"Wow~ This is delicious! I'm stuffed!"
"You have a sharp nose, Nami. You always find the best food."
After devouring ten plates of food, the two kids leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their round bellies in satisfaction.
"Boss! Time to pay!" Nami called out to Jeharun at the counter.
Hearing this, Jeharun walked over immediately. Normally, this was a waiter's job, but after realizing they were just kids—and that he'd been a little harsh on them earlier—he felt a pang of guilt and decided to be extra hospitable.
"Alright, my little guests. That'll be 10,500 berries. But just for you, let's round it down to 10,000," Jeharun said with a grin, his eyes narrowing in amusement.
"Ten thousand berries…" Nami counted out ten 1,000-berry bills from her bag and handed them over. "Here you go, boss."
"Thank you, kids. But I need to warn you—Bart is a slave trader."
The moment Jeharun spoke, Nami's eyes widened in horror.
Even in the East Blue, everyone knew how terrifying slave traders were. Stories of people being kidnapped and sold were common, and slave ships had been spotted from time to time, even here.
"You might already be on his radar. If I were you, I'd head home immediately," Jeharun continued, his tone serious.
"S-Slave traders?!" Nami gulped, her face turning pale.
"Thank you for the warning, boss." Lynn remained calm as he took Nami's hand and led her out of the restaurant.
Thinking back, he realized he'd completely overlooked Bart's intentions earlier. He was still inexperienced. If they were on the Grand Line, he would have been far more cautious. But this was the East Blue, and on the surface, the most powerful figure in Loguetown was the Marine base commander. Slave traders weren't even on his radar.
"Don't worry, Nami. You forgot how strong I am. That big guy back there? I could lift ten of him with one hand!" Lynn reassured her with a grin.
Nami blinked, then puffed up her chest. "That's right! And I ate the Door-Door Fruit—I don't have to be afraid of them anymore!"
She had been momentarily shaken by the word 'slave trader,' but the thought of her new Devil Fruit ability gave her confidence. Even in Loguetown, there were underground organizations involved in human trafficking.
Seeing Nami bounce back to her usual self, Lynn felt at ease. He took her hand as they continued exploring the city.
However, even without Observation Haki, Lynn could tell someone was following them.
"Nami," he whispered, "those guys are tailing us. We should shake them off. It's annoying having people lurking behind us."
His words sounded like a death sentence for the pursuers.
Nami's small, delicate face tensed, a frown forming between her brows. "Then… how do we get rid of them?"
Lynn scanned the surroundings before deciding on a course of action. "Follow me."
He led Nami into a narrow alleyway that opened into a secluded area.
Bart and his three henchmen, who had been trailing them, grinned wickedly.
"Heh, what luck!" one of them sneered. "They went somewhere nice and quiet for us to snatch 'em up."
Without hesitation, the four men rushed into the alley—only to find it empty.
"Where the hell did they go?!" Bart growled, scanning the area.
"Boss, up there!" one of his lackeys suddenly shouted, pointing to the hillside.
The others snapped their heads up and, sure enough, saw Lynn and Nami standing several hundred meters away, watching them.
"How the hell did they get there so fast?!"
"Doesn't matter—after them! We can't let them escape!"
"Right behind you, boss!"
The four men scrambled over the alley wall, hot on their trail. They ran through the city streets, up hills, and through winding paths, but no matter how hard they chased, Lynn and Nami always seemed just out of reach.
Finally, the two kids vanished completely behind a massive tree.
"Damn it!"
"They got away!"
Bart slammed his fist against the trunk, his frustration boiling over.
"Boss, what do we do now?" one of his men panted.
Bart clenched his jaw, then exhaled sharply. "We head back. An important buyer's arriving tonight. If we meet his requirements, we'll finally be able to leave this place and head for the Grand Line."
His expression darkened as he spoke.
That man's demands were absurd. If they wanted passage to the Grand Line, they'd have to hand over nearly everything they'd earned over the years.
Still, when the other three men heard this, their frustration was replaced by excitement.
The Grand Line—the legendary sea where power and riches awaited. Soon, they would leave the weak East Blue behind.
Their expressions twisted with greed and anticipation.
Then Bart took his three subordinates and immediately prepared to return to Loguetown.
Suddenly, Lynn appeared before them.
"Boss, it's that kid who vanished earlier!" one of the lackeys exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with greed.
In this world, beautiful things were expensive commodities—slaves were no exception.
"Galala la la la~"
"I didn't expect you to come right to my doorstep! Boys, grab him!" Bart barked viciously.
"Yes, Boss!"
The three minions lunged at Lynn without hesitation.
Lynn, however, remained expressionless, his left hand twitching slightly as a flicker of flame ignited at his fingertips.
The instant the three attackers got within range, Lynn casually flicked the fire toward them.
"AHHH!!!"
"Boss! Help us!"
"What kind of fire is this?! Why won't it go out?!"
"It burns! It burns!"
Within mere seconds, the three men were engulfed in flames, their agonized screams fading as they were reduced to ash. Not even their bones remained.
Bart, paralyzed with terror, could only watch. His legs trembled, refusing to support him.
"D-Devil Fruit...! You're a Devil Fruit user!" Bart stammered, his voice filled with dread as he finally processed what had just happened.
"Surprised? Didn't see that coming?" Lynn asked, his tone amused as he stared down at Bart.
At that moment, a door materialized in the air, and Nami stepped out of thin space.
"Huh? There's still one left? Lynn, I thought you finished them all," Nami said, tilting her head in confusion.
Bart's heart sank further. Another Devil Fruit user?! Tears welled in his eyes.
Just his luck—he had run into not one, but two Devil Fruit users in a single day!
"Of course I kept him alive. He's a slave trader—he must have a stash of treasure somewhere!" Lynn smirked.
At the mere mention of treasure, Berry symbols practically sparkled in Nami's eyes.
"Yes! Yes! I have treasure! Lots of berries! You can have it all! Just please, don't kill me!" Bart blubbered, his voice trembling with desperation.
"Good. You're making this easy. Now take us there—quickly." Lynn's gaze was as cold as steel.
"And don't try anything funny! Lynn is really strong!" Nami added, glaring fiercely at Bart.
But to an outsider, her attempt at intimidation only made her look even more adorable.
"I-I wouldn't dare!" Bart swore hastily, nodding like a chicken pecking at grain.
The two kids standing before him weren't ordinary at all—they were monsters.
And if he wanted to live, he had no choice but to obey.
…
TN:
Hope you Enjoy~😊