The Maiden's Resolve

It's only been a few months since arriving in this world, but Lowett had felt unexpected things from those caricatured minor characters more than once.

Morgan, ruthless for power; Kuro, cold and confident as a Great Pirate; the small fry Zango, scheming for survival in the cracks; and the Navy... their ink-black Justice, the insatiably greedy Momonga, the cunning Skinner, each showed him everything people had to go through just to live in this era.

They were living people, not puppets.

Faced with this, Lowett had felt anger, surprise, and distress, but in the end, it all turned into fine wine for him to savor calmly.

The only thing that had truly shocked him so far was Sheldon, who proved his willingness to keep a secret by committing suicide, in exchange for his family's safety.

But now, there would be another.

"Why?"

A calm, authoritative voice echoed in the room. Nojiko and Kensuke started, turning to look at him with panicked unease.

Nami couldn't see, but she knew who was speaking.

Hearing him, she wore a resolute expression. "I'm not stupid. The fighting outside is so fierce, yet this room alone is undisturbed... You, you want me to work for you too, right?"

Kensuke's face twitched. Was she not afraid of provoking him by saying that?!

But he didn't dare speak, because being disturbed might provoke the other party even more.

"That's right."

Unexpectedly, Lowett nodded calmly.

Crack... crack...

White bones emerged from the wooden floor, twisting into a bone throne for Lowett to sit on.

Crossing his legs and resting his cane horizontally on them, Lowett clasped his hands, exuding an air of composure.

"I know your talent in navigation, so I want you to come with me. I killed Arlong to collect materials, and you can help me find more satisfactory materials."

"But you ruined your eyes..."

"Don't you know how capable you are?"

"Distance" was an unavoidable problem in this world. Without a highly developed, brilliant civilization like the mage world, travel in the pirate world relied entirely on sailing.

And sailing, naturally, required a navigator's command.

In the dangerous waters of the Grand Line, a qualified navigator was even more indispensable; otherwise, annihilation could happen in an instant.

Without Nami, relying solely on the original Straw Hat crew's brutes, let alone the New World, it would be a miracle if they could even survive crossing the Reverse Mountain.

Such talent, Lowett couldn't help but be interested.

"Of course, I know."

A confident smile appeared on Nami's face. "Every time I snuck onto a pirate ship, as long as I showed my navigation knowledge, even the most ferocious Great Pirate wouldn't dare lay a hand on me."

"But..."

Nami's face was filled with hatred, like an angry kitten.

"After I got what I wanted, I wished I could kill myself!"

"It's because this power exists!"

She said, "Arlong threatened everyone's safety to make me work for him! But I also have to rely on this power to protect the village..."

"I know too, that saying I could redeem the village for a hundred million Belly was a lie!"

"But there was nothing I could do. The Fishmen are too strong; we're no match for them... So I could only lie to myself, tell myself that hope existed, and live on for everyone."

"Nami..."

Nojiko knelt on the ground, clenching her fists and biting her lower lip.

So, Nami had been enduring such torment all these years?

They had become a burden, causing Nami pain.

"Your dream was built on suffering, and as the culprit, your hatred for pirates is understandable."

After hearing the thoughts of the 15-year-old girl Nami, Lowett nodded slightly.

"But by blinding yourself and becoming useless, you have no value."

As his voice fell, his soul aura spread out.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right now?"

The oppressive, terrifying aura made the three people in the room tremble. In their eyes, Lowett transformed into a terrifying monster, a flood and a beast.

"I'm not afraid!"

Suddenly, Nami's stubborn voice rang out.

"I'd rather die smiling than live in pain."

"Even if it means abandoning your dream?"

Lowett asked abruptly.

Nami's expression froze.

"You don't actually want to die, do you?"

Not fearing death doesn't mean wanting to die.

"Trouble!"

Lowett didn't say much more. He had already gathered a lot from Nami's expression, the most obvious being that she had no reason to go out to sea right now.

Raising a hand to rub his temples, Lowett said, "If I could turn you into an intelligent undead, taking your corpse would be the same."

He calmly uttered terrifying words that made the three of them tremble, then stood up.

"You're lucky. I can't do that level of magic yet."

"So..."

Flesh Magic - Limb Suture Technique!

Two bloody eyeballs floated up from the floor and landed in Lowett's palm. He grabbed Nami's chin and shoved the eyeballs into her eye sockets.

"Ah!!!"

"Nami!"

Nojiko and the other tried to rush forward to stop him, but bony arms stretched out from the floor, gripping them tightly.

"This won't be the last time we meet, Nami."

"Since you have dreams, cherish them."

Boom!!

Terrifying mana fluctuations surged around Lowett. Fragments of sea charts and other debris levitated in the magical field, defying gravity.

"One day, you and I will meet at sea. When that time comes, we can discuss your salary."

"Impossible!!!"

A slight coolness spread through her eye sockets, like ice shards grinding in her flesh, stimulating Nami to bite her lip until it bled.

"Heh, you don't get to decide that!"

Lowett slowly pulled his hand away from her eye sockets, scarlet liquid clinging to his fingertips. Before Nami could breathe a sigh of relief, his five fingers pierced through her skull in various places, ignoring the flesh.

"Ah!!!"

"Nami!!"

When the light dispersed, Nojiko immediately rushed over. She shook Nami's body anxiously and, finding that she still had a heartbeat, let out a sigh of relief.

"You..."

Turning around, Nojiko glared at Lowett.

"Nojiko, calm down!"

Kensuke blocked her path and pointed downward.

Nojiko looked down and only then noticed that Nami's eyelids, which should have been sunken, trembled slightly, as if something was moving inside them.

"This is...!!"

Nojiko gasped in shock, covering her mouth in disbelief.

Nami's eyes had actually grown back!

Lowett watched the scene with a heavy heart. If his severed arm were still here, it could have grown back too. Unfortunately, it had fallen into the sea and become food for fish and shrimp the moment Skinner had chopped it off.

"In at most a year, your eyes will be as good as new."

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Lowett gripped his cane and took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hands.

"When your eyes recover, Nami, I'll be waiting for you at sea."

"Next time we meet, even if you're a corpse, I'll take you with me..."

With that, Lowett turned and walked towards the door.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Nami struggled to sit up, her eyes closed, facing the direction of the door.

"I will never work for pirates!"

"Is that so?"

Lowett smiled slightly, "We shall see."

Flap... flap flap!

Ravens burst from his body, crowding and flying within the narrow space. After the commotion subsided, the corridor was empty.

"Who exactly is he?"

Kensuke finally relaxed. Such methods were unheard of!

However, looking back at Nami and then at Nojiko, who held her and wept silently, he gave up on pursuing the matter.

"Who cares! The future will deal with the future. At least now, we're alive."

Thank you to the book friend ~Ancient Burial Era~ for the 500 reward. Thank you for your support!

This week of vacation felt like it vanished after just one day of drinking. Thinking about going back to work the day after tomorrow, I realized I hadn't gone out to play at all!

My heart feels so heavy. My vacation is gone in a daze.