Bring the Ship Alongside!

"Ah!?"

Nami froze, her small mouth falling open into an O shape. Kael's sudden invitation left her somewhat bewildered.

She had only been aboard this ship for a few minutes, yet her heart already felt as though it were riding a roller coaster, rising and falling, slowing and accelerating, thrilling her to no end.

Seeing Nami's expression, Kael naturally had no intention of letting the little cat burglar before him slip away. He pressed his advantage, continuing to shatter the barrier in her heart.

He suddenly stepped forward, his deep, star-like eyes fixed tightly on Nami, as though he could see straight through her.

"I imagine that, given the nature of those fish-men under Arlong, your days with the Arlong Pirates haven't been easy, have they?"

"Hmm... let me guess..."

"From how you immediately denied being a pirate just now, you must hate what you've become as well."

"But you have no choice but to work for the Arlong Pirates. That means Arlong and the others must have something on you—some weakness they can exploit!"

"For example... your family..."

"Am I right?"

Kael advanced step by step, drawing ever closer to Nami.

For a moment, their eyes met.

"Y-You... what are you talking about?"

Nami's gaze darted away as her body instinctively began to retreat.

But then—

An arm suddenly shot out, pinning Nami against the ship's railing.

Kael launched another assault!

"I can understand you. Arlong has controlled you for so long that, in your heart, he has become an insurmountable wall!"

"But in truth, the mountain cliff you see as unreachable may be nothing more than a little mound to us!"

"Don't bury everything in your heart. That will only make you lose the chance to change your life!"

"As long as you join us, I can guarantee that the Arlong Pirates will be completely wiped out within a month!"

"You can treat it as a deal! Trade your value for the lives of the Arlong Pirates!"

Kael held out his hand and smiled softly, extending another invitation to Nami.

"Well? Do you want to try trusting us just once?"

"After all, I'm the strongest pirate in the East Blue!"

"..."

Nami suddenly fell silent, but her gaze remained fixed on Kael's outstretched hand.

For some reason.

At that moment, as she looked at Kael's confident smile, she was astonished to discover that her long-sealed heart was beginning to stir.

Of course, she was not captivated by Kael's handsome face.

Her experiences over the years had long since cured her of being lovestruck.

Other than money, she no longer believed in anyone or anything.

But...

Today, she had been moved by someone she had known for less than ten minutes.

His words seemed to possess some kind of magic, coursing through Nami's body.

If anyone else had said such things to her, Nami might not have been affected at all.

But Kael was the only pirate in the East Blue in recent years with a bounty of 30 million Beli!

Arlong's bounty was only 20 million Beli.

Fancy words might be lies.

But a bounty paid in hard cash was undeniably real!

Perhaps... I can give it a try...

Nami was still conflicted inside.

After all, she had no idea why Kael was saying these things to her.

Yet from his eyes, she knew that Kael was not joking.

He was sincerely inviting her, and sincerely wanted to help her.

As though possessed,

her hand suddenly reached toward Kael.

The moment their large and small palms met, they clasped tightly together.

As if she had gathered every ounce of courage in her body, Nami said forcefully:

"My name is Nami. I'm a... navigator!"

"If... if you can defeat Arlong, I'm willing to swear my loyalty to you!"

Kael grinned. "Then the deal is made!"

"I'm Kael, captain of the Dusk Pirates!"

"And..."

"Welcome aboard, Nami!"

Genius Navigator, GET!

After excitedly releasing Nami's soft hand, Kael immediately turned his gaze to the confused Coby beside him and said softly:

"Coby, go inform Tashigi and Morgan. Tell them to rest for now—we have a new companion!"

"...Ah!"

The dazed Coby suddenly cried out, only then realizing Kael was speaking to him.

He hurriedly composed himself and straightened his back.

"Yes! Captain!"

After answering, he immediately jogged into the cabin.

An hour later.

Aboard the Tiga.

The members of the Dusk Pirates and their newly joined Nami sat in a circle on the deck, as though they were camping.

Since they had no cook, they could only eat the simple meals Coby had made.

Fortunately, while the kid's cooking could not be called delicious, it was perfectly edible—just ordinary home cooking.

After Nami agreed to join them, Kael did not hide it from her for long. He chose to tell her that he was a Marine spy.

Under the effects of Hyper Intuition, he was completely certain that Nami had sincerely joined Dusk and truly hoped that he could defeat Arlong.

So Kael was not worried at all that she would betray him.

It had to be said—

Although Hyper Intuition was only an A-rank skill, after being turned into data, it was practically a bug-level form of mind-reading!

Kael told Nami that the Marines had long suspected Colonel Nezumi of the East Blue's Marine 16th Branch, believing that he had been engaged in shady dealings with pirates.

It was just that Marine Headquarters had never found conclusive evidence.

And Nami's arrival happened to help Kael complete the final piece of the puzzle.

With her as a witness, they could now apply to headquarters for Nezumi's secret execution!

And while they were at it, they could wipe out the Arlong Pirates.

Everything above...

had, of course, been made up by Kael!

In any case, only he could contact the higher-ups, and the higher-ups could only contact him.

He could tell his crew it was an order from Marine Headquarters, then tell Fleet Admiral Sengoku that the people had come pleading for justice.

He had long practiced these lies, which could never be exposed, until he could spout them without hesitation.

As long as Nezumi really was executed in the end, and the Arlong Pirates really were wiped out...

he could tearfully accept the supplies from the 16th Branch and the Arlong Pirates' stolen funds!

This revelation, however, frightened Nami with Kael's true identity.

She never could have imagined that the East Blue's most mysterious and powerful pirate would actually be an undercover Marine!

Cocoyasi Village was finally saved!!!

After a round of conversation that men would never understand, Tashigi and Nami quickly became inseparable friends.

After learning of Nami's experiences, Tashigi burst into tears and repeatedly apologized to her.

"I'm sorry... Nami..."

"I... I never imagined something like this could still be happening in the East Blue..."

"This... this is the Marines' failure. I..."

Sobbing, Tashigi broke down completely.

Meanwhile, Nami, the victim herself, instead became a caring big sister, helplessly comforting Tashigi.

The bizarre sight made Kael click his tongue repeatedly.

"Tashigi is already level 38, yet she cries like a little girl."

"Seriously, tsk tsk tsk..."

Across the sea, a streak of white spray cut through the waves like a sharp sword.

Under Nami's guidance, the Tiga quickly changed course and headed toward the region where the Arlong Empire was located.

The Tiga's method of sailing and its speed once again left Nami stunned.

At the same time, it gave her even greater confidence in Kael and the others' strength.

By Nami's calculations, they would reach the Arlong Empire in less than a week!

Just thinking that, seven days from now, the dark clouds hanging over Cocoyasi Village would be swept away made her heart surge with excitement.

However, not long after the simple welcome gathering ended—

Tashigi and Morgan were preparing to enter the basement to continue leveling up, Little Tiga was showing Nami around the Tiga, and Kael was continuing his draws.

A massive fleet suddenly appeared in the waters not far from the Tiga.

A full fifty warships rode the waves, densely packed as they rushed toward the Tiga's location.

On the enormous lead warship, Krieg held a telescope as he gazed at the Tiga speeding across the sea. The corners of his mouth suddenly curled upward, revealing a crazed grin.

"Wahahaha... The 5 million Beli black-market intelligence was right after all!"

"That's the flag of the Dusk Pirates!"

"Men! Full speed ahead! Bring the ship alongside!!!"