[Achievement Unlocked: Modest Wealth. Reward: 1 Achievement Point]
As Ron stepped out of the Marine base with a small briefcase full of cash, the familiar sound of the system echoed in his mind. So that confirmed it, the system must have recognized the wealth division under the second or third condition.
He invested the new point into Spirit without hesitation and made his way back to the harbor. Soon enough, he was back aboard the little ship, where Nami was waiting.
Her heavy bag of gold and silver coins was gone, replaced with crisp stacks of banknotes neatly folded into bundles.
"Five million Berries," she said casually, though Ron suspected the real number was higher. Then again, a difference of a few million meant little to him now.
He smiled faintly. "As long as you don't lose it."
After he counted his own share, another five million the two of them closed their briefcases at the same time. Nami grinned brightly and extended her hand.
"Pleasure doing business with you!"
Clap.
Their palms met. A simple gesture, but somehow it marked the beginning of something larger.
Ron tilted his head thoughtfully. "You know, I've got five million here, and you've got about the same. That's enough to pay off your debt, right?"
"Of course."
She smiled with practiced innocence, snapping the case shut. Then, without missing a beat, she leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"You know, you're stronger than I thought. Taking down a pirate worth five million Berries isn't easy. How about we keep working together?"
Ron blinked. "...Working together?"
"Sure!" Nami clasped her hands behind her back, her tone light. "We hunt pirates, collect their treasure, split it half and half."
Ron sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Half and half? I'm the one actually fighting them, you know. Doesn't that seem a little unfair?"
Nami's smile never faltered. "Can you navigate? Sail through storms? Predict currents? Without me, your magic won't stop you from sinking to the bottom of the sea. And with me, you'll find pirates twice as fast."
Ron pinched the bridge of his nose. "All that for half?"
She raised one slender finger and waved it playfully. "Oh, and don't forget the ship's mine too."
I really should've taken that pirate ship when I had the chance, he thought, suppressing a laugh. Somehow, the logic almost made sense. He even caught himself feeling like he was getting a bargain.
"Oh, right! There's something else from the pirates' loot."
Nami's eyes sparkled as she pulled out a rolled parchment. She spread it out across the table, revealing faded ink and a bold red X at the edge of a rough coastline.
Ron's eyes widened. "A treasure map?"
"That's right," she said proudly. "And I've already deciphered it. I know exactly where it leads. Consider this my sign of goodwill."
Pretty sure that map should've been half mine already, Ron thought dryly, but he simply chuckled and waved a hand.
"There's no need for that. I'll help you until I've repaid the debt I owe for saving me. Whether there's treasure or not, I'll stick around."
"Good answer."
Nami let out a sigh of relief and gave him a teasing grin. "You really do have a gentleman's charm, you know."
Ron couldn't help but agree internally. He was a gentleman, after al especially now that he was a mage.
The thought of partnership didn't bother him much anyway. The next wealth-related achievements required thirty million and a hundred million Berries. By the time he reached those, he would already have the strength to crush Arlong like an insect.
Still, the mention of a treasure map did catch his attention.
One of his uncompleted achievements was Treasure Hunter to successfully uncover a treasure using a map. There was even a counter one called Unlucky Explorer, for failing three treasure hunts in a row.
If luck was on his side, this could be an easy win. If not… well, progress was still progress.
He looked up. "That treasure hasn't already been dug up, has it?"
Nami shook her head confidently. "If it had, this map wouldn't have been hidden away in a sealed chest. Trust me, it's untouched."
Ron smiled, his interest piqued. "Then we'd better restock and head out immediately."
"Exactly."
Nami nodded, her hair brushing against the sea breeze. "It'll take at least a week to reach the island. We need to replenish our food and water first."
The small vessel they used could barely store supplies for one person for a month. For two, they would last half that.
So the two of them went ashore, stocking up on provisions, filling water barrels, and preparing for the next journey. Ron even bought two bottles of fine liquor, remembering there was an achievement for drinking Drunken Soul.
That night, as the ship set sail once more under a sky strewn with stars, Nami sat opposite him, holding one of the bottles. Her cheeks glowed faintly from excitement, not alcohol yet.
She raised the bottle high. "To our partnership!"
Ron hesitated for a second he wanted to tell her she was too young for this but her grin was too infectious. She had earned it.
He opened his own bottle, met her gaze, and smiled.
Their bottles clinked together under the pale moonlight.
"To our partnership," he said softly.
And for a brief moment, with the wind carrying their laughter over the quiet waves, it almost felt like the beginning of an adventure written by fate itself.
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