A week later.
The fame of the Goa Empire had spread throughout the East Blue.
Even remote little kingdoms and some non-Affiliated Nations had heard that a powerful empire had risen in the East Blue.
At the Goa Empire's Gray Royal Port.
Sailing ships and merchant vessels from all over came and went without end, making the imperial capital of Goa ever more prosperous.
The Goa Empire had now earned several new glowing reputations.
[Most Beautiful Empire in the East Blue], [Richest Empire in the East Blue], [Strongest Empire in the East Blue]...
This drew countless merchants and powers to the Goa Imperial Capital, seeking opportunities to grow their businesses and make a fortune.
At that moment, at the port.
A rather old three-masted sailing ship sailed into Gray Port.
"How prosperous!"
Nojiko watched the splendid merchant ships and the densely packed crowds on shore, her eyes shining.
Compared with the Goa Imperial Capital, her hometown of Cocoyasi Village really was a shabby little village.
"The people here must be loaded~"
Nami's eyes turned into Belly symbols. Her fingers were itching, and she couldn't help letting her inner Cat Burglar out.
"Nami, don't steal anything! We've been summoned by His Majesty Wang Shi. We can't disgrace him."
Nojiko quickly rapped Nami on the head, reminding her money-loving little sister to behave.
The Arlong Pirates had been defeated, and Cocoyasi Village was no longer in danger.
Nami didn't need to steal money to buy back the village anymore.
"I know, you violent Nojiko!!"
Nami rubbed her head in protest, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.
That really hurt, you know.
"Come on, help carry the oranges!"
Genzo, who had risen from village policeman to village chief, called out to Nami and Nojiko.
Behind him stood many other villagers from Cocoyasi Village.
They had come to escort Nami and Nojiko to the capital, and to transport the village's oranges there to sell.
In the bustling capital, their fine oranges would surely fetch a good price.
Their oranges had even become one of the fruits officially purchased by the Goa Royal Family.
The people of Cocoyasi Village were overjoyed and proud.
"Haha, if Nami and Nojiko can become ladies-in-waiting to Empress Sally, or even concubines to His Majesty Wang Shi, our village will finally be famous!"
A burly middle-aged woman carried a large basket of oranges off the ship and couldn't resist teasing the sisters.
The oranges from Cocoyasi Village had become tribute fruit, and Nami and Nojiko were the ones most responsible.
"Aunt Dahua, it's 'make a name for ourselves,' not 'become famous for the wrong reasons'~"
Another man carrying oranges laughed as he corrected her.
All the villagers from Cocoyasi Village burst into laughter.
Nojiko and Nami blushed.
Over the past few days, their bickering had let slip the story of Wang Shi holding them as he shot down the Fish-Men.
Nami claimed that Wang Shi had held her while firing two shots, so he must value her more than Nojiko.
Nojiko had only been held by Wang Shi while he fired one shot.
Nojiko had never imagined that Nami would find such an unusual way to one-up her big sister.
It left Nojiko grinding her teeth in frustration.
When the other villagers heard them bickering, the story set all of Cocoyasi Village abuzz.
The nicknames "Nami Two-Gun" and "Nojiko One-Gun" began spreading like wildfire through the village.
The villagers also began taking seriously the fact that Nami and Nojiko had caught His Majesty Wang Shi's attention.
Genzo personally took over the Orange Grove that Nami and Nojiko couldn't bear to leave, allowing them to head to the Goa Imperial Capital without worry and find a promising future.
Genzo had been in love with Bell-mère for years and had always looked after Nami and Nojiko as if they were his own daughters.
Of course he wanted them to make something of themselves.
Besides, the sight of Wang Shi making his entrance atop a cannonball was still etched in Genzo's mind.
That emperor was handsome, powerful, and influential!
While the sailing ship from Cocoyasi Village was busy unloading oranges, a vessel with a figurehead shaped like a white sheep sailed into Gray Royal Port.
It was none other than the Going Merry, built by Merry of Syrup Village.
The future Straw Hat Pirates' first pirate ship.
Merry, now Kaya's butler, was escorting Miss Kaya to the palace at the summons of His Majesty Wang Shi, where she would become one of Empress Sally's ladies-in-waiting.
After Kuro was arrested, Kaya's health had improved day by day.
Merry and Kaya quickly realized that Kuro must have tampered with Kaya's food and medicine.
That had been why her illness never improved.
This made Kaya a little less afraid of Emperor Wang Shi and filled her with gratitude.
If Wang Shi hadn't appeared, Kaya would probably have met the same end as her parents and died without ever learning the truth.
"It's so lively~"
Kaya looked at the bustling port and took a deep breath. She also noticed an orange-haired girl and a blue-haired girl on the nearby ship, unloading oranges.
Their smiles were so warm and cheerful...
Kaya felt a pang as she watched them, and couldn't help envying them.
She had no family left, and no friends she could confide in.
Usopp, who had been scared off by the Goa army, hadn't come to visit her for days.
Merry told her that after Usopp destroyed the pirate flag he had drawn, he had gone into hiding with Onion and the other children.
When Kaya heard the news, she could only smile helplessly.
Usopp, that "brave warrior of the sea," was still too timid.
His Majesty Wang Shi and the others hadn't even noticed that Usopp and the other children were just pretending to be pirates.
Compared with Wang Shi, Usopp, who was so good at boasting and telling stories, really was small and ordinary.
"Miss Kaya, why not sell the family estate in Syrup Village? I could come to the capital and look after you."
Merry looked at his increasingly healthy young mistress, worry and helplessness in his eyes.
Kaya insisted on keeping the family estate her parents had left her, entrusting its management to Merry.
She wanted to venture into the palace on her own.
"Please don't bring that up again, Merry. Make sure to contact me more often by Den Den Mushi."
"I believe His Majesty Wang Shi is a good person. I'm sure I'll get leave to visit Syrup Village."
Kaya showed the resolve of an elegant young lady from a wealthy family. She would protect her parents' estate, and she believed in her own abilities.
The three girls from the two ships headed for the Goa Imperial City, protected by their fellow villagers and escorts.
As they drew closer to the capital, Kaya realized that the orange-haired girl and the blue-haired girl were headed in the same direction as her.
Nami and Nojiko were also observing the elegant blonde young lady.
The three exchanged smiles in greeting, but none of them spoke up to introduce herself.
When they were checked and their identities confirmed, then entered the palace together, all three looked surprised.
The villagers from Cocoyasi Village and Merry watched the three girls enter the palace from the capital's gates before going their separate ways.
They believed the Goa Imperial Capital was the safest place in the East Blue, and that nothing would happen to them.
After all, the name of the Goa Emperor, King of Exile, had already become deeply etched in the minds of the people of the East Blue.
"Hello, I'm Kaya, from Syrup Village in Moonlight Province."
Seeing how hesitant Nami and Nojiko were, the elegant Kaya smiled and took the initiative to speak.