One Piece: My Crew Members Are Legendary 3D Heroines

Reading ocean currents, navigating by the stars these skills practically defined Mona's expertise as a Hydro Vision wielder and an astrologist.

She had already tested her control and sensitivity to water elements upon arrival, and the results far exceeded what she was capable of back in Teyvat. Detecting and interpreting shifts in the currents? Child's play.

The same applied to the wind. Though Mona couldn't manipulate Anemo like a Vision bearer of that element could, her elemental sight allowed her to see wind patterns clearly.

In short, she was uniquely gifted. While Mona hadn't yet applied these talents to seafaring, she had no doubt that with a little learning, she'd soon master it.

As for star navigation, that was her bread and butter. Even if this world's constellations differed from Teyvat's, Mona had a solid foundation in astrology. There was no real learning curve just adaptation.

In other words, being a navigator was practically tailor-made for her.

She couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect, though she kept it hidden beneath the brim of her wide-brimmed witch hat. After a brief pause, she replied, "Navigator, huh? While it's not exactly my profession, there's a lot of overlap. With some study, I should be able to transfer my skills to seafaring."

"That's perfectly fine," Ethan Chen reassured her. He had already considered how her abilities could be useful at sea. Still, it would be her first time applying them this way, and some training was only natural.

"There's also the matter of compensation," Mona added, adjusting her tone. "Room and board are a given, but I'd expect proper pay as well."

"Of course," Ethan said thoughtfully. "How about five hundred thousand Berries a month? But during the probationary period, it'll be half that. Once you're officially part of the crew, there'll be bonuses too. Sound fair?"

"F-five hundred thousand Berries!" Mona's eyes widened. Now that she had some grasp of this world's currency, she couldn't help being shocked by the generosity.

"Hmm? Is that a lot?" Ethan asked.

In truth, Berries functioned similarly to Japanese yen five hundred thousand Berries amounted to around twenty-three thousand RMB, a respectable wage for a top-tier sailor.

But Mona... Mona was a walking paradox. Despite living frugally, unable to afford rent or proper meals, she was still technically a rich girl. A single book lying casually on her chair back home was worth 990,000 Mora and her house was packed with such books.

One fan had once calculated the total value of her book collection: over 400 million Mora. And that didn't even include the astronomical cost of her magical instruments.

So for her to be this stunned by a sailor's salary was... strange.

Or perhaps she simply didn't yet understand the value of Berries?

That seemed more likely. She hadn't really had the chance to experience the world outside, and the assistant drone hadn't fully explained the economic system either. That might have led to the misunderstanding.

"Ahem, not at all," Mona quickly covered her flustered expression. "Though the pay could be better, I'll overlook that for now considering the help you've offered."

Five hundred thousand Berries a month! That could buy over 500 generous portions of eel rice! And in Teyvat, such a meal would cost at least 5,000 Mora apiece.

A rough conversion meant her salary was equivalent to over 2.3 million Mora a month far more than she'd earned writing columns for the Steambird Newspaper.

She remembered the ancient tome she'd excavated from ruins priced at 990,000 Mora. Back then, she'd spent more than a month's wages on that single book.

Now, as a navigator, she could earn that in less than a month!

Mona drifted into pleasant daydreams. Of course, it wasn't all about money. Astrologists prized simplicity too much luxury, and the stars' truths would be obscured.

She didn't need much money for living. But her profession? That was a different matter. Books and equipment didn't grow on mushrooms; they required real coin.

Knowledge was wealth. That much had always been true.

"Right, and what about the cost of materials and instruments I'll need to study navigation?" Mona suddenly asked. "You're covering those, right?"

"Of course I am. You're not expected to pay for any of that," Ethan said, dragging his eyes away from her black-stockinged legs.

"But it's getting late. You should rest for now. Tomorrow, I'll take you into town buy you some textbooks, equipment... and something to wear. That outfit of yours is... a bit much."

"I know," Mona blushed, tightening her shirt and drawing her legs closer together.

Her modest motion immediately caught Ethan's eye again. Those firm, shapely thighs under sheer black stockings really were something. He made a mental note to buy a few pairs like that for 2B as well.

"This outfit's just something I wear at home when I'm running experiments. It helps me channel elemental energy better... Nobody wears this kind of thing in public."

"Well, you're free to wear it in your room," Ethan replied.

His comment earned a sideways glance from Mona, and he quickly clarified, "I just mean you're free to wear what you want in your own quarters."

"Obviously," Mona murmured. But she couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been staring at her legs all evening.

She tugged at the hem of the oversized shirt to try and cover them but it was no use. The shirt was only so long, and no amount of tugging could change that.

"Once 2B finishes showering, go see if there's anything of hers you can wear. Maybe a skirt. She's a bit bigger than you, but with a few safety pins, it should work for now."

"Guess I'll have to make do," Mona sighed. A man's shirt paired with sheer black stockings wasn't exactly her ideal fashion statement.

"By the way, have you eaten? We've got dried eel on board steamed and topped with soy sauce, it's actually pretty decent."

After nearly a month in the fishing village eating eel almost daily, Ethan was completely sick of it. He'd only brought some on board because the villagers had insisted.

"I've eaten already," Mona replied. "The assistant gave me some earlier. I'm full."

"Good." Just then, Ethan felt a nibble on his line. The tip of the rod dipped suddenly. He pulled back but came up with a clean, baitless hook.

Unbothered, he re-baited and cast again.

When 2B emerged from the cabin, still drying her hair, Ethan asked her to help Mona find something to wear for the night.

Then he returned to his fishing.

Still no luck.

These coastal fish were clever far too clever.