Three days later.
"Toot toot!"
A dull horn sounded aboard the Royal Ship, and dark clouds of smoke began rising from the top of the sailboat, drifting up into the sky.
Due to a delay at the Sea Restaurant, Qin Yi instructed Qing You, Sanji, and Buggy to activate the steam engine.
With the steam engine engaged, the speed of the ship increased dramatically.
"Your Majesty, in about two more hours, we should reach Cocoyashi Village."
Qing You estimated softly.
"Two hours?" Qin Yi nodded slightly.
The Royal Ship was already very fast, far ahead of most vessels in this world. But because Nami had departed earlier, they still hadn't caught up to her.
"Judging by the time difference, she should have arrived by now, too."
"Let's hope we're not too late." His eyes sharpened slightly as Qin Yi murmured.
Below deck, inside the boiler room.
"Hurry up, Buggy! You broken-handed, broken-legged idiot, you're slower than me!"
Sanji, with a cigarette in mouth, alternated legs to kick lumps of black coal into the blazing boiler.
"You know I've got detached limbs, and you're still yelling at me?!" Buggy cursed loudly.
At this moment, his hands and feet were separated from his body, all moving independently to toss coal into the furnace.
Both of their faces were blackened with soot, making for a ridiculous sight.
Inside Cocoyashi Village.
A small boat slowly docked. Nami heaved a heavy bundle onto her back and staggered onto a shortcut path into the village.
Before long, she arrived at the place where she had hidden her treasure. Picking up a hoe, Nami quietly dug up the stash alone and threw all the treasure back into the hole, before reburying it.
After finishing, she wiped her sweat, and a faint smile finally appeared on her face.
"Everything... will end today!" She muttered, then turned to go find the villagers.
Because of the Arlong Pirates' invasion, very few people in the village dared come out. The roads were eerily quiet.
Half an hour later, while Nami was walking ahead, someone suddenly covered her mouth and dragged her into a house.
"Nami, why did you come back?!" An anxious voice sounded quickly.
Turning around and seeing who it was, Nami smiled: "Nojiko, we're saved. I've got it all together!"
Nojiko was stunned and cautiously peeked outside: "Got what together? You already escaped, why come back?"
"I've gathered the money to save you, save me, and save the villagers! I did it!" Nami said excitedly.
"Nami, don't you get it? Arlong's greed knows no bounds. He's not going to let us go." Nojiko sighed.
"No, he promised me he would!" Nami said stubbornly.
"It wasn't easy for you to get away. Just leave now, get out of here!" Nojiko grabbed Nami and tried to drag her toward the door.
"No, I'm not leaving! We're free, why should I leave?!" Nami shook off Nojiko's hand.
"And besides, when I went out this time, I met, "
Before she could finish, Nojiko slapped her hard across the face. A loud smack echoed in the room.
Nami froze, her cheek stinging, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Go! Leave this place right now!" Nojiko growled, her expression dark to the extreme.
Nami clenched her fists. Tears streamed down her cheeks. But after a few breaths, she silently wiped her tears and turned to leave.
"Hahahaha, if you're back, why leave again?"
"Nami!"
"Have I not treated you well?"
Chaotic footsteps and exaggerated laughter rang out, making both of their expressions change.
"Arlong!" Nojiko gritted her teeth.
At this moment, however, Nami looked completely calm. She forcefully pulled open the door and replaced her expression with a smile.
"Arlong! I'm back!"
When the door opened, what greeted Nami was none other than Arlong and a group of fish-men.
They stood with arms crossed, sneering at her.
"Welcome back, the navigator of our pirate crew. I'm truly happy to see you return,"
Arlong said with a grin.
"Arlong, do you still remember our agreement?" Nami took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Oh?" Arlong paused, not immediately recalling what she meant.
"You said that if I could gather 100 million Berries, you would let me and my village go." Nami said seriously.
Realization dawned on Arlong, and he laughed heartily: "Of course! I, Arlong, am a man of my word."
"As long as you can produce the 100 million, this village, and you, will have no further value to me."
Nami nodded. "Fine. I'll give you the 100 million now. Leave this village."
Arlong was slightly stunned. He'd only come after hearing from his subordinates that Nami had returned, he hadn't expected her to say something like this.
But he didn't show it. Instead, he smiled and stretched out his hand: "Hand it over."
"The money's not with me. I'll take you to it." Nami said.
Arlong's eyes flashed, and he withdrew his hand.
"Fine."
Then, Nami led Arlong and his group to the place where she had hidden the money.
This treasure had been obtained by deceiving that person, and now that it was about to be handed over, she felt a flood of mixed emotions.
Meanwhile, Nojiko, seeing them leave, bit her lip and ran into the village to find the others.
"What did you say? Nami's back, and she-- " Genzo was shocked as soon as he heard Nojiko's account.
After a quick discussion, the two gathered all the villagers. Every person, regardless of age or health, held a weapon in hand.
"That bastard will never keep his word. Nami has done so much for us, we can't let her suffer anymore!"
"Today, we fight to the end!"
Genzo shouted. He was fully aware of how much Nami had sacrificed all these years.
The villagers responded with a roar. Armed and resolute, they rushed toward Arlong's group.
At the same time, out at sea near Cocoyashi Village, a sailboat trailed with white steam came speeding in from the horizon.
"How much longer until we arrive?"
Qin Yi stood up and gazed at the island already faintly visible in the distance, asking in a deep voice.
"Ten minutes!" Qing You replied.
"Ten minutes… too long!"
Qin Yi muttered. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and in the next instant, he leapt off the Royal Ship.
"I'll go on ahead, you follow!"
While still midair, Qin Yi rapidly performed hand seals.
"Suiton (Water Release): Water Dragon Roar Technique!"
"Rooooaaarrr!"
With a dragon's roar, a massive water dragon formed from the surrounding sea surged forth, gliding swiftly over the ocean's surface.
Qin Yi landed right atop the dragon's head as he descended.
The enormous water dragon charged ahead with tremendous speed, reaching the shore in just three minutes. As Qin Yi leapt ashore, the massive dragon dissolved back into sea spray.
His gaze sharpened as he looked toward the town inland. With one step forward, his figure vanished in a flash.
At the treasure site, Arlong looked at Nami in astonishment.
"I really didn't expect you to actually gather a full 100 million Berries!"
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon, and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395