The morning sunshine was just right, warm on the face without feeling hot. Whenever a breeze passed, it brought a refreshing coolness that soothed the spirit, as though every worry had been washed away.
In Cocoyasi Village, gentle sunlight fell over the lush tangerine grove, scattering golden specks through the greenery and passing between the leaves to cast dappled shadows across a young woman's face.
She swept her long purple hair behind her with her fingertips. Two years had passed, and Nojiko had blossomed into an even more alluring, mature beauty. Setting down her pruning shears, she left the grove and followed a country path into town.
Creak~
"Honestly, don't tell me you're calling the Marines to complain again."
Nojiko opened the wooden door and stepped inside, shaking her head with an amused sigh.
Arlong sat sprawled at the table, angrily punching in the numbers of one Marine Branch after another as he shouted:
"What are these Marines even doing?! Putting a bounty on a sweet young girl is bad enough, but using a photo of her dressed that sexily? Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a marriage ad!"
"Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful! They have to take down that embarrassing photo!"
"Oh, please. You're hardly one to talk."
Nojiko couldn't help rolling her eyes at him. A photo had been enlarged to cover an entire wall, displaying Nami's sexy figure in all its glory.
Weather Queen Nami, bounty-1,120,000,000 Beli!
Arlong kept doggedly making calls, like an old-fashioned father who couldn't stand the thought of other men taking even the slightest advantage of his daughter out in the world.
Nojiko smiled and tried to soothe him:
"Come on, Arlong, don't be so old-fashioned. If you're worried about someone setting their sights on Nami, you're probably overthinking it."
Nojiko