Chapter 11: I Have an iPhone 7 Too!
"Here we are!" Ian stopped at the entrance of the dojo.
It was noon, and Koushirou was basking in the sun in the yard. Ian spotted him immediately and ran over, saying, "Master, someone's here to see you!"
As he spoke, Ian kept his eyes on Koushirou, but noticed that Koushirou still wore that same smiling expression, showing no surprise at Ivankov and the others' arrival.
"Hello! Long time no see!" Koushirou walked over and greeted Ivankov and Kuma with a smile.
"Mr. Koushirou!" Kuma remained silent, while Ivankou called out cheerfully.
Ian watched their exchange from behind. He had always suspected that Master Koushirou might be connected to the Revolutionary Army, but seeing this now, something seemed off.
Leaving Koushirou aside for a moment, Ivankov, Kuma, and the other Revolutionary soldiers didn't treat Koushirou like a comrade. How to put it? They weren't familiar with him; instead, they seemed somewhat polite, like ordinary guests.
Thinking back now, it made sense. If Master Koushirou were truly a member of the Revolutionary Army, how could he have stayed in Shimotsuki Village for so many years?
Retired? Don't be ridiculous. The Revolutionary Army had only started operating worldwide a few years ago.
So Ian figured Master Koushirou probably wasn't a Revolutionary Army member. Could it really be, as Ivankov said, that they were just "acquainted"?
Ian's mind wandered, and he missed what Koushirou said to Ivankov and the others. He only snapped back to reality when he saw Koushirou gesture for them to enter the dojo.
The group was led into the dojo as guests. Since there was no dedicated reception room, they all sat down in the training hall. Ian wanted to listen in on their conversation, but Koushirou told him to go make tea.
Left with no choice, Ian went to the kitchen to boil water and prepare tea. He looked around but didn't see Kuina—she must have gone off to train somewhere. Zoro was probably still up in the mountains, the idiot.
After a while, Ian boiled the water, poured tea into several cups, placed them on a tray, and carried them out.
When Ian arrived, he handed out the tea to everyone. He couldn't tell what they had been discussing, but although Koushirou was smiling, Ian could detect a hint of melancholy in his expression.
Seeing Ian, Koushirou said to him, "Ian, go to the storeroom and check how much grain we have left."
Grain? Ah, right. Ivankov and the others had come to Shimotsuki Village to stock up on supplies.
Sure enough, Ivankov spoke up, "We'll buy it at market price!"
But Koushirou shook his head and said, "No need. It's not worth much. Consider it a gift from me."
Ivankov didn't insist. Seeing no issues, Ian turned and left for the storeroom to count the grain. Behind him, he faintly heard Koushirou's voice: "The one who just left is my oldest disciple in the dojo..."
Ian figured Koushirou was introducing him to Ivankov and the others, so he didn't mind.
The grain in the storeroom came from the dojo's fields. With only a few people eating at the dojo, consumption was low, so there was a decent surplus. Ian spent some time counting and found over a hundred bags. At about fifty pounds per bag, that was probably over five thousand pounds of grain, including both wheat and rice.
He went back to report to Koushirou, and Ivankov and the others decided to take three thousand pounds. Ian looked around—there were only seven or eight of them. He wondered how they planned to carry that much.
But to Ian's surprise, Kuma suddenly stood up and asked Ian to take him to the storeroom.
He tucked his thick book under his armpit, then used his left hand to pull off his right glove, revealing a strange-looking palm.
On that palm were soft, fleshy pads, like a kitten's paws. Just looking at them made you want to touch them.
Paw-Paw Fruit! The term flashed through Ian's mind.
Sure enough, Kuma, you're actually the best-hidden cute thing in the Pirate King world, aren't you?
Even Ian felt the urge to touch those pads...
Kuma walked over to the grain pile and gently touched it with his right hand!
Then, to Ian's astonishment, half the pile vanished instantly.
Ian had been wondering how they'd move the grain, but he never expected this method!
He knew that the missing grain had been repelled by Kuma's paw pads and was probably already on their ship at the coast.
How convenient! Ian watched Kuma enviously. Sometimes he wondered if he could get his hands on one of those unscientific Demon Fruits and eat it.
After repelling the grain, Kuma put his glove back on. Ian thought he was about to leave the storeroom, but Kuma suddenly spoke in a low voice, asking Ian, "If you wanted to go on a trip, where would you go?"
When he didn't speak, it was fine, but as soon as he did, Ian shivered.
Damn! Why does that line sound so familiar!?
He quickly waved his hands and said, "I don't want to go on a trip right now. And even if I do later, I'll take my own ship!"
Kuma looked down at him. The height difference between them was enormous—like an elephant looking at a mouse. Being the mouse annoyed Ian, but he also felt immense pressure because he suddenly remembered that Bartholomew Kuma had another nickname and identity.
Tyrant! One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
He wasn't angry, was he? Ian thought. Given how Kuma had repelled the grain, he must have noticed Ian leading them in circles around the village. Otherwise, how could he have accurately sent the grain from the dojo to the coast?
Ian was nervous, but then Kuma suddenly pulled something out of his pocket and held it out to Ian with his gloved hand.
"As thanks for the grain, take this as a gift," Kuma said in his deep voice.
Ian looked and saw that in Kuma's palm was a small Den Den Mushi!
This Den Den Mushi was pink, very small, with a shell covered in spiral patterns. A line connected it to a receiver, and on one side of the shell was a ring of numbers from 0 to 9, like a dial pad.
The Den Den Mushi was sleeping, its big eyes closed. Ian took it and poked it curiously, but couldn't wake it up.
"This is a juvenile Den Den Mushi," Kuma said. "Keep it with you. When it grows up, it will take on your appearance."
"That amazing?" Ian carefully held the little pink creature and asked, "When it grows up, can I make calls with it?"
"When it matures, an extra number will appear on its shell—that will be your number," Kuma said. This was the first time Ian had heard him speak so much.
Was this the iPhone 7 of the Pirate world? When it grows up, it becomes an iPhone 7S!?
Ian was excited. He never expected Kuma to give him a Den Den Mushi as a gift. He couldn't help but say, "Thanks, Uncle Kuma!"
As soon as he said it, Ian realized his mistake.
Damn it!
Bartholomew Kuma had never introduced himself to Ian. To be precise, among this group of Revolutionaries, the only name Ian should know was Ivankov!
Sure enough, after hearing "Uncle Kuma," Kuma fell silent, staring at Ian without speaking.
Luckily, Ian was quick-witted. He tilted his head and pretended to be innocent, saying, "Uncle Kuma, is it okay if I call you that? I like your hat! It looks just like a bear!"
When Kuma and the others entered the dojo, they had taken off their cloaks. Now Kuma was wearing his signature black-and-white bear ear hat. Using the hat as an excuse made the "Uncle Kuma" nickname seem less strange.
Hearing Ian's words, Kuma turned his head away and stopped looking at him. Just as Ian quietly breathed a sigh of relief, Kuma did something Ian never expected.
He took off his bear ear hat and placed it on Ian's head.
"If you like it, it's yours!"
Ian was completely dumbfounded. What the hell was going on!?