The next morning, at dawn.
The sun had not yet crested the horizon, and the world was bathed in the pale, hazy light of twilight. Despite the early hour, the entire village of Cocoyasi had gathered at the shore to wave goodbye to a small boat drifting slowly into the distance.
"Mr. Rowan, Luffy-kun, safe travels!"
"Take care of yourselves, you two!"
"Mr. Rowan, next time you come back to the East Blue, you must visit us! We'll welcome you with the finest wine and the most delicious food!"
Among the cheering crowd stood Nojiko and Nami. Watching the boat shrink into a dot, Nojiko's expression grew somber. But quickly, a look of resolve flashed across her face. She cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted with all her might:
"Grandpa Rowan! We—and Bell-mère's orchard—will be waiting for your return!"
Not to be outdone, Nami shouted at the top of her lungs, "Grandpa Rowan, wait for me! When I grow up, I'll become a proud Marine and contribute my strength to the Justice of this world!"
Out on the sea, Luffy leaned against the mast. Hearing Nami's clear, high-pitched voice, he looked at Rowan with puppy-dog eyes. "Great-Grandpa, maybe you should talk to Nami again? Tell her not to be a Marine, okay? Let her join my pirate crew..."
Last night, upon hearing that Nami could draw sea charts and master navigation, Luffy had set his sights on her. Especially after hearing Rowan mention that Nami's talent might be the greatest in the East Blue—or even the entire world—Luffy dreamed of having her as his navigator. His erratic meals over the past few days weren't just because of his massive appetite; a large part was because his Great-Grandpa's navigation skills were, frankly, "sub-par."
Rowan, puffing on his pipe, shot Luffy a glare. "Brat, your requests are getting more and more ridiculous. I might be a retired fossil, but I was once a Marine Vice Admiral. You shout about being a pirate in front of me every day; the fact that I haven't beaten you into amnesia is already a miracle. And now you want me to find you crewmates? Do you think I haven't given you enough 'love' lately? Do you think I'm just going to spoil you?"
Closing his eyes to rest, Rowan snorted. "I won't help you. If you want Nami as a partner, work for it yourself. Don't use my face as a shortcut."
Luffy, seeing the island grow smaller, hardened his heart. He stuck his tongue out at the resting Rowan, then jumped to the stern, took a deep breath, and roared at the horizon:
"NAMIIIII!!!!"
"One day, I'll come back to Cocoyasi to get you! I'll invite you to set sail as a pirate!"
"Let's be pirates together! Let's be the freest people in the world!"
In the distance, Nami tilted her chin up and yelled back without hesitation, "I refuse! I'd never be a pirate with an idiot like you!"
At the rejection, the spark of fighting spirit in Luffy instantly died out. He slumped back down and looked at Rowan again. But no matter how much he pleaded, Rowan remained still, enjoying the gentle morning breeze.
The villagers continued to wave until the boat vanished completely from sight.
"Oh no!"
Back at the orchard, Nami suddenly remembered something. Her face twisted with frustration.
"Nami, what's wrong?" Nojiko asked, looking at her sister's panicked expression.
"I promised to make Grandpa Rowan a sea chart of the nearby waters last night! It's morning, and I completely forgot to give it to him!"
During her years with the Arlong Pirates, Nami had traveled across nearly the entire East Blue to gather the 100 million Berri ransom. The charts she drew were more accurate and detailed than official Marine maps. When Rowan asked her about it last night, she had confidently promised him one. She had even stayed up until dawn working on it, only for her brain to short-circuit this morning.
"I have to catch up! I have to give Grandpa Rowan that map!"
Nami grabbed a beautifully drawn scroll from the cabinet and prepared to sprint out.
"Nami, wait! Do you even have a boat? Do you know his route?" Nojiko tried to stop her impulsive sister, but Nami was already a blur.
However, when Nojiko chased after her, she found Nami standing frozen at the entrance of the orchard.
"Nami?" Nojiko frowned. As she stepped up beside her sister and saw the scene outside, her brow furrowed even deeper.
"Marines?"
A large group of Marine soldiers in uniform was marching toward the orchard in a tight, disciplined formation. At their head was a man with a crooked, treacherous smile. He did not look like he was coming to offer congratulations.
As the soldiers fanned out to surround the orchard, Nojiko instinctively moved to shield Nami behind her. She asked in a cold voice, "Marine-sama, why such a grand entrance? Is something the matter?"
The officer, wearing a standard Marine cap and sporting a thin, rat-like mustache, stepped forward. He stroked his facial hair and gave a high-pitched, cunning laugh. "Chichichichi... You must be Bell-mère's adopted daughters, Nojiko and Nami, right? Let me introduce myself. I am the Colonel of the 16th Branch. You can call me Colonel Nezumi."
Nami and Nojiko's expressions shifted. Why would a Colonel from the 16th Branch know about them?
"I just received a tip-off," Nezumi continued, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Someone saw you hiding treasure stolen from pirates right here in this orchard. My apologies, but any treasure confiscated from pirates belongs to the World Government. We are here to seize it!"
"What did you say?!" Nami's face contorted with rage.
"Oh? Didn't hear me?" Nezumi kept his vile smile. "I'll repeat myself. Stolen goods taken from pirates must be handed over to the World Government for 'safekeeping'!"
"You bastard!"
A fire of pure fury ignited in Nami's heart. She stared at Nezumi and spat, "For years, the Arlong Pirates committed atrocities, and you never had the guts to show your face. Now that they're gone, you come here to play the tyrant over civilians? Colonel Nezumi, you really are 'something,' aren't you? Compared to Grandpa Rowan, you aren't even worth as much as the dirt under a Marine's boot!"
"Chichichichi! Little girl, do you think insults will save your loot?" Nezumi's eyes turned cold. "Search! Tear this place apart and find every last coin!"
With a wave of his hand, dozens of soldiers swarmed into the orchard, beginning a ruthless, destructive search.
.........BONUS CHAPTER IS COMING........
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