I, Garen, Need Money

"Huh?"

Just like his survival skills and swordsmanship, Garen had zero experience dealing with pretty girls.

The beautiful girl who suddenly sat beside him instantly put Garen in an awkward position.

Displaying the lofty integrity of an FFF member beyond his usual limits, he blurted out:

"Why did you sit over here?"

"..."

Miss Nami's smile froze on her face.

It was her first time encountering such a foolish rich idiot, and she could not help showing an emotional reaction.

Nami casually glanced at the ornate greatsword lying across the table, drawing strength for the battle ahead from the massive Sapphire embedded in its hilt:

As long as she could fool this wealthy upstart and pry out information about his assets,

Getting rich overnight, buying the village, and gaining freedom would all become a beautiful future within reach.

A few seconds later, Nami's smile blossomed once more.

Following Garen's clumsy attempt at striking up a conversation, she continued:

"I was merely curious. Who is that girl you mentioned, Knight, the one who resembles me?"

"Oh..."

Guided by Nami's simple conversational tactics, Garen finally recovered his composure.

After thinking for a moment, he answered:

"That girl is not a real person. She is a fictional character from a comic back in my hometown."

"A comic?"

"That sounds quite interesting."

Nami flattered him against her will, while her opinion of Garen sank another level.

Comics existed in the pirate world as well, but limited by underdeveloped communication, that sort of entertainment only appeared on prosperous islands with large enough markets.

And their audience was mostly immature little brats, while the stories themselves were extremely childish.

After all, in this world, children who had grown up even a little would consciously seek out the truly existing supernatural heroes of the seas rather than searching for empty fantasies in thin pages.

"Come to think of it..."

Garen did not notice the faint contempt in Nami's heart. Thinking of his bizarre situation in an unknown world, he suddenly felt a little sentimental.

"I am probably never going to see the ending of that comic in my lifetime."

"What a pity."

Nami forced herself to keep the conversation going, though she was already cursing furiously inside.

A beautiful girl is sitting right in front of you, and you are still eagerly talking about children's comics?!

But Nami's false friendliness ultimately worked.

At the very least, she left Garen with the impression that she was "easy to talk to."

For Garen, who had just emerged from the wilderness and found himself alone in another world, this agreeable and beautiful young lady was practically the only person he knew.

So Garen decided to make his first friend in this other world and learn some basic information about it from her.

That was right. He had treated Nami as the guide NPC of a beginner village.

Without caring about the customs of this other world, Garen smiled and extended his broad hand toward her.

"My name is Garen. May I ask what your name is, miss?"

At last, the conversation was progressing normally. Nami readily placed her fair little hand in his thick palm, while maintaining a reserved air as she said:

"Nami."

"My name is Nami."

"Even the name is the same?"

Garen blurted out in astonishment.

"What?"

Nami could not process his startled reaction.

Garen quickly withdrew his hand awkwardly and explained, "The comic character I mentioned was also called Nami."

"Really? Haha..."

Nami could barely keep up her fake smile.

I have been cooperating with you this much, and this big idiot still only knows how to talk to me about children's comics?

Yet Garen, whom she considered a fool, had entered detective mode thanks to his memories of that comic—

A three-meter-tall Big Teddy, all manner of strange plants, bizarre-looking humans... there was no doubt that he was in another world.

And this other world carried a strong Earth-like cultural flavor:

Katanas, flintlock guns, Western-style buildings, English signs, Chinese calligraphy.

And then there was the Orange-Haired Girl before him, who seemed to have stepped right out of an illustrated book.

All these bizarre elements matched the comic in Garen's memories.

And his current body was that of a game character.

So being transported into a comic world was no longer so unbelievable.

Garen carefully considered all these clues. Unable to suppress his doubts any longer, he cautiously asked the girl before him:

"Miss Nami, may I ask where we are now?"

"Where?"

Nami answered in confusion, "Samwell Island."

"A broader area. What region is Samwell Island in?"

Garen continued asking.

Nami had been completely thrown off by this man who never behaved normally. Only her faith in money allowed her to keep answering.

"East Blue. East Blue, one of the Four Blues."

"East Blue..."

Garen murmured to himself, then pressed on:

"Then do you know about the Grand Line, Pirate King Roger, and One Piece?"

"Of course I do!"

There was already a trace of uncontrollable irritation in Nami's voice.

He was asking such idiotic questions that everyone knew the answers to. Either he was an idiot, or he was deliberately messing with her.

"So this really is the World of One Piece."

Garen sank into deep confusion, then suddenly became excited.

"Then the person sitting in front of me is..."

"The real Nami?"

Garen's eyes gleamed as he stared at the Orange-Haired Girl as though she were some rare animal.

That kind of gaze was terrible. It was easy to mistake it for the look of a lecherous demon.

But Nami let out a huge sigh of relief.

She did not know why, but this big idiot had finally returned to the mindset of a normal, lustful rich upstart.

That made him much easier to swindle out of money.

So she prepared to take the initiative and close the distance between them.

"Knight, since you are asking me such questions, are you not from East Blue?"

"No!"

Garen answered readily.

He was the type to be secretly flamboyant. In front of strangers, he was as reserved as a sheltered young lady, but around people he knew, he could become a shameless veteran driver pulling off five hairpin turns in a row.

And to Garen, Nami could probably count as an "acquaintance."

Now that he knew where he was and who the girl before him was, Garen no longer had even the slightest reserve toward a stranger.

In its place, curiosity and excitement showed openly on his face.

Naturally, in Miss Nami's eyes, those emotions were simply the disgusting expressions of a lecherous creep.

"Are you from some great kingdom?"

Nami smiled as she said things she did not care about in the least, while lavishly flattering him.

"Your attire looks truly noble and imposing."

"Hmm..."

After thinking for a moment, Garen answered without changing expression:

"I am from the Kingdom of Demacia."

There were countless kingdoms across the seas, and Nami had no idea where this Demacia was.

She merely followed along. "Then are you a noble of the Kingdom of Demacia?"

"That is correct."

Garen had completely immersed himself in his role.

"I am the leader of the Dauntless Vanguard, Prince Jarvan's close friend, and a warrior of the Kingdom bearing the title of 'Might of Demacia.'"

It sounded like he was bragging.

But the expensive armor he wore did not appear fake.

If his identity was real, then he was undoubtedly a cash machine from whom she could squeeze a large sum of money.

So Nami continued playing the sweet, naive girl who admired noble heroes, smiling as she listened to Garen's boasting.

"My family is a hereditary noble house of the Kingdom, with countless fields in our fief..."

"I also have an adorable little sister of extraordinary talent, honored by others as the Lady of Luminosity."

But as Garen went on, his tone suddenly shifted.

"However, I have now ended up alone in a foreign land."

"Do not worry, Knight."

Nami deliberately offered polite pleasantries. "If there is anything difficult, I will do my best to help you."

Hehe...

I will do my best to help you spend every last coin in your pocket.

"Really?"

Garen said excitedly, "That is wonderful!"

"As you know, I am a Demacian noble stranded far from home."

"Actually, I am a little short on funds right now and need some cash for an emergency."

"If you can help me pay for this meal, I guarantee you—"

"Once I return to Demacia, I will have my friend Prince Jarvan grant you the title of count as repayment!"