As a ninja, Sanosuke was exceptionally sensitive to danger.
The instant his kunai struck the man's lower back just now, he felt as though the Grim Reaper had wrapped a hand around his throat.
The blade hadn't pierced the man's body at all. The moment the sharp edge neared him, the man had already reacted in advance—his muscles tightening like iron.
"So it's not that he failed to notice me… This man never saw me as a threat from the very beginning!" Sanosuke thought in shock.
Norton didn't even pause his meal.
He didn't turn around, either, as though nothing had happened.
But Sanosuke no longer dared to attack. He could still feel the invisible danger lingering around him, and it hadn't faded in the slightest.
Redbeard finally lost his patience and roared, "Sanosuke, what the hell are you doing?! Are you actually scared? If you don't have the guts to fight, then go die!"
Sweat poured off Sanosuke under the pressure, but he didn't even have the energy to respond.
Because the invisible aura of danger around him was growing heavier and heavier—so intense that he felt one moment of carelessness would cost him his life.
That feeling kept him from making a move.
At that moment, the pirates who had rushed into the cabins came back onto the deck, driving the nobles and noblewomen ahead of them.
On the other side, the guards had also been defeated by the combatants under Redbeard's command.
"Captain! Jackpot!"
A tall, muscular pirate slammed a burlap sack onto the deck. The mouth of the sack split open, and Berries, gold, and other valuables spilled across the boards.
At a glance, it was worth well over ten million Berries.
"I caught a woman in the cabin, Captain—a thief. Good thing we moved fast, or she would've stolen these treasures before we got to them!" the large pirate said.
"What?!" Redbeard's face twisted with anger. "Where's that damned thief?"
"It's her, Captain!" another pirate said as he shoved an orange-haired girl to the ground in front of Redbeard.
"Uh… hi~" Nami gave him an awkward smile and waved stiffly.
Redbeard glared at her viciously. "So you're the brat who dared to set your sights on my treasure?"
The nobles exchanged glances.
His treasure? Since when had their property become Redbeard's?
"Mr. Pirate, please spare us! We're willing to hand over all our Berries!" one noble blurted out.
Redbeard stroked his chin.
It was true—these nobles were people of status, with deep pockets. What was on the ship was surely only a fraction of their wealth.
"All right, then…" Redbeard began.
"You fool, Captain!" a skinny pirate immediately cut in.
"Hm? You've got an opinion?" Redbeard turned to look at him.
"With their lives in our hands, why should we listen to them?" the skinny pirate said.
Redbeard nodded slowly. "That makes sense. So what do you suggest?"
The skinny pirate grinned wickedly. "Simple. Make these nobles hand over the rest of their money willingly, then contact the Marines and demand ransom."
"That way we make money twice! Just look at how these people dress, how they eat—they must be worth a fortune. The Marines won't just ignore it!"
Redbeard smacked a fist into his palm. "Yeah! Why didn't I think of that?!"
The nobles and ladies went pale.
Shameless.
This pirate was utterly shameless.
Not only did he have no intention of sparing them—he meant to squeeze every last drop of value out of them.
The skinny pirate chuckled to himself. Having offered such a brilliant plan, he was surely about to be rewarded.
"Captain, can I have that woman?" He pointed at Nami. "I'll make sure to punish that little thief properly…"
Nami's face went white. She struggled against the restraints, but the pirate behind her held her down so tightly that she couldn't move.
Redbeard laughed.
"Of course—"
The skinny pirate's face lit up.
But in the next second—
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
The skinny pirate collapsed to the deck. A moment later, blood seeped from his body, staining the planks red.
Redbeard blew the smoke from his gun barrel and cast a cold glance at the corpse.
"The idea was good. I'll take it. But unfortunately, there's no place on my ship for anyone smarter than me."
Silence fell over the deck.
Nami's mouth hung slightly open. She was completely dumbfounded.
What kind of logic is that?!
Screams broke out among the noblewomen. The nobles trembled in terror. Even many of the pirates now looked at Redbeard with fear in their eyes.
But a few of them looked at him with burning admiration instead.
How brutal.
Yes—this was what a pirate should be.
"Zehahaha!"
Redbeard spread his arms wide, reveling in everyone's terror.
"Men! We'll do exactly what was just said! That's my plan! First, we make these fat noble pigs hand over all their Berries! Then we make the Marines come pay to buy them back!"
"You're noisy."
A man's voice suddenly cut through Redbeard's laughter, drawing everyone's attention.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Norton calmly wiped his lips with a napkin and finally rose from the table.
Ignoring the sweat-drenched Sanosuke standing only a few steps away, Norton walked straight toward Redbeard.
Sanosuke didn't dare stop him.
His reason told him he couldn't let this man pass.
But the instinctive fear gripping him was so overwhelming that he couldn't control his body at all. He could only remain frozen where he stood.
"What are you doing, Sanosuke?! Stop him!" Redbeard bellowed.
Sanosuke clenched his teeth and suddenly shouted, "Captain! Run!"
"What?" Redbeard blinked, then laughed in anger and pointed at Norton's face. "You're telling me to be careful of this pretty boy?"
Norton, however, didn't move immediately.
Instead, his gaze landed on Nami.
Even while he had been eating, he'd been listening the whole time.
A thief.
Orange hair.
Could it be…
"Hey, woman. What's your name?"
"Me?" Nami pointed at herself.
Norton nodded.
"Why should I tell—" Nami started, clearly unwilling. She was already irritated enough at being captured, and now this man was questioning her like he owned the place. So what if he was handsome?
"Tell me, and I'll save your life."
"My name's Nami! I'm a thief who only steals from pirates!" Nami instantly put on a flattering smile. "If you save me, I can work for you~"
Norton quietly drew in a breath.
It really was Nami.
Fate really was on his side.
If there was one navigator Norton wanted above all others, there was only ever one choice—
Nami.
Judging from the talent she displayed in the original story, she was worth more than an entire professional navigation team by herself.
She was also the woman Golden Lion Shiki had most wanted to recruit.
And Norton wanted her too.
Seeing Norton staring fixedly at her, Nami began to feel uneasy.
She was only improvising to save herself. Surely this guy didn't actually believe she meant it when she said she'd work for him?
Once she got rescued, the first thing she'd do was find a way to escape.
And if possible…
She'd figure out how to take the treasure with her, too.