In Cocoyasi Village, Nami kept her eyes forward, walking straight toward the corner of the village where she and Nojiko lived, ignoring the cold stares of the surrounding villagers.
Ever since she "joined" the Arlong Pirates, her relationship with the villagers had become distant and cold.
She wasn't surprised by this.
After all, she had become a subordinate to the man who murdered her mother and occupied the village. It was a miracle she hadn't been cursed at or beaten out of town.
Aside from Nojiko, who knew the truth, she was practically a stranger to everyone in the village.
But she didn't know that once she vanished from the streets, the villagers' expressions turned pained and complex.
"Nami's finally back. I wonder how much danger she faced this time," an old woman sighed, her eyes filled with heartache.
"That child hasn't said a word, enduring this for eight years. Eight years! Why won't she just give up?" A graying man clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with agony.
Long ago, when they first learned Nami was joining the Arlong Pirates, the villagers—unable to believe it—had gone to ask Nojiko.
From then on, everyone in the village knew that Nami had sold herself to the Arlong Pirates to save them.
Yet they all pretended to be ignorant, treating her with cold indifference.
It wasn't that they were heartless or content to watch a child risk her life for them, but because—
—they hoped that if Nami ever reached her breaking point, she could flee Arlong's control and disappear forever without any lingering attachments.
They didn't want her ties to them to hold her back, forcing her to endure Arlong's exploitation and cruelty for a moment longer.
Yet they never expected that despite their efforts, Nami never once thought of running away. For years, she worked under Arlong, risking her life to earn one hundred million Berries.
For them, it was a truly agonizing reality.
...
Creek!
Nami pushed open the door and set the treasure from her shoulder onto the floor. Looking at Nojiko, who had her back turned, she spoke in a calm voice that couldn't quite hide her excitement and joy.
"Nojiko, I've done it. I have one hundred million Berries."
Whoosh!
Nojiko, who was knitting, froze before whipping her head around. She looked at Nami in disbelief. "Nami, what... what did you just say?"
Nami looked steadily at the sister who had been her companion since childhood and had supported her unconditionally. She took a deep breath and repeated slowly and firmly, "I said, I've earned one hundred million Berries. I can finally buy back our village from Arlong."
Nojiko stared at her blankly.
After a long moment, a smile suddenly bloomed on her face.
"That's wonderful, Nami. That's truly wonderful."
...
"So you're saying you have two companions now, and as soon as you buy the village back, you're leaving with them for the Grand Line?"
Watching Nami pack her things quickly, Nojiko asked in surprise.
"That's right! I'm going to follow my dream with them!"
Nami tucked her packed belongings into an inconspicuous corner and turned around, a radiant smile on her face.
The sight left Nojiko dazed.
How long had it been since she had seen Nami smile so sincerely?
Two years?
Three years?
Or...
Eight years?
After a brief moment of shock, she felt a wave of genuine happiness for Nami.
This was how it should be.
Nami should find like-minded companions and chase her dreams, not stay in a place like this, oppressed day after day by a monster like Arlong.
Had Nami finally found her own dawn?
But...
A worry began to gnaw at her heart.
Would Arlong truly keep his word and let the village and Nami go?
Despite her concern, she didn't voice it. Instead, she asked, "So, Nami, how are you going to transport the treasure?"
Aside from the bag Nami had just brought back, most of the hundred million Berries were buried in the tangerine orchard. It was a massive chest full of gold and silver treasure—far too heavy for Nami to move alone, even with her help.
"That's easy. I'll just have Arlong come and get it. I want him to see the hundred million Berries with his own eyes."
After speaking quickly, Nami pushed open the door.
"I need to hurry. My companions are still hiding on the ship waiting for me. The longer it takes, the more likely it is that Arlong and his crew will find them."
...
While Nami hurried toward Arlong Park...
On the Dream Chaser, Goku and Sanji encountered a thrilling scene.
Mohmoo the Sea Cow, one of the Arlong Pirates' primary combatants, caught a scent of something incredibly delicious while sleeping on the seabed.
Gluttonous by nature, it immediately followed the scent to its source—a ship.
At the same time, there were two very appetizing humans on board.
Cruel and accustomed to eating humans, the beast didn't hesitate. It opened its massive maw and lunged at the two humans, intent on swallowing them along with the fragrant food.
"Goku, look out!"
Seeing the behemoth strike, Sanji's pupils constricted, and he immediately shouted a warning to Goku.
With that, he vaulted out the window, ready to intercept the beast's attack.
But before he could act, Goku shot out of the room like a bullet, delivering a flying kick straight to the beast's chin.
"Yah-ha!!"
Thump!
Following a heavy impact, Mohmoo's eyes rolled back in its head. Its massive body—its head alone as large as the Dream Chaser—collapsed backward with a thunderous crash, sending spray flying in every direction.
Goku landed back on the deck and brushed off his hands, huffing indignantly. "Trying to eat my noodles? Not on my watch!"
Wait... so that's why you moved so fast?* Sanji thought, still dazed by the monster's instantaneous defeat.
Goku didn't seem satisfied with just one kick. Perhaps the sight of Mohmoo's cow-like body had whetted his appetite, because before Sanji could react, Goku dove headfirst into the sea, leaving behind only one sentence: "Sanji, let's eat it!"
Sanji's face stiffened. He rushed to the edge of the cabin and peered cautiously at the dock.
Whew... thank goodness. There's no one on the dock.
When Nami left earlier, he had heard the faint sounds of her talking to someone, so he knew people had been there.
Fortunately, they seemed to have moved on. Otherwise, he and Goku would likely have been spotted.
Just then, he heard a heavy thud behind him.
At the same time, a fierce male voice reached his ears. "Who the hell are you? Are you the one who did this to Mohmoo?"
Whoosh!
Sanji whipped around to see a soaking-wet man glaring at him.
Wait... he has fins on his head. Is he a Fishman?
Which means...
Right then, Goku surfaced from the water and waved. Grinning, he pointed to the thing he was dragging behind him.
"Look, Sanji! I cut off its tail!"
Whoosh!
The Fishman's gaze snapped toward Goku, but Sanji didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, delivering a brutal upward kick that caught the Fishman squarely in the jaw.
With a loud splash, the Fishman's eyes rolled back as he fell into the sea.
A few seconds later, another Fishman surfaced, threw the unconscious one over his shoulder, and swam away at high speed.
Seeing this, Sanji's expression shifted. Without a second thought, he shouted to Goku, who was nearby, "Goku! Don't let them get away!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]