The First Chapter of the Night

"We need a ship that can withstand the wind and waves of the Grand Line."

Zoro stated his demand bluntly. He was never the sort to beat around the bush.

"A ship for the Grand Line? That won't come cheap." Usopp casually quoted a price. "Even a small wooden sailboat starts at several hundred thousand Belly, at the very least."

Kaya's family did indeed own a massive fleet, so Usopp knew these market prices like the back of his hand.

In fact, the ship he had prepared for the Straw Hat Pirates had originally been in that very grade.

"That expensive..." Zoro's heart tightened slightly.

Objectively speaking, that price was absolutely fair on the sea. Those nobles and famous pirates could pay it without even blinking.

But the problem was, right now they were just a bunch of greenhorns who had barely set out to sea.

Back when he had been a bounty hunter, Zoro had actually saved up a fortune of several million.

But money had always been something external to him. On top of that, back then, in order to smoothly get himself onto Luffy's ship and make his down-and-out swordsman persona more convincing, he had not brought that money with him at all.

Zoro subconsciously turned his gaze toward Nami.

If one had to say who among the three of them was the richest, then there was no doubt it was this legendary thief of East Blue.

Forget a mere few hundred thousand—even if it were tens of millions of Belly, she could probably take it out without frowning.

"I do have money, but why should I lend it to you?"

Nami crossed her arms and looked at Zoro's embarrassed expression with a beaming smile.

"Nami-chaaan~ We're comrades!"

Luffy immediately sidled over, his big eyes staring at