Destined to be a Puppet

Only Luffy was different.

At some point, he had struggled up from beside the distant pool.

He stood alone amid the ruins not far away, his childish face smeared with blood and muddy water.

Those eyes, which had always shone with pure light, were now filled with fury. For the first time, he stared hard at the back of his own comrade with such wariness and anger.

"Nami, go. From now on, you're not my crewmate anymore."

Luffy clenched his teeth hard and forced out the order of expulsion.

Hearing those words that should have been shocking, Nami, who was slowly scraping the blood from her fingertips with the body of her blade, merely raised her head and glanced at him.

There was not even the slightest flicker of surprise on her face.

"Fine."

Nami answered with extreme indifference.

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Usopp, who had been watching from the side, hurriedly strode forward.

He put on his signature peacemaker's face, reached out, threw an arm around Luffy's shoulders, and chuckled as he asked back:

"Come on, Luffy, Nami can't leave. Do you have any money in your pocket? Do you know how to navigate? Are you planning to let everyone drift on the vast sea for three days and three nights, then starve to death together?"

Luffy was clearly stunned by the questions. He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but had no idea how.

The harsh reality was right in front of him. He really was penniless and knew nothing about navigation.

Without Nami, even sailing would be a problem for them.

The only thing he was good at was eating meat by the mouthful, while all the food on the ship that kept them alive had been arranged and planned by Nami.