Luffy Arrives

Kizaru silently took a deep drag on his cigar, then slowly exhaled. Shrouded in smoke, he unknowingly put immense pressure on Nami and Genzo.

"Lord Kizaru, this child..." Seeing Kizaru fall silent, Genzo worried he was angry and hurriedly spoke up.

"Oh-ho-ho! There's no need to be afraid. I'm not a petty man." Kizaru interrupted him, soothing their nerves.

Hearing that, Genzo relaxed a little. After spending the past few days with Kizaru, he could tell that the man before him was a good person.

"You're afraid, aren't you? Afraid the Marines will hunt you down because of us?" Kizaru knew what was on their minds—or, more specifically, what was on Nami's mind.

In their eyes, pirates, Marines, and even the kingdom's army were all terrifying.

"My lord, I can tell that you're different from those pirates and kingdom officials. You're truly good people! I really long for the dream you told me about. A country like that would be paradise, a wonderful place beyond anything we could even imagine." Genzo spoke with complete sincerity. He genuinely yearned for the future Kizaru had described.

"If it were just me, I'd join you without hesitation, if you were willing to accept me. But I can't make that decision on behalf of the other villagers. The path to a better life is full of thorns, and not everyone can bear the hardships along the way."

Genzo's heartfelt words gave Kizaru a better impression of the little village's constable. He was a man who thought for himself and considered others.

Kizaru applauded Genzo's speech.

"Well said. You're qualified to join us," Kizaru remarked.

Genzo didn't look pleased at Kizaru's praise. He was still waiting for an answer from him—an answer about the village.

"I understand how you feel. Finding a new base would