Straw Hat Luffy

"Enel, you can just wait here. I'll go get some oranges for you."

"Yee-ha ha ha ha! I never thought you'd learn to respect a god!"

Enel, not understanding what was happening, felt Cifer's good intentions towards him. As a tolerant and magnanimous god, he naturally had to accept his admiration!

Though he exuded an chuunibyou aura, to everyone else, he seemed genuine. Even though he always referred to himself as a god, he truly acted as their protector.

Tashigi mingled with the villagers. On this trip, she hadn't done anything, nor could she do anything. She could only help the villagers prepare for the banquet to keep herself busy.

The Marines' justice began to waver in her heart. What she had always believed in seemed like a joke.

"Miss Tashigi, what's wrong!"

A happy villager nearby saw her weeping while helping to move things and rushed over to ask.

If only I were stronger!

She shook her head, signaling for them not to worry, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"Um... Cifer, your companion seems to be crying. Is everything okay?"

Nami and Nojiko, who were walking Cifer towards the orange grove, noticed the commotion behind them and asked curiously.

"This is something she needs to go through."

"Justice is not as pure as she thinks."

They pondered for a moment, likely because of Captain Nezumi's incident. Since Cifer didn't seem bothered, they had nothing more to say.

Soon, they arrived at the orange grove they were proud of. As far as the eye could see, it was a golden expanse, shimmering in the sunlight.

"Here you go!"

Nami, being perceptive, peeled an orange and handed it to Cifer.

"How is it? How is it? Is it delicious!"

"Mhm!"

Under Nami's expectant gaze, Cifer gave her a satisfactory answer. Just one word made her jump for joy on the spot.

To be honest, in both his past and present life, this was the most delicious orange Cifer had ever eaten. The difference in taste wasn't huge, but the feeling was different.

Perhaps it was because the owner of the orange grove had cared for it with great dedication!

The warmth of their hearts seemed to have been transmitted through the oranges.

"You two, do you want to become my nakama?"

Popping another orange into his mouth, Cifer's casual question stunned the two women.

For these two characters who existed in the plot, whom Cifer knew, there was no need to consider if they would betray him.

Besides, one was a cook and the other a navigator, perfectly filling the vacant positions on the ship. As for waiting for Hina, having a rotating position on such a large ship was normal, right?

"Nakama? Do you mean Marines?"

Nami asked tentatively. She suddenly remembered that when Cifer ordered Captain Nezumi's death at Arlong Park, he had said he wasn't a Marine.

"No, I'm a pirate."

This statement completely bewildered the two. He was a pirate, but Tashigi was a Marine. How could they possibly be together?

Moreover, Nojiko still harbored a degree of fear and disgust towards pirates, while Nami was different. She no longer hated pirates as much and already had a pirate crew in mind.

Consequently, both women decisively refused Cifer.

Nojiko's reason was that she had to look after the orange grove left by her adoptive mother, while Nami was more direct, saying she already had a pirate crew she admired.

He was somewhat disappointed by the outcome, but it was within his expectations. The Straw Hat Pirates were an exceptionally united and impenetrable team.

"Oh, right, right! Cifer, look at this!"

Fearing that refusing him might displease him, Nami pulled him over to her secret stash. Pulling back the ground, glittering treasure was revealed.

"This is worth about 93 million Belly. Consider it a reward for helping our village deal with Arlong and Captain Nezumi, okay!"

Nami, as if showing off, displayed her years of hard-earned savings. This money was originally saved to buy the freedom of everyone in the village. Now, not only were they free, but the threat was also gone.

No matter how much of a treasure-lover she was, she felt this money should be given to Cifer as thanks.

Cifer looked at the treasure on the ground, his eyes devoid of any greed. As for money, he was not lacking at all.

The gold, jewels, and Belly on his ship alone far exceeded the value of this treasure. Moreover, he was a butcher; if he ran short of money, he could just cruise around the Grand Line for a bit.

"Keep it for your villagers. If you really want me to act for money, this is far from enough."

He stopped looking at the treasure and walked around the orange grove, occasionally picking one, peeling it, and putting it in his mouth.

Seeing Cifer say this, Nami hid the treasure again. Regarding this money, she had already thought of how to use it!

This man before her was a good pirate, just like Luffy and the others!

"Nami!!!"

As she smiled, Luffy's voice came from behind her. She turned and saw several men running towards her.

They're here?!

Cifer's ears twitched. It had been nearly two months since he arrived in this world, and he was finally going to meet the protagonist.

"Luffy!!!"

With Arlong's restraint gone, Nami was no longer bound by anything. At this moment, she wanted to truly become this man's nakama.

Upon entering the village earlier, everyone had seen the preparations for a feast. After some inquiries, they finally understood that Nami had always had her own hidden struggles.

Then, guided by a villager, they found their way here.

"Nami! Be my nakama!"

"Okay!"

Nami had already agreed in her heart to this man who was willing to follow her all the way to Cocoyasi Village.

Is this the charm of a protagonist?

Watching the two embrace, Cifer couldn't help but sigh. His journey to recruit nakama was truly arduous.

He had only managed to trick a little girl and defeat an chuunibyou. Everyone else had failed. The drop rate for nakama was just too low.

But he only thought about it. Everyone he had invited so far had appeared in the original story. There was basically no need to worry about betrayal from those people.

It's just that the success rate was quite low. If he had publicly announced that he was recruiting crew members, people who wanted to join him would surely flock to him.

But that wouldn't be any fun!

Cifer had decided that his life was to be one of freedom, to live as he pleased. He wouldn't just recruit nakama for the sake of recruiting nakama.

"You're the guy who helped Nami deal with Arlong, right? You look really strong!"

"Thank you!"

Luffy, with a look of innocent sincerity and a smile, walked up to Cifer, patting his hat. He remembered what Zoro had just said.

"Zoro, do you recognize this flag?"

Seeing Zoro's panicked expression, Luffy's own expression turned serious.

"As a former pirate hunter, I can never be wrong. The owner of this ship is another Shichibukai, as famous as Hawk Eyes!"

"Ulquiorra Cifer, known as the Black Winged Great Demon!"

As soon as he said this, almost everyone on the ship turned pale with fright. Zoro had just been defeated by Hawk Eyes with overwhelming advantage, and now another monster of equal renown appeared. How could they not be terrified?

"It was just a small matter."

Looking at the shorty in front of him, Cifer wondered if he should beat him up and show him the harshness of society.