Chapter 23 – Kuina Joins the Crew
[MC POV]
After Lily casually defeated Morgan, the three of us—Lily, Kuina, and I—ended up feasting at a restaurant in Shells Town.
Kuina, who hadn't eaten properly in over ten days, devoured plate after plate at incredible speed. But even her hunger couldn't compare to Lily's.
Lily's appetite was downright monstrous. Thanks to her rubber body and absurd digestive ability, she ate without slowing down, processing food as if she had no limit at all. It was nothing short of a miracle.
After finishing our meal, we went to look for Nami and prepared to leave the town. Nami had clearly stolen something from the Marine base, but she didn't look pleased.
I knew she had planned to steal the Grand Line map and sell it at an exaggerated price, but Buggy had likely beaten her to it. Seeing her sulking like that, I couldn't help but smile mischievously.
'By the way… is there a Buggy in this world? And is he a woman here too? '
As we left Shells Town, the new Marine leader even saluted us respectfully, grateful that Morgan had been removed from power.
…
…
Out at Sea...
Kuina was lying on the boat lazily, taking a nap with her sword, Wado Ichimonji, resting on her chest.
Lily was happily munching on the food prepared by the little girl's family, completely relaxed as she enjoyed every bite.
Nami had bought new clothes and was proudly wearing them. She had on a cowboy hat, a bikini top, and tight Capri-length pants that hugged her figure. Her sandals matched well, and she was still woring her lipstick. Her fingernails were shorter now but neatly polished, and her toenails were freshly painted and visible.
"Let's buy our supplies quickly. We're heading to Orange Town. Nami, do you know where it is?" I asked.
"Yes, I know how to get there," Nami replied, tilting her hat slightly. "But why do you want to go all of a sudden? We haven't even stayed on this island for long."
She pretended to be surprised when I said we were heading to Orange Town, but I could tell she was excited on the inside.
Buggy had stolen the Grand Line map before she ever got the chance. She had been planning to steal both the map and Buggy's treasure so she could sell them and earn enough money to pay off Arlong.
She was thinking about slipping away on her own, but since I was already planning to go to Orange Town, she looked genuinely happy.
"I heard that Buggy D Clown has the map of Grand Line. So I was thinking of defeating him and taking both the map and his treasure. Moreover, I was also planning to give some money to a certain needy thieving cat. What do you think?"
Nami became annoyed the moment she heard that. She glared at me and warned sharply, "Listen to me, Alex. Even if you're strong, Buggy is a pirate with a fifteen-million-berry bounty. He's cruel and dangerous. You could die challenging him."
"Nami, don't worry. We're strong. Whether it's Buggy's crew or Arlong's pirates, we can defeat them."
"You're all idiots." After saying that, Nami turned away and walked out of the kitchen, heading toward the deck.
"Nami, wait!"
I had brought up Arlong's name to try and ease her worries, but she seemed more upset than ever. I could tell she was also a little afraid that I might know her secret.
...
Nami was standing at the edge of the ship, gazing out at the endless stretch of sea, letting out a long sigh.
"Alex is such a naive fool," she muttered to herself. "He thinks he can take on the dangerous Arlong Pirates with only three people. He has no idea how deadly fishmen can be."
As she was saying my shortcomings, I quietly approached and stood beside her. The moment Nami noticed me, she quickly turned her face away, deliberately ignoring my presence.
I broke the silence, asking, "Nami, do you really believe that we're the strongest in East Blue?"
She shook her head, her expression skeptical. "I don't believe you. You struggled even against Alvida's pirates. And Buggy and the Arlong Pirates… they're far more dangerous than Alvida's crew."
I straightened my posture and met her gaze. "Yes, I was weak back then. But my strength has grown since that time."
Nami's eyes drifted back to the horizon, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Even if you've gotten stronger… you still can't take on Buggy or Arlong," she said quietly.
I couldn't help but smile back at her. I was feeling a little bit of amusement.
"Nami, you don't have to worry. You might not know this, but Lily is the granddaughter of the Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp. And Kuina is the daughter of a master swordsman. Together with me, our strength is the strongest in the entire East Blue. We can defeat any pirate easily."
"You mean the Marine Hero who defeated the Pirate King himself? Monkey D. Garp? That idiot Lily is the granddaughter of someone that strong?"
"Yes. Didn't you notice they share the same surname? Monkey D. Also, Kuina is incredibly strong. Believe in us."
Hearing about Lily and Kuina's formidable backgrounds, she seemed to pause, as if deep in thought, carefully weighing something in her mind.
'Should I tell Alex about Arlong? But what if he actually goes to fight Arlong and loses? Wouldn't that mean I killed him indirectly? '
I watched Nami's expression shift over and over—from happiness, to uncertainty, to a deep frown. She was clearly struggling with something.
"What are you thinking about, Nami? If something is bothering you, you can tell me. I'll do everything I can to help you. After all, you are my woman," I said as I wrapped my arms gently around her waist.
Nami hesitated for a long moment, debating whether she should trust me or not. Eventually, she made her choice. She lifted her gaze and said, "You asked me before why I need so much money. I will answer your question."
She took a deep breath and continued, "If I told you I needed money to save people, would you believe me?"
After saying that, she looked at me nervously. This was probably the first time she had ever spoken about this truthfully. 'Will Alex believe me?'
"Yes, I believe you." I smiled and nodded without hesitation.
"Ah! You… do you really believe me? I tried to steal your ship before. Would you really trust a thief? "
Nami looked completely stunned, as if my trust made no sense to her.
"Of course," I said with a smile. I placed my palm gently on her shoulder and continued, "You know, a person's eyes don't lie. When you finished speaking, I saw something there. Sincerity. And besides… I already know your body inside out. Of course I'll believe you."
Those words reached her like a spark in a freezing night. I could almost feel the warmth spread through her. For someone who had carried nothing but pain and fear for years, even a little trust must have felt overwhelming.
Maybe it was because of all the suffering she had endured. Maybe it was because she finally found someone who didn't doubt her. At that moment, everything inside her seemed to break. Nami's emotions burst out like a collapsing dam.
She suddenly hugged me tightly, her entire body trembling as she cried into my chest. She clung to me desperately, as if she wanted to pour all her exhaustion and sorrow into my arms and rest for the first time in years.
After a long while, she finally calmed down. Only then did she begin telling me everything—how Arlong attacked her island, how he killed her mother, how he forced her to draw maps for him, and how she made a desperate agreement to buy back her village.
"Nami… I will save your village from Arlong. I promise. So can you trust me?" I asked softly.
"I'm still shocked that you believed me," she admitted while staring directly into my eyes. "And you know I hate pirates. But… I can give you a chance to prove you're a good person."
"Okay. I'll prove it to you." I leaned toward her, bringing my face close until our lips met. Then I lifted her in my arms and carried her into the cabin, closing and locking the door behind us. I wanted a special moment just for the two of us.
Once inside, Nami broke the kiss and looked at me with a mixture of shyness and amusement.
"I don't think that's something a hero that is going to defeat an evil pirate would do," she said quietly.
"But… I don't hate it either."
After saying that, she leaned in and kissed me again.