As a genius navigator, no one understood how to find islands better than Nami.
"Good. From here on, the fleet is under your command," Lister said with a smile.
Nami was quiet for a moment, then asked, "When we make landfall, you're not going to burn, kill, and loot that island outright, are you?"
"Me? I may be a pirate with few scruples, but that's not something I do."
"Of course," she said. "I may plunder, but I choose my targets. Pointing a butcher's knife at ordinary civilians and squeezing grain out of them isn't just low—it shows no vision."
"In that case, leave the voyage to me," Nami said.
"Mhm." Lister nodded, then added with a grin, "Once we've restocked, it'll be time to take Arlong's head."
Sometimes, having someone to rely on was enough to set a person at ease.
Time flew. Five days passed.
All five days, Lister had the lookouts keep sharp: any ship spotted was to be reported at once. Yet in all that time they didn't encounter a single vessel. He could only pin his hopes of resupplying on the island they were about to reach.
After who knew how long, Lister dozed on a deck chair. Suddenly, a clear, excited voice rang down from the masthead.
"Captain! Island ahead!"
Red-Eyes, serving as lookout, shouted from the top.
Lister came fully awake and glanced around. Nami was already at the bow with a spyglass in hand. He walked over.
"Found an island?"
"I have," Nami said. "But it isn't a bustling commercial island—just a small place with a bit of population."
"As long as we can land, that's enough," Lister said, unconcerned.
"I'm only worried they won't have much grain—hard to meet my purchasing needs," Nami said.
Meanwhile, on the island, a long-nosed figure ran in a panic, shouting, "Bad news! Pirates! Pirates!"
"This time I'm serious—there really are pirates!"
Usopp pleaded with all his heart, almost hysterical, but no one wanted to believe him. He'd lied too many times. Someone waved a broom at him to scare him off and turned away; the others merely glanced at him.
"See? I've lied so much these years that no one trusts me," the boy muttered bitterly. "But this time there really are pirates—two whole ships. I can't even count the heads. What do I do?"
"Ahhh…"
"If no one believes me, I'll just have to look out for myself." He started to run but skidded to a stop. "Wait—Kaya! I have to warn Kaya!"
"Kaya, bad news—pirates!" he cried, only to be blocked by a man in a black suit with glasses and slicked-back hair.
"Usopp, is tricking the villagers no longer enough for your low tastes? You dare come here to make a scene?" said Kaya's butler, Klahadore, pushing up his glasses, contempt and scorn in his eyes.
"Butler Klahadore, this time I'm telling the truth. I saw with my own eyes two pirate ships sailing toward our island. Get Miss Kaya out of here—there's no time!" Usopp said earnestly.
Klahadore was only a false name. In truth he was a notorious East Blue pirate, known as Captain Kuro of a Hundred Plans—his bounty even higher than Buggy's. A man of schemes and keen observation, he studied Usopp's expression and reactions; it didn't look like a joke.
"Two pirate ships heading for the island?" Kuro asked. "You'd better not be lying, or…"
"If I'm lying, do whatever you want with me!" Usopp cut in quickly.
Hearing that, Kuro believed a little more. He turned and headed into the mansion.