The dawn broke slowly over the East Blue, painting the sky in shades of bruised purple and burnt orange. The gentle rocking of Sylvia was the only movement in the world, save for the rhythmic tapping of Argentus's fingers against the wooden rail.
He sat on a crate opposite his "guest," who was currently tied to the mast with professional efficiency. Her wrists were bound in front of her, the rope looped through a metal ring bolted to the wood, giving her just enough slack to sit comfortably but nowhere near enough to reach anything useful.
Nami glared at him with the intensity of a caged tiger.
"You know," she said, breaking the silence that had stretched for the better part of an hour, "most people would at least offer breakfast to a lady."
Argentus didn't look up from the knife he was sharpening. The rhythmic scrape of steel on whetstone filled the air.
"Most ladies don't try to rob me in the middle of the night," he replied evenly.
"I wasn't robbing," Nami corrected, shifting to find a more comfortable position against the mast. "I was... redistributing wealth. Big difference."
"Ah." Argentus tested the edge of the blade with his thumb, nodding sagely. "So, you're a revolutionary."
Nami blinked. "Revolutionary? You mean..."
"Doesn't matter," Argentus cut her off, finally looking up. His silver eyes caught the morning light, making them look almost luminous. "What matters is that you're on my ship, tied to my mast, and you haven't told me why I shouldn't just drop you off at the nearest Marine base."
The color drained from Nami's face at the mention of Marines, but she recovered quickly, forcing a casual laugh.
"Marines? Come on. You don't strike me as the type who plays nice with authority. I saw your ship... no flag, no crew, traveling alone. You're either running from something or chasing something the Government wouldn't approve of."
"Observant," Argentus acknowledged, setting the knife down. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "But that doesn't answer my question. Why shouldn't I turn you in?"
Nami bit her lip, her mind clearly racing. Argentus could practically see the gears turning behind those sharp eyes. She was calculating, weighing her options, trying to find the angle that would keep her alive and free.
"Because," she finally said, straightening her posture despite the ropes, "I can be useful to you."
"Useful how?"
"I'm a navigator," Nami stated, pride creeping into her voice despite her situation. "And not just any navigator. I can read weather patterns others miss. I can chart courses through storms that would sink most ships. I can..."
"I have maps," Argentus interrupted, gesturing vaguely toward the cabin.
"Maps are static," Nami shot back. "The sea isn't. That map you're using? It probably shows safe routes, standard currents. But weather changes. Tides shift. I know all of that."
Argentus studied her. There was genuine confidence in her voice when she talked about navigation.
"And in exchange for this... service?" he asked. "What do you want?"
"Just passage," Nami said quickly. Too quickly. "Take me where I need to go, and I'll make sure you get there alive and on time."
Argentus's eyes narrowed. "Where do you need to go?"
"That's... negotiable."
"Try again," Argentus said, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. "And this time, don't lie to me. I've met enough liars to know the sound."
Nami flinched at the tone. She looked away, staring out at the horizon. For a moment, the confident thief vanished, replaced by something more vulnerable.
"Cocoyasi Village," she whispered. "In the East Blue. That's where I need to go. Eventually."
"Why?"
"That's my business," Nami snapped, some of the fire returning to her eyes.
Argentus shrugged. "Fair enough. Then you can stay tied up until we reach the next port. I'll drop you off there with a bag of water and some bread. Consider it charity."
"Wait!" Nami lurched forward, the ropes digging into her wrists. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you!"
Argentus waited, his expression unreadable.
Nami took a deep breath. "There's a pirate. Arlong. He... he controls my village. He's a Fishman, and he's been bleeding my home dry for years. I'm stealing to raise money. One hundred million berries. That's the deal. If I can give him that, he'll free my village."
The cabin was silent except for the creak of wood and the lap of waves.
Argentus looked at her for a long moment. Then, to her complete shock, he laughed.
It was dry, bitter, and knowing.
"A hundred million," Argentus repeated, shaking his head. "And you believe him? You think a pirate who enslaved your village will just walk away because you paid him?"
"He gave his word..."
"His word," Argentus interrupted, standing up and walking to the rail. "A pirate's word. The same word that probably promised your village protection before he turned them into slaves."
Nami's hands clenched into fists, the rope biting into her skin. "What choice do I have?! I can't fight him! He's too strong! The Marines won't help because they're paid off! So I steal, and I save, and I..."
"And he'll never let you go," Argentus said, turning to face her. His expression was hard, carved from stone. "Because the moment you hand over that money, what stops him from just taking it and keeping your village anyway? You think honor means something to a man who enslaves children?"
Tears welled up in Nami's eyes, though she fought to hold them back. "Then what am I supposed to do?!"
Argentus walked back to her, crouching down so they were eye-level.
"Stop playing his game," Argentus said quietly. "You're a smart girl, Nami. You know how this ends. But you're too afraid to face it, so you keep lying to yourself. 'Just a little more money. Just a few more Then I'll be free.'"
He reached out and, with a swift motion, cut the ropes binding her wrists.
Nami gasped, rubbing the red marks on her skin, staring at him in confusion.
"You're free to go," Argentus said, standing up. "Your boat is still tied to the hull. Take it. Go back to your stealing. Keep chasing that hundred million. Or..."
He turned, walking toward the cabin door.
"Or?" Nami asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Argentus paused at the threshold, looking back over his shoulder.
"Or you stop running from the problem and start thinking about removing it."
Nami sat on the deck for a long time after Argentus disappeared into the cabin. The sun climbed higher, warming her skin, but she barely noticed.
Her boat was right there. She could leave. She should leave. This guy was dangerous, clearly had his own agenda, and probably didn't care about her or her village.
But his words echoed in her head.
Stop playing his game.
She looked down at her hands—the hands that had stolen from hundreds of people. Rich nobles, drunk merchants, even other thieves. She had justified it all. Every crime was another step toward freedom.
But Argentus was right.
Deep down, she knew Arlong would never honor the deal. He would take the money and laugh. Or worse, he'd raise the price. He'd bleed her dry until there was nothing left.
She had been a fool.
"Damn it," Nami whispered, burying her face in her hands.
The cabin door creaked open.
Argentus emerged, carrying two bowls. He set one down in front of her rice with grilled fish, simple but smelling incredible and kept the other for himself.
"Eat," he said, sitting back down on his crate.
Nami stared at the bowl, then at him.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"Because you're going to be useful," Argentus replied, shoveling rice into his mouth. "And I don't let useful people starve."
"I haven't agreed to anything," Nami pointed out.
"You haven't left either," Argentus countered.
Nami picked up the bowl. She took a bite. It was good. Really good. She hadn't realized how hungry she was.
They ate in silence for a while.
"If I stay," Nami said slowly, not looking at him, "and if I navigate for you... what's your plan? Where are you going?"
"Reverse Mountain," Argentus said. "Then the Grand Line."
Nami choked on her rice. "The Grand Line?! Alone?? Are you insane?!"
"Probably," Argentus admitted. "But that's where I need to go. I'm heading to Loguetown first to stock up and get proper supplies. Then the mountain."
"Loguetown is crawling with Marines," Nami warned. "It's the last stop before the Grand Line. They watch it like hawks."
"Good," Argentus said, a faint smirk on his lips. "Then I'll know I'm going the right way."
Nami stared at him, searching his face for any hint of sanity.
And yet...
There was something in his eyes. A conviction. A terrifying, unshakable certainty that he would reach his goal no matter what stood in his way.
It was the same look she had seen in the mirror some years ago, before the fear had beaten it out of her.
"I will navigate you to the Grand Line," Nami said carefully, "you owe me. A favor. One favor, no questions asked."
Argentus met her gaze. "One favor. But if you try to stab me in the back, I'll throw you overboard myself."
"Deal," Nami said, extending her hand.
Argentus shook it.
"Welcome aboard, Navigator," he said.
Nami couldn't help but smile slightly, despite everything.
"You're still a bastard for tying me up."
"You're still a thief for trying to rob me."
"Touché."
An hour later, Nami was in the cabin, pouring over Argentus's maps with a critical eye. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head.
"These are terrible," she muttered. "Half of these currents are outdated. And this one—" she jabbed a finger at a route marked in red, "—this route doesn't exist anymore. There was a hurricane three years ago that shifted the entire seabed."
"Can you fix it?" Argentus asked from the doorway.
"Fix it?" Nami scoffed. "I can redraw the whole thing from memory. Give me an hour."
Argentus watched her work, the firelight from the cabin lamp flickering across her focused expression. She had already pulled out a blank sheet of parchment and was sketching with swift, confident strokes.
"You're good," Argentus observed.
"I'm the best," Nami corrected without looking up.
"Humble, too."
Argentus smirked. He turned to leave, but paused.
"Nami."
"Hmm?"
"That favor you're owed," Argentus said, his voice serious. "If you want it used to kill a Fishman who enslaves villages... just say the word."
Nami's hand froze mid-stroke. She looked up, her eyes wide.
Argentus didn't wait for a response. He walked out, leaving her alone with her maps and her thoughts.
Nami stared at the empty doorway for a long time.
Then, slowly, she went back to drawing.
But this time, there was a small, dangerous smile on her lips.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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MYTH: Christopher K Wright