Cat Burglar and the Nouveau Riche

After the Knight's not-so-well-behaved mount was subdued by the combined efforts of the crowd, the usual calm returned outside the restaurant.

The Security Guards once again stood in two straight rows at the entrance, projecting the sense of prestige befitting an upscale establishment.

Just then, another guest arrived outside the restaurant—a young woman.

Compared to the Knight in his heavy armor and greatsword, this female guest's attire looked far more shabby at a glance:

A simple striped short-sleeved top, a skirt washed somewhat pale and ending above the knee, paired with flat thick-soled shoes that only common girls doing manual labor would wear.

Clearly a young woman in the prime of her youth, yet unwilling to spend even a little extra on dressing herself up.

This guest was obviously not someone with money.

For a restaurant of this caliber, they typically wouldn't serve guests whose appearance practically screamed "poor";

And the Security Guards standing straight at the door, aside from setting the atmosphere and holding the Knight's dog leash, had the main job of politely turning away such clueless poor folk.

"Politely" meaning "physically."

But this time, they made no move.

Because although the young woman before them looked poor, she possessed another kind of capital:

Gem-like orange eyes set within a moving face, bright orange slightly curled short hair resting delicately above her delicate pale collarbone, skin as white as jade tinged with a healthy light red from long days at sea, glowing warmly and dazzlingly under the noon sun.

Though young, her figure was already remarkably striking: her straight bustline pushed the plain short-sleeved top into an eye-catching sight, and the long legs barely covered by the short skirt were so fair they stirred the heart.

Despite lacking accessories or flashy clothes, she embodied feminine charm to the fullest.

Such beauty was itself a priceless capital.

The Security Guards naturally wouldn't stop someone like that, and the beautiful hostess at the entrance could only feel instinctively inferior.

As the Orange-Haired Girl passed by the door, she even gave the Security Guards on both sides a playful smile, instantly stirring the hearts of a few young lads.

Clearly, this young woman knew how to wield her charm.

In fact, this was one of her means of survival on these seas.

Using her beauty to play the fragile maiden, lowering her targets' guard, earning their sympathy, or even bewitching them completely, then using a few little tricks to take their money and treasure.

This young woman was the Beautiful Thief known across the East Blue Sea, aiming to earn a full one hundred million Beli—the Cat Burglar Nami.

Meteorology, geography, oceanography, physics, navigation, mathematics, art, piloting.

She excelled at them all, knew them all.

At the same time, she had mastered excellent physical skills, thievery, gambling, and acting over her career as a thief.

A top student with solid academic foundations, a socialite with an Arlong Tattoo on her body, and blessed with such natural beauty.

One could call her a perfect being.

But for the vast working class at the bottom of society, "earning a hundred million" was no small goal—even a perfect being couldn't escape that.

Nami had worked hard for years, yet still fell nearly twenty million short of that hundred million target.

Driven by urgent desire, Nami had to abandon all comfort and struggle day after day for that enormous sum of money.

And now.

Having just reaped a generous haul from a notorious Pirate Crew, Nami immediately threw herself back into the fiery pursuit of profit.

That's right—she hadn't come to the restaurant to eat, but to work.

Besides snatching food from the jaws of vicious pirates, Nami also ran another low-risk, high-reward side business:

Using a few little tricks to win the trust of the wealthy, then seizing the chance to steal their gold and treasure.

Her targets were naturally those rich folks whose virtue didn't match their wealth and whose IQ couldn't keep up with their bank accounts—especially those lustful rich men.

And such rich men, or rather, easy marks, usually clustered in high-end restaurants.

So whenever Nami stopped to rest on a large island with a bustling market, she'd drop by the local upscale restaurants and bars to hunt for prey.

She had never failed so far.

At worst, she'd at least get some self-proclaimed gentleman nobleman to foot the bill for her lavish meal as a pretty lady.

So the moment she stepped through the restaurant's main entrance, Miss Nami slipped into work mode:

The playful smile on her face instantly shifted to a faint melancholy, her bright eyes dimmed with a sorrowful gleam, and the spirited sea girl transformed in an instant into a fragile, helpless little thing.

This was one of Nami's basic survival skills—acting.

Rich men loved girls who looked so innocent and helpless.

Dressed like this, Nami didn't even need to bother striking up conversations herself; naturally, some noble merchants wanting to aid a poor girl would swarm around her like flies.

Today was no different.

But Nami didn't pick her target from those eager rich fools crowding around her. Her EX-grade treasure-hunting eyes, a tool for spotting money, were firmly locked onto a more worthy mark:

A flashy show-off sitting in the VIP section, wolfing down a table full of food.

Miss Nami had already slapped a malicious label on that burly, handsome young man at first glance.

A guy who wore a full set of Noble Knight Armor and placed a precious Golden Silver Greatsword beside him while dining—calling him a show-off was absolutely no mistake.

And this Knight's table manners were utterly inelegant—"devouring like a whirlwind" and "wolfing down" were just the right phrases to describe him.

With such eating habits, he looked less like a noble and more like a nouveau riche.

The only thing about this man that could catch our Miss Nami's eye was his splendid armor, his broad greatsword, and the dazzling sapphire set upon his scabbard.

Appraising treasures was also Cat Burglar Nami's specialty.

When stealing, she had to judge which treasures were valuable and which were fakes, so she could get the greatest return with the smallest space and the shortest time.

With her eyes that had seen countless treasures, one glance told her that the massive gem was no crude counterfeit, but a natural marvel shaped by the passage of time.

As for the armor and greatsword, they were clearly supported by unique craftsmanship and materials, definitely the work of a master.

Rich, way too rich!

Nami quickly estimated the price of this "flashy nouveau riche" before her, and within a few seconds, she reached a startling conclusion:

If she sold this fool in front of her, after buying Cocoyasi Village for herself, the leftover money could probably buy a few of Arlong's heads.

Nami's eyes instantly couldn't help popping out two Beli symbols, then flickering with dazzling golden light:

Dumb, rich, nouveau riche—this deal was a sure win!

So Nami adjusted her demeanor, played the part of a fragile young lady, and slowly sidled up to that nouveau riche Knight.

Normally, Nami only needed to get close, and the "chivalrous" nouveau riches would take the initiative to invite her to sit.

But

A minute passed.

The "nouveau riche" Garen had no reaction at all, just burying his head in his food, not even lifting it once.

He was simply too hungry.

Ever since he'd gone with the flow and walked into this otherworldly restaurant, he'd been eating nonstop.

The strength of this body far exceeded Garen's understanding of the human physique, and it had an inhuman, massive demand for food.

Garen felt like he'd already eaten an entire cow.

Although most of the meat he ate didn't seem to be beef, but rather meat he'd never tried before—all of it from unknown creatures.

But since he'd already seen a three-meter-tall teddy bear and a four-meter-tall "giant," there was no need to be surprised by the strange ingredients on the table.

This world was clearly not a normal one, but Garen, starving as he was, had no mind to explore where he was.

All he wanted to do was keep eating

Even though a great beauty was posing with a hand over her heart, acting pitiful beside him.

"This glutton."

Nami clenched her fists in anger.

But for the sake of the cash, Nami chose to endure.

"This Knight, sir?"

Nami cupped her hands over her heart and pitifully sidled up to Garen.

"Hm?"

Garen jerked his head up, fresh sauce still hanging from the corner of his mouth: "Are you here to serve the food?"

"Haha."

Behind Nami's smile hid a desire to kill.

She didn't even know how to respond.

Fortunately, that nouveau riche Knight took the initiative to step into character—

After realizing she wasn't a waitress, Garen sized up the "helpless maiden" before him.

An unscientific figure, short orange hair, features that felt oddly familiar...

He felt like he'd seen her somewhere.

As he thought, Garen's gaze at Nami grew more intense.

"Tch."

Nami sneered disdainfully in her heart:

"Just a gluttonous fool, after all—completely bewitched by this young lady!"

So Nami squeezed out a textbook fake smile and asked softly:

"Knight sir, what's wrong?"

Garen finally realized his rude behavior, quickly withdrew his easily misunderstood gaze, and said a bit sheepishly:

"Sorry!"

"It's just that you look a lot like someone I remember."

Heh.

Such a cliché pickup line!

Cat Burglar Nami mentally slapped an even heavier "severe idiot" label on this nouveau riche.

"Is that so?"

Yet the smile on Nami's face grew even sweeter. "What an honor for me!"

And so, Cat Burglar Nami gracefully bent down and took a seat beside the nouveau riche Garen.