Pirates: Invincible from the Start

Eruma had once been a beautiful oasis city. Its canal had only just been destroyed, and though it was not as prosperous as the port city of Nanohana, it still drew plenty of tourists and bustled with life.

Despite their worries about the ruined canal, the townspeople welcomed every visitor with warmth.

At the inn, Kuta and his companions chose their rooms with the help of a server. After putting down their luggage, they went to the tavern on the ground floor.

It was a large, open-plan tavern.

With sunset approaching, people came and went, filling it with noise and life.

After ordering, Kuta noticed the owner standing alone behind the bar, lost in thought. While they waited for their food, he went over to chat.

"Boss!"

Kuta sat on a round swivel stool, rested both hands on the bar, and greeted him.

"Boss!"

The owner was still staring into space and had not heard him, so Kuta called again, louder this time.

"Hm?"

The owner jolted back to his senses. He set down the glass he had been polishing and bowed to Kuta in apology.

"Ah, sorry! My mind wandered for a moment."

"No problem."

Kuta waved it off. "Boss, get me a glass of wine first."

"Oh! Of course."

The owner turned and scanned the wine cabinet behind the bar several

times. At last, his gaze settled on a bottle that looked expensive at a glance.

He hesitated briefly, then reached up and took it down.

Turning back, he picked up a cloth and gently wiped the bottle, though it did not have a speck of dust on it.

"You seem reluctant to part with that bottle, boss."

Kuta looked at it curiously. "Is there a story behind it?"

"This bottle..."

The owner set down the cloth and