On the shore, Nami stood beside Ron, clutching two leather cases.
Inside them lay everything they had earned so far, all converted into banknotes—a total of roughly fifty-four million Berries.
Originally, their savings hadn't quite reached fifty million, but after some discussion, the two had reached the same conclusion sell the twin-masted ship and downsize. They sold the large vessel, purchased a smaller, sleeker one, and after all adjustments, ended up with fifty-four million in total.
This new small sailboat wasn't like the barebones dinghy they had started with. It had two cabins one a bedroom, the other a compact hold connected to the hull, spacious enough to store provisions and fresh water.
"Well? What do you think?"
As they stepped aboard, Nami glanced around the modest interior.
Ron reclined lazily on a newly bought lounge chair and smiled. "Perfect. Much easier than that big ship. No more breaking our backs just to pull a sail."
He wasn't exaggerating. The last vessel might have looked impressive, but for two people—neither of them particularly strong, managing its sails had been torture.
This one, though small, was far more manageable.
And there was an added bonus—by purchasing this vessel, Ron had finally unlocked the long-elusive 'Captain I' achievement.
The system, it seemed, recognized him as the ship's captain, with Nami as part of his crew.
Along with that, their combined wealth crossed the fifty-million mark, granting him the 'Generous Hand' achievement as well.
Ron reasoned that since the system viewed Nami as his subordinate, any wealth they shared or divided still counted toward his total.
Two achievements at once and there was more.
Just two days ago, he had unlocked another hidden one: 'Life at Sea'—earned after living on the ocean for ten consecutive days.
That particular one hadn't even been visible in the achievement list before it triggered. It confirmed Ron's earlier suspicion that some achievements were semi-hidden either revealed only upon completion, or once certain conditions were met.
"So," he asked from his chair, swaying gently with the waves, "are you heading back to Cocoyashi first, or do we keep hunting pirates?"
Nami hesitated, then said quietly, "We've been away for more than half a month already. The trip back will take several days too. I'm afraid if I don't return soon, Arlong might… do something to the villagers."
"Then go," Ron said easily. "I'll stay here and wait for you. But don't go thinking you're paying off your debt by disappearing. If you try that, I'll just have to sail over and drop the money on your doorstep myself."
Nami bit her lip, he had seen straight through her. She had indeed been thinking that once she'd earned enough, she wouldn't drag him into her mess anymore.
Lifting her chin, she forced a bright smile. "You're missing a navigator, right?"
"…When I've finished my deal with Arlong, and left the Arlong Pirates, I'll come apply to be your ship's navigator. You won't say no, will you?"
Ron met her gaze and smiled softly. "Of course not."
"But the pay will be expensive," she teased.
"I think I can afford it."
They both laughed.
Ron rose from his chair, took out around a hundred thousand Berries, and stepped off the ship, waving to her as she prepared to leave.
You didn't have to say that, he thought silently, watching her small boat drift away. You know as well as I do that Arlong will never let you go.
Still, he smiled faintly.
Even if she had made that promise knowing it could never be kept it was her who'd spoken it. And that meant something. A promise was a promise, and if she ever tried to break it, he wouldn't allow it.
"Well then…"
As Nami's silhouette vanished beyond the horizon, Ron exhaled deeply and summoned his Achievement System.
He hadn't joined her for two reasons he wasn't yet ready to face Arlong, and more importantly, he needed silence. He needed focus. No distractions.
Now was the time to study to dig deeper into the mysteries of derivative runes and second-tier magic.
But before that, there was something else he wanted to check.
He had just hit twenty total Achievement Points.
'Captain I,' 'Generous Hand,' and 'Life at Sea' had each given one point, bringing his total to twenty exactly.
Opening the attribute screen, Ron invested his three new points into Spirit, raising his total to thirty-four.
Twenty from the Attribute Panel, five from his Magic Mark, and nine from personal cultivation so far.
Then he switched to the Class Interface and just as he expected, a new notification appeared.
[Tip: Total Achievement Points have reached 20. You have earned one Magic Wand Draw.]
Ron's eyes brightened at the final words—Magic Wand Draw.
A wand… of course. Every mage needed one. He had no idea what kind it would be or what it would do, but whatever it was, it would certainly enhance his power more than another rune ever could.
A clear chime rang out.
The interface shifted, and a large, circular wheel appeared, divided into ten sections. Each segment bore the image of a wand each unique in shape, color, and design.
The wheel began to spin. Or rather, the light circling it did flashing across each wand one by one.
Faster.
Faster still.
Then, gradually, the glow slowed, jumping from wand to wand… until it stopped.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Elven Wand.]
A beam of soft light shimmered before Ron, coalescing into form.
A wand appeared about half a meter long, thumb-thick, and clear as crystal. Its entire body gleamed with faint, inner luminescence.
At the tip, spiraling filaments of gold curled around a small, marble-sized crystal that glowed with a rainbow shimmer like starlight trapped in glass.
Ron extended his hand carefully and took it. The moment his fingers touched, the Class Interface updated with new text.
[Elven Wand]
Description: Crafted from a lower branch of the World Tree, fused with Ato metal and a core made from a genuine Elven Pearl.
Properties: The sacred wood of the World Tree harmonizes with all forms of magic, rejecting none. In combination with Ato metal and the Elven Pearl, it reduces the casting time and spiritual cost of all spells.
Evaluation: A wand perfectly suited for magic apprentices and standard mages.
Ron turned the wand in his hand, admiring the way light flowed through the translucent surface.
"A branch of the World Tree, huh… even a lower one is impressive."
The faint hum of power pulsed through his fingertips, pure and alive.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Not bad at all."
The Elven Wand gleamed softly in his grasp, resonating with his magic like it had been waiting for him all along.
On that quiet shore, beneath the endless sky, the mage of the East Blue took one more step toward the legend he was destined to become.
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