The ship was huge, finally pulling away from the coast. The four of us collapsed on the deck, panting.
Miscalculated... I didn't think this through. We still need the Merry. Gotta find a way to ditch this ship later.
I felt like Luffy's stupidity was rubbing off on me. It was starting to affect my judgment.
"Thank youuu~!" Mayor Boodle's voice boomed from the beach.
"Woof!" Chouchou barked beside him, tail wagging.
"You're welcome~!" Luffy pushed himself up and waved, grinning like an idiot.
"Thank you for the Berries! Thank you so much!" Boodle cried out again, eyes glistening with tears.
Luffy blinked. "Huh?"
I leaned in and muttered, "I, uh... moved some food onto the ship. Didn't know how much to give, so I might've gone a little overboard."
Luffy gave me a thumbs-up and slung an arm around my shoulder like I'd done him proud.
Nami's ears twitched. "Wait. How much did you give? How much of Buggy's treasure is left?"
"Gave 'em five million. We've still got five mil left."
"WHAT?! Five million?! That's MY treasure!" Nami's entire vibe shifted like a storm rolling in, and she roared like a dragon protecting her hoard.
"They've gotta rebuild the town too…" Luffy offered, utterly unbothered.
She grabbed him by the neck and started shaking him like a maraca. "It's mine! The treasure's mine, dammit!"
"Uhh—why don't you go back and ask for it?" Luffy choked out, flailing uselessly.
"How do we go back after that kind of send-off, you idiot?!"
The future Pirate King, thoroughly outmatched by a budget-obsessed navigator... Honestly, kinda comforting. I rubbed my temple, trying to smooth things over. "We've still got a ship. We can sell it. Probably worth tens of millions. Not a big deal."
Nami finally cooled off, crossed her arms, and muttered, "What kind of pirates are you guys..."
…
(ㅍ_ㅍ)
Nami sat there watching Luffy and Zoro wrestle over dinner like cavemen, face stuck somewhere between horrified and exhausted. "Do they always eat like this? Was the last meal I made... too small?"
I sipped my black tea, cigarette in hand, already done eating. "You'll get used to it. I stocked up this time—should be enough."
"I'm not talking about the food!"
"There's wine and tea too."
"That's not what I mean!"
"…Then what?"
She let out a long sigh. "There's not enough of us. This ship's too big, and there's only four of us going to the Grand Line."
I shrugged. "We can just sell the ship and get a smaller one."
"I mean we need more people!"
I paused. Right… In my old world, there were four of them heading into the Grand Line. Now we're four including me. We need that stupid pervert chef...
Nami just looked at me, sighed again, and gave up trying to explain. I don't blame her.
…
Luffy was playing with a telescope on deck when he suddenly shouted, "There's an island ahead!"
"Skip it," Nami replied without looking up. "It's uninhabited. Not worth the time."
The ship shifted course.
"WAIT FOR ME!" Nami snapped her head up and bolted toward the helm.
I was lounging up on the mast, hands up in surrender. She glared at me like it was my fault. I just shrugged.
Luffy and Zoro didn't even look back.
"Zoro, maybe there's a new crewmate on this island!"
"I just hope we find more food. You eat like a bottomless pit."
"Like you don't!"
"At least I don't eat as much as you!"
WHACK! WHACK!
Two oversized lumps bloomed on their heads courtesy of Nami's fists.
...Nami's damage multiplier seems to apply only to allies. Scary stuff. I didn't dare move from my perch.
…
Since we were already here, there was no stopping it. The island wasn't far, and soon we made landfall.
If I'm right, this is Rare Animal Island... this arc's a bit heavy, isn't it?
"Luffy, you guys go. Make sure Zoro doesn't wander off. I'll stay and watch the ship," I waved at the trio as they disembarked.
"I don't get lost!" Zoro barked back, face red.
…
I lounged in a deck chair, eyes half-closed, cigarette lazily burning. The sea breeze was warm, gentle. I was starting to nod off.
But then I felt it—a flicker of something wrong.
My eyes opened, faint red gleam flashing in my vision.
"…Can't even enjoy a nap without someone showing up to ruin it."
I stood up, stretched, then sat on the ship's edge and squinted toward the horizon. There it was: a pirate ship. Familiar skull flag with cat ears. The Black Cat Pirates.
The Bezan Black, if memory served.
"Deputy Captain! It's the Buggy Pirates' ship! Only one person aboard!" one of them shouted.
Jango, red sunglasses glinting, peered through a scope. "Perfect. We'll rob 'em and bolt!"
The ship sped toward us.
I waited until they were close enough, then kicked off the railing and landed clean on their deck.
Two weirdos, one fat and shirtless with a cat mask, the other tall and stringy in a shirt and… hot pants. Ew.
"If you had a cute cat girl, I might've let you live. But you two?" I muttered, already reaching for my sword. "Gross."
Jango blinked, startled at first—but when he saw it was just me, he grinned. "Sam, Buchi! Get him!"
"Cat Claw Attack! Hyaaa!" The two charged, claw blades swinging.
I sighed. "Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance."
A flame-trailing arc shimmered through the air.
Sheathe.
They dropped, twitching.
Jango stumbled backward—only to freeze as my voice rang out behind him.
"Your head's worth nine million. They're worth seven combined. So, twenty million—pay me and walk away. Or I'll take your heads and turn them in myself."
He was drenched in sweat. "T-There's money! In the hold! Boys, go get it!"
…
I loaded the treasure into our ship's hold, tucked the cash into my own pack, and sat on the railing, waving at the retreating Black Cat ship.
"You guys are way too honest. There's easily over thirty million in that pile."
I smiled to myself.
Nami's little goal is almost met. You're welcome.