Pet birdie

Back at the luxurious residence provided by Galley-La, it was already past eleven o'clock.

Under the cover of night, Nicholas entered his room and heard the presence of another person on his bed. The person seemed to be sound asleep, completely unaware of Nicholas's presence. Nicholas helped tuck in the sheets and then climbed into bed himself, curling up next to the other person and falling into a deep slumber.

When he woke up again, it was already noon the next day.

Outside the window, rain drizzled down, accompanied by the sea breeze weaving through the city. The windchimes hung by the window rang gently, adding a unique flavor to the atmosphere.

Groaning as he got up from the floor, Nicholas sat for a while, his mind still fuzzy. Then, as if remembering something, he abruptly stood up, rummaging through a pile of clothes on the bed.

Soon, a small bottle of green-purple liquid appeared in Nicholas's hand. He skillfully removed the bottle cap with his fingers and drank all the green-purple liquid inside.

Looking into the mirror, Nicholas noticed that the colorful marks on his face had faded, and even the two vibrant mushrooms growing from his nostrils had been plucked off.

"Ah, Captain? How come you're up so early?" Stussy's voice came from behind, still sounding half-asleep, her face hidden behind the mask of the Crow Doctor.

Nicholas glanced at Stussy's alluring figure and decided to overlook her, kicking him out of bed while she slept.

"Cough, it's nothing; you go back to sleep," Nicholas said, dismissing the incident.

Afterwards, Nicholas phased into his elemental state, and with a crackling sound, colorful smoke emerged from his body. Once all the colorful hues disappeared from his face, Nicholas reverted to his elemental state.

Seeing Stussy sleeping again, Nicholas couldn't help but sigh. If they were to be open and honest with each other, they might end up trying something quite risky. As for elementalization, maybe not.

After dressing up, Nicholas left the room and headed outside. Today, he planned to visit the black market in Seven Water City to see if there were any interesting finds.

"Ah, every time I visit the black market, it feels like my worldview is about to be shattered." Nicholas sighed as he observed the various items on display. As someone who had experienced the radiance of Earth, he found it difficult to adapt to certain aspects of the pirate world.

Soon, Nicholas found himself standing in front of a shop with a sign bearing an image of a web entwined with chains—a symbol known to belong to slave traders and pet traders.

Entering the shop, Nicholas was greeted by a receptionist, who immediately recognized him as an important customer. After all, many of the goods plundered by pirates ended up being sold through the black market.

"Mr. Nicholas, if you're not sure what you'd like to purchase, we may not have as many varieties of slaves as in the New World or bustling islands, but we have many exotic pets," the slave trader warmly recommended.

Nicholas declined the offer for slaves and expressed his interest in purchasing a pet instead. He followed the slave trader into the shop and through a corridor until they reached a series of doors marked with different symbols—some depicting the faces of men and women, others of tigers, fish, and bird eggs.

"Mr. Nicholas, if you're looking to purchase a pet, we offer three categories: sea, land, and air. Which one are you interested in?" The slave trader asked with a smile.

"Air," Nicholas replied.

"Then, Mr. Nicholas, please follow me."

With that, Nicholas entered the door marked with a bird egg symbol.

Inside, it seemed as though he had entered a bird exhibition. Birds of all kinds, from small ones like canaries and hummingbirds to large ones resembling fighter jets, were everywhere.

Upon Nicholas's request, the slave trader brought forth an egg—a massive one the size of a basin, weighing at least fifty pounds.

"Mr. Nicholas, this is the egg of the Gale Falcon. When fully grown, it's known for its massive size and formidable attack power, possessing strength far beyond that of ordinary hunting falcons. Even its speed, when fully grown, can tear through gales," the trader explained.

Taking the massive egg in his hands, Nicholas was startled when cracks suddenly appeared on its surface. With a cracking sound, the eggshell was pushed open, revealing a bald-headed creature inside.

With its pinkish skin, featherless wings, and intelligent eyes, the creature looked almost like a chicken without feathers.

"La la la!" The creature chirped loudly, seemingly expressing its joy. Fluttering its wings, it perched on Nicholas's arm and affectionately nuzzled his palm.

Nicholas, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, turned to the slave trader with a bemused expression. However, before the trader could explain, the creature began to protest loudly.

"Mr. Nicholas, we really didn't know. How about we offer you a 60% discount?" The slave trader pleaded, realizing the situation had turned awkward.

Deciding to take the creature, Nicholas held it in his arms. Despite the unconventional circumstances, he found the pet intriguing, and after all, a pet's ability to entertain was the most important factor.

"Fine, I'll take it," Nicholas said, sealing the deal amidst the trader's relieved smile.