Icey, who took the money, was not sloppy at all. He was just about to turn around and go into the kitchen to get the freshly fried dough sticks and soy milk prepared in the morning. However, out of his eye, he happened to catch a glimpse of Aqua squatting in the corner, drawing circles.
“Aqua, help out in the back kitchen and get three portions of dough sticks and soy milk for your most loyal disciple.”
With free labor here, why bother doing it yourself?
Initially reluctant to pay attention due to her melancholy state, Aqua’s eyes lit up at the mention of the disciple, and she eagerly trotted into the kitchen.
Seeing this, Icey nodded in satisfaction.
To save money for his wish, he had always been the only one busy in the restaurant.
Having someone else take care of things now could provide some leisure.
But at the thought of this, Icey couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart.
After more than a year of hard work to save up, this ridiculous situation resulted!
Not long after enjoying the peace, Icey soon realized that something was amiss.
Why was it taking so long to get a portion of dough sticks and soy milk?
In Aqua’s world, there was even a potato chip television. It couldn’t be that she couldn’t even recognize these dough sticks and soy milk, right?
With deep suspicion, Icey stepped towards the front counter and entered the side kitchen.
Upon entering, he saw Aqua with her back to him, continuously making chewing sounds.
“Aqua, are you sneaking food in the kitchen?”
The sudden question startled Aqua, who quickly turned around, avoiding eye contact.
“N-no, I was just umm… I just couldn’t figure out, couldn’t figure out what you meant by dough sticks and soy milk…”
Her cheeks were bulging with food, resembling a frog with a mouth full, covered with crumbs from the dough sticks.
“Then what’s in your mouth?”
“I, I don’t have anything in my mouth.”
Aqua stood awkwardly with her hands behind her back, her body twisting nervously, making an unconvincing excuse.
Thinking about this poor girl who hadn’t eaten anything since being summoned, Icey sighed heavily.
“You’re my partner, if you’re hungry just say so. This is a restaurant, we provide meals.”
In the end, he softened.
“Sob… Master Icey!”
Grateful tears welled in Aqua’s eyes as she pounced on Icey’s thigh.
The action was quite exaggerated, causing the crumbs from the dough sticks to transfer onto Icey’s trousers.
“Sigh…”
Another sigh filled with confusion and heaviness.
Since summoning Aqua, Icey couldn’t remember how often he had sighed.
Finally managing to feed the gluttonous Aqua, he served the divided breakfast.
In the end, he still had to do it himself…
It’s torturous!
After successfully sending off the three carpenters, Icey closed the restaurant’s door and hung up the “Closed for Business” signboard to minimize unnecessary trouble.
Since the plan to sail out to harvest the pirate Higuma had been decided, there was no need to worry too much about this restaurant’s business.
After a night of contemplation, Icey felt that the most important thing at the moment was to build a sailboat capable of sailing.
Even if he couldn’t take down the pirate gang, he could still leave anytime with Aqua.
On the sea, the advantage of the Water Goddess could have unexpected effects.
During the year of traversing the other world, besides running the restaurant, Icey had been busy.
He studied navigation-related knowledge, ship maintenance, basic martial arts such as swordsmanship, and gunnery (novice level), which were barely enough for sailing in the good weather conditions of the East Sea.
Before summoning Aqua, Icey had borrowed a lot of money from the villagers of Windmill Village. In this situation of debt, if he were to build or buy a ship, he would be labeled as wanting to run away and blocked at the village gate!
So…
Is there only one path to take?
Icey’s gaze gradually became firm.
He was not a vacillating person. He would not have too many concerns since he had determined the next course of action!
“Aqua, I’m going out to make money next. I’ll probably be back in the afternoon, so just stay obediently in the shop and wait for me.”
Icey solemnly instructed the idle Aqua.
“No problem!” Aqua promptly agreed without a second thought.
Such a straightforward answer didn’t reassure Icey and made him feel extremely unreliable.
“Remember, the world of pirates is much more cruel and complicated than the other world you manage. If you cause any trouble in the village, remember to stay calm and mention my name if anything happens.”
Thinking about the good reputation he had accumulated in Windmill Village over the past year, Icey felt slightly relieved.
At least the villagers knew that Aqua was his relative and friend and would tolerate her to some extent.
“I know, I know, how could the Goddess herself cause trouble?”
Aqua lay lazily on the sofa, gnawing on her fried chicken leg, impatiently waving her hand, “You hurry up and make money.”
Seeing this, Icey didn’t say much more; he simply tidied up a bit before leaving the restaurant, walking along the alleys of Windmill Village towards the back of Colubo Mountain.
That was where the hill bandit Dadan and his gang were located.
According to the current timeline, it wouldn’t be long before Cap would send the rebellious Luffy over, creating the scene where the ASL trio would swear brotherhood over drinks.
Of course, only Ace was living with the Dadan gang for now.
Icey’s purpose this time was to target the treasure hidden by Ace and Sabo!
If it weren’t for the urgency of time, Icey wouldn’t want to attract attention to Ace and Sabo’s treasure.
Setting aside their special status in the world of pirates, at this moment, they were just children full of dreams of sailing.
Cheating inexperienced kids like them was something Icey had always avoided.
Otherwise, he could have done so when summoning his first companion!
So why change his mind now?
Naturally, it was because he had lowered his bottom line…
Due to the frequent bandit activities, the road to Colubo Mountain was not particularly difficult.
After wandering around and avoiding Dadan’s gang, passing through several small mountain forests, Icey arrived at the area where Ace and Sabo often frequented.
Because he had visited this place a few times before, combined with the scenes presented in the anime, he quickly pinpointed Ace and Sabo’s treasure location to several towering trees.
Just as he was about to personally verify which tree trunk the treasure was hidden in, he suddenly heard a voice behind him filled with strong hostility and youthfulness.
“Hey! Who are you, and
What do you want here?!”
Turning around, he saw the young Ace and Sabo standing vigilantly on the giant tree roots protruding from the ground.
The shining water pipes under the sunlight were quite intimidating.
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