"Hey, hey~ Don't be so hard on Nami, guys!" Nojiko sighed, seeing everyone's shocked expressions.
She couldn't blame them. Nami's greed had become such a defining trait that any moment of generosity seemed enough to scare people half to death.
Finally getting the answer he wanted, Lace shrugged helplessly. "Alright, since you insist—one thousand sets. Normally sixty million Berries, but for you, special price—forty-eight million Berries!"
"You're robbing us!" Chopper shouted, baring his tiny fangs at him.
"So that's forty-eight thousand Berries per sheet?!!!" Carmen counted on her fingers before letting out a horrified scream.
Nami calmly examined the stack of paper, nodded after a while, and said, "No problem. You'll get your money right away."
A big client—one who didn't even haggle. Jackpot! Lace grinned inwardly.
However, just as he was imagining piles of Berries, Nami pulled out a rope, and without a word, securely tied up Leno and then tossed him in front of Lace.
"Hand this guy to the Marines. Keep the change~"
"Hey—!" Leno stared in disbelief. Never in his life did he think he'd be used as payment!
"Nami! We're not broke! Why would you—tie me up?!"
Hearing the exchange, Lace finally realized something was off. He glanced at Leno, then up at the ship's flag.
Cold sweat trickled down his face as his head turned stiffly back toward them. His voice trembled. "You—you're adventurers? And you are… the Thunder God?"
"Yeah. What about it?" Leno grumbled from the ground, still protesting Nami's betrayal.
Lace's heart sank. His face went pale. That bounty—over four billion Berries—the infamous criminal stood right in front of him.
'Why am I so unlucky? To actually meet a living legend...'
Snapping out of it, Lace suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! I forgot! My wife's giving birth today! I—I have to go! Let's meet again—someday!"
Before anyone could react, he bolted like lightning, dove into a conch shell, and shot into the sea—gone in an instant.
"Hey~! You forgot your stuff…" Nojiko called from the rail, but he was long gone.
Everyone watched his absurd retreat in silence.
"What was that about?" Yamato asked, puzzled. "He just left?"
"Probably terrified after realizing who we are," Robin said with a knowing smile. "Adventurers' wanted posters are famous worldwide."
Nami ignored them all, hugging her mountain of papers and darting into the cabin.
"That Nami…"
"Leno, take a look at the paper. There's news about the Revolutionary Army."
Cutting off Leno's complaints, Robin waved a newspaper in her hand.
Zzt—
Leno appeared by the table, took the paper, and began reading.
"Oh~ They liberated five countries at once! The Revolutionaries really went big this time."
"Indeed. At this rate, it seems they want to seize control of the entire South Blue."
Pouring Leno a cup of tea, Robin's eyes glimmered with awe.
"It's not that simple," Leno replied, sipping his tea. "Too many variables. Their reach might be broad, but that only scatters their strength. I'd say this is about their limit."
Robin nodded quietly and went back to reading, the pages rustling softly in the wind.
Leno lay back lazily, letting the sea breeze wash over him. The sound of turning pages lulled him into drowsiness.
Whether it was the calm air or the company, his sleep was deep—until something tickled his nose.
Opening his eyes, he saw Robin teasing him with the end of her hair, smiling mischievously. Leno caught her hand and pulled her into his arms.
"Ah~!"
"Well, well, Robin, you're getting naughty too~"
Before she could react, Leno leaned in and captured her lips, silencing her playful resistance.
By the time he let go, Robin was breathless and limp in his embrace.
"You wicked… Get up. There's an island ahead."
She weakly smacked his chest, flustered and annoyed. She'd only meant to wake him—but now she could barely stand.
Once she'd recovered, the two walked to the railing together.
Seeing them, Nami shot Leno an exasperated glare before speaking. "That's Baterilla Island up ahead. Just a small one. We'll stop to restock."
"Baterilla Island?" Leno's eyes narrowed. "That's not just any island."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "You know something, don't you?"
Leno paused for a moment, then decided to share it. The truth would come out sooner or later anyway.
"Everyone knows about the Pirate King. But few realize—his wife gave birth to his child on that island."
"Nani?!"
"The Pirate King… had a wife?"
"And a child?!!!"
Everyone was struck dumb.
"Hey, you idiot, are you sure? On this island?" Nami asked, still half-in disbelief.
"Of course. Because of it, the World Government executed every pregnant woman on the island."
"!!!"
Kaya's face went pale as she covered her mouth, eyes wide with horror and grief.
The others looked no better. Silence fell.
"Damn the World Government! Those bastards are inhuman!" Yamato slammed a fist against the railing, trembling with rage.
The thought of innocent women—and unborn children—being slaughtered for nothing was unbearable.
The more she saw of the world, the more Yamato realized just how vile and rotten the Government truly was.
"Screw them! I'll make them pay sooner or later..."
"The Revolutionary Army's doing the right thing," Leno muttered darkly. "The world under the Celestial Dragons' rule is already rotted to the core."