Nicola led the group to the entrance of a very clean inn: "We're here. An inn like this should be more comfortable to stay in. I'm telling you, don't go into any of those places with women standing at the entrance. My dad said those are places only indecent people go."
Raiden Ei looked back; indeed, several storefronts had women standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone. She used Observation Haki to sense those inns, but she quickly withdrew her perception in just an instant. She acted as if she hadn't seen anything.
Raiden Ei's expression was a bit unnatural as she spoke: "Let's go!" and she was the first to enter the inn.
Nicola was a little confused: "What's wrong with the General?"
"Hurry up! Geer and Mina have already gone in," Sang pulled Nicola and entered the inn as well. Raiden Ei entered the inn and looked at the surrounding decor. Although it wasn't large, it was quite grand. The surroundings were clean and bright, and there was a woman reading a book in front of the counter.
Raiden Ei led the group to the counter. Seeing that the woman hadn't noticed them, she knocked on the counter with a "thump-thump." The woman finally looked up at them.
"Boss! Do you have any rooms?" Raiden Ei inquired.
Seeing that they were looking for lodging, the woman immediately put on a faint smile. "Yes, how many rooms do you need?"
Raiden Ei turned to look at Nicola and the others: "Will you stay together or take separate rooms?"
Sang: "Nicola and I can share one room."
Geer: "I'll stay with Mina too!"
Innkeeper: "Then let's book three rooms for now. How much will that be?"
Nicola: "Aren't we booking a room for Uncle Haisier and the others?"
Raiden Ei: "We don't know where they are right now. Let's book rooms for them when they arrive."
Innkeeper: "Are you sure about three rooms?"
"Yes, we'll stay for one night. How much, Boss?"
"We have Deluxe Rooms for 3,000 Berries a day, and Standard Rooms for 1,000. Meals aren't included, but there is a restaurant in the inn that requires extra payment. Which type do you need?"
Raiden Ei took out 20,000 Berries from the system backpack: "Here you go. Also, prepare food for us. You don't need to return the change."
The woman smiled so widely her teeth showed: "Great, I'll take you there right away. Just call me Dela."
"Okay, lead the way!"
Dela led the group to find their rooms. They were all adjacent rooms, which were quite nice. After dismissing Dela, the group entered their respective rooms.
Raiden Ei felt it was acceptable; she finally had a bed to sleep on tonight. She just wondered if the bed was clean? The scene she had just witnessed flashed in her mind, making her feel like her own mind had become dirty. She shook off the strange thoughts.
She still wasn't entirely convinced the bed was clean. She might as well buy a bed herself and put it in the backpack! It would be convenient to use in the future.
Raiden Ei walked out of her room, planning to go out onto the street to buy some things she would need later. She didn't plan on calling Nicola and the others; she walked onto the street alone.
She left the inn and walked forward along the street, looking at the shops on both sides. She bought everything that caught her eye and what she might need in the future.
Passing a clothing store, Raiden Ei walked in without hesitation. She only had one set of clothes right now, which made bathing quite troublesome. She planned to buy a few more sets. Even if she couldn't achieve the freedom of clothing she had before crossing over, she should at least have a few sets to rotate through.
An hour later, Raiden Ei came out of the clothing store with a satisfied smile on her face. She had spent over a hundred thousand Berries here, buying more than ten sets of clothes. From now on, she would finally have clothes to change into.
Next, Raiden Ei went to buy books related to navigation. If she was going to sail alone, she needed to learn navigation techniques. She also believed that with her current Talents, she could learn anything—well... cooking was an exception.
She bought a large amount of fruit, which wouldn't spoil in the backpack, so buying a lot was fine. She bought a bed and bedding, all the best quality ones. She bought things whenever she found something suitable until she ran into Haisier.
Haisier hadn't expected to run into Raiden Ei just walking down the street. He had just come out of the Marine Branch and was worried about how to find the group since he couldn't locate them.
Haisier: "Miss General, are you out shopping?"
Raiden Ei was also a little surprised: "Yeah, buying some supplies for later use. Why are you alone? Where are the others?"
Haisier: "Oh, I haven't told you yet. Maiga and the others have gone to join the Marines."
Raiden Ei was a bit confused: "Why do they want to become Marines?"
Haisier said with a touch of melancholy: "Perhaps they experienced the scenery of the great sea and are unwilling to return to their former impoverished and down-and-out lives!"
Raiden Ei didn't think much of it: "Oh! Everyone has their own path to walk; there's no need to dwell on it."
Haisier: "I'm fine, just feeling a bit sentimental. Is there anything else you haven't bought? I can help you look."
Raiden Ei wanted to ask if the locals of East Blue knew where a ship was being sold: "Actually, yes. Is there a shipyard on this island? I want to buy a ship I can sail myself."
Haisier: "I really don't know about that. The local fixer and the Marines here should know."
Raiden Ei: "Is that so? Then I'll ask Major Kaiweiya tomorrow. I think he seems quite easy to talk to."
"Let's go, I'll take you to the inn where we're staying now. By the way, did you see Gando?"
Haisier followed Raiden Ei while answering: "I haven't seen him since I came out of the Marine Branch. What's wrong? Is he missing?"
Raiden Ei: "Yeah. Ever since you were pulled away by Maiga and the others, Gando left on his own too. I don't know where he went, and I didn't bother checking."
Haisier: "Is that so? He's an adult; he should be able to handle his own affairs. No need to worry about him."
Raiden Ei and Haisier chatted as they walked back to the inn. She handed the landlady another 30,000 Berries and booked a room. She didn't really care about these Berries; she had already seen that they were useless for her leveling up—they were just pieces of paper.
After sending Haisier away, Raiden Ei returned to her room, set up the bed she bought, and went out for dinner. Then it got dark.
There were no entertainment activities here at night, so after finishing dinner, Raiden Ei could only practice her swordsmanship in the inn's courtyard, along with Haisier and the others who had to train together.
The next day
Raiden Ei woke up in a bed for the first time. She wasn't quite used to it. Sitting on the bed, her hair was messy, and her pajamas were slightly disheveled, revealing smooth and delicate skin that made one involuntarily want to take a bite.
As soon as Raiden Ei sobered up, she immediately got out of bed to wash up, change clothes, and then did the essential task of tying up her hair. Only after getting everything sorted out did she walk out of the room. No one else was up that early. She started practicing in the courtyard by herself.
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