Going Merry, Usopp

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

With chopsticks stuck up his nostrils and a dustpan in his hands, Usopp performed a bizarre dance that made Kaya giggle.

"This 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 could not help glancing at Reiner.

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

"That trick?"

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

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

"You mean that, right?"

"Yeah, it wouldn't do if the ship lacked that position."

Zoro and Nami nodded, stroking their chins.

"You think so too, right?"

Hearing this, Luffy leaned over as well. He grinned at them. "Then it's decided—we're going to find a musician!"

"A cook! A cook!"

"If you're not going to use your brain, why not donate it?"

"Speaking of cooks..."

Reiner paused, then looked up. "Let's go to the Baratie Sea Restaurant."

"But it's already close to the Grand Line. Before that, I'm thinking of making a trip to the Conomi Islands to find Arlong."

"The Conomi Islands?"

"Where's that?"

"Arlong?!"

Unlike the others' confusion, Nami cried out in alarm.

She had never expected to hear that name from Reiner.

The name "Arlong" was practically a nightmare to her. Every mention of it stirred up the fear and hatred buried in her heart.

She would never forget the sight of Arlong personally killing Belle-mère to protect her and Nojiko.

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

Seeing that Nami's expression had turned ugly, Luffy could not help asking.

Nami kept silent with a dark expression, and the lively atmosphere suddenly fell 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 had come to the East Blue and brutally ruled over the Conomi Islands.

"Sounds like he's a real bastard. Reiner, Nami, do you know him?"

Luffy asked in confusion. Even Nami turned to look at Reiner.

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

"What are you thinking?"

Noticing Nami's strange look, Reiner explained, "Did you forget my ability? I just want his body."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Luffy relaxed and flashed a toothy grin. "Then let's beat Arlong up first and help Reiner collect a new monster!"

"It's an undead, not a monster!"

"Hey, wait!"

Nami grew anxious. "Do you even know how strong Arlong is? He's—"

She suddenly stopped. Arlong's strength had been deeply etched into her mind.

Over the years, countless Marines who tried to capture him had been sunk to the bottom of the sea along with their ships before they even saw his face.

She was immediately shocked upon hearing that they intended to pick a fight with Arlong.

But...

Nami looked up at them.

Luffy, Zoro, Reiner... and Reiner's undead had defeated Kuro, who had a bounty of sixteen million Berries, with such ease.

If it's these guys, then maybe... Nami could not help thinking.

Perhaps they really could defeat Arlong?

If so, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village could be freed from Arlong's hopeless rule.

No, that wouldn't do.

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

Nami's heart was torn. She had once made a deal with Arlong: if she saved up one hundred million Berries, she could buy Cocoyasi Village back from him.

But that was one hundred million Berries! Even after all these years, it remained painfully out of reach.

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

"You've been acting strange this whole time."

The others were confused. Other than Reiner, none of them knew about the grudge between Nami and Arlong.

"I know Arlong."

Nami finally decided to tell them the truth.

Then, through Nami's clenched teeth, they learned about her past.

Many years ago, after Arlong's crew arrived in the East Blue, they used their overwhelming strength 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?"

After hearing about Nami's agreement with Arlong, Zoro roughly guessed why she had gone to sea.

Luffy was even more furious. "That bastard! I've decided—our next stop is to find that Arlong!"

"Wait, don't you understand yet? Arlong is—"

"Don't try to talk us out of it, Nami."

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

"If one of our own gets bullied and we don't go get even..."

"Can we still call ourselves pirates?"

"And as long as Arlong is around, you won't be able to leave with us in peace, right?"

Reiner stood and looked down at Nami.

"Luffy doesn't like the guy, I want to collect his template, and he bullied you."

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

Nami covered her mouth. She had grown used to relying only on herself.

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

"...Thank you."

"Waaah... This is so moving."

Usopp wept openly. "Someday, I'm going to sail out too and become a pirate like you!"

"What are you talking about? You're coming too."

"Huh?"

Hearing Luffy's words, Usopp looked completely dumbfounded.

"I remember inviting you already."

"Huh? Wait, were you serious? You weren't joking?"

"Yeah, I was serious."

Luffy flashed a toothy grin. "I like you."

Usopp looked blankly around at everyone.

"What are you standing around for?"

Reiner lit another cigarette and teased Usopp.

"Why aren't you hurrying back to pack? Once we finish eating, we're setting sail. If you miss the ship, there won't be another one."

"W-Wait a second!"

Usopp hurriedly got up and rushed outside.

Reiner glanced at Kaya and teased, "Sorry for stealing your boyfriend. You don't blame us, do you?"

"N-No... it's not like that."

A blush spread across Kaya's face as she stammered, "I always knew Usopp would go to sea someday."

Though Kaya said that, a trace of disappointment could still be seen in her eyes.

Soon, they finished eating and headed to the harbor under Kaya and Merry's lead.

Usopp had already arrived, and beside him was a single-masted sailboat.

Its bow was shaped like a white sheep's head. A huge mast rose from the deck, a triangular sail stood at the stern, and it had two levels of cabins.

"This ship may look a little old-fashioned, but I designed it myself."

Merry gestured to the ship as he introduced it to them. "It's a fast sailing ship. I named it the Going Merry."

While Merry and Nami were talking about the ship, the others had already climbed aboard impatiently.

"Ha ha ha, this is awesome!"

Luffy lay sprawled over the sheep's head, wrapping all four limbs around it. He looked up and laughed. "This is going to be my throne from now on!"