"Help!"
"Save us!"
"Stop!"
It was strange. This was supposed to be the empty Calm Belt, yet such an incredible train had appeared here. Even so, everyone aboard the Going Merry began waving and shouting without hesitation.
Under their anxious, hopeful gazes, the Sea Train's whistle sounded, and its speed gradually slowed.
"Great! They saw us! We're saved!"
Then everyone saw the door at the front of the train open. A figure in a conductor's uniform appeared, holding something that looked like a rope. He leaped into the sea and quickly swam toward the Going Merry.
Only then did everyone truly relax.
But as the figure swam closer, they realized he was not human at all.
The fish-like tail fin, blue skin, and powerful build all made it clear that he was no human, but a Fish-Man.
Just as they were staring in surprise, the Fish-Man reached the Going Merry with incredible speed. Then, like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, he sprang out of the sea and landed steadily on the bow, looking everyone over.
"Uh, who are you people?"
The moment he asked that, Nami and Usopp instinctively grew tense.
They suddenly remembered that they were pirates. If that idiot Luffy blurted it out, would he scare this person away?
Fortunately, because they had been in such a hurry, Luffy had not even had time to decide what their pirate flag would look like before setting out to sea.
Thinking that, Nami prepared to tell a small lie so they could leave the Calm Belt first.
But just then, Luffy foolishly said something that made everyone's faces change.
"My name is Luffy. I'm the man who's going to become the pirate king..."
Nami and Usopp instantly turned pale. Nami in particular was just about to explain something to the blue-skinned Fish-Man in front of her when, to her surprise, he smiled and said, "So you're pirates. Got it. No problem, then. Tie this rope to your bow. We'll pull your ship over and take you out of here."
That left Nami and the others confused instead.
"Um, uncle, we're pirates. Aren't you scared?"
The Fish-Man puffed out his chest, showing off his sturdy build.
"What's there to be scared of? Ten years ago, this uncle was a pirate too..."
...
With the whistle sounding again, the Sea Train started moving once more. The not particularly large Going Merry was towed over and tied to the last car.
Inside the second car of the Sea Train, everyone who had just boarded this unusual train on the sea stared around in amazement at the interior.
Rows of seats were arranged neatly, and the car was decorated with all kinds of ocean-themed ornaments.
Everyone sat in a row, looking at the constantly changing scenery outside the window with their mouths hanging open.
Luffy and Usopp had their faces pressed right against the glass, while Nami and Nojiko's eyes shone as well.
"This is incredible!"
"It's so beautiful!"
It was the same sea, but seeing it from a Sea Train felt completely different from seeing it on a ship. Now that they were out of danger, everyone was in a very good mood.
Only Sanji had a dark look on his face. He had wanted to sit next to Nami, but Nami had rejected him without mercy, so he could only sit face-to-face with the seaweed-head Zoro.
"Tch..."
Just as he was feeling annoyed, a clear young girl's voice sounded beside his ear.
"Excuse me, dear guests. Please enjoy our Fish-Man Island specialty coffee!"
Sanji turned his head instinctively, then froze completely.
At that moment, he felt as if he were in heaven. He could clearly hear his own heart pounding. It was the sound of love at first sight, and his eyes filled with hearts.
"A... mermaid..."
That was right. The person standing before them and serving as their attendant was an exceptionally beautiful mermaid.
In an instant, Sanji's nosebleed shot three meters high, and he fainted.
That frightened the beautiful mermaid so much that she panicked, completely at a loss.
Nami, however, understood what had happened. She looked at Sanji with disdain, then turned to the beautiful mermaid in front of her with the same admiration and said, "Don't worry about him. He'll be fine on his own in a bit."
"Huh? Is he really okay?"
The mermaid asked in innocent confusion.
"He's fine, he's fine..."
As Nami comforted her, she naturally began sipping the coffee.
"Wow, this tastes amazing!"
The others also looked delighted by the flavor, and only then did the mermaid finally relax.
But when she looked back, she found that Sanji had somehow already returned to normal and was tasting the coffee properly. After taking a sip, he asked like a gentleman, "What wonderful coffee. Beautiful lady, I can feel the emotion you put into it while grinding the beans."
"Really?"
Clearly, this mermaid was a natural airhead too.
"Of course. By the way, beautiful lady, I still haven't asked your lovely name."
"Um, my name is Camie. I'm temporarily working aboard Sea Train 007."
"Camie. What a charming name."
Nami looked at Sanji with contempt, then asked the important question.
"Um, where did that uncle go? We haven't had a chance to thank him for saving us."
"Oh, you mean Uncle Sam? He's the conductor of this train. Since there will be more Sea Trains coming after us, he went back to drive the train after saving you, so we wouldn't delay the others. There'll be time to rest once we reach the station."
"I see."
Usopp seemed to think of something and asked, "Doesn't that mean there are only two of you on this train?"
"Idiot, what are you saying?"
Nami immediately scolded him. After all, Usopp's words were far too easy to misunderstand, especially considering they were pirates.
Camie, however, only laughed softly.
"It's fine. Uncle Sam is very strong, and besides, it isn't easy to run into anyone else in the Calm Belt. On top of that, this train is a freight train, not a passenger train, so just Uncle Sam and me are enough."
"So that's how it is."
Nami seemed to understand.
After all, she had traveled to many places on the Kaya family's merchant ships.
"Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Nami. This is my mother, Bell-mère, and my older sister, Nojiko. And they are..."
Luffy and the others happily introduced themselves.
Camie looked envious.
"I heard from Uncle Sam that you're companions. I'm so jealous. I want companions like that too, but Uncle Sam just won't agree..."
As Camie spoke, she did not notice that when she said the word companions, even though they were not truly together yet, neither Sanji nor Nami refuted it. Bell-mère looked at her daughter and said nothing either.
The atmosphere suddenly became a little strange.
Seeing that, Nami changed the subject.
"Um, I heard Uncle Sam say just now that he used to be a pirate too?"