Before long, Hareda called over several residents who, like him, lived on the island. They all looked different, but wore the same clothes in different colors, and they were all quite short.
In a world where pirates averaged around 1.9 meters tall, they could fairly be called dwarves. Even Shirakawa was shorter than the average person in this world.
"Is this the guy who wants to settle here?" Several elderly men who were still fairly spry gathered around Shirakawa and scrutinized him. Some even pulled out magnifying glasses and held them right up to his face for a closer look.
"Hey, are you done looking yet?" After being examined like some rare animal, Shirakawa's mouth twitched.
"No," one of them replied firmly.
"Why not?"
"Everyone here is a scientist who studies meteorology. You aren't, so you can't settle here."
"Is that so? Well, I have money," Shirakawa said casually, but he put particular emphasis on the word "money."
"Money?" The scientists' eyes lit up.
"If you have money, we could make an exception," one of them conceded. After all, their research needed funding, too.
"But settling here will cost you a lot, and you'll have to pay us every year."
"No problem. How much will it take?"
"Wait a moment. We'll discuss it."
With that, the scientists moved away from Shirakawa and began whispering among themselves. Shirakawa could have listened in and found out what they were saying, but he chose not to.
A short while later, the scientists returned. The tallest one said to Shirakawa, "We'll need you to pay us one hundred thousand Berries every year."
"One hundred thousand Berries? That's not much." Shirakawa had thought they'd come up with an exorbitant price, but apparently he'd been overthinking it and assuming the worst of people.
Then Shirakawa pulled