Twin Cape, beneath the lighthouse.
The sea breeze carried a hint of chill as it swept across the Going Merry's deck.
The sunlight was bright, but in Nami's eyes, the world had turned gray.
She knelt on the ground, holding the Log Pose that had shattered into a pile of glass shards and metal fragments. Her gaze was empty, as if her soul had been drained from her body.
That had been their only lifeline for surviving in this insane sea—
and in a farce caused by gluttony, it had been reduced to worthless junk.
"It's over… everything's over…"
Nami slumped forward, her orange hair drooping weakly to hide her face.
The desire for adventure that had just ignited was instantly swallowed by the fear of being lost.
"H-hey, wait…"
Usopp saw Nami looking completely defeated and cautiously crept closer, swallowing nervously.
"T-that thing was really important, right? It's really not fixable?"
"Don't panic, little girl."
At that moment, Crocus—who had been sipping tea by the shore—set his cup down.
Seeing Nami's despair, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Since you helped Laboon and untangled his fifty-year-long knot…"
With a casual toss, a Log Pose traced an arc through the air and landed perfectly in Nami's hands.
"Take this. Consider it my thank-you gift."
"W-what?!"
Nami caught it, her eyes instantly lighting up with joy.
"R-really?! You're giving this to us?!"
"Hmph. I don't need it anymore anyway," Crocus snorted.
"Take it and scram already. Don't interrupt my retirement."
"SPLASH—!!!"
Just then, a huge splash erupted from the sea.
Laboon swung his massive tail, flinging two miserable figures onto the shore like cannonballs.
"Cough, cough… so salty! The seawater's so salty!"
Luffy crawled up, soaked head to toe like a drowned rat.
"Nami-swaaan… have you calmed down yet?"
Sanji was just as bedraggled, his once-perfect hairstyle completely ruined. Even so, the moment he stood up, he instinctively looked for Nami, his gaze unwavering.
"These two idiots…"
Leaning against the lighthouse, Ronan shook his head helplessly.
Meanwhile, Crocus walked over to Mr. 9 and Vivi, who had been tied up and tossed in a corner.
He reached out and untied their ropes.
"Listen up, you two punks."
Crocus's eyes sharpened instantly.
"If you ever dare target Laboon again… next time I'll throw you straight into the sea. Get lost."
Freed at last, the two trembled all over and scrambled backward in panic.
However, they didn't run away immediately.
Because their Log Pose—
had just been taken by Ronan.
They exchanged glances and saw the despair in each other's eyes.
In this sea, without a ship or a Log Pose, it was a death sentence.
So a truly ridiculous scene unfolded.
The two mysterious agents who had been so arrogant moments ago now dropped all dignity, kneeling in front of Luffy with obsequious smiles plastered on their faces.
"Um… great and mighty Pirate Captain!"
Mr. 9 rubbed his hands together, his crown crooked.
"Could you… could you please be merciful and give us a ride? We urgently need to get to Whisky Peak!"
"Whisky Peak?"
Luffy was wringing out his clothes. Hearing that, he tilted his head innocently.
"What's that? A tasty mountain?"
"N-no! It's where we live!" Vivi hurriedly added, eyes full of pitiful pleading.
"Hmph."
Nami crossed her arms and stepped forward, her gaze sharp as a blade as she scrutinized them.
"A ride? Where's your own ship?"
"Uh… it broke…" Vivi avoided eye contact.
"Broke?"
Nami sneered and fixed Mr. 9 with a piercing stare.
"Your scheming is way too obvious. Weren't you just trying to hunt Laboon? And now you've got the nerve to beg us?"
"Who are you people, anyway?"
Usopp peeked out from behind Ronan.
"You look shady. Definitely not good guys."
Mr. 9 puffed out his chest, trying to regain some dignity.
"Since you've asked so sincerely… I am the king!"
"DON'T LIE!!!"
Nami instantly exploded, smashing a fist down on Mr. 9's head.
"Ow ow ow… okay, fine! I can't say!" Mr. 9 clutched his head.
"Can't say?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow, casually twirling his black staff, smiling faintly.
"If you can't say, then there's nothing to discuss. We don't take suspicious people onboard."
Vivi panicked.
She turned to Luffy, who looked the easiest to persuade, and activated full pity mode.
"Actually… we don't want to be sneaky either!"
Vivi bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
"It's just that our company's slogan is 'mystery'! That's corporate culture! So we can't say anything…"
"But you all seem like good people, and you're really strong, so we came to ask you! We'll definitely repay this favor!"
"Repay?"
Ronan chuckled inwardly.
These two really knew how to play moral blackmail.
Nearby, Crocus spoke without even turning his head.
"Don't listen to them. No matter who they are, these two reek of schemes. They're definitely not good people."
Nami glanced at them, her eyes rolling slightly as a crafty smile appeared.
"Let's put repayment aside for now."
She raised her wrist and displayed the remains of the shattered Log Pose (she hadn't put on the new one yet), her tone full of regret and mockery.
"But… unfortunately, we broke your Log Pose."
"What?!"
The two who had been kneeling instantly sprang up, faces pale, pointing at Nami's wrist and screaming:
"B-broken?! That was our only Log Pose!"
Vivi snapped angrily:
"What are you doing?! You break someone else's stuff and still act like this?!"
"Without a Log Pose, you can't go anywhere either!"
Watching their expressions flip instantly, Nami's smile deepened.
She leisurely pulled out the brand-new Log Pose Crocus had given them and waved it in front of their faces.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I forgot to mention—we still have one. A brand-new one, from Uncle Crocus~"
"Uh…"
Seeing the sparkling Log Pose, Mr. 9 and Vivi froze.
The very next second—
"THUD!"
They dropped to their knees again in perfect unison, their posture even more respectful than before, faces instantly switching back to pitiful mode.
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