CHAPTER 9 - BARATIE: THE CHEF'S FAREWELL AND THE NAVIGATOR'S BETRAYAL
The aftermath of the battle at the Baratie was a chaotic blend of relief, exhaustion, and the pungent smell of burnt armor. Luffy was celebrating, demanding more meat despite having just fought a warlord. Zoro was nursing his wounds, though he refused to acknowledge the pain. Sanji, now officially a Straw Hat, was serving the remaining customers with his usual flamboyant charm, albeit with a slight tremble in his hands.
Adam, leaning against a railing, watched the scene with a contemplative gaze. He saw the genuine admiration in Sanji's eyes as he looked at Luffy, the nascent loyalty forming. He also saw the subtle glances Nami was casting at their new ship, the Going Merry, and at the horizon. "Alright, Nami. This is it. Your big moment. The tearful goodbye, the dramatic exit, the crushing of our captain's innocent heart. It's all part of the plan, I know. But it's still going to suck."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: NAMI][LIKE METER: 15%][HATE METER: 20%][ACQUIRABLE SKILLS: BASIC NAVIGATION, CARTOGRAPHY (ADVANCED TECHNIQUES)]
"Fifteen percent like, twenty percent hate. The hate is definitely diminishing. The free Beri and my brilliant insights into her character are clearly having an effect. Or she's just tired of yelling at me. Either way, progress."
The farewell between Sanji and Zeff was, as Adam expected, a powerfully emotional moment. Zeff, the gruff, peg-legged chef who had sacrificed his own leg to save a young Sanji, delivered a final, heartfelt kick to his new son, urging him to pursue his dream. Sanji, weeping openly, knelt and bowed in gratitude.
Adam watched, his usual sarcasm momentarily absent. "Damn it, Zeff. You really are a good dad. Even if you look like a perpetually constipated pirate Santa Claus. And Sanji, you emotional giant. This is why we need you. We need someone who isn't afraid to cry, or kick, or both, usually at the same time."
Luffy, touched by the raw emotion, had tears streaming down his face. Zoro merely grunted, but even he seemed affected. Adam felt a strange warmth in his chest. These people. They were quickly becoming his family.
After the farewells, the crew gathered on the deck of the Going Merry. The mood was bittersweet, tinged with excitement for the journey ahead.
"Alright, everyone!" Luffy declared, striking a pose. "Next stop, the Grand Line!"
"Wait!" Nami suddenly exclaimed, her voice sounding just a little too innocent. "I... I forgot something! My bag! It's still on the Baratie!"
Luffy, ever trusting, nodded. "Okay! Go get it!"
Nami gave them a quick, almost apologetic glance, then dashed back onto the Baratie. Adam knew what was happening. He exchanged a knowing glance with Zoro, who, surprisingly, seemed to pick up on it.
"She's not coming back, is she?" Zoro grumbled, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Not with us, no," Adam replied, a sigh escaping his lips. "She has some... unfinished business. A debt to repay. A very, very large debt. And she seems to think she has to do it all on her own. Which, as a strategy, is remarkably stupid. But emotionally understandable. Like trying to punch a brick wall to make it apologize."
Luffy, still oblivious, cheered. "Nami! Hurry up!"
Moments later, the anchor of the Going Merry began to rise. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stared in disbelief as the ship slowly began to pull away from the Baratie. Nami was at the helm, a determined, almost desperate look on her face.
"NAMI!" Luffy roared, his voice filled with shock and hurt. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Nami didn't look back. "I'm leaving! I'm taking the ship!"
Sanji's face contorted in anger. "That woman! She played us!"
Zoro drew his swords. "She stole our ship!"
Adam merely stood still, a melancholic expression on his face. "Here it comes. The raw emotion. The moment where their innocence gets a good, solid kick in the gut. But it's a necessary kick. For her. And for them."
He knew Nami's reasons. Her village, Cocoyasi. Arlong. The impossible burden she carried. The years of stealing, sacrificing, trying to buy her village's freedom. He couldn't blame her. He just wished she trusted them enough to ask for help.
"She didn't steal it for herself," Adam said quietly, his voice cutting through the rising anger of his crewmates. "She stole it because she has no other choice. Because she's desperate. Because she's carrying a burden heavier than any of us can imagine. And she thinks she has to carry it alone."
Luffy looked at Adam, his eyes wide with confusion. "What are you talking about, Adam?"
"She's not just a navigator, Captain," Adam explained, turning to face his furious crewmates. "She's a prisoner. And she's trying to buy her freedom. A freedom that's been denied to her since she was a little girl. By a very, very bad fish-man."
Sanji scowled. "What fish-man?"
"Arlong," Adam supplied, his voice grim. "A powerful fish-man pirate. He's taken over her village. And he's been extorting money from her for years. Every Beri she's ever stolen, every treasure she's ever hoarded, it's all for them. To save her family. To save her home."
Luffy's expression hardened. "She's our navigator!" he declared, his voice firm. "And she's coming back! No matter what!"
Adam felt a surge of pride. "That's my Captain. Pure, unwavering loyalty. This is why I followed him. Because even when the world throws betrayal at him, he sees something deeper. He sees potential. He sees a friend. And that, my friends, is priceless."
Before Nami got too far, Adam quickly pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden fish from his satchel. He channeled a tiny bit of his "Red Leg Kick (unstable)" energy into it, just enough to make it glow faintly. Then, with surprising accuracy, he threw it towards the rapidly receding Going Merry. It landed with a soft thud on the deck, near the helm.
"A little gift, Nami. A little reminder that even when you're running, someone's watching. Someone understands. And someone is coming for you. And also, that I can probably make things glow. Just in case you ever need a nightlight."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: NAMI][LIKE METER: 25%][HATE METER: 15%][ACQUIRABLE SKILLS: BASIC NAVIGATION, CARTOGRAPHY (ADVANCED TECHNIQUES), BO STAFF SKILLS (THEORY)]
"Twenty-five percent like, fifteen percent hate. Her 'Like' meter is finally surpassing her 'Hate'! Victory! And 'Bo Staff Skills (theory)'? So I can probably hold a stick without falling over. Excellent. My overall physical prowess is slowly, subtly, improving. Perhaps I'll even be able to do a push-up someday."
The sight of their ship sailing away, with Nami at the helm, was a punch to the gut for the others. But Adam's explanation had tempered their anger with understanding. Luffy, true to his nature, decided immediately that they would follow her.
"We're going after Nami!" Luffy announced, pointing towards the direction the Going Merry had taken. "She's our friend! And no fish-man is going to tell her what to do!"
Sanji, though still fuming about Nami's "betrayal," nodded. "She did steal our ship... but if she's in trouble, a lady always deserves to be saved."
Zoro merely grunted his assent, his hand resting on his sword hilt.
Adam smiled. "That's the spirit! Now, all we need is a boat. And a very, very strong sense of direction. Which, given our current navigator situation, is probably asking for a miracle. But hey, miracles happen, right? Especially when I'm around."