“Nom nom nom, this is so good!”
In a tavern on Lovers’ Avenue, Mansherry sat on the table, devouring fresh vegetables and desserts like she hadn’t had proper food in ages.
Half a month had passed since they left the mountains.
The first thing they did was find a bathhouse to clean up, then head to a restaurant.
She was sick of roasted meat after three months of it.
Even though Hermes cooked it well, eating meat every day for a hundred days was too much!
“Can you eat a bit more gracefully?”
Hermes, sitting nearby, frowned. He felt that Mansherry was seriously lowering his image. In the original story, this dwarf was a bit of a crybaby but also a kind and gentle girl.
Why was reality so different?
If Mansherry could hear Hermes’ thoughts, she would probably jump up and curse. Who wouldn’t be in a bad state after being kidnapped and mistreated, then falling into the hands of a cold and black-hearted man who made her train day and night without vegetables or desserts? If she could still remain innocent and gentle after that, she’d have to be out of her mind.
Mansherry might be a bit naive, but her intelligence and awareness were normal.
She had already endured society’s harsh treatment.
Now, she had grown up.
She was no longer the naive, timid dwarf.
She had learned to stand up for herself.
“Hermes, I want more vegetable salad.”
Mansherry, her mouth full, chugged a glass of juice and hiccupped, her big, shiny eyes fixed on Hermes.
Her tone was firm.
“What a glutton. You’ll eat me out of house and home. From today on, you’ll have to pay for your food!”
Hermes felt a hint of displeasure.
Despite her small size, her appetite was five times that of an adult.
Damn.
How does such a small stomach hold so much? It’s still a mystery.
“You’re the glutton! Besides, you have so much money on the Deathly Hallows. I only eat a little, and you want to charge me for food? That’s too much!”
Mansherry pouted in anger.
She glanced at the table beside her, filled with plates—at least a hundred dishes. All of it was eaten by this jerk.
He called her a glutton, but he was the real glutton.
Mansherry began to feel disdain.
“Who’s in charge here? Those riches are mine. What do they have to do with you? It’s decided!”
“Waiter, five more vegetable salads, and thirty of these sets!”
Hermes grumbled but still ordered.
“Please wait a moment!”
The tavern owner wiped the sweat from his forehead. He knew he had hit the jackpot today.
These two big eaters might just empty his stock.
“Cheapskate.”
Mansherry muttered, her face full of dissatisfaction.
“Keep talking, and I’ll beat you.”
Hermes glared. This little crybaby was getting bolder and didn’t seem to realize who was in control.
“Hmph!!!”
With a cold snort, Mansherry turned her head away in defiance.
Spending time together, she had somewhat figured out Hermes’ personality. Despite his harshness, he wasn’t completely heartless.
He had a conscience, but not much of it.
Somehow, she had become bolder. Though he spoke harshly, he hadn’t really done anything too cruel.
Anyway, it was only ten years. It would pass quickly.
Then she would be free.
An hour later.
The two left the tavern, stretching lazily.
“Where to next?”
Mansherry jumped onto Hermes’ right shoulder, looking at the bustling street, occasionally seeing toys passing by.
She was curious at first, but after seeing them so often, she wasn’t anymore.
“In this time, Doffy probably has more savings!”
Hermes looked toward the King’s Plateau, planning another raid.
No one ever had too much money.
He wondered how Doflamingo was doing now. It had been a while, and he missed him. As a close friend, Doflamingo wouldn’t mind helping out a poor friend like himself.
Yoshi~
“Finders keepers.”
Mansherry had completely assimilated, truly becoming like those she associated with.
She had no choice.
Starting today, she had to pay for her meals. She needed to earn money to feed herself and had to be frugal.
“No matter how much, you only get ten thousand Berries!”
“Why?”
Mansherry was furious.
This bloodsucker was simply awful.
“Whoever does the most work gets the most. That’s fair!”
“You should be grateful for ten thousand. Count yourself lucky!”
Hermes started walking towards the King’s Plateau, his tone full of generosity.
“Not satisfied? What can you do? Even if the money is there, how much could you take?”
Seeing Mansherry tremble with anger, Hermes continued to mock her.
“I hope you get beaten half to death.”
Mansherry gritted her teeth. Only then would she have something to do, since fighting others was out of the question for her. At best, she could protect herself.
Besides, he was right. Even if the money was just lying there, she couldn’t take much!
Ugh!
The more she thought, the angrier she got.
After anger came depression, by the time they reached the King’s Plateau, she still looked miserable.
“Looks like Doffy has tightened security.”
Hermes shrank to Mansherry’s size. They crouched on a rooftop, watching the patrols of guards and toys below. It was almost airtight.
“Where’s the stash?”
“But is this really right? Leo said stealing is bad!”
Mansherry didn’t know whether to be excited or conflicted. She was rambling, but Hermes ignored her, heading straight for the old treasury.
“Wait for me.”
Mansherry shrank back, cautiously glancing at the guards below, and used Soru to disappear.
They quickly reached the treasury, but something felt off. The guards were too few.
“Is this it?”
Mansherry was a bit excited. Doing bad things seemed kind of fun. Leo’s words about stealing being bad were forgotten!
“Yep.”
With Hermes’ confirmation, Mansherry was impatient. “Then what are we waiting for? My ten thousand Berries are waiting!”
“Can you stop being stupid? You’re lowering my IQ. Obviously, Doflamingo has moved the money.”
“You!”
Mansherry gritted her teeth, fists clenched.
“Let’s find a more important target.”
Hermes stroked his chin, then released his Haki, soon sensing three strong presences.
They were his targets.
Whoosh!
Grabbing Mansherry, he disappeared.
In the King’s Plateau backyard, by the pool under a parasol, three people sat around a Devil Fruit.
One was an old acquaintance of Hermes, the grotesque Jora.
Next to her was Dellinger, with fish-like features. She was wearing a duckbill cap, hot pants, white stockings, and deep red high heels—a mix of human and fighting fish genes.
The third was odd too.
With long blonde curls, a black hat, and a revealing ribbed jumpsuit showing chest hair, Mahabaise belonged to Diamante’s faction.
The Donquixote Family didn’t have anyone normal. They were all mentally unstable or had psychological issues. Quite pitiable, really.
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