Nami looked out over her hometown, a surge of complicated emotions welling up inside her.
This time, she hadn't returned as she'd once promised the Arlong Pirates—to buy back the village with 100 million Beli.
Instead, she had returned with Kairos Flint, bringing him here to destroy the Arlong Pirates once and for all.
Her heart was a storm of conflict.
It felt as though the past eight years of struggle, of sacrifice and bargaining, had all been for nothing.
Not that she was hesitating or afraid—well, not exactly.
But the memory of Arlong murdering her mother right in front of her eyes had never faded. That trauma ran deeper than any ordinary fear. The mere thought of him could still freeze her blood.
"…Let's go," she finally said.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the black suitcase that held her share of the Beli and started walking forward.
Seeing this, Kairos Flint followed silently.
As for their ship?
There was nothing of real value left on board. Everything important to Kairos was in his spatial carry-on storage, and Nami's valuables were inside that black suitcase in her hand. The only thing of worth on the ship itself was the vessel's hull.
As they walked, Kairos glanced at her.
"Are we heading home… or going straight to murder?"
They'd already arrived at Cocoyasi Village. The only real destinations here were her old home or Arlong Park.
"Home," Nami replied simply.
"Whatever works," Kairos shrugged.
He was here to help her. When the time came for action, she would tell him. There was no reason for him to rush it.
The path they walked was lined with green grass and dense, vibrant shrubs. The peaceful countryside scenery was calming.
After so much time spent at sea, Kairos couldn't help but appreciate the quiet charm of rural life.
They walked for quite a while.
Eventually, they arrived at an orange grove nestled near a modest, slightly weathered house. The air smelled fresh and sweet with citrus.
As they approached, a sound came from within the trees, putting Kairos on alert. But in the next moment—
"Nami!"
A girl with short blue hair and a red headscarf stepped out from the trees. When she saw Nami, her face lit up in joy.
"Nokiko, I'm home," Nami said.
The two of them immediately embraced.
Though not related by blood, Nami and Nokiko had always been closer than sisters. That bond was unshakable.
It took a while for them to pull themselves out of their emotional reunion.
At that moment, Nokiko finally noticed Kairos Flint standing nearby.
And when she did, she froze.
He was handsome. Too handsome.
More importantly, she didn't recognize him—and she knew everyone in Cocoyasi and the surrounding villages. If someone like him lived nearby, there was no way she wouldn't have noticed.
So naturally, her conclusion was:
"Oh… so that's how it is. Nami, I approve of you and him."
She gave Nami a meaningful look, her expression full of knowing approval.
Nami, on the other hand, blinked in confusion. Why was Nokiko suddenly saying that?
Following her sister's gaze toward Kairos, it suddenly clicked.
"Wait! No, no—it's not like that! You're misunderstanding!" Nami waved her hands, flustered. "He's… he's just my partner. That's all. We're not… like that."
Nokiko's face immediately fell in disappointment—so obvious, it was almost comedic.
"Nami… I'm so disappointed in you," she sighed dramatically.
She shook her head, looking like a concerned older sister whose expectations had just been crushed.
Why couldn't her little sister live up to her hopes? As the older sister and mother figure, she was starting to worry.
"His name is Kairos Flint," Nami quickly clarified. "He's a bounty hunter—and my partner. He came with me to help eliminate the Arlong Pirates completely."
Hearing this, Nokiko's expression changed instantly.
"Nami… didn't you agree to use the money to buy back the village? Are you seriously thinking of letting a bounty hunter go up against Arlong?"
She looked alarmed.
"The Arlong Pirates… they're fishmen. Not something humans can handle."
She was glad to see her sister return, but now she was genuinely worried. This turn of events was so sudden that she didn't know how to react.
"Not something humans can deal with?"
If it had been the Nami of the past, she might've agreed. The Arlong Pirates were monstrous—inhumanly strong. But now, after witnessing Kairos in battle—wielding the Third Generation Kitetsu sword and taking down the largest pirate crew in the East Blue, the Krieg Pirates—she saw things differently.
Over five thousand pirates had fallen under Kairos Flint's blade.
It wasn't just a fight.
It was a massacre.
Yes, Arlong was strong.
But in her mind, no matter how terrifying Arlong might be, he couldn't possibly be stronger—or more ruthless—than the man who slaughtered thousands with a single sword.