"Awei, someone might've snuck onto the ship.
They're probably after our treasure.
Tell the brothers to stay alert."
Lucky Drake pulled Awei aside and spoke seriously.
"What?"
"Someone dares set their sights on our treasure?"
Awei was shocked.
"That's gutsy. Rest assured, Vice-Captain—I'll have everyone search immediately!"
"Mm, go. And if you find the intruder, make sure to keep them alive."
Lucky Drake reminded him.
If Nami resisted and got killed by his crew… that would be a huge loss.
"Vice-Captain, when will you help me make my body… more beautiful?"
Suddenly, Alvida waddled over, striking what she thought was a seductive pose.
"Oh? Don't rush me. Let me think first…"
Seeing the still-two-hundred-pound Alvida pose like that nearly blinded Lucky Drake.
But Alvida was now a member of the Thunder Pirates.
Someone he'd have to see daily from now on.
Her current size plus her constant "seductive" posing…
No man could survive that torture.
So he figured it was best to directly teach her how to use her Slip-Slip Fruit properly.
If she had to figure it out by herself, who knew how long that would take?
He couldn't endure seeing her like this for much longer.
"Alright, I've got it.
Didn't I say before? Your fruit is the Slip-Slip Fruit.
Try controlling that power to 'slip' the fat off your body."
"Trust me—just stick with it."
"But Vice-Captain… I don't even know how to use Devil Fruit powers yet."
Alvida said helplessly.
True.
If she knew how, she'd have experimented long ago.
"I see.
Then go find the captain.
He's also a Devil Fruit user.
He's still exploring his own abilities, but he should at least be able to teach you how to awaken yours."
"The captain?"
Alvida brightened instantly.
"Heh, got it!"
She went to the second floor to consult Captain Red.
Lucky Drake returned to his room.
After defeating Buggy, he had earned a thousand lottery points.
His hands were itching—
he really wanted to do two five-pulls immediately.
But just then—
Awei's voice came from outside the door.
"Report, Vice-Captain! We've searched the entire ship and found no suspicious person."
Lucky Drake frowned.
No one?
Did he guess wrong?
Did he misjudge how the system triggered tasks?
Wait—
what about his own room?
"Ah, Vice-Captain, we haven't checked your room yet!" Awei added quickly.
"Don't move.
Do as I say, or I'll kill you."
A girl's voice whispered behind him—
a dagger pressed coldly against his neck.
Lucky Drake stayed calm.
So she was hiding in his room.
Was this what they called "a beauty sneaking into your chamber"
—though she entered on her own.
"Awei, maybe I was too paranoid.
There's no one in my room either.
You all can resume your duties."
"Yes, but don't worry, Vice-Captain—if anything happens, we'll react immediately!"
Awei left.
And Lucky Drake spoke calmly:
"Miss Nami, you can put the dagger down now.
We can have a proper conversation."
"If you keep threatening me, you'll only lose a great benefactor."
"Huh? You… know who I am?"
The intruder was, of course, Nami with her orange hair.
She had seen the Thunder Pirates obtain the hundred million Berries from Buggy.
Although they looked dangerous,
she had no choice.
The Arlong Pirates controlled Cocoyasi Village.
She needed several hundred million Berries to buy back the village.
She was still short over a hundred million.
So she hid on their ship, planning to steal their treasure.
"I don't just know you.
I know many things about you."
"You stole the nautical chart from Buggy, didn't you?
Let's make a deal—
give me the map,
and I'll help you save the people of Cocoyasi Village."
"What?!
H-How do you know all that?"
Nami was stunned.
She'd never even heard of the Thunder Pirates before.
And she had certainly never met this man.
"My name is Lucky Drake, vice-captain of the Thunder Pirates."
"As for how I know—
that's complicated, and I don't want to explain."
"All you need to consider is this—
do you want to make this deal or not?"
Nami weighed her options.
"How do I trust you?"
"Heh. That depends on what you want to do next."
"What I want to do…?"
She fell silent.
Even with her dagger at his throat,
she didn't feel like she could kill this man.
And even if she could—
she wouldn't be able to escape.
Nor save her village.
"…Alright. I understand."
"If you can save Cocoyasi Village,
I'll give you the map…
and… I'll even offer you my body."
Lucky Drake blinked.
Nami offered that as part of the deal?
Her resolve wasn't bad at all—
though her reaction speed was quite slow.
"So this is your resolve?
If that's the case, why are you still threatening me?"
"Oh—sorry! I was too nervous… I forgot!"
Nami quickly withdrew the dagger, standing there trembling, almost in tears.
To a weak person like her,
death wasn't the scariest thing.
What terrified her was that if she died,
Cocoyasi Village would have no hope left.
Lucky Drake turned around, looking at her up close.
Nami immediately stepped back nervously.
"Lord Lucky Drake… we can't do anything yet.
Not until after you save the village.
Otherwise… I'll kill myself!"
"Hahaha, I don't even know why you added such an unnecessary condition."
"But it doesn't matter."
"In fact, I can see your resolve very clearly."
Ignoring her beauty entirely,
Lucky Drake lay down on the bed and said:
"I'll rest for a bit.
Do as you like.
But I advise you not to run."
"The Thunder Pirates are heading to Cocoyasi Village anyway.
Your hometown just happens to be on the way."
~~--------------------------------
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