Nami had a long, vivid dream. In it, a hero wearing a straw hat dropped from the sky and pulverized Arlong Park with a single punch. His body could grow to massive proportions, he did nothing but grin while he fought, and his only move was swinging his fists—yet he felt so incredibly reliable.
But when she woke up, she realized with a heavy heart that there was no hero and no straw hat. She still had to drag her exhausted body to Arlong Park to work. Her job? Using her genius-level navigation skills to draw charts for Arlong. Arlong had promised her that if she could scrape together 100 million Berries, he would grant her and Cocoyasi Village their freedom.
Walking down the main road toward Arlong Park, Nami spotted a familiar back. Her eyes widened. It was Chrollo. He was strolling casually down the street, followed by a burly, wild-looking man carrying a large chest.
Fuming, she chased after them. "You?!!"
"Oh, hey there," Chrollo greeted her with a wave. "If it isn't the lovely Miss Nami."
"How dare you even say my name!" Nami snapped, planting her hands on her hips and holding out an open palm. "Hand it over!"
"Hand what over?" Chrollo asked, looking confused.
"Don't play dumb! My money!" Nami glared at him and shouted, "The money I had on me that night! All 173,000 Berries! Give it back right now!"
"I didn't take your money," Chrollo said innocently. "In fact, my money went missing that night too. I actually thought you stole it from me..."
"Wait, what?" Nami rubbed her chin, processing this. "Did someone else target a 'fat cat' like you that night? Damn third-party thieves!"
Suddenly, it clicked. "Wait a second... how did you even get here?"
"I sailed here, obviously."
"No, that's not what I mean." Nami stared him down. "I mean the entire coastline is guarded by Fishmen. How did you even make it to shore?"
"Fishmen?" Chrollo looked genuinely puzzled. "I didn't see any..." He shrugged. "Maybe I just got lucky?"
Nami eyed him suspiciously. "Then what are you doing here?"
Chrollo acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Trade, of course. I heard the tangerines from Cocoyasi Village are huge, sweet, and plentiful. I came here to buy some."
"Buy... tangerines?" Nami's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"That's right." Chrollo nodded.
"Beat it! What trade?!" Nami rolled her eyes. No wonder people scammed this guy; he was way too naive! "Get out of here while you still can. This isn't a place for someone like you."
"But why?" Chrollo looked hurt. "I'm here to do honest business. I even brought plenty of capital." He gestured to the large chest Uvogin was carrying. "There's 100 million Berries in there. It's our seed money. Miss Nami, do you know where the tangerine farmers are? I think we're lost..."
"One... one hundred million Berries?!" Nami's voice went up an octave. She stared at the chest in Uvogin's arms, her gaze locked on it.
Chrollo kept rambling as if he hadn't noticed her reaction. "I plan to sell Cocoyasi tangerines to the Marines and passing ships. I've noticed that people on long voyages lack certain essential nutrients, and fruit is packed with them. Cocoyasi tangerines are famous in the East Blue; I'm sure I can get a great price for them..."
Nami's eyes were glued to that chest. One hundred million Berries. With that money, she'd be free. She could go anywhere, sail anywhere, and finally chase her dreams as a navigator. With that money, Cocoyasi Village wouldn't have to suffer under Arlong anymore. Tragedies like what happened yesterday would never happen again.
But... Nami looked at Chrollo, who was still talking. This guy clearly wasn't a bad person. What would happen to him if she took all that money?
After a moment of internal struggle, she gritted her teeth and made her choice. Chrollo... would just have to be her victim. Her family in the village came first.
Nami pulled her wooden staff out from her top. Before Chrollo or Uvogin could even react, she whacked Uvogin's arm—the one holding the chest—with all her might.
Thump! The chest hit the ground. Nami snatched it up instantly. She peeked inside; it was indeed overflowing with cash. She slammed it shut and guarded it behind her back.
Uvogin clutched his arm, acting like he was in pain. Chrollo looked "stunned." "Miss Nami... what are you doing?!"
"Giving you a lesson," Nami said coldly. "You're a grown man. Don't you know you shouldn't flash that much cash in public? Everyone is going to want a piece of 100 million Berries... especially a thief like me."
"A... a thief?!" Chrollo's eyes went wide with "horror." Then, he seemed to realize something. "Wait, so that night... you really did take my money?!"
Nami nodded expressionlessly. "Obviously. Here's some advice: get out of here right now. I'm a member of the Arlong Pirates!" She pointed toward the end of the road. "See that castle? It's crawling with Fishmen. Don't try to fight me. Just consider that 100 million the price of your lives! Now scram before I lose my temper!"
With that, Nami turned and hauled the chest away, leaving the two of them standing there.
Once she was out of sight, her cold mask crumbled into a look of guilt. Chrollo probably hated her now. He probably thought she was an absolute monster. But she quickly steeled her heart.
It's fine... this is for the village. They're finally saved.
Back on the road, Chrollo and Uvogin brushed the dust off their clothes and stood up, looking perfectly relaxed.
"So, Boss, how was my acting?" Uvogin asked proudly.
"Not bad," Chrollo nodded. "If they gave out Oscars in this world, I'd nominate you myself."
"What's an Oscar?" Uvogin asked. He was used to the Boss saying things he didn't understand.
"Man, it's hot today..." Uvogin tugged at his collar and walked behind a massive tree. Behind that tree... was a pile of Fishman corpses.
It wasn't that they hadn't run into any Fishmen; it was that every Fishman they encountered was already dead.
Uvogin reached down and took a straw hat off one of the dead Fishmen's heads, plopping it onto his own. "Nice hat. Think I'll borrow it."
Then, he followed Chrollo toward Arlong Park. "Much better. Keeps the sun off."
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read my story : belamy20
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