Bai Yun had successfully infiltrated the enemy camp and was as comfortable as if he were in his own home.
Meanwhile, Nami had just decided to turn back to retrieve the sea chart from Bai Yun when she bumped into something at a street corner.
She fell back onto the ground, utterly exasperated; this day had been nothing but trouble.
"Ah!!! Why am I so unlucky today!!!"
She looked up at the two people she had collided with.
And those two happened to be Luffy and Zoro, who had just landed on the island… "Ah, we finally found someone."
That was Luffy's first reaction upon seeing Nami.
Zoro nodded slightly in agreement. He regretted letting those three guys go; they had made them wander around the town for several circles.
"Hmm, and a little dog."
Luffy noticed a small dog behind Nami and immediately praised it, going over to look at it.
Zoro merely glanced at Nami, not bending down to help her up. He thought, 'She shouldn't be that weak, should she? Does she need help already?'
He was truly a straight man, lucky he was handsome.
Nami stood up on her own, dusting herself off. At this moment, she felt that Bai Yun was much more of a gentleman, even though he was still a jerk.
"Woman, do you know what's going on in this town?"
"Why is there no one around?"
Zoro asked, crossing his arms.
If this were Bai Yun's world, with that attitude and that way of addressing a woman, Zoro would surely be known as a 'turn-off guy' to others.
Nami was furious, but the insults caught in her throat. She suddenly remembered Bai Yun saying he had two other companions.
She hadn't seen these two before. Could it be them?
She hoped so. That damned Bai Yun stole her sea chart. She would let his two companions get into trouble, and then she would seize the opportunity to snatch the sea chart back.
"Ow, ow, ow!!"
"You guys..."
"Who are you!!!"
At the same time, three voices rang out.
The first was Luffy's cry as the little dog, Shushu, bit his hand.
The second was Nami, who had just been about to speak but had her words forcefully suppressed by the other two voices.
And the third was the town mayor, who had just arrived to feed Shushu.
"Don't bully Shushu!"
The mayor rushed between Luffy and Shushu, separating them.
Seeing that food had arrived, Shushu let go of Luffy's hand.
"Huh?"
Luffy let out a questioning 'huh.' Who was bullying whom?!
"And who are you, old man?"
"I am the mayor of this town! This seaside town, we built it with our own hands fifteen years ago. It's our home!"
"Unfortunately, it's now occupied by pirates."
The mayor was very emotional. This town contained their hard work; it was built by everyone's efforts. He regarded it as wealth, their wealth.
Although no one had asked him about the town, he spoke entirely from his own feelings.
"Oh."
To the mayor's heartfelt speech, Luffy's reaction was to say "oh" while picking his nose with his pinky finger.
For some reason, the mayor felt a bit annoyed, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he crouched down to feed Shushu.
"You said the people of this town went to the shelter to avoid the pirates, but what about this dog?"
"Why didn't it go? And why do you risk coming out to feed it?"
Zoro also walked over at this point, asking in confusion.
"Shushu is guarding this pet food store, which belonged to its owner."
"Its owner was an old friend of mine, so he asked me to look after it."
"Why did he ask you? Why didn't he come himself for his own store and dog?"
Nami also came closer. After hearing the mayor's words, she felt that Shushu's owner was a bit selfish.
"No, three months ago, Shushu's owner... he died of illness."
"I think Shushu must feel it too."
"But it stubbornly stays in front of the store and won't leave. All those injuries on it were from fighting with pirates."
"Just because it promised its owner to guard the store well, it's so stubborn it's willing to risk its life."
"Ah, that's amazing! Then I won't blame you for biting me, Shushu."
After hearing the mayor's story, Luffy showed a wide, white-toothed smile, genuinely thinking Shushu was incredible.
But the next second, Luffy and Zoro's expressions changed, and they both shouted in unison.
"Watch out!!"
Zoro jumped backward, pulling Nami along with him.
And Luffy pushed the old mayor down.
A huge figure crashed through the pet food store, passing over their heads.
Nami fell on her bottom again.
Luffy stood up, and he and Zoro both looked over.
The newcomer was indeed Mohji, the animal tamer of the Buggy Pirates, riding his lion, Richie.
"Who are you, you weird helmet guy!!"
Luffy shouted.
"This is hair!! What helmet!!"
Mohji instantly bristled and retorted, calling Luffy an unstylish fellow.
Meanwhile, Shushu stared at the pet food store, which now had a large hole and looked like it was about to collapse. It was stunned; the store it had guarded for so long was destroyed in an instant.
"Roronoa Zoro!"
"I've come for your head!"
"And you, you thieving hag, give back the treasure! Hahaha, you didn't expect to be betrayed by your own subordinate, did you? He's already joined our Buggy Pirates!!"
Mohji mocked Zoro and Nami.
Hearing Mohji mention her subordinate, Nami remembered Bai Yun. That guy actually joined the Buggy Pirates!!!
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
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