness to both the beginning and end of a legend.

There weren't many people in the square; some were curious tourists looking around, while a few others looked solemn, as if they were reminiscing about something.

Liu Jiu walked down from the platform and found a quiet corner. He pulled out the stopper from the wine jug, made no extra movements, and said no sentimental words, but simply poured the clear wine slowly onto the ground.

The aroma of wine filled the air.

Through the spilled wine, his gaze seemed to see that man again, standing here, laughing loudly in the face of death, igniting the entire Great Pirate Era with his own life.

"does it worth?"

He murmured to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear it. It was unclear whether he was asking the man who had long since passed away, or whether he was asking himself.

The wine seeped into the ground, quickly leaving only a dark water stain.

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out behind him: