The ticking sound of the clock came to an abrupt stop. In the still space-time, Jotaro glanced at the fallen scimitar of Cabaji and kicked it up with one foot.
Star Platinum struck precisely; its fist only moved a very small distance, yet the power of that blow was extremely terrifying.
"Time resume!"
Buggy only felt a streak of flowing light flash before his eyes.
His scapula was pierced by an unknown object.
"Impossible!"
The hand tightly gripping Nami's neck instantly loosened.
Buggy's entire face was filled with terror.
After eating the Devil Fruit, he gained the ability to split apart in four directions. It could be said that this ability feared sharp weapons like blades the least.
Such weapons had a very small attack range; as long as he activated his ability, he could easily dodge.
It could be said that he hadn't been injured by swords or blades for a long time.
However, at this moment, he was actually nailed to the wall by the blade flicked by Jotaro.
What terrified him most was that he was uncertain whether this knife was thrown by Jotaro.
If not him, who else could it be?
"Cough cough cough!!!!"
After a bout of coughing, Nami didn't even have time to enjoy the long-lost air before Buggy's angry cursing arrived.
"Stinking thief! Lying swindler! You told me this is a pirate worth over ten million Berries in bounty!!?"
Buggy panted heavily.
He seriously suspected that the wanted poster was made up by Nami herself, with the purpose of making him underestimate the opponent.
Now, don't even mention one hundred million; even three hundred million, he wouldn't doubt.
The pressure from Jotaro made him recall the time on the Grand Line, facing those extremely vicious pirates.
Seeing Jotaro walk over, Buggy shamelessly knelt to the ground.
"Spare my life!! I... I... I'll give you all the treasures I've looted from this town."
"We will leave here. From now on, this town will be your territory."
"Hehe… from what I know, the residents here are hiding a lot of treasure. You'll definitely make a big profit."
"Yare yare, you really are scum." Jotaro looked down at him from above. "Spare you or not, look into my eyes, and you should know the answer."
Buggy raised his head. The moment their eyes met, his whole body felt like being electrocuted. Sweat poured uncontrollably from his body.
There was not a trace of mercy in those pale green pupils. That kind of gaze looked at him like looking at garbage, a worthless piece of trash.
"Ora ora ora ora ora!"
"Ora!!!"
This was Jotaro's way of cleaning up trash.
Under Star Platinum's heavy blow, Buggy flew into the sky like a meteor streaking across the horizon, disappearing rapidly from everyone's sight.
The crewmembers of the Buggy Pirates saw this and scattered in all directions, frantically running toward the island's coast.
Jotaro didn't bother with this rabble. He glanced sideways at Nami who had collapsed on the ground and asked, "Are you alright?"
Nami shook her head, still feeling a wave of lingering fear in her heart.
Buggy really had intended to kill her just now. If they were a moment later, her neck would have been broken by him.
Looking at the tall figure standing beside her, she felt an even deeper fear toward pirates.
'What kind of level of battle was this!'
Ordinary people getting caught up in it meant certain death.
It could be said that as an ordinary person, she had grown tired of this kind of life, struggling to survive in the cracks.
However, thinking of the villagers of Cocoyasi Village who were still suffering under Arlong's pirate crew, she had to brace herself to face all this.
"Um... thank you..." She forced a very sweet smile and asked Jotaro hopefully, "You're so strong. I think it's better to follow you. Can I still join you? Be your navigator?"
"Suit yourself." Jotaro didn't really care and instead bent down to pick up the map and a wanted poster that Buggy had dropped.
On the wanted poster was a vivid drawing of himself.
He didn't expect to become a wanted criminal so soon after arriving in this world.
"What are you doing?"
Just as Jotaro tore the wanted poster into pieces, in that moment, a big bag of gold and jewels had unknowingly appeared on Nami's shoulder.
"Of course, I'm helping Boss you count the spoils of war." Nami patted her chest and assured, "Don't worry, I have the strength. I'll carry all the wealth Buggy looted to your ship without missing a single piece."
At this moment, there was no trace of the weakness she had shown earlier. She looked full of energy, her eyes glowing.
Naturally, Jotaro wouldn't engage in robbery. He was about to reprimand Nami, telling her to put down the valuables.
But before he could speak, Boodle's hearty laughter rang out.
"Hahaha..." He slowly walked over with his hands behind his back, laughing, "No worries. You helped us drive away Buggy, so consider this our token of gratitude."
Compared to the whole town, the treasures in Nami's hands were insignificant.
Giving these treasures to Jotaro, not only he, but other townspeople would have no objection.
Jotaro refused, "No need. I taught Buggy a lesson because I personally found him annoying. It has nothing to do with you."
Boodle was momentarily stunned and then laughed loudly.
He really hadn't misjudged him.
A person unafraid of death wouldn't care about these external things.
Nami stared in disbelief with wide eyes.
This was twenty million Berries, and he just turned it down?
A pirate who treated money like dirt, this was the first time she had ever seen one.
Boodle came to Jotaro's side and sincerely said, "After the town was taken by the Buggy Pirates, we had no ability to fight back."
"Those lazy and unreliable Marines abandoned us. I once despaired and even thought of dying."
"Now the town has finally returned." He looked at Jotaro and pleaded, "No matter what, you are the benefactor who saved our town."
"Even if you don't accept this token of gratitude, I hope you'll give us a chance to repay your kindness."
"Could you temporarily stay in this town and let us do our part as hosts?"
This was the simplest request from an ordinary citizen. Jotaro thought for a moment and agreed.
He did indeed need time to rest.
That night, the entire town of Orange Town held a grand celebration, singing and dancing, to celebrate the rebirth of the town.
Nami stared blankly out the window at the scene. Boodle's words had moved her the most.
Her situation was exactly the same as Boodle's.
Only... when would her hometown, Cocoyasi Village, also be reborn?
"Miss Nami, your shoulder seems to have some bruising. Do you need me to help treat it?"
Shinobu gently asked, interrupting Nami's thoughts.
Seeing Shinobu about to lift her short sleeve, Nami nervously covered her shoulder.
"No need! I'll do it myself."
Shinobu looked at her in surprise but didn't insist. She smiled gently and said, "Alright, then I'll leave the medicine here. Be sure to apply it properly."
"Mm..." Nami lowered her head.
The sound of the door closing reached her ears, deepening the sorrow between her brows.
Just a short time with Jotaro and the others had made her wandering heart feel a strange calm, even causing her to hesitate about what she was going to do next.
'How could this be? They are pirates!'
She covered her forehead, the chaotic thoughts in her mind causing extreme struggle and deep pain.
However, when the image of Cocoyasi Village flashed in her mind, although her eyes were still dim, they regained their former determination.
On the other side, Jotaro was surrounded by enthusiastic townspeople in the center.
Watching their joyful singing and dancing, he helplessly closed his eyes.
"Yare yare..."
Nezuko sat next to him, her fair cheeks glowing faintly red, her crescent-shaped brows raised, and she smiled sweetly, "Jotaro-san, you don't seem to like this kind of atmosphere, do you?"
"But it looks like you're not that angry either."
The corners of Jotaro's mouth slightly lifted. He picked up a glass of draft beer from the table and downed it in one gulp.
"Sometimes, this kind of atmosphere isn't so bad."
Hearing Shinobu's request, Boodle readily agreed.
"Medical books, right? No problem. Tomorrow I'll collect all the medical literature in town and gift it to you."
Shinobu waved her hand, "That's not necessary. Just let me borrow the medical books to read."
She would copy them in the shortest time possible.
Last time, failing to detect the Marines' poisoning had made her hold a grudge. She would not allow such a thing to happen again.
So she planned to make full use of her time to study this world's medical knowledge.
Boodle silently noted this and then invited Shinobu to sit down and eat.
A plainly dressed townsperson came running over to report, "Mayor! Nami, Tsuko, Aika, Emi, and Tomomi are all dressed up and ready."
Boodle's eyes lit up. He excitedly said, "Call them over quickly."
"Yes!"
Soon after, several exquisitely made-up, stunningly beautiful women gracefully arrived. They shyly glanced at Jotaro and began performing the dance they had rehearsed in advance.
Boodle leaned next to Jotaro and sneakily asked, "So, what do you think? Like any of them? These few are famous beauties in our town."
"Many suitors have already worn out our doorstep. Hehe... if you like any of them, I can arrange a match."
Seeing Jotaro silent, Boodle was surprised, "Don't tell me you like all of them?"
Even so, he wouldn't be surprised. After all, he was confident in these women's beauty.
"Well... I'll just marry them all to you." He patted Jotaro's shoulder. "Don't worry. There's no rule here that says a man can only marry one woman."
"As long as you treat them well, then... uh..."
Boodle's words paused, a chilling air swept over, and his whole body trembled.
He shakily turned his head.
Shinobu was smiling sweetly, but it gave him the feeling of facing a demon from hell.
"Old man, I'll cut you down!"
Boodle trembled and ran, with Shinobu chasing right after him.
"Yare yare..." Jotaro folded his arms and silently sat to the side.
Boodle wanted to marry the town's girls to him. His motives were clear, to get him to stay.
With a powerful person guarding, Orange Town could avoid the risk of being invaded by pirates again.
But that was only a temporary solution, not a permanent cure.
This place was like a microcosm of the world. The same situation might be happening everywhere.
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