“We’re here!” Ian stopped outside the dojo.
It was noon, and Koushirou was sunbathing in the courtyard.
Ian naturally spotted him at a glance.
He ran over and said to Koushirou, “Master, someone is here to see you!”
While saying this, Ian kept staring at Koushirou, only to find that his master still wore his usual smiling expression.
He wasn’t surprised by the appearance of Ivankov and the others at all.
“Hello!
It’s been a long time!” Koushirou walked over and greeted Ivankov and Kuma with a smile.
“Mr.
Koushirou!” Kuma remained silent, while Ivankov called out with a playful grin.
Ian had been paying close attention to their conversation from behind.
He originally thought Master Koushirou might have some connection with the Revolutionary Army, but looking at the situation now, something seemed off.
Putting Koushirou aside for a moment, the attitude of Ivankov, Kuma, and the Revolutionary Army soldiers toward him didn’t seem like they were looking at a comrade.
How to put it…
they weren’t exactly familiar with each other.
Instead, they appeared somewhat polite, giving off the vibe of ordinary guests.
Thinking about it carefully now, it made sense.
If Master Koushirou really was a member of the Revolutionary Army, how could he have stayed in Shimotsuki Village for so many years?
Retirement?
Give me a break.
The Revolutionary Army had only been active in the world for a few years.
Therefore, Ian felt that Master Koushirou shouldn’t be a member of the Revolutionary Army.
Could it really be like what Ivankov said, that they were merely acquaintances?
Because Ian was lost in thought, he completely missed what Master Koushirou and Ivankov were talking about.
He only snapped back to reality when he saw Master Koushirou gesturing for them to enter the dojo.
The group was brought into the dojo as guests.
Since there was no dedicated reception room, both parties sat down in the training hall.
Ian originally wanted to tag along and listen to what they had to say, but unexpectedly, Koushirou asked him to go brew some tea.
Left with no choice, Ian went to the back kitchen to boil water and make tea.
He looked around but didn’t see Kuina; he had no idea where she went to train.
The same went for Zoro—that idiot was probably still up on the mountain.
After spending some time boiling the water, Ian took out a few cups, brewed the tea, and carried them out on a tray.
Upon returning, Ian distributed the tea to everyone.
He didn’t know what they had been discussing, but although Master Koushirou had a smile on his face, a hint of melancholy could be detected in his expression.
Seeing Ian arrive, Koushirou told him, “Ian, go to the storehouse and take inventory.
See how much food we have left.”
Food?
Ah, right.
Ivankov and his group came to Shimotsuki Village seemingly to gather food supplies.
Sure enough, Ivankov spoke up, “We will purchase it at market price!”
However, Koushirou shook his head.
“There’s no need.
It’s not worth much.
Just consider it a gift from me.”
Ivankov didn’t decline.
Seeing that there were no issues, Ian turned and walked out, heading to the storehouse to count the provisions.
From behind, he faintly heard Master Koushirou’s voice: “The one who just left is the oldest disciple in my dojo…”
Ian figured Master Koushirou was introducing him to Ivankov’s group, so he didn’t mind.
The food in the storehouse was all produced from the dojo’s fields.
With only a few people eating at the dojo, the consumption was low, leaving a considerable surplus.
Ian spent some time taking inventory and found that there were over a hundred sacks.
Calculating at about fifty pounds per sack, there were probably over five thousand pounds of grain here, including both wheat and rice.
After running back to report to Koushirou, Ivankov and the others finally decided to take three thousand pounds of food.
Ian looked at them and noticed there were only seven or eight people in their group.
He had no idea how they were going to carry over three thousand pounds of grain out of there.
However, to Ian’s surprise, Kuma suddenly stood up and asked Ian to lead him to the storehouse.
He tucked that thick book under his armpit, freeing his left hand to take off his right glove, revealing a very strange-looking palm.
On that palm, there were actually soft-looking paw pads, just like a kitten’s paws.
It made anyone who saw them feel an irresistible urge to touch them.
The Paw-Paw Fruit!
This term suddenly popped into Ian’s mind.
Sure enough, Uncle Bear, are you actually the most deeply hidden cute mascot in the One Piece world?
Even Ian felt the urge to touch those paw pads…
Kuma walked over to where the food was piled up and gently tapped the grain with his right hand!
Then, under Ian’s astonished gaze, half of the pile of food instantly vanished.
Earlier, Ian was still wondering how they would transport the food.
He never expected them to use this method!
Ian knew that the missing food had actually been repelled away by Kuma’s paw pads.
By now, it had probably already landed on their ship by the coast.
How convenient!
Ian looked at Kuma enviously.
Sometimes he wondered if he should also get his hands on an unscientific thing like a Devil Fruit to eat.
After repelling the food, Kuma put his glove back on.
Ian thought he was going to leave the storehouse, but unexpectedly, Kuma suddenly spoke up, asking Ian in a deep voice, “If you were to go on a trip, where would you like to go?”
It would have been fine if he hadn’t spoken, but his words made Ian shudder instantly.
‘Holy crap!
Why does that line sound so familiar!?’
So he quickly waved his hands and said, “I don’t want to travel for now, and even if I do in the future, I’ll take a boat myself!”
Kuma looked down at him.
The height difference between the two was so obvious that it felt like an elephant looking at a mouse.
Although being considered the mouse made Ian very unhappy, he also felt immense pressure at this moment because he finally remembered that Bartholomew Kuma had another nickname and identity.
Tyrant!
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
‘Is he angry?’ Ian thought.
Judging from how he just repelled the food, he must have noticed that I led them in circles around the village.
Otherwise, how could he have so accurately repelled the food from the dojo to the coast?
While Ian was feeling anxious, Kuma suddenly took something out from his clothes and held it out to Ian with his gloved hand.
“Since we took your food, take this as a return gift,” Kuma said in his deep voice.
Ian took a look and found that the object in his palm was actually a tiny Transponder Snail!
This Transponder Snail was pink and very small.
It carried a shell on its back with circular patterns, and a receiver was connected to it by a wire.
On one side of the shell, there was a circle of numbers like a rotary dial, exactly from 0 to 9.
The Transponder Snail was currently sleeping with its two big eyes closed.
Ian took it and poked it curiously, but found he couldn’t wake it up.
“This is an infant Transponder Snail,” Kuma said.
“Keep it with you.
When it grows up, it will take on your appearance.”
“It’s that amazing?” Ian carefully held the pink little guy and asked, “Will I be able to make calls when it grows up?”
“When it grows up, an extra number will appear on its shell.
That will be your number,” Kuma said.
This was the first time Ian had heard him speak so much.
‘Is this the One Piece world’s equivalent of an iPhone 7?
Will it turn into an iPhone 7S when it grows up!?’
Ian was a bit excited.
He hadn’t expected Kuma to give him a Transponder Snail as a gift, and he couldn’t help but say, “Thanks, Uncle Bear!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ian immediately realized—’Crap!’
Bartholomew Kuma hadn’t introduced himself to Ian!
To be precise, out of this group from the Revolutionary Army, the only name Ian was supposed to know was Ivankov!
Sure enough, after he blurted out ‘Uncle Bear’, Kuma instantly fell silent, staring at Ian without saying a word.
Fortunately, Ian was quick-witted.
He tilted his head and feigned innocence, saying, “Uncle Bear, is it okay if I call you that?
I like your hat!
It looks just like a bear!”
When Kuma and the others entered the dojo, they had already taken off their cloaks.
Right now, Kuma was wearing his black-and-white patterned bear-eared hat.
Using this hat as an excuse made the ‘Uncle Bear’ nickname seem much less suspicious.
Hearing Ian’s words, Kuma turned his head away and stopped looking at him.
Just as Ian quietly breathed a sigh of relief, Kuma did something he never could have anticipated.
He took the bear-eared hat off his own head and placed it onto Ian’s.
“If you like it, it’s yours.”
Now, Ian was completely dumbfounded.
‘What the hell was going on!?’