"Little Garden?"
A glint of interest flashed in Maude's eyes.
Hearing Arthur mention a Devil Fruit piqued Maude's curiosity immediately.
Feigning knowledge of the topic, he aimed to keep Arthur talking.
Unexpectedly, this Devil Fruit had ties to Little Garden.
"Yes, it's a fascinating prehistoric island," Arthur replied.
After taking a seat, Arthur nonchalantly grabbed an empty cup and poured himself a drink.
The boy sitting before him was no longer the laborer from that old weapons shop but a notorious pirate with a bounty exceeding 100 million berries.
This change in status had profoundly shifted Arthur's attitude toward Maude.
Where once he had ignored or belittled Maude, now he regarded him with respect, even deference.
Hearing Arthur's words, Gaya instinctively glanced at Maude.
Little Garden was an island Maude had once mentioned to her.
Arthur fiddled with his cup and looked up at Maude's composed expression before continuing:
"According to the survivor who brought back the Devil Fruit, the island is filled with dangerous prehistoric creatures and… two very powerful giants."
"…"
Maude feigned keen interest, though he already knew all of this.
What he truly wanted was to understand Arthur's motive for bringing this up.
Seeing Maude's interest, Arthur felt reassured. After taking a sip of his drink, he delved further into the story of Little Garden.
"Maude those two giants are no ordinary beings. Have you heard of the Giant Warrior Pirates?"
"No."
Maude shook his head, playing along.
Bailey glanced at Maude and inexplicably felt a familiar, subtle tension.
Well, this has nothing to do with me.
With that thought, Bailey grabbed a piece of meat and began eating.
Arthur, watching Maude intently, said in a serious tone:
"It was a pirate crew formed by giants over a century ago. They wreaked havoc across the seas, burning village after village in their wake."
"In just a few years, countless lives were lost at their hands, shaking the world at the time."
"And the two giants on Little Garden? They were the captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates: Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre!"
"Today, the Giant Warrior Pirates are long disbanded, but Dorry and Brogy's bounties of 100 million berries each are still valid."
Arthur's eyes glimmered as he spoke.
Maud took a sip of his drink and said nonchalantly, "And then?"
"Two hundred million."
Arthur raised two fingers and leaned in. "Their heads are worth 200 million. Interested?"
"…"
Maude smiled without answering.
Arthur, undeterred, adopted a persuasive tone:
"If the Giant Warrior Pirates were still in their prime, taking the heads of Dorry and Brogy would be near impossible. But now? They're isolated, which makes it an ideal opportunity."
"If we work together and employ the right strategies, killing them won't be hard. Afterward, we split the bounty: 70-30, in your favor. What do you say?"
So that's his angle.
Maude mused inwardly but casually redirected the conversation. "Do you know what power that Devil Fruit from Little Garden holds?"
Arthur, slightly disappointed by the topic change, still answered the question.
"I've heard it's an Ancient Zoan-type, but I can't confirm that."
"An Ancient Zoan, huh…"
Maude stroked his chin, his thoughts drifting to the ecology of Little Garden.
The island teemed with countless prehistoric creatures, including various dinosaurs.
If the Devil Fruit really was an Ancient Zoan brought from Little Garden…
Could it be that all Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits originate from Little Garden?
While Maude pondered, Gaya asked curiously, "If someone went through all the trouble to find a Devil Fruit, why not just eat it?"
Maude glanced at Gaya, amused by her curiosity, and explained with a smile: "Because, for some, cold hard cash is more appealing than unknown power."
"Oh."
Gaya nodded in understanding.
A Devil Fruit could grant power, and with power came wealth.
The logic was simple, but the process wasn't immediate.
Thus, trading uncertain future strength for money that could change one's life now was a choice many would make.
And on this island, where money reigns supreme, selling a Devil Fruit for cash was the most logical course of action.
"Arthur, Little Garden isn't on this route. To target those giants, you'd need a Eternal Pose permanently set to the island."
Maude turned his gaze to Arthur, inexplicably steering the topic back to Little Garden.
Arthur froze, momentarily struggling to follow Maude's train of thought.
So, are you interested in the Devil Fruit, or the giants' bounties?
Feeling helpless, Arthur lowered his voice once more.
"Recently, many have come here for the Devil Fruit, while others are chasing the bounties on Dorry and Brogy, heading straight to Little Garden. As a result, Eternal Poses set to Little Garden have become a hot commodity."
Arthur flashed a confident smile.
"However… I just so happen to have one."
"Oh?"
Maude's eyes lit up, and he asked with feigned curiosity, "A Eternal Pose? We've only just arrived on the Grand Line, so I've only heard they resemble hourglasses. I've never seen one myself."
"They do resemble hourglasses."
Arthur pulled a Eternal Pose for Little Garden from his pocket.
"Wow, it's even more exquisite than I imagined. Mind if I take a closer look?"
Without hesitation, Arthur handed the Eternal Pose to Maude.
Maude took it and, with casual ease, slipped it into his pocket. Then, just as naturally, he picked up a bottle of wine and poured Arthur a drink.
It was as though he'd never taken the Eternal Pose at all.
"???"
Arthur stared blankly at Maude.
The only sound at the table was Bailey chewing on his meat.
"Maude?"
"Hmm?"
Maude looked at Arthur quizzically, as if to say, "What's up?"
Arthur's mouth twitched as he reminded him, "The Eternal Pose you just pocketed… it's mine."
"Eternal Pose? What Eternal Pose?"
"…"
Arthur stared at Maude in disbelief and enunciated, "The Eternal Pose to Little Garden!"
"Oh, you mean this?" Maude said, cutting into a piece of steak with deliberate calm. "Do you have a Eternal Pose to Little Garden? That'd be helpful."
Arthur was speechless, as if seeing Maude for the first time.
He glanced at the others at the table.
Raising his gaze, he found:
Lafitte sipping the tavern's signature strong drink.
Gaya carefully slicing meat for Bailey.
Jim and Bailey absorbed in their meal.
Tour guide Benny nearly burying her head under the table.
"…"
Arthur was at a loss for words.
Elsewhere in the tavern, a man rose to settle his bill and leave.
Stepping into a dim alleyway, he rolled up his sleeve to reveal a wrist-mounted Den Den Mushi.
Dialing a number, he spoke in a hushed tone:
"Bacardi Maude is on Leviathan Island."
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