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At the harbor, the villagers were helping Rowen's crew load supplies onto the Going Merry, enough for their upcoming voyage.
They also carefully transplanted Bell-mère's tangerine trees onto the ship's deck.
"Everything should be ready now, right?" Rowen asked, looking towards Sanji.
"Yeah, nutritional needs are covered," Sanji confirmed. Ensuring his comrades were well-nourished during their journey was his duty.
With Rowen now onboard—a 'big eater' whose appetite surpassed even Luffy's—Sanji had prepared even more ingredients than usual.
But Sanji didn't find it troublesome at all; instead, he meticulously planned Rowen's nutritional balance.
Because having Rowen taste his cooking was truly a pleasure.
The moss-head, Zoro, needless to say, never offered compliments.
Luffy just stuffed his face, occasionally yelling "Delicious!"
Usopp would offer more words, but his ingrained habit of exaggeration made his praise often over-the-top and off-point.
Only Rowen could provide insightful, detailed critiques of his dishes, appreciating the nuances of appearance, aroma, and taste. Every comment hit precisely on the aspects Sanji was most proud of.
For a chef who considered cooking his life, that kind of feedback was incredibly gratifying.
"By the way, where's Nami?" Usopp asked curiously, looking around for her.
"She'll be here soon. Nami... has her own way of saying goodbye," Rowen replied with a knowing smile.
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"What?! Nami's leaving without taking the money?" Down below, Genzo stared wide-eyed after hearing from Nojiko that Nami intended to leave her savings behind.
"That's not right! Nami worked desperately hard for that money!" Nako, the village doctor who had treated Zoro, exclaimed.
"She said she can always steal more... You know Nami; once she decides something, she doesn't change her mind," Nojiko sighed helplessly. Nami loved money because it represented hope for saving her hometown. But more than money, Nami loved her family.
"That fool girl... We're the ones who should be endlessly grateful to her," Genzo murmured, filled with guilt. They hadn't been able to help much, letting Nami shoulder everything... Trying to fight themselves would have only worried Nami and gone against her wishes. But this money... how could they possibly keep it?
Tap! Tap! Just then, footsteps approached.
"She's here," Rowen said, looking towards Nami.
"NAMI!" Hearing the footsteps, all the Cocoyasi villagers turned towards her.
"Set sail! Now!" Nami yelled, keeping her head down, avoiding looking directly at the villagers. She then suddenly broke into a sprint towards the Going Merry.
"W-What's going on? Why is Nami running?" Usopp asked, bewildered.
"The navigator gave the order! Of course, we set sail! On this ship, Nami calls the shots when it comes to navigation," Rowen chuckled.
"That's right!" Luffy yelled in agreement.
Zoro immediately raised the anchor. Usopp and Sanji quickly took their positions.
"That girl! Is she really leaving without letting us thank her or say goodbye properly?!" Genzo, who had watched Nami grow up, instantly understood her intention.
"How could she!" the villagers exclaimed, shocked. They had wanted to properly thank Nami, to give her a proper farewell.
"Hoist the main sail—!" Luffy yelled. The Merry's sail unfurled, and the ship began pulling away from the dock.
The villagers rushed forward, trying to stop Nami.
"Wait! At least let us thank you properly before you go!" one man pleaded, trying to block her path.
"Nami! I won't allow you to just leave us like this!" Genzo shouted towards her.
"Rowen... is it really okay for Nami to leave like this?" Sanji asked, looking towards Rowen.
"What does it matter? Nami is free now," Rowen replied, watching Nami run with a smile.
The next moment, Nami darted into the crowd of villagers. Utilizing her [Pirate Thief (Blue)] agility, she expertly weaved through them.
The villagers couldn't stop her.
Tap!
Nami burst through the crowd and leaped towards the Going Merry, already drifting away from the dock.
"Nami!" Nojiko cried out worriedly, watching Nami's risky jump.
But the next moment, Nojiko relaxed.
"Honestly, so reckless," Rowen sighed fondly, standing at the deck railing with open arms. He easily caught Nami as she landed.
"Well... you said I was free~" Nami grinned up at Rowen, then pulled away from his embrace, turning back to face the villagers on the dock.
Rustle!
Nami gave her clothes a little shake, and countless wallets tumbled out onto the deck.
"Everyone! Take care!" Nami called out, holding up a wad of Beri notes she'd 'lifted', turning back to the villagers with a mischievous grin.
"Ah! Our wallets!"
"What nerve, kid!"
"You little thief cat!"
The villagers exclaimed, discovering their missing wallets. But their shouts quickly turned into—
"Take care, Nami!"
"Be happy, Nami!"
"Thank you all so much!"
Nami smiled brightly. Yes, this was the perfect farewell for her.
"Everyone! Goodbye! I'm off—" Nami beamed, her eyes curving into happy crescents as she waved enthusiastically at the villagers.
"I swear—my sister really is something else... Be happy, okay?" Nojiko chuckled, completely endeared.
"Hahaha," Genzo laughed, sitting down heavily. Seeing Nami smile like that—truly happy... Genzo smiled too.
Be happy, Nami!
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Marine Headquarters! Marineford!
Here gathered the most elite Marines in the world.
Marine Headquarters, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the Four Emperors—these formed the Three Great Powers maintaining the current balance of the world.
Marine HQ, alongside the Seven Warlords (nominally under the World Government), stood against the pirate forces led primarily by the Four Emperors.
However, with the Emperors largely confined to their territories, Marine HQ undoubtedly represented the single strongest individual faction.
Inside a conference room.
Three wanted posters were pinned to a large bulletin board.
Lining both sides of the room sat rows of Marine HQ officers! Each bore the scars of countless battles against pirates. Unlike branch officers, HQ Marines faced the threats of the Grand Line, even the Emperors of the New World! These officers were on a completely different level. An aura of fierce determination filled the room.
"So, this group is now beyond the capabilities of a mere branch office, correct?" Vice Admiral Yamakaji stated gravely.
"Correct," Marine HQ Commodore Brannew confirmed, pointing at the board.
"Ever since they formed their crew, starting with the defeat of Branch Captain Morgan, their momentum has been unstoppable. Clown Buggy, 15 million Beri bounty. Pirate Fleet Admiral, Don Krieg, 17 million Beri bounty. Fish-Man Pirates, Saw-Tooth Arlong, 20 million Beri." Brannew indicated the posters.
"In the East Blue, where the average bounty is only 3 million Beri, these were all major pirates exceeding 10 million. Yet, this crew defeated them all," Brannew declared loudly.
"And especially!"
Thwack!
A new wanted poster was slapped onto the board.
"Previously reported by the World Economic News Agency—already gaining immense notoriety... The user of Conqueror's Haki! Before defeating Don Krieg, this man even clashed his Conqueror's Haki against the Warlord of the Sea—Hawk-Eyes Mihawk! This man's power can no longer be ignored!!!" Brannew stated grimly.
"Conqueror's Haki—!!" The Marine officers present tensed, their expressions turning incredibly serious. Sweat beaded on the foreheads of some.
That was the disposition of a King—a power not even their three strongest fighters, the Marine Admirals, possessed!
Anyone who awakened it inevitably became a major power player on the Grand Line.
"There was previous debate regarding this man's bounty. But this time—considering his 'Powers' demonstrated by clashing Haki with Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, and his heinous act of killing Marine Captain Nezumi of the East Blue 16th Branch—we have decided on this bounty amount. For an initial bounty to reach this figure is unprecedented. However, based on our assessment, this number is absolutely not inflated. Such a terrifyingly evil sprout must be extinguished as quickly as possible," Brannew concluded, pointing at the bounty figure.
"Absolutely correct," Vice Admiral Yamakaji, who had come specifically for this meeting, affirmed.
"Vice Admiral Onigumo? Your thoughts?" Yamakaji looked across at Onigumo.
Yamakaji represented the 'dove' faction within the Marines, while Onigumo represented the 'hawk' faction. A decision regarding the bounty of a super rookie possessing Conqueror's Haki required consensus from Vice Admirals of both factions.
"No objections. This dangerous individual... must be extinguished swiftly," Onigumo, his face grim, nodded slowly. If not for certain considerations, he would have personally hunted down this 'evil seed' himself.
"Then, the bounty amount is confirmed! Announce it to the world!"
"'Sky Sovereign' Rowen! DEAD OR ALIVE! Bounty: 100,000,000 Beri!" Brannew declared loudly.
"Furthermore! The captain acknowledged by this man, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, user of the Gomu-Gomu Fruit, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy! Bounty: 45,000,000 Beri!"
"Inform the world! Let this evil flame be extinguished quickly!"
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