The first companion

With Lott's help, Ling'er soon finished burying her grandfather.

Lott followed Ling'er to a restaurant in town. Fortunately, it had not been an actual war, and the fighting had not reached this place. Otherwise, it probably would not have been spared either.

"Benefactor, this is the restaurant my grandfather ran. Please sit over there for a moment."

Watching Ling'er bustle about, Lott could not help feeling a little warmth. In his previous life, he had dearly wished for a younger sister like her.

[Ding. Choice triggered:

A: Take Ling'er as your younger sister. Rewards: 'Good Big Brother' title ×1, Zoan Devil Fruit ×1, Senzu Beans ×100.

B: Recruit Ling'er as a pirate companion. Rewards: Logia Devil Fruit ×1, 100 million Beli, Senzu Beans ×1,000.

C: Leave without getting involved. Rewards: cotton candy ×1, Paramecia Devil Fruit ×1, Senzu Beans ×100.]

Before long, the girl brought a fairly lavish-looking dinner to the table.

When Ling'er took out three bowls, Lott understood.

Apparently, one of them was meant for her grandfather.

"Benefactor, please eat. My cooking isn't very good, so please don't mind."

"Don't call me benefactor. My name is Lott. Just call me Lott."

"L-Lott?" Ling'er called out tentatively.

"Mm." Lott nodded.

Ling'er looked at Lott, gazing at his handsome face, and her cheeks flushed crimson.

"What's wrong?" Lott looked at Ling'er in confusion.

"N-nothing. Also... I... my name is Ling'er. Imela Ling'er." Ling'er blinked her large eyes at Lott.

"Oh, Ling'er. A beautiful name, just as beautiful as you."

Hearing that, Ling'er's face turned unusually red.

"L-Lott, y-you should try my cooking. I don't have any other skills, but I'm quite confident when it comes to cooking."

Ling'er placed a piece of steamed meat in Lott's bowl, her face full of anticipation.

Lott tasted it, and his pupils instantly widened. What kind of heavenly flavor was this?

Even counting his previous life, Ling'er's cooking ranked among the top three.

"Mm, it's delicious. Absolutely delicious! This is the best food I've ever eaten." Lott could not resist stuffing a few more mouthfuls into his mouth.

Hearing Lott's sincere praise, Ling'er broke into a satisfied smile.

After that, Ling'er seemed to open the floodgates and talked at length.

"So your parents were killed by pirates after you were born?" Lott sighed. It turned out that the girl before him had led a lonely, miserable life too.

"Then would you be willing to come with me?" Lott asked. Although her grandfather had entrusted her to him, he still needed to ask what she wanted.

Since he was still going to become a pirate, a cook ought to be the most important, indispensable member of the crew.

Of course, he was not inviting Ling'er just because of her cooking, nor merely because of the old man's request. More than anything, he did not want such a young girl to live all alone with no one to rely on.

"Grandpa entrusted me to you, so I can only go with you. But I... I'm not an adult yet..." Ling'er covered her face, steam rising from the top of her head.

In the pirate world, people came of age at sixteen. Seeing Ling'er's expression, Lott guessed that the girl must have gotten the wrong idea.

He hurriedly explained, "That's not what I meant. I can't stay on this island forever. Would you be willing to become my companion?"

"Huh? Oh, oh! Y-yes, I would." Ling'er raised her head, her face still tinged with red.

"But there's a very good chance I'll become a pirate."

At Lott's words, the girl's body visibly stiffened. Clearly, the word "pirate" struck a nerve. After all, pirates had caused all the suffering in the life of the girl before him.

"I won't force you. Whether you agree is entirely up to you."

Lott did not rush her, quietly eating his food. He knew that, for a girl with no one to rely on, her home had just been destroyed by pirates.

Someone had suddenly saved him, only for the benefactor who had saved him to ask her to become a pirate.

Anyone in her place would have been torn and worried.

"I'm willing!" The girl's voice was rather firm. "I know that a good person like you, Lord Lott, would definitely be a good pirate too."

A good pirate? Lott pondered this. Hearing that term really was rather ironic. If there were good pirates, did that mean there were bad Marines too?

"Really?"

"Really!" The girl nodded.

"You won't regret it?"

"I won't!"

"All right. From now on, you're my first companion." Lott held his right hand out to the girl.

The girl looked at the hand before her, then reached out and clasped it.

[Ding. Congratulations, host, on completing your choice. Rewards obtained: Logia Gold-Gold Fruit, 100 million Beli, Senzu Beans ×1,000.]

System, what is this Gold-Gold Fruit?

[Logia Gold-Gold Fruit: allows the entire body to turn into gold.]

Hearing the system's notification, Lott understood somewhat. Clearly, this fruit was more advanced than Tesoro's.

Tesoro's was only a Paramecia fruit, which could not turn his body into an element, whereas this one clearly could.

"All right, Ling'er, pack your things first. I'll come get you tomorrow morning."

"Okay, Lord Lo... Captain?"

"How did it go?" After leaving the restaurant, Lott found Ace and Luffy.

"Lott, could you stop appearing out of nowhere? Do you know how scary it is when someone suddenly appears right in front of you?" Ace's tone was somewhat reproachful.

"Oh, whoops, sorry. So, how did things go?"

"Pretty much settled. We just spoke with the village chief and handed the money over to him while we were at it. He also thanked us on behalf of the village."

Ace nodded, indicating that everything had gone smoothly.

"Let's set off again tomorrow."

"Hey! Lott, there's still plenty of adventure waiting for us on this island." Hearing Lott's words, Luffy looked thoroughly reluctant.

"There are plenty of islands in these waters worth exploring. Besides, I think it's the food on this island you don't want to leave behind, isn't it?"

Luffy did not answer, merely pouting rather childishly.

Seeing Luffy act so childishly, Ace also shook his head with a smile and said, "Luffy, we just saved this village. There might be plenty more villages waiting for us to save them."

Having witnessed the desolation and helplessness of Gray Terminal firsthand, Ace was still filled with concern and compassion for the people at the bottom of society. That was why he also wanted to use his own strength to save more innocent people at the bottom.

"Oh." Hearing that, Luffy could only nod, though his lips remained stuck out in a pout.

The next day.

Aboard the Skybreaker.

"Lott, who are they?" Ling'er looked at Luffy and Ace in confusion.

"Oh, them? Just two brats who went to sea to gain some experience."

"Oh." Ling'er nodded, only half understanding.

"Hey! Lott, who are you calling a brat?" Luffy clenched his fists, his face full of anger.

Lott shot back, "Aren't you a brat?"

Hearing that, Luffy protested indignantly, "You're barely any older than me!"

"Looks like you haven't been taught enough lessons." With that, Lott punched Luffy into the deck.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! So you hit people when you can't win an argument, huh?" Luffy immediately stood back up from the lawn on the deck, still thoroughly defiant.

"Luffy, stop making a fuss." Ace grabbed Luffy.

"Ace, let go of me..."

Ling'er's face instantly darkened with exasperation. What kind of people are these? Is Lord Lott usually like this too?