"But they're pirates," Luffy said, his expression suddenly turning serious.
Hearing this, Nami was stunned.
That's right. The Arlong Pirates were pirates.
It was a fact she had actively ignored all this time.
It was also why she felt Luffy was completely unlike a pirate.
Most pirates had no honor, were moody, and would turn on you in an instant—that was what pirates were like.
"But their strength, those fish-men..."
Luffy interrupted Nami, his face stern. "I don't care how strong they are! Even if it were a Marine Admiral who made my nakama suffer, I, as the captain, would definitely get payback for you!"
"Nami, you're my navigator! Those guys picked a fight with the wrong people!"
"And aren't we nakama? It's normal to rely on each other a little, right?"
His gaze was so intense that Nami had to look away. She was so used to relying only on herself.
"Nyeh nyeh, Nami, are you getting shy?" Luffy asked, watching as Nami averted her gaze and began inching backward on the bed.
Her orange hair was slightly disheveled. At some point, Nami had pulled a thin blanket over herself.
Her slender, fair legs were exposed, revealing five crystal clear, plump little toes that were somewhat hard to look away from. One strap of her top had slipped off her shoulder, revealing smooth, pale skin.
"And whose fault is that?!" Nami shouted, flustered and exasperated. "It's because you did all those weird things earlier!"
Luffy: "That's because you were being stubborn. If you'd just talked sooner, none of that would have happened."
"I never knew you were like this, Luffy!"
"Disgusting!"
"Ahh, thanks for the compliment."
Luffy had given up trying to defend himself.
He didn't want to explain. Compared to a mere misunderstanding, the fact that he hadn't turned into a human jet-propulsion system in front of Nami was a lucky escape from utter social death.
So be it.
And besides...
Luffy's gaze unconsciously fell on the girl's rosy lips. In the heat of the moment, he hadn't registered the sensation, but now, thinking back, it was like eating some kind of jelly.
"What are you looking at?!"
"Your mouth isn't... your legs! I'm looking at your legs!"
Nami looked down at him from her position, a look of disdain in her eyes. "So you're a foot guy, huh?"
Good thing she wasn't in the habit of wearing things like stockings.
Luffy didn't refute it. He was multitasking now. Before, it was hard enough for him to focus on one thing, but now he'd actually trained himself to do it.
In the past, his single-core processing system would have overloaded long ago.
"And why are you pretending to be a good student studying seriously now?" Nami got off the bed, her bare feet padding across the floor as she came to stand before Luffy. She tugged on his cheek. "Just what are you trying to do?"
Nami was a bit frustrated. Just moments ago, Luffy had looked like he couldn't wait to fly straight to the Arlong Pirates and punch them all into the sky.
"Just steer the ship back to your village, don't worry," Luffy turned his head to give Nami a dose of reassurance. "Then just watch how I punch those guys into the sky."
It would be a few hours before they reached Cocoyasi Village.
Luffy checked the time; it was only 1:00 PM. Based on the schedule of the last two days, they would most likely arrive during the "Devil Fruit Development" time slot.
The timing was perfect!
On the deck.
"Th-this fast?" Luffy checked the time again. Only three hours had passed!
"Because we have a tailwind."
The outline of Cocoyasi Village was clearly visible in the distance. Nami felt a bit dazed. She glanced back at Luffy, took a deep breath, and said, "Maybe we should wait for Zoro and the others to catch up..."
She didn't know what was going on with Luffy.
But Nami had her own unique powers of observation. Putting everything else aside, none of Luffy's actions seemed like perfunctory or pretense; it was as if they were things he had to do.
Like someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who even had to pass gas within a specified time frame.
From the moment he came aboard until now, Luffy had been studying beside her, a book in his hands.
Maybe now wasn't the best time for a fight?
"Zoro has his own things to do. And helping a crewmate resolve their troubles is the captain's job."
Luffy glared, gritting his teeth at the characters floating before his eyes.
[Warning: (During study period) distraction and other activities are not permitted. Punishment countdown...]
His stubborn, mule-like nature surged forth in that instant.
Wait?
The enemy was right in front of them, what was there to wait for? If you gave in once, there would be a second time.
What if they came right up to your face, slapped you, and started disrespecting you?
Luffy directly threw the book in his hands.
Then, using his rubber-man properties, he rolled it up.
A man has to be tough on himself! Even if he worked himself to the bone today, he would punch every last one of the Arlong Pirates into the sky before that happened!
Who the hell do you think I am?! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!
Luffy, panting heavily, began swinging his arms, ready to charge straight to the place Nami called Arlong Park and take care of those fish-men in the shortest time possible.
The next second.
[Special condition detected. Possesses the spirit of a Pirate King. Conqueror's Haki proficiency +1]
[Modifying planned behavior. Priority of resolving crewmate Nami's troubles increased.]
[Modifying training plan.]
[Additional reward time available upon resolution of the event.]
Reward time? What did that mean?
Never mind, it's not important.
What's important is that I can let go now!
So much better.
Buru buru buru~
A sound suddenly came from inside the room.
Nami was startled for a moment, then went inside and brought out a Den Den Mushi.
"What's that?" Luffy asked.
It was his first time seeing one.
"It's something for long-distance communication... It's my sister." The only person Nami's Den Den Mushi was linked to was her sister.
After answering, the Den Den Mushi visibly changed, taking on a shade of purple.
"Nami, don't come back right now. For some reason, all the fish-men from Arlong Park have gathered. It seems like some Marines are coming."
The voice sounded anxious.
"Marines? What are they doing here?"
Nami's hatred for the Marines was almost on par with her hatred for the Arlong Pirates.
Cocoyasi Village had been exploited by the Arlong Pirates for over ten years. Why had the Marines done nothing?
Fine, if the Marines in the East Blue couldn't defeat them, what about the Marines from Headquarters?
Their so-called "Justice" was a complete pile of crap. In the end, they were even worse than...
"It's too late, Nojiko. I'm back," Nami replied.
"Gomu Gomu no... Balloon!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a cannonball came flying from the distance.
Luffy leaped up and bounced the cannonball directly back.
The cannonball smashed into a nearby Marine warship. A figure rushed onto the deck, furious.
He wore a Marine officer's cap adorned with what looked like mouse ears.
"What are these Marines doing here?"
"Of all times, why now?" Nami recognized the man almost instantly.
He was the Marine Captain from the 16th Branch; this entire area was under his jurisdiction.
"Luffy, be careful," Nami said.
It was already going to be tough for Luffy to take on the Arlong Pirates alone, and now the Marines had shown up too.
"Leave it to me." Luffy stood on the sheep's head, clapping his fists together and adopting a crouching stance. Steam began to rise from his body.
Gear Second: Activate