Chapter 152: Water 7! The 500 Million Berries Offensive and Defensive Battle
Passing through the giant "Aqua Laguna" warning buoy.
The going merry followed the ocean current and finally slowly entered this legendary city on the water—Water 7.
The scene before them took everyone's breath away.
This was a city of miracles built entirely on the sea.
A giant fountain erupted at the top of the city, nourishing the entire city like a crown.
Countless waterways crisscrossed, replacing streets, with stone buildings of various styles layered upon each other.
"Amazing! The city is spraying water!" Luffy leaned over the bow, his eyes sparkling.
To make it easier to move around this maze-like water city and to look more like tourists...
The Straw Hat crew rented the unique local transportation—"Bulls."
These gentle water mounts with seahorse-like faces became the group's new favorites.
As the "couple," Tatsuya and Nami naturally shared one.
"We're going to the biggest shipyard, and we need to exchange money!"
Nami sat on the soft back seat of the Bull, directing it forward.
The small boat shuttled through the shimmering waterways, flanked by a dazzling array of shops and bustling markets.
"Tatsuya! Look at that! What a beautiful mask!"
"Wow! The Mizu Mizu Meat over here looks delicious!"
Nami was as excited as a little girl who had just entered the city, pointing at things all along the way.
Tatsuya sat behind her, one hand casually resting on her waist to protect her, patiently responding to her every exclamation.
"Stop for a second!"
While passing a busy commercial street, Nami suddenly signaled the Bull to pull over.
It was an extremely high-end boutique clothing store.
A light blue off-the-shoulder dress hanging in the window caught her eye.
The two walked into the store.
Nami held the dress up in front of the mirror; the perfectly tailored fabric made her skin look like snow, and her orange hair looked even more vibrant.
"This young lady has great taste. This is our latest model, using the unique waterproof silk of Water 7..." the sales assistant promoted enthusiastically.
Nami glanced at the price on the tag, and her brow instantly furrowed:
"So expensive? Boss, can you make it cheaper? How about fifty percent off? Otherwise, I'll..."
Just as Nami was about to unleash her "bargaining divine skill"...
"Wrap it up."
Tatsuya said with a smile.
"Eh?" Nami was stunned and turned to look at Tatsuya:
"Tatsuya! What are you doing? I could have bargained for it! I could have saved at least tens of thousands of Berries!"
Tatsuya reached out to help her tidy the stray hairs by her ear and said with a smile:
"There's no need to save this little bit of money. Don't forget what we're carrying in our bags.
"In a while, we'll have hundreds of millions of Berries coming in. This small amount of money can be a meeting gift for the future wealthy woman."
Hearing the words "hundreds of millions of Berries" and "wealthy woman," Nami's eyes instantly turned into hearts.
"That's true! We're about to be billionaires!"
Nami happily threw herself into Tatsuya's arms, ignoring the clerk still standing nearby, and gave him a big kiss on the cheek:
"I love you the most! Vice Captain!"
The sales assistant blushed while packing the clothes, thinking this couple was both extravagant and sweet.
But this was only the beginning.
Walking out of the clothing store, Nami's desire to shop was completely ignited.
She pulled Tatsuya into a lingerie shop with a somewhat suggestive atmosphere.
Most of the customers around were women, and seeing a big man like Tatsuya enter, they all cast strange looks.
Tatsuya was somewhat uncomfortable and wanted to wait at the door, but Nami dragged him in.
"What are you afraid of? We've been together for so long."
After Skypiea, their relationship had already broken through the final barrier, and they were truly as intimate as an old married couple.
Standing in front of rows of boldly designed sexy lingerie, Nami wasn't shy; instead, she picked through them with great interest.
"Hey, Tatsuya."
Nami picked up a black nightgown that was almost entirely transparent lace, looking at Tatsuya with flirtatious eyes:
"What do you think of this one? Or..."
She picked up another style: "Do you prefer something a bit wilder like this?"
This time it was Tatsuya's turn to blush.
He coughed, his gaze somewhat wandering:
"That... they're both, both quite good."
"Perfunctory!" Nami pouted dissatisfiedly, leaned in close to him, and breathed like an orchid: "You must choose one. Tonight... I'll wear it for you."
Tatsuya felt his nose get hot. To prevent losing his composure on the spot, he could only randomly point at the black one:
"Just... just that black one."
"Hmph, as expected, men all like this kind of style."
Nami gave a mischievous smile but still obediently let the clerk pack the black one.
...
After a round of frantic shopping, the refreshed duo met up with Luffy in the central plaza.
Luffy was holding Clay, his mouth stuffed with Mizu Mizu Meat, and he was still carrying that heavy bag of gold.
"Oh! Nami! Tatsuya! You guys are so slow!" Luffy shouted indistinctly.
"Alright, time for business."
Tatsuya straightened his collar: "To the Exchange Office. Remember, Luffy, don't say anything later, leave everything to me."
"Oh!"
The three arrived at Water 7's largest Exchange Office.
It was magnificent and heavily guarded, clearly a place for large transactions.
A shrewd-looking Appraiser received them.
Looking at these three pirates who were excessively young, a flash of greed passed through the Appraiser's eyes.
He slowly inspected the gold items, occasionally frowning or shaking his head.
"Oh dear... although this gold is high purity, there are many impurities."
The Appraiser put down his magnifying glass and sighed, pretending to be troubled:
"And these designs are too ancient. If they are to be melted and recast, it will require high labor costs. And the current gold price is sluggish..."
He held up one finger and quoted a number:
"I'll give you 100 million Berries in total. This is already a fair price, considering you are newcomers."
"100 million?!"
Luffy tilted his head and started counting on his fingers: "How much meat is that?"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Nami instantly blew up, slamming her hands heavily on the counter and roaring:
"Do you take us for fools?! This gold weighs at least several hundred pounds! It's worth more than that just by weight alone!!"
"Hmph, little girl, this is my territory, and the price is what it is."
The Appraiser sneered with confidence, "If you don't want to sell, take this pile of scrap metal and get out."
"Don't be in a hurry, Nami."
Tatsuya stepped forward with a smile, shielding Nami behind him.
However, in the next second.
"Thud!!"
A dull sound.
A sharp black dagger was thrust into the mahogany counter in front of the Appraiser like a bolt of lightning.
The blade sank deep into the wood, only a few millimeters from the Appraiser's fingers.
The Appraiser jumped in fright, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.
"Boss, business is about integrity."
Tatsuya maintained his smile, but his eyes held a chill that made one feel like they were falling into an ice cellar.
He slowly pulled out the dagger and lightly tapped it against that priceless gold candlestick, making a crisp sound:
"Look closely. These aren't just gold; these are relics of the Shandora civilization from 400 years ago.
"Whether in terms of purity or archaeological value, they are world-class."
Tatsuya leaned closer to the Appraiser and lowered his voice:
"You dare to toy with pirates? We could slaughter you right now and tear this shop apart, believe it or not?"
"I... I understand!!"
The Appraiser wiped his sweat tremblingly, no longer daring to have any petty thoughts:
"It's... it's my mistake! These are top-tier! Top-tier!!"
"300 million Berries... no! Plus a 200 million collector's value premium! A total of 500 million Berries!!"
"make a deal."
Tatsuya instantly withdrew the dagger, the murderous intent on his face vanishing without a trace as he turned back into the gentle Vice Captain.
...
A few minutes later.
Nami clutched three briefcases full of cash, looking at the stacks of brand-new Berries inside, her eyes turning into swirls of happiness.
"5... 500 million..."
"I'm going to faint... Tatsuya, quick, hold me..."
Nami slumped softly into Tatsuya's arms, her face filled with a dreamy smile.
Tatsuya shook his head helplessly, carrying the other two cases in one hand and holding Nami with the other: "Alright, little money-grubber, let's deposit the money first before going to fix the ship."
...
The scene shifts back to the coast of Scrap Island.
Compared to the bustle in the city, the Going Merry was docked here all alone, looking exceptionally desolate.
Usopp, who had stayed behind, was holding a hammer and wooden boards, trying to repair the shocking cracks on the ship's hull.
"It's cracked here too... and there..."
Usopp looked at the deep crack on the keel, but the hammer in his hand just wouldn't strike down.
For some reason, looking at this scarred ship.
The image of his helplessness when facing Aokiji on Long Ring Long Land flashed through his mind.
"Everyone has become so strong... Luffy, Zoro, Sanji... even Nami has Tatsuya's special training..."
"Only me..."
A deep sense of inferiority surged into his heart like a tide, drowning him.
Lassoo sensed his master's sadness and whimpered, nuzzling his leg.
"Merry... are you tired too? Do you also feel like you can't keep up with everyone?"
Usopp stroked the hull, muttering to himself.
Just then.
In the shadows of the nearby ruins, several greedy eyes were staring fixedly at this seemingly defenseless pirate ship.
"That's the Straw Hat crew's ship, right?"
"Hehehe... that long-nosed guy looks very weak. Brothers, get ready to move."
The thugs of the Franky Family were sharpening their knives, preparing to strike at the isolated Usopp.
...
Meanwhile, on the streets of Water 7.
Tatsuya was carrying the money cases, walking toward the shipyard with Luffy and Nami, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly.
Tatsuya's footsteps came to a sudden halt.
"Hmm?"
Tatsuya turned his head sharply, his gaze sweeping like lightning through the bustling crowd behind him.
However, there were only tourists and citizens coming and going.
But in the gaps of the crowd, Tatsuya still caught a fleeting glimpse of a tall figure—
That person was wearing a strange Bull costume, and seemed to have a bull-head mask with two horns on his head.
The figure disappeared extremely quickly, as if it had never existed.
"What's wrong? Tatsuya?" Nami asked in confusion.
Tatsuya stared in that direction for two seconds, then turned his head back as if nothing had happened, but a hint of solemnity flashed deep in his eyes.
"Nothing, I might have seen it wrong."
An alarm went off in Tatsuya's heart.
"CP9... It seems the operation has already begun."
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