An Unexpected Encounter

"What's going on? Why are you being so mysterious?"

Seven days later, Nami followed Genzo towards the coast. When they were still some distance from the coast, Nami froze.

The shore was full of people, but what surprised Nami was not the people, but the things in the sea.

"This is?"

Nami quickly ran over, pushed through the crowd, and arrived at the shore, staring blankly ahead.

On the sea, a ship was moored. It was about 20 meters long and 6 meters wide. The bow of the ship was an orange with a windmill stuck on it.

"This is our gift to you for your voyage at sea, what do you think?" Genzo said with a smile, standing at the front of the villagers.

"This is a gift for me?" Nami was slightly taken aback, then asked, "But this ship must have cost a lot of money, right?"

One reason she couldn't bring herself to buy a large ship was that she didn't have enough savings. Without Hachi's money, it would be impossible to buy a ship.

The second reason is that she is temporarily operating in the East China Sea, and with Hachi around, a small boat is sufficient.

Three years later, when the agreed time had passed, Hachi gave him the money and he began looking for an opportunity to travel to the Grand Line to buy a large ship.

Unexpectedly, the villagers gifted him a boat.

"It's enough if each household contributes a little."

Genzo said with a smile, "This is our sentiment, and it represents us. We can't go to sea, but we can still stay by your side."

"Everyone."

Nami's eyes were a little red.

"Don't refuse. Five years ago, when you were only ten years old, you voluntarily joined the Arlong Pirates, just to save the village, and you made a silent sacrifice all by yourself."

Genzo said earnestly, "Today, let's support your dream."

Nami hesitated for a moment, "But..."

"Nami, accept this ship."

"We saved up quite a bit of money even without Arlong."

"Yes, this amount of money is nothing."

Genzo also said, "After Arlong was arrested, a lot of treasure was found. Commodore Brim Brim returned some to us, and we took some out, added some more, and asked Marcel to buy this ship for you through the Chamber of Commerce. We also contacted the shipyard to temporarily modify the bow, and it was delivered today."

"Thanks."

Nami listened to the sounds around her, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and then said, "Okay, I accept. I will take this ship and fulfill my dream."

"Nami, let's give this ship a name first," Marcel said with a smile.

"Name?"

Upon hearing this, Nami thought for a moment and said softly, "The bow of the ship is an orange, and there's a windmill on it, so let's call it the Orange Windmill."

"Orange Windmill? That's a simple name, but it's good enough," Doctor Nago said with a smile.

"Let's get on the boat and take a look."

"Yes, yes, hurry up and get on the boat."

Surrounded by the crowd, Nami boarded the ship, looked around, and was very satisfied with it.

This kind of ship is good enough for going out to sea.

Because they were on a different ship, they could carry more items, so Nami spent more time preparing.

Three days later, Nami was about to set off, and the villagers and Hachi carried the prepared items onto the ship.

Nami stood on the shore, hugging everyone one by one, then boarded the ship and waved goodbye to them, "Goodbye everyone."

Hachi used his six arms to quickly raise the sails, and then controlled the rudder, and the Orange slowly set sail.

"Goodbye."

People on the shore waved to Nami as they watched the ship slowly sail away.

But suddenly, a voice rang out, "Where's my wallet?"

"My wallet, my wallet is gone too."

"It must be Nami."

"That Cat Burglar, we bought her a boat, and she still steals our things."

Everyone gave Nami a good scolding, but they all had smiles on their faces.

"It's so hot, and we're out of water. We need to find an island to dock at."

On a small boat in the East China Sea, Ace, wearing a hat, sat there, tilting his head back and turning the water bottle upside down, but there was no water at all.

Where can we find water?

Ace looked at the vast sea, but there was no sign of any islands. So he took out a map and a compass.

"Yes, there's an island over here called Jumada Island. It's not far from Loguetown, but it's still quite a distance away. Be patient, we'll get there soon."

Ace was thinking about heading to Jumada Island when a ship appeared in the distance, heading diagonally in another direction.

"There is a boat."

Ace's eyes lit up. "Can I borrow some water?"

Ace immediately adjusted the sails, and the small boat sped towards the distant ship.

The distance is getting closer and closer.

Ace saw a ship with an orange-shaped prow and a windmill on it that was spinning wildly as the ship moved forward.

"This ship looks very peculiar."

Ace slowly approached and discovered a girl lying on the ship's side.

The girl was young, probably only fifteen years old, but very beautiful, with blond hair and pretty eyes, staring at him curiously.

"Hi."

Ace approached the ship and looked at the girl, saying, "Hello, could you please ask your master to come out and speak with you?"

"Grown ups?"

The girl smiled and said, "You don't need to look for anyone else. I am the captain of this ship. Just tell me."

"Captain?"

Ace paused for a moment, then looked at the girl and asked, "You said you're the captain of this ship?"

"Of course, this Orange Windmill is my ship," the girl said proudly.

"Really?"

Ace looked puzzled and said, "You don't look very old."

"You don't look much older than me."

The girl said irritably, "Is there anything wrong? If not, I'm going back."

"Oh, I'd like to borrow some fresh water for you. There's no water left on the boat." Ace held up the water bottle and shook it.

"All right."

The girl nodded and called out into the distance, "Hachi, stop the boat."

"Um."

The ship slowly came to a stop, and the girl looked at Ace and said, "Give me the water bottle."

"Oh."

Ace raised his hand, picked up all the water jugs from the small boat, and handed them over.

The girl stretched out her hand with all her might, but there was still a distance between them, and she couldn't reach it no matter what she did.

Swoosh.

Suddenly, Ace stepped on the ship with both feet, and flew out, jumping onto the side of the ship.

"For you."

Ace handed the water bottle and bladder to the girl, smiling as he said, "If you can, please fill it up for me."

"Good."

The girl nodded, took the water bottle and water bag, and disappeared from the deck.

"What is that?"

Ace jumped off the ship's side and stood on the deck. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the mast not far away, where a Fish-Man with six arms was tidying up the sails.

"Fish-Man?"

Ace asked in surprise.

"Hello, I'm Hachi." The octopus Fish-Man Hachi raised an arm in greeting.

"This is the first time I've ever seen Fish-Man."

Ace was somewhat surprised. He looked around and found that it was just him and the girl. So he asked curiously, "Are there two of you on this ship?"

Hachi nodded and said, "It's just me and Nami."

"There are only two people on this kind of boat?"

Ace was somewhat surprised. This ship was over twenty meters long, and it would take at least five or six people to maintain stable navigation and deal with emergencies.

However, this Fish-Man has six arms, and Fish-Man are naturally strong, so he can lower the sails and turn the rudder all by himself.

But a Fish-Man and a girl on a ship with only two people looks a bit strange.

"What's your relationship with me? What are you doing?" Ace asked curiously.

"I'm a crew member, Nami is the captain."

After lowering the sail, Hachi wrapped the rope to one side and said, "We are drawing a nautical chart, a nautical chart of the East China Sea."

"Are you a navigator?" Ace asked, intrigued.

Hachi shook his head and said, "I'm not the navigator, Nami is."

"That little girl?" Ace's eyes widened.

Hachi said, "Don't underestimate her. Her navigation skills are better than many navigators on the Grand Line."

"More skilled than the navigators of the Grand Line?"

Ace's eyes widened, and he asked, "Have you ever been to the Grand Line?"

"Of course."

Hachi patted his chest and said, "I used to be a member of the Sun Pirates. I sailed the seas with Boss Fisher Tiger. Even on the Grand Line, it's very difficult to find a navigator like Nami."

"The Sun Pirates?"

Ace had naturally heard of this name; one of the captains of the Sun Pirates Jinbe than Jinbe, the current Shichibukai.

Jinbe becoming Shichibukai was a momentous news announcement six years ago, hailed as a model of racial peace and a prime example of coexistence Fish-Man Race.

"You're actually a member of the Sun Pirates?"

Ace's gaze fell on Hachi's waist, and he asked, "Are you a swordsman?"

"Certainly."

Hachi proudly declared, "I am the Second Strongest Swordsman of Fish-Man Island."

"The Second Strongest Swordsman of Fish-Man Island? The island where Jinbe of the Shichibukai, came from?" Ace's eyes widened, and then he fell into deep thought.

"Your water."

At this moment, Nami came up with a water bottle and handed it to Ace.

"I don't need the water bottle," Ace suddenly said.

"What's wrong?" Nami looked at him, puzzled.

Ace grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and said with a smile, "I've discovered that I have something else I want."

"Be my companion, Nami, Hachi."