Merry, Usopp

At the lively banquet, Luffy and Usopp stood on the table, clowning around.

With chopsticks stuck in his nostrils and holding a winnowing basket, Usopp danced a strange dance, making Kaya giggle.

"Our captain really has no sense of decorum."

Nami sighed helplessly. "Speaking of which, where are we heading next?"

"You're not going to use that trick again, are you?" Zoro couldn't help but glance at Reiner.

He still remembered how Reiner had previously told Luffy to randomly point at a spot on the map, and then they had made Syrup Village their destination.

"...That trick?"

"Ahem, I already have an idea for our next stop."

Reiner yawned and, under Nami's questioning gaze, said, "Don't you think our ship is missing an important crewmate?"

"You mean that one, right?"

"Indeed, the ship wouldn't be complete without that position."

Zoro and Nami stroked their chins in agreement.

"You guys think so too, right?"

Luffy also chimed in, grinning as he looked at everyone. "Then it's decided! We'll go find a musician!"

"It's a chef, a chef!"

"If you're not going to use your brain, just donate it!"

"Speaking of chefs..."

Reiner paused, then looked up. "The Baratie Sea Restaurant. Let's go there."

"However, that's already close to the Grand Line. Before that, I'm considering going to the Conomi Islands to find Arlong."

"Conomi Islands?"

"Where's that?"

"ARLONG!!!"

Compared to the others' confusion, Nami shrieked.

She hadn't expected to hear that name from Reiner.

'Arlong'—those two words were practically her nightmare, always stirring up fear and revulsion in her heart whenever mentioned.

She could never forget the scene of Belle-mère being personally killed by Arlong years ago, all to protect her and Nojiko.

"Nami, what's wrong? Do you know this Arlong?"

Seeing Nami's distressed expression, Luffy couldn't help but ask.

Nami's face darkened, and she remained silent, the lively atmosphere suddenly quiet.

Reiner was the first to break the silence.

"Arlong was originally a member of a fish-man pirate crew in the Grand Line..."

He slowly explained to Luffy and the others how Arlong came to the East Blue and his tyrannical rule over the Conomi Islands.

"He sounds like a real scumbag, doesn't he? Reiner, Nami, do you know him?"

Luffy asked, puzzled. Even Nami turned to look at Reiner.

She was curious what Reiner wanted with Arlong. Could he have some sort of connection with Arlong?

"What are you thinking?"

Reiner noticed Nami's strange look and explained, "Have you forgotten my ability? I'm just a little greedy for his body."

"So that's it."

Luffy relaxed, grinning. "Then let's go beat up Arlong and help Reiner collect new monsters!"

"They're Undead, not monsters!"

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Nami became anxious. "Do you guys know Arlong's strength? He's..."

Nami suddenly stopped there. Arlong's power was deeply ingrained in her mind.

Over the years, many Marines who tried to capture him were sunk to the bottom of the sea, ship and all, without even getting a glimpse of him.

Hearing that they wanted to cause trouble for Arlong, she was instantly alarmed.

But...

Nami looked up at them.

Luffy, Zoro, Reiner... and his Undead. They had dealt with Kuro, who had a bounty of 16 million Beli, with such ease.

"If it's them, maybe..." Nami couldn't help but think.

Perhaps they really could defeat Arlong?

If that were the case, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village could be freed from Arlong's oppressive rule.

No, that wouldn't work.

If they failed, given Arlong's cruel nature, he would definitely kill them all.

Nami was torn. She had once made a deal with Arlong that if she could gather 100 million Beli, she could buy Cocoyasi Village from him.

But that was 100 million Beli! So many years had passed, and it still seemed impossible.

"Hey, Nami, what's wrong with you?"

"You've been acting strangely since just now."

The others were a bit puzzled. No one knew about the animosity between Nami and Arlong except Reiner.

"I know Arlong."

Nami decided to tell them the truth.

Then, through Nami's gritted teeth, the others learned about her past.

It turned out that many years ago, after Arlong's crew arrived in the East Blue, they used their immense power to rule the Conomi Islands. Everyone had to pay protection money on time, and her hometown, Cocoyasi Village, was one of the islands in the Conomi Islands.

"So that's why you became a thief?"

Zoro probably guessed why she went out to sea after hearing about Nami and Arlong's agreement.

Luffy looked even angrier. "That scumbag! I've decided, our next stop is to go find that Arlong!"

"Wait a minute, didn't you hear me clearly? Arlong is..."

"You don't need to try and dissuade us, Nami."

Reiner interrupted Nami. "No matter what, we consider you our navigator."

"If our own crewmate is bullied and we don't go get revenge..."

"What kind of pirates would we be then?"

"Besides, with Arlong still out there, you wouldn't be able to truly join us with peace of mind anyway."

Reiner stood up and looked down at Nami.

"Luffy doesn't like him, I want to collect his template, and you were bullied by him."

"Any one of those reasons is enough for us to beat him up. That's how pirates do things."

Nami covered her mouth. She was used to living on her own.

She had never imagined that after Belle-mère's death, she would meet people she could rely on again. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"...Thank you all."

"Waaah... that's so touching."

Usopp cried tears of joy. "Someday, I'll also go out to sea and become a pirate like you!"

"What? You're coming too?"

"Huh?"

Usopp looked bewildered when he heard Luffy's words.

"I remember inviting you."

"Huh? Wait, was that serious? Not a joke?"

"Ah, it was serious."

Luffy grinned. "I like you a lot."

Usopp looked around at the others in a daze.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Reiner lit another cigarette and teased Usopp, "Hurry up and go pack your things. We're setting sail after dinner. If you miss the ship, there won't be another one."

"Wait a minute!"

Usopp quickly stood up and rushed outside.

Reiner glanced at Kaya and joked, "Sorry, we're taking your little boyfriend away. You don't blame us, do you?"

"No, no... not at all."

A blush appeared on Kaya's face, and she stammered, "I've always known Usopp would go out to sea someday."

Although Kaya said that, a hint of disappointment could still be seen in her eyes.

Soon, after the others finished eating, Kaya and Merry led them to the port.

Usopp had already arrived, and a sloop was docked beside him.

The bow was shaped like a white sheep's head, there was a huge mast on the deck, and a triangular sail at the stern, with a two-story cabin built on top of it.

"Although this ship is a bit old-fashioned, I designed it myself once upon a time..."

Merry gestured to the ship and introduced it to the others, "This is a fast sailing ship. I named it Going Merry."

While Merry was introducing the ship to Nami, the others had already eagerly boarded it.

"Hahaha, this is awesome!"

Luffy lay on the sheep's head, arms and legs spread wide, embracing it, and looked up with a laugh, "This will be my throne from now on!"