Chapter 46: Nightfall Bar

Skunk.

Or perhaps "ermine" would be a more fitting name.

If one were to lick it lightly, "fragrant ermine" might be even more apt.

Mobin suddenly brought up the ermine that was desperately fleeing the scene. Naturally, it wasn't out of curiosity to taste it but rather because he saw its value.

How much could it sell for?

As this thought crossed his mind, Mobin's gaze at the ermine grew more profound.

He happened to need money for a good blade.

Yes, when the time came, he'd name that blade Ermine, a tribute to the little creature's sacrifice.

When Mobin asked if the skunk was edible, Ratsnout wasn't genuinely interested.

The reason he pondered over it was simply that he was trying to put himself in Mobin's shoes to analyze the question.

"It's edible!"

After a two-second pause, Ratsnout answered with certainty.

He didn't care whether it was edible or not; what mattered was that he thought Mobin wanted to eat it.

That reason alone was enough.

This was the third secret of his friendship manual: empathy.

Mobin smiled upon hearing this and said, "Then let's bring it along."

"No problem! I've got a good chef back at my place. If he takes over, even skunk meat can be turned into a masterpiece."

Ratsnout nodded in agreement, then looked at Mobin.

The two exchanged glances.

Mobin kept smiling, while Ratsnout grew increasingly puzzled.

Not far away, the ermine was still desperately crawling away.

"What's going on? Instead of grabbing the skunk, why is he staring at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

Confused at first, Ratsnout soon felt a twinge of unease.

Unable to figure it out, he had no choice but to stand awkwardly with Mobin.

Suddenly, Ratsnout noticed Mobin's gaze shift to his own bloodstained hands.

"Huh? Is he worried about my injuries? Looks like the friendship manual works. When you put yourself in someone else's shoes, they'll think of you in return. Reciprocity—that's true friendship!"

Ratsnout felt a rush of gratitude, as though his efforts were finally paying off.

But then, he sensed something was amiss.

Could it be…

Ratsnout looked at Mobin's smiling face and cautiously asked, "How about I grab it for you?"

"Wouldn't that be wrong?"

Mobin replied while glancing at the blood and dust on the ermine's body.

Relieved, Ratsnout thought the situation wasn't as bad as he'd imagined.

Mobin continued, "But since you're offering, I'll leave it to you."

"…"

Ratsnout fell silent, resisting the urge to press his bloodied hands against Mobin's face.

Ten minutes later.

The two men and an ermine arrived at the entrance of the Nightfall Bar.

"So this is the place, huh?"

Mobin glanced at the surroundings.

Last night, he had hunted three pirates here and also encountered the lonely Ratsnout for the first time.

Back then, his focus was solely on his prey, with no thought to spare for the bar tucked away in the alley.

His attention shifted to the distinctive skull-shaped oil lamps mounted on the walls at the entrance, triggering faint memories from the past.

He recalled frequenting underground venues in the Hunter world to gather intel.

The places he visited most often were usually hidden bars located deep in the shadows.

Those bars rarely saw daylight and were never open to the public. Their decor and atmosphere were often eerie, with skull oil lamps being a common ornament.

This resemblance gave Mobin a sense of familiarity.

"Let's head in."

Ratsnout pushed open the bar door, leading Mobin inside.

They passed through a short foyer and were greeted by a circular bar bathed in soft red lighting.

Behind the bar, Tatamu was cleaning a glass as always. Hearing the noise, he turned his head toward the entrance.

Upon spotting Mobin, a faint, nearly imperceptible glint flashed in Tatamu's eyes.

He recalled the dangerously armed woman from the previous night.

Without a word, Tatamu lowered his gaze and resumed polishing the glass.

Mobin glanced at Tatamu's thick brows and sharp features, then shifted his focus to the bar's empty seats.

Like Sol's weapon shop, business here seemed dismal.

However, the bar's decor showed much more thought and care compared to Sol's haphazard arrangement.

From the lighting to the seating, it was clear the owner had put effort into the ambiance.

Even so, the pirates in Mad Hat Town likely preferred the rowdy atmosphere of a tavern, explaining the lack of patrons here.

Ratsnout approached the bar and placed the despondent ermine on the counter.

"This is Tatamu, the bar owner and my friend. Don't let his burly look fool you—his cooking and bartending skills are top-notch. Give him the skunk meat, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

The ermine trembled slightly on the counter, sinking deeper into despair.

"He's Usopp, my new friend."

Ratsnout introduced Mobin to Tatamu, beckoning Mobin over.

Mobin walked up to the bar and greeted Tatamu. "Hello, nice to meet you."

Tatamu silently nodded at Mobin in acknowledgment.

Ratsnout, observing Mobin's reaction, quickly added, "That's just how Tatamu is. Don't take it personally."

"I won't."

Mobin didn't mind.

"Good to hear."

Ratsnout smiled and lightly patted the lifeless ermine. "Tatamu, Usopp wants skunk meat. Could you cook it for him?"

Tatamu glanced at the ermine and shook his head, declining the request.

"I'll pay extra—triple the price, how about that?"

"…"

Tatamu shook his head again.

Undeterred, Ratsnout raised his bloodied right hand. "Five times!"

"…"

Seeing Ratsnout's persistence, Tatamu explained, "It's inedible."

"Huh? But it's just like rabbit meat, isn't it?"

"…"

Tatamu remained silent.

Ratsnout sighed, disappointed.

Mobin, however, was surprised by Tatamu.

Despite his rugged appearance, Tatamu's voice was as soft and melodic as a girl's.

This stark contrast reminded Mobin of an old friend from the Hunter world—Melody.

Both Tatamu and Ratsnout noticed Mobin's reaction.

The former stayed expressionless, while the latter sighed in relief upon realizing Mobin wasn't mocking the voice but merely surprised.

"Usopp, looks like skunk meat's a no-go."

Ratsnout sounded regretful.

Mobin, who never intended to eat the ermine in the first place, didn't explain and simply said, "That's unfortunate."

Ratsnout picked up the ermine and casually tossed it onto a nearby seat. "Tatamu, fix Usopp a house special. I'll go treat my wounds."

"Alright."

Tatamu began preparing a drink.

Ratsnout headed toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

At the bar, Mobin watched Tatamu mix drinks and remarked, "Your voice is lovely; it reminds me of someone from the past."

Tatamu's hands paused mid-action, and he looked at Mobin in surprise. After a moment, he silently resumed mixing the drink.

Mobin smiled and glanced around the bar, so different from the Axe Tavern. "This place… is pretty nice."

"Thank you."

Tatamu pushed the finished drink toward Mobin.

Mobin, however, didn't intend to drink it.

"Tatamu, do you deal in information here?"

"…"

Tatamu's expression turned serious. He didn't answer but instead asked, "Are you a pirate?"