Hmm... Just Curious / Slaves

Back then, they had only seen Golden Lion from a distance and had never gotten close to him. Here, though, they could meet a legend up close.

At that thought, they turned excited gazes toward Kuta again.

"All right, all right."

As though he had sensed his companions' curiosity and excitement, Kuta shook his head and smiled. "Rayleigh isn't here right now. We'll go look for him later. I think I know where he is."

"Really?"

"Really?"

The first "Really?" came from the Ahua Trio. The second came from Shakky, who had emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray.

Kuta glanced at the Ahua Trio's shining eyes, then turned toward Shakky, who stood at the kitchen doorway staring at him in bewilderment.

He smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, Rayleigh should be at the Slave Auction House right now!"

Shakky walked slowly over, set the tray on the counter, and gave the smiling Kuta a searching look.

"He could certainly be there."

Looking away, she picked up the juice, beer, and coffee on the tray and handed them out to everyone.

Then she bent down, took a green bottle with a fireworks label from beneath the counter, straightened up, and set it on the counter, pushing it toward Kuta.

"Wine from the West Blue. After smelling the wine in your Wine Gourd, I knew you had nothing but good stuff in there, better than anything I have here. I won't embarrass myself trying to compete. This bottle may not be as rich and fragrant as what's in your Wine Gourd, but it's certainly famous in this world."

"They call it the fiercest drink on the seas—Hard liquor."

She emphasized the words "hard liquor."

"Haha! Hard liquor, huh?"

Kuta looked at the bottle in front of him, a flicker of thought passing