"So this is that little girl's village?" Elena looked around at the peaceful, quiet place.
She had heard White Ghost tell the story of that small family before. It was hard to imagine—if White Ghost hadn't returned back then, no one knew how things might have ended.
"Yeah," White Ghost said. "That brat is a born navigator. She's still small now, but once she grows up, even veteran navigators won't compare to her."
Elena gave him a long, flat look.
"I think you're just waiting for her to grow up."
"Cough—cough!" White Ghost choked. "Don't talk nonsense. I really treat her like a little sister."
Elena's expression clearly said: Do you think I believe you?
"Alright, alright," White Ghost said quickly, coaxing her. "I really do see her as a younger sister. Don't overthink it."
Then he gestured toward the shore.
"Let's go down. Once we pick up our navigator, we'll leave. We won't stay long."
White Ghost went ashore with the women. The men stayed on the ship, training as always.
If they wanted to survive the slaughterhouse that was the New World, they couldn't slack for even a single day.
"Th-This… isn't this the Marine kid from back then?!" the villagers cried as they immediately recognized White Ghost.
"You all doing well?" White Ghost greeted them warmly, blending into the crowd like an old acquaintance.
"Oh, kid, you finally came back!" an old man grabbed his hand, tears filling his eyes.
"You left so fast back then—we didn't even get to properly thank you!"
"Haha, it's fine, Grandpa," White Ghost said. "I was a Marine at the time. Suppressing pirates was my job—how could I take payment from you?"
"That's not the point! Not the point!" the old man sobbed.
"If you hadn't come that day, our whole village would've been finished!"
"Alright, alright," White Ghost said patiently, comforting them.
"Ah—sir, you're back." Genzo spotted White Ghost and ran over immediately.
"Heh, yeah," White Ghost replied, looking at the village sheriff with the pinwheel on his hat.
He had arrived early enough back then—Genzo hadn't needed to take those blades meant for Arlong.
"Thank you, truly," Genzo said, gripping White Ghost's hand tightly.
"If not for you… Bellemere might not have made it."
Watching their captain get surrounded by villagers, the women smiled.
Ain laughed softly.
"This is the first time I've seen White-bro this lively with civilians. Usually he finishes the job and leaves—no lingering."
Stella nodded.
"I heard it's because he can't stand the way people look at him."
"What way?" Elena asked, confused.
"The way they look at a hero," Stella replied gently.
"White-bro hates being treated like a hero. He says it's exhausting. Heroes are supposed to be great and selfless… and he says he isn't either of those."
The women all smiled.
To them, White Ghost was a hero—without question.
When Bellemere's family rushed over after hearing the news, they arrived to find White Ghost completely boxed in by villagers.
"Big brother Marine!" Nami shouted.
Before Bellemere could stop her, Nami charged straight into the crowd.
The villagers immediately made a path.
"Big brother Marine!"
Nami took a running start, leapt, and threw herself into White Ghost's arms.
"Hahaha. Little Nami's grown," White Ghost laughed, steadying the tiny whirlwind and ruffling her hair.
"Hehehe. Of course!" Nami looked up at the big brother she'd missed for so long, eyes shining.
Elena watched and smiled.
"Looks like we've gained a little sister."
The others smiled as well. No one felt uncomfortable—everyone already knew how White Ghost treated children he chose to protect.
"Alright, Nami—get down," Bellemere said as she strode over, frowning.
She had noticed the women beside White Ghost, and her instincts immediately began screaming about Nami's future.
"I don't want to—bleh!" Nami stuck out her tongue and hugged tighter.
White Ghost found it amusing.
"What, Colonel of a Marine branch—who upset you? That's quite a bit of fire."
"Tch." Bellemere turned her head away, then spoke to the villagers.
"Alright, everyone scatter. He's not going anywhere. If you want to look, look later."
Only then did the villagers reluctantly disperse.
White Ghost pointed at the small figure still clinging to him.
"Let me introduce you properly. This is the family I told you about."
He gestured one by one.
"This is Nami. That's Nojiko. And this is Bellemere."
"Hello," Bellemere greeted them warmly.
Then White Ghost introduced his companions.
"These are my close companions: Stella, Ain, and Elena."
They exchanged greetings, and as usual, the women quickly found common ground. Before long, Bellemere was chatting easily with them.
"Come," Bellemere said. "Let's sit at my place for a bit… Dragon Emperor."
"Alright." White Ghost shrugged.
"Nami, get down," Nojiko said helplessly.
Bellemere sighed, watching her precious cabbage get carried off by a boar.
"Let's go." Everyone headed toward Nami's warm little home.
Only after they arrived did Nami finally climb down from White Ghost and rush off with Nojiko to prepare tea.
"These two brats," Bellemere muttered, glaring at White Ghost. "They've never been this attentive to me."
When the two girls served tea, White Ghost spoke directly.
"I came to take Nami with us," he said. "As our navigator."
Bellemere's expression sharpened.
"You want to take Nami… and have her navigate for you?"
White Ghost nodded and glanced at Nami, who refused to leave his side.
"You know her talent. And she likes adventure. We're traveling anyway."
"Really?!" Nami bounced excitedly, clinging tighter.
Bellemere hesitated.
She didn't want to agree—but she knew Nami's gift.
Nami learned navigation almost instantly, and all the materials White Ghost had sent back had been absorbed frighteningly fast.
Bellemere had even considered letting Nami join the Marines one day.
Now this man was "snatching" her first.
Seeing Bellemere hesitate, Nami ran over and pleaded.
"Bellemere, I want to go! White-bro will protect me!"
Bellemere looked at Nami, then at White Ghost, then at his companions.
Finally, she clenched her teeth.
"Fine. She can go—but I have a condition."
"Say it," White Ghost replied calmly.
Bellemere stared him down.
"Nami is not allowed to be mistreated. That's it."
White Ghost rolled his eyes.
"What do you take me for? Nami is like a little sister to me."
They continued talking and laughing. Stella and the others liked the clever, energetic future "little sister," and the room stayed lively.
But when White Ghost said they would leave today, Bellemere froze.
"So soon?"
In the end, Bellemere packed Nami's things with tears in her eyes. Nojiko cried too, telling Nami to behave and stay safe.
When it was time to board, Nami clung to Bellemere and burst into tears.
Mother and daughters held each other tightly and cried together.
As the ship pulled away, Bellemere and Nojiko stood on the shore.
"Goodbye, Nami!"
"I'll miss you!" Nami cried, waving with tear-filled eyes.
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