Leaving Cocoyasi, Heading for Loguetown!**
Under Hachi's incredulous gaze, Yang Ning—ever the pragmatist—adhered to his personal creed: **never waste anything**.
And so, he rewarded the octopus-man with a final, generous "feast."
The **gigantic maw of the void** burst forth once more—and the enormous Fish-Man vanished without a trace.
Now, **every last member of the Arlong Pirates was gone**.
Yang Ning turned to leave—but then his eyes fell on the pointed tower of Arlong Park.
*Since I'm here… might as well pay homage to the original work. One should finish what one starts.*
He wondered, briefly: *Without Nami, would Luffy and his crew even come here?*
> **"One-Sword Style: Heaven Opening!"**
Gripping Kotetsu with both hands, he brought the blade down with crushing force.
The **Starfire Blade**, bearing all its accumulated wounds, roared to life.
Scorching white sword energy coalesced into a blazing crescent—and **sliced through the tower** like paper.
Tiles shattered. Stone crumbled. Dust exploded into the sky.
Watching the structure collapse, Yang Ning nodded in quiet satisfaction.
But when he turned around, he saw **Nami**—sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
After wiping out the Arlong Pirates, Yang Ning and Esdeath stepped aside.
The villagers immediately swarmed in, ransacking every corner of Dragon Paradise—reclaiming what was theirs.
Later, back at the restaurant, Yang Ning sat before a staggering pile of gold coins and Berries, raising an eyebrow.
> "Are you sure you want to give me all of this?"
Genzo—the village constable, now their de facto leader—nodded firmly.
"Benefactors, please don't refuse. This is the payment we promised for hiring you. This time… it's finally *righteous*."
"Hahaha, you rascal."
Yang Ning laughed, clapping Genzo on the shoulder—but **pushed the treasure back**.
A proper pirate was never short on money.
In a world full of unscrupulous souls, if you needed cash?
You didn't beg. You **withdrew** it.
After seeing the villagers off, he turned to Nami, who stood alone, arms wrapped around herself.
> "Aren't you going to collect your Beli?"
She shook her head, eyes locked on him—silent, steady, resolved.
Yang Ning smiled and extended his hand.
> "My ship's short a navigator. Would you like to be my companion… and sail out to see a bigger world with me?"
Nami didn't hesitate.
Perhaps she'd decided the moment she saw that tower fall.
A delicate hand met a rough, calloused one.
> "Please take good care of me in the future… Captain."
"Hmm~ My name is Yang Ning. Just Yang Ning."
**Nami the Cat Burglar has joined the crew!**
Just as Yang Ning basked in quiet triumph, an **incredibly inconvenient** voice cut through the moment:
> "Captain… what you lack now isn't just a navigator. You also lack a **ship**."
Nami's face flushed crimson. She yanked her hand back like she'd touched fire, whispering:
"I-I'll get you a new one! Just give me a few days!"
"Use your 100 million Berries?" Yang Ning chuckled, sipping his wine. "I'm afraid that won't be enough."
And he wasn't joking.
In the One Piece world, **Beli were shockingly weak**.
Tens or hundreds of millions sounded grand—but in reality?
Even a modest ship like the *Going Merry* cost **100 million secondhand**.
For a vessel that could carry six to eight people across open ocean?
You'd need **at least that**—maybe more.
Nami, who'd handled stolen goods for years, knew this all too well.
She looked down, guilt tightening her throat.
*After all… she was the one who'd stolen and sold the Windbreaker.*
But Yang Ning waved it off.
"We don't need to *buy* one. We can **modify** one. Arlong's ship is pretty solid."
Nami's eyes lit up.
In her fear of Arlong, she'd never even considered it.
So, at Yang Ning's request, **Old Johnny**, **Willis**, and **Nami** returned to the ruins of Arlong Park to begin the refit.
Meanwhile, Yang Ning stayed behind in Cocoyasi—**living like a king**, feasting on free meals, lounging in the sun, utterly content.
But happy times are always short.
Less than a month later, **Willis** returned—grinning like a fool—and announced:
**The Windbreaker was reborn.**
At the docks of the ruined park, a **medium-sized pirate ship** now floated beside the massive pier.
The original megalodon figurehead and gaudy decorations were gone.
In their place: practical cabins, reinforced decks, and livable quarters.
The ship was sleek, seaworthy, and ready.
Yang Ning was only mildly annoyed by one detail:
Someone had such a **good memory** that they'd perfectly recreated his **awful, hand-scribbled Jolly Roger**—
right down to the crude lines and sloppy skull.
*It's hideous. And it clashes with the new ship entirely.*
Still, with the villagers' enthusiastic help—and generous donations of food, water, and even **transplanted orange trees**—all preparations were complete.
Yang Ning had eaten his fill of Cocoyasi's citrus delights.
It was time.
On a bright, clear morning, he gathered his crew.
> "Let's go, guys!"
"…No. Old man's not leaving."
"**Huh?**"
Yang Ning turned, stunned, to see **Old Johnny**—the grizzled boatman who'd stood by him through every storm—shaking his head.
The old man took a long drag from his cigarette, eyes drifting toward the horizon.
> "I'm too old. How can a relic from the old era board the ship of the new one? This place… it's peaceful. Let me retire here."
"But—" Yang Ning started, genuinely wounded.
Old Johnny cut him off gently.
"Willis and the others—they're good kids. Raised them myself. Don't let their simple faces fool you. Their shipwright skills? **Top-notch.** And they can fight, too—I just never let 'em get reckless."
He met Yang Ning's eyes.
"You've got the courage to challenge the ocean itself. Take them with you. Let 'em **try**."
Before Yang Ning could protest further, Old Johnny turned and walked away—final, resolute.
Yang Ning reached out… then let his hand fall.
*The old man deserved peace. This quiet island was his reward.*
Just then, Genzo and a crowd of villagers from across the Konomie Islands arrived at the dock—laden with supplies.
> "Benefactors, we've prepared enough food and fresh water for three months at sea. And we've replanted orange trees for you."
> "You refused treasure—but please… don't refuse this."
Their bows were deep. Their words left no room for refusal.
And Yang Ning didn't want to.
He wasn't a saint—but he wasn't cruel, either.
These were gifts of **gratitude**. He'd earned them.
So, as the villagers waved from the shore, the **New Windbreaker** pulled away from Cocoyasi Village—
sailing toward open waters, toward destiny.
This time, they wouldn't get lost.
They had a **true navigator**.
Nami, bright-eyed and confident, stood at the helm, sea chart in hand.
> "Captain! Where are we headed?"
Yang Ning stroked his chin, gazing at the flat, endless blue.
The East Blue held little interest now.
Buggy? A clown. Usopp? Not worth the detour.
Sanji? A good man—but the Windbreaker already had **Esdeath**, a chef beyond compare.
And without the right story trigger, there was no guarantee he'd even join.
So…
> "**Loguetown.**"
The name meant nothing to **Esdeath**—the island-raised warrior—or to the ever-simple **Sylvester brothers**.
But **Nami** froze.
She leaned over, hand on the wheel, eyes wide:
> "Captain… are you planning to—"
"**Hey-hey!**" Yang Ning laughed, open and unguarded.
> "That's right. I plan to take you straight to the **Grand Line**—for some real fun."
The words **"Grand Line"** made even Esdeath's eyes widen—
not with fear, but with **hungry anticipation**.