"Kachukachu!"
Indigo looked at Aru and smiled, "There's no such thing in the world that can create rain out of thin air! This rain is formed by attracting clouds from other places and then excessively squeezing out the water molecules within them."
"So once this powder is used, places downwind will experience drought. The country that first invented Dance Powder used too much of it, causing wars in the countries below. Eventually, the World Government discovered it and completely banned Dance Powder, not only prohibiting its use but also its manufacture."
"Oh!"
Everyone nodded.
"Now I understand. Did the king of this country use this Dance Powder to make it rain in Alabarna for his own comfort, thus causing drought elsewhere? Then, when this was discovered by others, this country fell into war."
"Hehehe!!"
Firebird let out a triumphant laugh, drawing everyone's attention.
Seeing their gazes turn back to him, he continued with a smile, "Dr. Indigo's explanation of Dance Powder is correct, and the reason for the war is also correct. However, there's one thing I think you might have misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?"
Everyone looked at Firebird, slightly surprised.
"Let's go! We can talk as we walk. It's awkward standing here."
Kouta's lips curved upwards as he saw the familiar golden apples by the roadside. He stepped forward and walked towards them.
He knew everything Firebird had said.
But knowing it was one thing; his companions didn't.
He couldn't deprive his companions of their curiosity, could he?
"Oh! Alright."
Firebird quickly turned around and continued leading them forward.
"Oh! Young man, I haven't seen you before! Is this your first time in Alabasta?"
At the apple stall, an old man with white hair and beard stood there. Seeing Kouta approach, his eyes lit up, and he eagerly held up a golden apple, introducing it loudly.
"How about it, take a look! It's a golden apple!"
"Oh! A golden apple?"
Kouta looked at the apple in the old man's hand and reached out to touch it, but the old man took a step back and dodged.
The old man stood firm, looking at Kouta with a smile.
"Young man, this is a very precious secret treasure!"
"Oh..."
The old man leaned forward and whispered to Kouta, "I'll tell you a secret. This is an incredible treasure I found by sneaking into ancient ruins."
He then patted Kouta's shoulder and, looking at the golden apple in his right hand, continued, "This is a mythical golden apple that, if you take even a bite, can let you live for thousands of years!"
"Golden apple? Live for thousands of years?"
Kouta looked at the old man and smiled, "Grandpa, was this really found in ancient ruins?"
"Yes, of course, it's real. This is a legendary inheritance from an ancient civilization!"
"Can it really let the person who eats it live for a thousand years?"
"Mmm!"
The old man nodded and held the apple up to Kouta, tempting him, "What I say is definitely true."
"Then it must be very expensive!"
Kouta shook his head and turned to leave, "Sorry, Grandpa, such a valuable item, I definitely can't afford it. I should be going!"
"Ugh!"
The old man's hand holding the apple froze in mid-air as Kouta turned away. He looked at Kouta's retreating back and quickly reached out to grab him. "Customer, given your discerning taste."
Seeing Kouta stop, the old man immediately let go, frowned, and thought for a moment. He then looked up and smiled at Kouta, "Right, customer, I can give you a discount now."
"Oh... a discount?"
Kouta turned around and looked at the old man, "How much is the discount?"
The old man raised his hand, formed a fist, then released his index finger, flicking it up.
"One hundred thousand Beri?"
Kouta feigned great surprise and quickly shook his head, "No, that's too expensive, I can't afford it, I can't afford it."
"Ugh!"
Kouta's exaggerated actions left the old man speechless.
He looked at Kouta, shook his head, and said loudly, "Customer, this is not 100,000 Beri, it's one thousand Beri."
"One thousand?"
"Yes, just one thousand Beri. This golden apple that can let you live for a thousand years with just one bite is yours."
He held the apple up to Kouta's face and smiled, "How about it, customer, would you like one?"
Gulp!
Kouta swallowed, looking at the apple before him, greed in his eyes.
Seeing the greed in Kouta's eyes, the old man's smile deepened.
"Looks like this one is a done deal, haha!!"
However, just as he was waiting for Kouta to agree and close the sale.
A flash of pink light streaked rapidly towards them from further down the street.
Firebird, with his signature pink rooster comb hair, stood behind the old man. Before the old man could react, he snatched the apple from his hand.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
The old man's hand suddenly felt empty. He snapped back to reality, turned around, and stared at Firebird, shouting, "Kid, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."
He recognized Firebird's attire and assumed he was a local, so he immediately tried to intimidate him fiercely. He had been selling golden apples in Nanohana for so long that only the locals knew they were fake. Ordinary travelers wouldn't know the true nature of his golden apples.
Firebird ignored the old man and quickly moved forward, standing in front of Kouta.
He bent down and said to Kouta, "I'm sorry, Silver-haired brother. I didn't notice in time and almost let you get scammed."
Kouta looked at Firebird and shrugged helplessly.
He reached out and helped Firebird up, smiling, "Alright, I was just playing with this old man, was it necessary?"
Saying this, he took the apple from Firebird, walked over to the old man, and handed the apple back to him.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa, although I'd love to live for a thousand years, I'm still young. What I want now is to live each day to the fullest."
Looking at the bewildered old man who had taken back the apple, Kouta took down his wine gourd and took a large gulp.
"Hoo~"
Kouta lowered his head, exhaling a refreshing breath of alcohol. He then turned to look at the stunned Firebird, kicked him in the backside, and said,
"What are you standing there for? Let's go."
"Oh!"
Firebird came to his senses and quickly followed.
He hurried forward, walking beside Kouta, and looked at him, smiling, "So Silver-haired brother already knew that old man was a scammer! I was foolishly running over to stop him. I must have looked very silly!"
"Not exactly silly."
"Really?"
Firebird paused, a happy smile appearing on his face.
"It's just that your arrival has taken away a lot of my fun."
Kouta shook his head, took another sip from his wine gourd, and then turned to Firebird, "By the way, where are the others?"
"They're in the clothing store up ahead."
Saying this, Firebird quickly quickened his pace, walking ahead of Kouta to guide him.
"Ah... Ptooey!"
The old man came to his senses, watched Kouta and the other walk into the clothing store next door, then turned around and spat on the ground.
"Beggars."
Then he quickly raised his head, and a smile returned to his face as he loudly greeted passersby, promoting his golden apples.
...