Sonia led Barn to a huge, tightly shut door. For some reason, he felt a little warm standing before it and instinctively loosened his collar.
"All right, I understand. Sorry for the trouble, but please get my apprentice settled in."
Barn smiled as he spoke to Sonia.
"Of course. Please rest assured, I'll take care of everything."
Sonia covered her mouth with one hand, giving him a seemingly knowing smile before leaving.
Barn watched her leave in puzzlement, but he did not dwell on it. He placed his hand against the enormous door and slowly pushed it open.
Steam filled the air...
At that same moment, an enormous bell rang outside Kuja Castle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Lady Snake Princess... is about to bathe!"
The mighty shout of the Kuja Warriors rang out from Kuja Castle. Hearing it, the residents of Amazon Lily who were still eating inside began to leave at once.
"Hurry, get out of the castle...!"
"Lady Snake Princess... is about to bathe..."
"B-but I only just started eating."
A female warrior holding a chunk of Sea King meat spoke reluctantly. Another warrior behind her patted her and said with a smile,
"No, no! Hurry up, get outside! You can eat out there!"
"Oh, all right."
The people inside Kuja Castle hurried to leave, while many of the shops in the town outside were already bustling with preparations.
"It's bath time! Hurry and get the food ready. The people from the castle are coming out, and the shop will be packed any minute."
Just then, enormous curtains were raised between Kuja Castle and the town outside. The awe-inspiring emblem of the Kuja Pirates was painted on them in black dye. The female warriors from the pirate ship brought over plenty of barrels of liquor and sat in front