Chapter 198: Thieving Cat

Chapter 198: Thieving Cat



"Oh, if it isn't Harpin D. Cherry! Long time no see!" A starfish wearing a rastacap said to Cherry as he walked over on his little legs.

"Who are you?" Cherry asked, turning her attention away from the distant Ryugu palace.

"It's me! Pappag! How can you not remember me?!" Pappag felt aggrieved.

"I think I'd remember a talking starfish." Cherry spoke bluntly.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?!" Pappag said, getting a little angry. "I was with Caimie and Hachi when you went to Sabaody Archipelago two years ago!"

"I know. I'm just blowing off some steam by grating your nerves." Cherry admitted.

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that. I have more nerves than the average starfish, you know?" Pappag harrumphed.

"So why are you here? I thought you were Camie's pet?" Cherry asked.

"I am, but I'm also a super successful fashion designer as you know! Naturally I live in my own mansion and act independently as I please." Pappag bragged.

"Oh, I thought that was a joke..." Cherry said, stabbing Pappag with a metaphorical spear through his body.

"Come with me! I'll have you acknowledge my superior fashion skills!" Pappag demanded.

Cherry's first instinct was to refuse, but she relented in the end. She didn't have the means to gain an audience with the king, and barging into the palace would get the others into trouble as well. She wasn't a thoughtless fool like Luffy. Besides, if Pappag was truly as important as his massive ego implies, then perhaps he would be able to get her that audience, or at least know someone who can.

"Fine then, lead the way." Cherry said.

"Yeah, that's the spirit! It's not everyday that a famous fashion designer offers a personal makeover to you after all!" Pappag exclaimed, leading the way somewhere.

Cherry suddenly had to suppress her fight or flight instincts.

'This isn't what I signed up for!' Cherry shouted in her mind, even as her legs mechanically dragged her forward.

Pappag hailed some sort of fish taxi service which they both boarded.

"Not to brag, but I'm also acquainted with Princess Shirahoshi, you know. I'm in all the important social circles-" Pappag chattered away.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That's Whitebeard's flag over there, isn't it?" Cherry asked.

Nami seemingly vanished from the place she was just standing.

"You went and did it now, Pappag. I pity you." Cherry said, putting her wallet away.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Pappag looked at her with confusion.

"All done~!" Nami said, drawing their attention.

Looking around, the entire store was cleaned out and stuffed into several giant sacks. Not

even the clothes hangers were spared from her looting spree.

"Cherry, be a dear and help me with the bags-?" Nami asked innocently.

"Monsieur Pappag, the store is empty." The fishman manager stated.

"Ah, well, just restock the shelves with what you can from the back." Pappag said, deciding to just let the greedy woman have her victory this time.

"Monsieur Pappag, the customer cleaned out the back as well." The fishman manager said.

If starfish had any blood, Pappag would have spat some just then.

Cherry picked up three bags whilst Nami had the single smallest one. Cherry had one on her back and one in each arm, causing her to be surrounded on all sides by bags. Fortunately Nami was there to guide her, which combined with Life Sense to avoid running into anyone for an easy enough method to navigate.

"Do you know where the ship is, Cherry? Otherwise we'll have to drop these off at Camie's house temporarily." Nami asked.

"The Sunny was swept away by a current, but Franky has been hanging around somewhere for a while. Maybe he found it." Cherry suggested.

"It's a good place to start. Can you carry this bag too? My poor arms are getting tired-"Nami

said.

"If this much is making you tired, then I think it's time I start your training regimen~" Cherry

answered.

"Ah, I think I'll be fine after all!" Nami said, suddenly seeming full of vigor.

"That's what I thought." Cherry said.