Carina didn't mind El reading her memories.
She was just that kind of girl—someone who understood things deeply and quickly.
In the original story, she had been willing to fake betrayal and shoulder Nami's hatred, all so Nami could escape danger. She even let herself be chased alone by an entire team of treasure hunters and entered the Grand Line on her own.
Before she formed a bond with El, the two of them had been complete strangers.
That pirate crew's banquet back then had originally been to celebrate Nami and Carina becoming full-fledged members instead of just apprentices. The simple fact that El hadn't killed them that night was already a form of kindness.
Not only did he spare them, he'd chosen to protect them, take them in, and bring them along to make money together.
Compared to that, what was a little mind-reading?
"Nii-san, are you… are you saying…"
Unlike Carina, who took it in stride, Nami was flustered. She stared at El across the table, hesitation and unease written all over her face.
El nodded.
"I know all your secrets," he said gently. "And now, we're going to Sixis Island to solve your problem."
"Nii-san…"
Nami stared at him blankly. Her eyes, which had been full of shadow, trembled.
"Secret?"
Carina blinked, then turned a suspicious look toward Nami.
"Nami, what kind of secret are you hiding from us?"
"I…"
Nami's lips trembled. For a moment, no words would come out.
Only when El gave her an encouraging smile and a small nod did she finally take a deep breath, reach up, and tug down the collar of her long-sleeved shirt. She exposed her left shoulder in front of the other three.
"I'm actually… a member of the Arlong Pirates," she said quietly, eyes closing as if to brace for impact.
"I see…"
Carina's eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of the Arlong Pirates' tattoo on Nami's upper arm.
"No wonder you've refused to bathe with me this whole time," she muttered. "So the real reason you always wear long sleeves is to hide that tattoo."
Without giving Nami a chance to speak, Carina continued, her voice sharp with deduction:
"But Nii-san's attitude toward you is still gentle, so that means you were forced to join them, right?"
"If I had to guess, that Fishman at the top of East Blue's pirate rankings—Arlong—his base camp is in your hometown."
"And the condition he gave you was: steal for them, or draw nautical charts. That's why you had to go out to sea at such a young age and risk your life stealing and drawing, isn't it?"
Nami's mouth fell slightly open. She stared at Carina, stunned.
"Hehehe… looks like I hit the mark."
Seeing Nami's expression, Carina knew she was right. A smug little smile appeared on her face.
In response, El raised his thumb toward her again.
As someone blessed with three monstrous talents, El understood better than anyone how important talent was.
The talented are born extraordinary. Those without talent are just ordinary people.
And his ship was gradually being filled with monsters—each one the peak in their own field.
His three talents were already unique.
Nami's navigation talent was the best in the world.
Kuina, the descendant of the God of Swords, had a talent in swordsmanship that would someday rival that of Gion, the Navy Vice-Admiral.
Carina's talent was not inferior to either of them.
She had two natural gifts:
A beautiful, unforgettable voice—if she ever pursued music, she could easily become a world-class singer.
A flexible, razor-sharp mind.
She hadn't gone through anything like Nico Robin's Buster Call, nor had she fled the World Government. Yet El could still see Robin's shadow in her.
If Carina had been born in Ohara, El had no doubt she'd have become a scholar.
If she'd been picked up by the Navy, he believed Vice Admiral Tsuru would have adored and nurtured her personally.
Being able to recruit her was like finding a rare treasure.
As long as he nurtured the three girls properly and let their talents bloom, El knew that someday he'd be surrounded by three powerful, beautiful women—his greatest allies on the sea.
"As expected of you, Carina…"
Nami let out a bitter little laugh and nodded.
"Yes. It's just like you said."
She then began to explain, voice trembling, how her adoptive mother had been killed by Arlong, and how she'd made a contract with him: if she could gather 100 million Belly, he would free her village.
"That's awful… How can they do that?!"
Hearing everything, Kuina shot to her feet, fists clenched, her face flushed with anger.
Watching Nami's tears fall as she spoke, the smile faded from Carina's face as well.
"…Nii-san, please," Nami whispered at last, looking up at El with wet eyes. "Please help me."
She'd finally said it out loud. The request that had been lodged in her chest since the day she first saw El's power.
However—
El's answer was not what she expected.
"No," he said softly. "I won't avenge you."
He shook his head. Nami's face went completely blank with despair—only for the corners of El's lips to curl upward a moment later.
"All of you are crewmates I chose because I like you," he said. "You're the wings that will help me soar over this sea in the future. You can't always rely on my strength."
"Nii-san, you mean…"
Carina's gaze sharpened, her sapphire-blue eyes shining with understanding.
"We're going to Sixis Island to find the legendary treasure of the sea—the Devil Fruit—and let Nami eat it," she said slowly. "Then she'll become a Devil Fruit user and take revenge on the Arlong Pirates herself?"
"Exactly."
El nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Nii-san…"
Nami's despair melted away, replaced bit by bit with something else—shock, hope, and a fierce, trembling resolve.
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