"Stop! What's that?" The man who had a rifle in his hand asked.
Currently the team were in Grey Terminal. This started when they were talking about food and suddenly Ace started talking about the food they get inside the gate beyond Grey Terminal.
Now they were all staked up, wearing a cloak dragging a covered dead crocodile as a way to get through the inspection and inside their desired place.
"It's crocodile leather for sale." Ace said. He then removed the cloth on the crocodile to prove his statement.
The gate keeper flinched back in surprise. "Go ahead." He said.
After that they were able to go inside but as soon as they entered Emilia noted that a rather large amount of people were surrounding the entrance. Obviously thieves that were trying to rob the goods.
"It seems that you're carrying a valuable thing there." One of the men carrying a stick said. "How about you leave it here."
Other men also started surrounding them while the man who first talked to them boldly approached them. "Oi! Say something."
"Shut up, you small fry." Ace said without hesitation. Luffy who was at the bottom of the pile then swung his iron pipe, (which the male trio were carrying)making the man fall.
"Before you rob..." Ace started as he pulled the cloak revealing themselves. "You should choose your targets wisely."
After revealing themselves, the thieves immediately recognised them and took a step back. The children without hesitation jumped and started attacking.
Emilia was the only one without the iron pipe ,rather wanted to see how strong her armament haki was.
Emilia punched the guy in front of her without a second thought. This made the guy being thrown near by, making a hole on the wall .
Emilia sweat dropped mentally noteing to not use it against normal people. After not even 5 minutes of fighting, they had beaten all the guys and started dressing up again.
...
Emilia stared at the shop keeper in front of her currently out of their disguise. "Huh? 20,000 Beli? Uncle, you can clearly see that this one is pure leather."
"Yes. That is why I'm buying it for 20,000. It's a rather great deal of you ask me." The shop keeper said trying to trick the small girl.
"I'm pretty sure this won't be any less than 60,000 Beli and I offered that for 50,000." Emilia said crossing her hands not budging.
Ace,Sabo and Luffy had no idea how to do this stuff and left it entirely on first they were happy that they could sell it for 20,000 but when Emilia mentioned the real cost, they couldn't be more happy to have her who knows the values of stuff since she does a lot of reading.
"I see..." Emilia sighed.
The shop keeper smiled. Even though she know the cost of her products , she is nothing more than a child after all.
"I guess I'll sell it in another shop." Emilia said turning back. "Let's go, you guys."
"W-wait!" The shop keeper said. "I...I'll buy it."
Emilia smiled.
...
"They paid us a good price for the crocodile ." Sabo said. "More money for our pirate savings."
"Yeah!" Ace agreed in a low tone since they were still in disguise. "Thanks Emilia."
"I was quite nervous since it was my first time negotiating." Emilia said.
"I'm hungry." Luffy who was at the very bottom, complained.
"Just wait." Ace replied. "You'll get to eat some delicious ramen soon."
"Ramen? What's that?" Sabo questioned. "Is it that delicious."
"I don't care,let's hurry up and eat." Luffy said.
Soon they came in front of a rather large building and entered it.
"Welcome." The man,probably the chef greeted but stopped them after seeing their unpleasant appearance. "W-wait, you can't come in our restaurant!"
Sabo then showed a golden circular thing and said. "I want a private room."
After that the man jumped back and bowed, quickly showing them their room.
"Four bowls of Ramen! Sorry for the wait." The waitress greeted and then left.
"So this is ramen?" Sabo asked quickly followed by "It looks delicious" by Luffy.
Emilia eyes also glowed as she stared at the food in front of never tasted ramen after coming to this world after all.
All of them started eating and soon finished and again was full from her second plate and didn't eat from them on.
"Emilia you're not eating anymore?" Ace asked.
"No...I'm full." Emilia really wonder how did these boys eat so much and was still so skinny.
"Then can I have your share?" Luffy asked as he ate.
" Go ahead."
They kept on ordering again and again that Emilia had started feeling bad for the staff.
"Excuse me." The waitress knocked bringing new set of bowls. But then Luffy who was distracted stretched his hand and reached out for the bowl making the waitress squeal in horror .
"Oh..." Emilia who witnessed the scene smiled. "We should go now that our cover is blown."
"Wait let me eat some more." Luffy said as he continued eating.
Not even a minute later the door opened . "Sir,please explain..."
"Run!" Sabo said as all of them rushed towards the window, breaking it and then jumped.
"The ramen was delicious." Sabo said as he was falling.
"I told you." Ace replied.
"I should try making it as well." Emilia said.
"I can't wait!" Luffy exclaimed.
You can imagine how other people saw this scene where children who were falling were talking mid-air calmly.
They then safely landed and started bolting.
"Stop! Some one catch them!" One of the sheriffs who spotted them shouted.
"Is that you,Sabo?! Wait!" One of the man who they ran pass by started shouting. "You were alive!"
Sabo stopped and looked back along with Emilia,Ace and Luffy.
"Sabo,that man's calling for you!" Ace said.
"Who is that?" Luffy questioned.
Emilia then realised who that man and where Sabo was from. She put all the pieces in place from when Sabo talked about nobles,certain time which showed Sabo was well educated, had a noble's belonging and now a man was calling out for she didn't comment.
"He must be mistaken. Let's go"
...
They were currently back in the forest and as soon as they reached a safe distance Ace and Luffy started interrogating Sabo.
"What..Im not hiding anything." Sabo said, as he was backed in a corner.
"Really?" Luffy said,oblivious already believing him.
"It's obvious he is hiding something!" Ace shouted. "Are you really keeping going to keep a secret from us?!"
"I told you already...I'm not hiding anything." Sabo looked away clearly a sign of lying.
"Talk already or I'll make you talk."Ace and Luffy grabbed Sabo and then started 'a forceful interrogration'.
"Sabo." Emilia called out making the boys stop fighting momentarily. "It's fine to reveal it. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Emilia, you already knew about it?!" Luffy questioned.
"No.I just found it out myself in the town." Emilia quickly denied.
Sabo then nodded and started explaining his story.
"Ehhhh?! A noble's son." Ace and Luffy questioned in unison. "...who is?"
"Me!" Sabo shouted.
Ace and Luffy then shoved their pinky finger deep in their nose. "So?"
"You guys were the ones who asked it." Emilia said, sweat dropping at the scene suddenly remembering Garp. Seriously this family...
"I'm not an orphan and both my parents are alive." Sabo explained. "And the man who we saw today is my father."
The other trio just stared quietly waiting for the blond haired boy to continue. "I'm sorry for lying to you." Sabo apologised looking down.
"You apologied so I forgive you." Luffy said crossing his arms. Emilia looked at Luffy smiling. This child is always so pure, always giving out love attracting people to him along the way.
"Honesty I'm shocked " Ace said turning his back and facing the sea "Why would you do this if you're a noble's son?"
"I ran away from home..." Sabo started remembering his childhood memories when he was with his parents "...because they only care about money and status but not me. I had to study all day since if I am unable to marry a girl from a royal family, I'll be considered crap."
Emilia stared at the boy in front of her. She had been lucky to be born into a loving family so she can't completely understand Sabo but then she can't help but feel saddened for him.
"For that family I was nobody. Sorry if I offend you, but even though I had parents I felt lonely!" Sabo shouted. "People in Grey Terminal were not like the nobles ,but for me I liked it better there."
"I see...Now I understand." Ace stated.
Sabo then stood up now smiling. "We'll definitely set sail and leave this country. I wanna know more about this world and then write a book on my adventures!"
"I don't mind studying navigation. I'll be stronger and then become a pirate!" Sabo shouted arms in the air. This caused all of them to smile.
" I know, you don't have to tell me that." Ace started "I'll become a pirate and keep on fighting, until I'm the most famous! That's the way I'll prove my existence. "
"I don't care if those bastards don't acknowledge my existence or how much they hate me...I'll become a great pirate and I'll face them." Ace shouted with determination in his eyes. " I won't run away from anyone, I won't lose against anyone neither will I be afraid of anyone. Everyone will know my name!"
When Ace said these words a wave of emotion rushed through Emilia. She didn't know how to describe it. She felt proud at the same time she felt un easy. But one thing sure was that she really wanted to see Ace grow .Staying with him and the others made her really attached to them.
This world at first was just a fiction before but now this has become a reality. And all the times they have spend together is real.
Luffy who was next to her, laughed and then rushed forward. "I'll find One Piece and then become the Pirate King!"
"Huh?!" Both Ace and Sabo exclaimed as Luffy just laughed.
"I have no idea what your saying...You just talk nonsense" Ace said scratching his head while Sabo just laughed.
Emilia then walked forward and looked at the sea.
"My dream is..." She started talking as she turned and faces them. " to make sure you guys keep your promises and do my best to support them."
The boys all had a questioning face but soon started fighting about who will be the captain (again ) as Emilia looked at them with a smile.
She really was happy.