75: Chapter 75 A Kiss Under the Moonlight, Apis's SecretJust as Apis was happily leading everyone to Bogudan's house, a naval warship emerged from one side of the island.A sailor on the lookout tower spotted Apis through binoculars and immediately reported to the fat officer.Upon hearing this, the fat officer angrily questioned Eric, who was standing nearby: "Didn't you say that girl ran off to the Calm Belt and couldn't possibly come back alive?She's already back on Battleship Island!Go and bring her back, you useless thing!" He coughed loudly, meat crumbs falling all over Eric's face.Eric, suppressing his nausea, wiped the crumbs off his face with a handkerchief and, suppressing his murderous intent, agreed to the fat officer's request.Meanwhile, at Bogudan's house, everyone was waiting for the meat buns to be baked.Seeing that everyone was bored, Bogudan began telling them an ancient legend from Battleship Island.With a simple explanation, everyone learned that dragon bones could be used to make an elixir of immortality.However, a new question arose: why would the Navy go to such lengths for a legend?Bogudan continued his story, while Apis, looking impatient, shushed Luffy, who was looking at her, and tiptoed out the door.Luffy watched her departing figure, lost in thought.Some time passed, and Bogudan was still going on.Usopp and the others were long since impatient, while Zoro had already fallen asleep against the wall.Kuina was dozing off on Zoro's shoulder.As for Luffy, well, he'd been flirting with Nami since the beginning.Sanji, with red eyes, watched Luffy and Zoro, silently cursing them.
After a while, Luffy finally couldn't stand it anymore.He grabbed Nami's hand and headed outside.Coby, rolling his eyes, asked, "Mr.Luffy, where are you going?" Luffy whispered, "We really can't listen to this story anymore.Let's go out and avoid it for a bit, then we'll come back when it's ready." With that, he pulled Nami out the door.Once outside, Luffy let out a long sigh, picked up Nami, and flew to a mountaintop to admire the night sky.Nami, however, wasn't interested in the scenery; she was quietly watching Luffy.Noticing Nami's gaze, Luffy turned around.Luffy and Nami's eyes met.Nami blushed and stammered, "Luffy, I.I.I like." Before she could finish, Luffy pulled her into a hug and kissed her.Nami was startled at first, then closed her eyes and kissed him back.After a long while, they finally separated.Luffy looked at Nami's flushed face and smiled, saying, "Confessing your feelings isn't something a girl should do; it's usually a boy's job." He then took Nami's hand and said tenderly, "Nami, will you be my girlfriend?"
Nami rolled her eyes at Luffy and said sweetly, "Of course I'm willing!I gave you my first kiss, so you have to take responsibility for me!" Luffy, seeing Nami's shy demeanor, couldn't resist pouncing on her for another kiss, but Nami stopped him, pointing to a small figure in the distance and saying, "Isn't that Apis?What's she doing?"
Luffy turned around and saw Apis struggling to walk forward, dragging a large bag.He knew she was going to feed a thousand-year-old dragon, so he turned back to Nami and said, "How about we follow her and see?"
So, Luffy and Nami quietly followed Apis.When they reached a cliff, Apis deftly used a rope to cross it; clearly, this wasn't the first time she'd done this.Shortly after Apis left, Luffy and Nami emerged from the nearby bushes.Nami looked at the cliff, turned to Luffy, and stretched out her hands.Luffy reluctantly picked her up and leaped over the cliff.The two followed the trail of debris to a cave entrance.Apis's voice came from inside, as if she were talking to someone: "Lord Luffy, I'm alright.A strange pirate saved me."
(Finally, I can add illustrations.Here's one.)