Just as Ronan and Zoro turned to leave—ready to activate "tough-guy shopping mode"—
"Wait."
A sweet voice, carrying a smug little edge, hit them like a paralysis spell. Their steps froze mid-air.
Nami turned around, arms crossed, wearing a grin so mischievous it was borderline terrifying.
"Hey, Ronan. Zoro."
She looked them up and down, teasingly. "If I remember correctly… you two are broke as dirt right now, aren't you?"
"..."
"..."
A cold gust swept by, stirring a few dry leaves.
Ronan and Zoro stood there like statues, their expressions locking solid.
It was true.
They had seized a huge fortune from Arlong Park—eight years' worth of treasure.
But that money was "life-buying" cash squeezed out of Cocoyasi Village and more than twenty surrounding villages, soaked in the villagers' tears and blood.
When they left, Nami had "stolen" everyone's wallets—but that had only been to put the villagers at ease.
As for Arlong's real treasure? They didn't take a single berry. They left it all to Nojiko and Genzo to rebuild the ruined homes.
So Ronan's pockets were cleaner than his face.
Worse still…
Ronan suddenly remembered something far more terrifying—back in Syrup Village, when he had a spear made, he still owed Nami 5,000 berries!
"Oh no…" A bead of cold sweat formed on Ronan's forehead.
While Ronan and Zoro exchanged helpless looks—awkward enough to want to dig out a three-bedroom apartment with their toes—a red blur suddenly moved.
"I'm going to see the execution platform!!!"
Luffy didn't care about the financial crisis at all. Like an overexcited husky, he shouted and bolted toward the center of town.
"Hey! Luffy!" Usopp yelled after him. "We haven't even decided a meeting place or time! Don't just run off!"
"I don't care! I'm going to see it! The place where the Pirate King was executed!!"
Luffy's voice faded quickly, vanishing into the busy crowd.
"Seriously… that guy," Usopp sighed.
Ronan watched Luffy disappear, but his mind stirred.
He knew Luffy's little "run off on his own" habit was about to trigger a chain of events—
Smoker the White Hunter.
Buggy the Clown.
And even the man who was not only the leader of the Revolutionary Army… but also Luffy's father—Dragon.
If the story hadn't shifted too wildly…
But right now, Ronan faced an even harsher challenge:
Money.
No money meant no weapon.
Ronan took a deep breath, put on the most gentlemanly, warm smile he could manage, and turned slowly to Nami.
"Um… Nami-san…"
"Stop."
Nami raised a finger and pressed it to his lips, her smile growing brighter—and more dangerous.
"What? Ronan, is that face… the face of someone trying to borrow money from me?"
She pulled out a small notebook, flipped through it rapidly, and pointed at a line.
"You still haven't repaid the 5,000 berries from before. By my calculations, principal plus interest… it's already grown to 20,000 berries."
"Twenty thousand?!"
Ronan nearly bit his tongue. He'd expected pain, but the size of the increase still shocked him.
"How long has it even been?! What kind of interest are you charging—loan sharks aren't this brutal!"
"Hm?"
Nami's expression dropped. The sweetness vanished, replaced by a creditor's icy cruelty.
"What, too expensive? Then I won't lend you anything. It's not my problem if you're the one without a weapon."
She made a show of putting her wallet away.
"Wait! Don't—don't, don't!" Ronan caved instantly.
As an adult who understood the eternal truth of "a single coin can crush a hero," he could bend when he had to.
He immediately returned to that warm smile—somehow even more sincere than before.
"Of course not! Nami-san's careful accounting is for the good of the crew! Twenty thousand it is! I'll pay you back as soon as I have it!"
As long as he could get enough money to buy a proper spear, who cared about twenty thousand? Even two hundred thousand could be recovered later—plenty of pirates out there to rob.
Beside him, Zoro watched with sweat beading at his temples.
His hand trembled slightly on his sword hilt as he cursed internally: This woman… she's daylight robbery. She doesn't even leave bones behind!
But then he touched his empty waist—where a swordsman's pride belonged.
Without swords, he didn't even sleep right.
Zoro clenched his jaw, stepped forward, and forced the words out like he was chewing rocks.
"Hey… I… lend me some too."
Seeing these two "hard men" suddenly reduced to meekness filled Nami with immense satisfaction.
This was what you called—
Economic power decides the hierarchy.
"Oh my, Zoro's here too?" Nami pretended to be surprised. "You want to borrow money too? You're broke too?"
A vein bulged on Zoro's forehead. He swallowed his pride and nodded.
"…Yeah."
"Well, fine. Since we're crewmates."
Nami sighed "generously," pulled out two thick stacks of bills, and flicked them so they slapped loudly in her hand.
That crisp sound was practically heavenly music to Ronan and Zoro.
With a wicked grin, like a tiny demon holding a contract for their souls, Nami said:
"Alright, listen. Since you're borrowing again, I'll give you a 'discount.' This time I won't calculate interest by the day."
"The rule is simple—"
She held up three fingers and waved them in front of their faces.
"When you pay me back, just return three times the amount. Principal and interest included."
"Three times?!"
Ronan and Zoro shouted in unison. That was outright robbery!
"Want it or not? If not, I'm leaving."
Nami turned as if to walk away.
"We want it!!!"
They practically roared it.
For weapons, they'd endure it!
And so, Ronan and Zoro each signed a painfully unfair "unequal treaty," borrowing 100,000 berries apiece from Nami.
One hundred thousand might be a drop in the bucket for famous swords or legendary spears—but if luck was on their side, they might still find something decent.
"Thanks!"
The instant the money hit their hands, both of them snapped right back into their usual tough-guy mode.
After splitting up with Nami, Sanji, and Usopp, Ronan and Zoro walked side by side through Loguetown's bustling streets.
Crowds flowed around them; the air was thick with the smell of grilled meat and spices.
"One hundred thousand…" Zoro frowned at the bills. "Buying good swords with this is a dream. All we can do is gamble—see if we can dig a treasure out of a junk pile."
"Yeah." Ronan's expression was just as serious.
Decent weapons easily cost hundreds of thousands, even millions. With only this much, they were definitely poor.
"But…" Ronan glanced at Zoro, a mysterious smile curling his lips. "Luck is a kind of strength too."
"Hm?" Zoro blinked.
"Come on, Zoro."
Ronan pointed toward the end of the street, where a shabby, unremarkable weapon shop hung a battered old sign.
"Sometimes… weapons choose their owners."
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