Wham!!
On the Dream Chaser, before Goku could even speak, Nami angrily slammed her fist onto his head.
"Didn't we agree that you'd wait for me at Baratie?! Why did you decide to come here on your own?!"
Goku clutched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "Hee hee, don't be mad, Nami. We were just worried you might be in danger."
"And look, Sanji joined us! Once you finish your business, we can head for the Grand Line!"
He pointed to Sanji, who was currently swaying rhythmically with heart-shaped eyes, shouting, "Nami-san, I've finally seen you again!"
Nami took a step back with a look of slight disgust. Crossing her arms, she said, "I already expected Sanji to join. But you said you were afraid I'd be in danger? What kind of danger could I possibly be in?"
"Sanji said it. He said the place you're going might be dangerous," Goku replied while rubbing his head.
Upon hearing this, Sanji finally snapped out of his lovestruck daze and turned serious. "Nami-san, if I remember correctly, you're heading toward the territory occupied by the Arlong Pirates. Are you going to their turf?"
Nami fell silent for a few seconds before nodding. "That's right. I'm going there."
"Nami, Sanji said the Arlong Pirates seem really strong. Does what you need to do have something to do with them?" Goku asked casually, unaware that he had just poked at the very thing Nami wanted to hide most.
"Stop asking so many questions! Didn't I tell you this was my secret?!"
Seeing Nami's fuming expression, Goku quickly covered his mouth and shook his head, signaling he wouldn't ask again.
"Since you know where I'm going, I'm telling you now that I won't be in any danger. Turn back to Baratie immediately and wait for me there!"
Nami spoke with a cold face.
She didn't want Goku or Sanji to know about her situation. Beyond not wanting to revisit her inner trauma, she also didn't want to drag them into this dangerous vortex.
Although Goku had proven through many battles that he was powerful—having defeated pirates with bounties as high as sixteen million Berries—meaning a victory over Arlong, who had a twenty million Berry bounty, seemed possible.
But she didn't believe it. Or rather, after all this time, the deep-seated fear of Arlong had become a nightmare that told her no one could defeat him!
No one!
If Goku faced Arlong, he would surely end up brutally murdered, just like Belle-mere!
She was utterly terrified of that possibility.
Because of this, even though Goku had demonstrated remarkable strength, the thought of asking him to help her take down Arlong never even crossed her mind.
Fearing that Goku would be harmed by Arlong if he followed her to Cocoyasi Village, she insisted on going alone and refused to let him come. She wouldn't even mention that her business involved Arlong.
"Nami-san, since we've already caught up this far, turning back is out of the question."
After she finished speaking coldly, Sanji was surprisingly the first to speak up.
"I don't know why you're going to a place like that or what you intend to do. Since you said it's a secret, Nami-san, I certainly won't pry."
"But both Goku and I know one thing for sure: the place you're going is dangerous. As a man, I cannot stand by and watch a lady walk into potential peril without offering a helping hand."
With one hand in his pocket, Sanji's voice was low and melodic, his pace steady and calm, projecting an air of reliability and trust.
A second later, his true colors emerged.
"Ahhh, Nami-san! After hearing that, have you fallen for me?!"
"No matter where you go, I will follow closely and be your most loyal guardian knight, Nami-san!!"
Twisting like seaweed in the ocean, Sanji began his flamboyant performance.
Nami remained silent.
She turned her gaze to Goku, about to tell him to take Sanji back, only to find Goku looking at her with a serious expression.
"Nami, we're already here. Just let us come with you. Don't worry, I definitely won't try to sniff out your secret."
Nami fell silent. After a long while, she asked, "So, no matter what I say, you're both coming anyway?"
Goku blinked and nodded obediently. "Yup!"
"That's right! Nami-san! Even to the ends of the earth, I will follow you forever!" Sanji continued his lovestruck, wiggly display.
Pow!!
Losing her patience, Nami punched him. Once the world was quiet again, she took a deep breath and said blankly:
"Fine. Since you're so insistent on coming, I can't stop you. However—"
Goku's eyes lit up as he watched her intently.
"However, we need to agree on three rules!"
"Three rules?"
"Exactly! First, and most importantly: you are absolutely not allowed to set foot on the island!"
Nami held up her index finger and spoke sternly.
Goku scratched his head. "Why not?"
"No 'whys'! I said no, so the answer is no! If you break this rule, I'm not going to the Grand Line with you!" Nami said fiercely, crossing her arms.
Hearing that, Goku nodded frantically like a chick pecking at grain. "Don't say that, Nami. I'll listen, I'll listen."
Seeing Goku sufficiently intimidated, Nami nodded inwardly with satisfaction and held up a second finger.
"Second, once we get there, all your actions must follow my instructions. You do exactly what I say and nothing I don't. Understand?"
"Mhm! No problem!" Goku nodded without hesitation.
"That's it."
Seeing him agree to everything, Nami's tense expression softened slightly. Then, she kicked Sanji, who was lying on the ground clutching the spot where she had punched him, looking so happy he seemed ready to faint.
"Hey! Sanji, did you hear all that?"
Defying the laws of physics, Sanji snapped upright from the floor and shouted with raised hands, "Loud and clear, Nami-san! I will strictly carry out every single one of your orders!"
...
Half a day later, with the Dream Chaser speeding forward, an island came into view.
This was the Conomi Islands, where Nami's hometown, Cocoyasi Village, was located.
Of course, the island was currently under the rule of the Arlong Pirates, and their base, Arlong Park, was situated there as well.
Nami steered the Dream Chaser toward the Cocoyasi Village dock. Before long, she spotted two fishmen from the Arlong Pirates guarding the pier from a distance.
She immediately went into the cabin and spoke to Goku and Sanji, whom she had already ordered to stay inside. "Listen up. When I go onto the island, you two stay right here. Don't come out until I get back and tell you it's okay. Got it?"
Goku and Sanji repeatedly assured her there was no problem.
"Also, while I'm gone, you absolutely cannot make any noise. No one can know there's anyone on this ship. Understand?" Nami was deadly serious.
"Understood!" Goku said, then immediately covered his mouth to show he wouldn't make a sound.
Sanji bowed elegantly, took Nami's hand, and kissed it like a gentleman. "As you wish, my goddess."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]