103 The Laparas Skill Shop

'I have 2 gold coins left... These coins were the ones I earned from the auction. I need to make a way to earn more gold! It's a waste not to capitalize on this opportunity. Wait a minute... If they sell skills, then~'

"Mister..."

"Ah! Forgive my rudeness, Sire! My name is Augustus von Laparas. You can call me Augustus. I am the one in charge of the Laparas Skill Shop here in the Humberlica Kingdom, and the nephew of the late Vice Almirante Soledad Laparas."

"You!?" Pedro's eyes seemed like it was about to pop out from its sockets due to shock.

"Sire?" Pedro's reactions confused Augustus and made him stare towards Pedro.

"Hahaha! It's such a small world after all! Hahaha!" Pedro laughed whilst placing his hands into his face.

"Sire?" Augustus became more confused at Pedro's words.

"Haah! Forgive my actions, Augustus. Let me introduce my self..." Pedro calmed down, "I am... Aron Death!"

"Death?"

"Yes. Aron Death, a recruit from the Karakoa Ship of the one and only Vice Almirante Soledad!" Pedro smirked.

"Eh?" Augustus was astounded. No words could escape out from him. He could only stare at Pedro on shock.

Seconds later, he was able to gather himself.

"I~Impossible! Aunt Soledad only recruits the best, the most talented, and those with..."

"Hahaha!" Pedro laughed at Augustus's reaction and took a piece of paper out from his inventory bag.

"Would this be sufficient enough as proof?"

"A... A Nearis Paper!"

'Seeing how Augustus reacted... This paper might hold some value to them. Then...' Pedro smirked deep inside.

"Ehem! Perhaps, The Laparas Skill Shop is interested in buying Nearis Paper?" Pedro handed the paper to Augustus.

"O~of course!"

"Can I know how much a piece of paper cost?"

"The shop is willing to buy fifty pieces of Nearis Paper for one gold coin."

"That many? One gold coin only?"

"Uh! Uh! Since... Since it is a recruitment event, I can make an exception for Sire Aron and give you an offer of forty pieces of Nearis Paper for one gold coin. I can't go any lower than that, Sire Aron."

"Hahaha! It's fine! It's fine!" Pedro laughed. 'Coin problem, solved!'

Pedro took out another inventory bag out of his inventory bag. Augustus became more amazed as he assumed that the inventory bag of Pedro was a rare type of Magical Item.

Hours later, the sun was already about to shine when Pedro decided to stop because he got sick of counting papers, non-stop. He sold a huge amount of three thousand pieces of Nearis Paper. It was almost 80% of the total Nearis Paper he had.

"Hmm... It is fine with me." Pedro gestured an 'Ok' sign.

"Thank you for your consideration."

In the end, Pedro earned 65 gold coins and 5 skills. Three skills cost 2 gold coins while two skills cost 1 gold coin. The skills he bought was meant for the rest of his "7-man Squad".

"It's already this late in the morning? We better get moving! Augustus, It's nice to meet you! And... My condolence to your late aunt."

"My sincere thanks, Sire Aron! Please do come back when you have the chance. It's nice doing business with you!"

Pedro and Faunia waved goodbye to Augustus and left the shop. Having 65 gold coins, Pedro was brimming with excitement as his eyes landed on a huge weapon shop on the street.

"Human! Let's eat first! I am hungry!" Faunia pinched his ears and pulled him towards a restaurant on the other side of the street.

Food in the restaurant cost around a few silvers. Pedro felt a rich man at that moment and allowed Faunia to order food to her heart's content. In the end, their meal cost 3 gold coins and was deducted from his overall coin of 67 gold coins.

Thus, he had 64 gold coins remaining.

Just as they were about to leave the restaurant, Pedro received a message from Mathew. Mathew told Pedro that he was about to join a meeting with the highest-ranking official of the organization.

Pedro replied and instructed Mathew that, no matter what happens, Karakoa Fleet must remain independent as it is. Mathew affirmed in response.

He'll do his best even if it cost his life. He was sure that no matter what happens to him and Talia, Pedro has things in plan for them. Hence, he was not afraid of losing his character. He can only trust Pedro's plans and follow them.

~~~~~~~~

Minutes earlier, Inside the huge meeting hall in the Humberlica Castle, ten people were sitting around a round table.

"It seems like Old man Sever won't be coming once again." A young and good looking man with a long blond hair broke the tense silence within the room. He was wearing a light red overcoat with three stars on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go and help him at the Dark Continent, Senior Eigrand?" An elegant and young woman with a black and beautifully braid hair responded calmly. She was wearing a dark purple overcoat with the same three stars on her shoulder.

"Nina! Are you threatening me?!" Eigrand pointed to the woman, full of rage.

Nina simply smirked in response, while her eyes stared at Eigrand, full of killing intent.

"Eigrand, Nina, Stop! Deal with your childish matter after the meeting." An old man with long white hair and beard slammed the table, strong enough to shook the dust off, under it, but not strong enough to make a dent or a crack.

"Thank old man Thifrion... Don't think that because you're a woman that I'd hold back." Eigrand calmed down.

"Tch..." Nina calmed down as well. The air at the room was about to become tenser. Fortunately, Another old man who was carefreely sitting leaned forward and placed his hands to the table.

"Let's get to the point, Uno. What do you plan to do with the three empty slots in the Admirals Circle?"

"It's not my decision to make... Fuego!" A man wearing a dark grey overcoat with four stars in his shoulder leaned forward with a smile.

"Hahahaha! I was just kidding! No need for you to get worked up."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Oh! It must be them." Old man Fuego was filled with excitement.

~~~~~~~

Outside the meeting hall, Talia and Mathew arrived.

"Talia... are you ready?"

"Don't mind me, brother! I am fine."

"That's good."

Pak!

"Ouch!" Mathew shouted in pain. Then, he looked towards Talia who slapped his back.

"Relax brother! You're so tense. It's just a game. It's not like you're going into a job interview, right?"

"Sigh... Okay. Okay." Mathew shook his head.

"Come in!" They heard a voice coming from inside. Hence, Mathew didn't waste another second and pushed the door open.

"Eh... Why is the door not opening?" Mathew became nervous. 'Was this door designed to be specifically opened by strong people?'

"Brother..." Talia looked at Mathew with a disappointed look, with her arms crossed while shaking her head.

"Eh?"

"The door... You should pull it, not push! Tch!"

"Oh!" Mathew pulled the door and it opened slowly.

Crook!

"Welcome, young ones!" Uno stood to welcome them.