Pirates: I Can Repel Anything

"This place is too dangerous. We'd better get out of here."

Zeff was just as shaken when he heard that.

He had never heard of ship rules so bizarre, let alone seen them in action.

"He's heading into the Grand Line next. I can't wait to see what kind of name he makes for himself."

Zeff thought highly of Chris. He was sure the young man would become someone famous.

Just then, a pleasant voice rang out.

"Captain Chris, I'd like to join you too."

A slender woman with pale golden hair walked up to Chris.

Her name was lovely: Mei Di.

She lived up to it. She was a real beauty.

The customers stared, dumbstruck.

A woman that beautiful was joining a pirate crew.

And she was doing it of her own free will.

They could only lament her choice and envy Chris.

That young man had beautiful women all around him.

It was downright unfair!

"Captain Chris, my name is Mei Di. I'm a professional bartender. If I come aboard, I can mix drinks for everyone."

Mei Di brushed back her hair and looked at Chris, a sweet smile blooming on her lovely face.

Burgess perked up at once and burst out laughing. "Now that's good. That's really good!"

"We've been missing a bartender. Now I won't have to worry about drinks! Wahahaha..."

Doc Q coughed. "A musician and a bartender. This crew is getting more complete by the day."

Lafitte twirled his cane and said cheerfully, "Your timing is excellent. We do need someone like you aboard."

"What do you think, Captain?"

Chris folded his arms and gave a short answer. "You're in."

At his words, Mei Di smiled warmly. "Thank you, Captain. I'll be counting on all of you."

When the customers saw that the beauty really had joined the pirate crew, their hearts sank.

How could a woman so beautiful end up in a place like that? What a waste.

Honey Queen beckoned Mei Di over with a smile. "Come sit with us. Let's have a good chat."

"Mei Di and Betty. Our names are only one letter apart. What a coincidence."

Belo Betty leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and took a drag of her cigarette. She looked a little displeased.

Baccarat gathered her dark red hair and smiled. "It is a coincidence, but it's fine. We won't mix you up."

"Sounds good. You're all so easy to talk to. I was hoping to chat with you ladies too."

Mei Di smiled and walked over to Honey Queen.

At a spot outside Baratie, the floating restaurant...

"Sanji, have you been doing well all these years?"

Reiju looked at her younger brother with concern in her eyes, her voice gentle.

Sanji took a drag of his cigarette and stared out at the sea. "Thanks to you, I'm still alive."

Reiju knew what lay behind her brother's cold tone. He still hated the Vinsmoke Family.

It was understandable. His older brothers had bullied him as a child, often beating him.

Judge had never liked him either. He had despised him.

Germa had left Sanji with nothing but painful memories. Of course he did not want to revisit them.

"Sanji, have you forgotten how I treated you back then?"

Reiju rubbed her forehead and smiled bitterly. "I can't say much about what the family did."

"But you know how I treated you. Please don't speak to me in that tone."

Sanji fell silent. Reiju's words brought back what she had told him when they parted.

"The sea is vast. One day, you'll meet kind people."

Memories of the past came flooding back. At last, Sanji exhaled a stream of smoke and turned to Reiju, looking apologetic.

"Seeing you brings back bad memories. Forgive me, Reiju. I'm sorry."

Reiju was delighted to hear him say it. A gentle smile spread across her beautiful face.

"I'm just glad you don't blame me. I really am."

Sanji took another drag of his cigarette and asked what had been troubling him. "Reiju, why are you here instead of in the North Blue?"

"Father..."

Deciding it was better not to bring him up, Reiju tucked back her pink hair and smiled faintly. "The young man in black who was leading the group earlier is Chris."

"Our family is working with him now. They sent me to oversee the arrangement."

"I'm glad I followed him to the East Blue. Otherwise, I'd never have known you were here."

Sanji frowned in disbelief. "Why would that cold-blooded man work with Chris? Is something going on?"

Reiju knew exactly whom Sanji meant.

She did not take offense. She blinked and replied gently, "Chris is incredibly strong, so the family decided to work with him. That's all."

"By the way, Sanji, come with me. We can head to the Grand Line together."

Reiju smiled. "Chris is easy to talk to. If you joined us, I'm sure he'd..."

Sanji cut her off before she could finish.

"You don't need to say any more. I'm not leaving."

He flicked his cigarette butt into the sea and looked at her seriously. "You saw that old man earlier, didn't you?"

"His name is Zeff. If it weren't for him, I'd have died at sea long ago."

"So no matter what happens, I'm staying here with him. I won't leave."

Reiju knitted her brows and wanted to try persuading him again. But seeing how firm he was, she gave up.

Aboard the Deli Donod-Saberu...

"Compared with our ship, this one looks downright shabby."

Carina looked over the main ship, shaking her head in distaste.

Perona floated in the air and giggled. "Of course it does. Ours belonged to the pirate crew that ruled the North Blue."

"How could a ship from a little place like the East Blue compare?"

Carina's eyes lit up. "Found it! There's the storeroom at last! Heehee!"

Perona perked up too. "Then let's go! Horo horo horo..."

The two hurried forward and stepped inside eagerly.

A woman stood ahead of them, packing up gold, silver, and jewels.

Hearing them enter, Nami looked toward the door and met their eyes.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

"Huh? Why is someone here?"

Perona hovered in the air, curiosity on her face. "Is she one of the crew who survived? Surely not."

Carina studied Nami with a sly gleam in her eyes. "Looks like we've met someone after my own heart."

"She's a little treasure lover like me. I could tell at a glance."

Nami grinned at Carina. "You're here to steal things too? What a coincidence."

"There's plenty of treasure here, more than I can carry. Help yourselves."

"I've got somewhere to be, though, so I won't keep you company. See you!"

She tied up her bundle and made to leave.

Carina waved a hand and giggled. "Sorry, but even if we do have something in common, we're not here to steal."

"Everything on this ship is spoils won by the Chris Pirates. You're stealing our treasure."

"But I like you, so I'll let you off."

Perona eyed the bulging bundle, delight spreading across her face. "With all this treasure, I can buy loads more delicious food! Horo horo horo..."

Nami's eyes darted as she thought fast. Then she laughed. "Oh, so these things belong to you."

"Well, in that case, I shouldn't take them. I ought to give them back."

"Say, how about we team up and go after a big haul together?"

Nami had taken an immediate liking to Carina.

They had similar personalities, and they both loved money.

More importantly, both were quick-witted and knew how to use a little cunning.

It would be a shame not to work together...

"No, thanks. I like things the way they are."

Carina shook her head and giggled. "I used to work alone too. It was fun."

"But I've found that following Chris gets me far more treasure than I ever managed before."

"Take the White Ghost Pirates, who ruled the North Blue. We took them down not long ago."

"Tsk, there was so much treasure it made a small mountain. I'd never seen a hoard like it."

Carina looked at Nami and offered sincerely, "Come with us. Whenever Chris defeats another pirate crew, we can sweep up the treasure together. Heehee!"

Perona floated beside her and hurried to add, "Me too! Me too!"

Nami rubbed her forehead with a rueful smile. Her enthusiasm had faded.

"Forget it. I'll keep working alone. I should go."

She turned to leave.

Carina frowned, then asked thoughtfully, "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"Tell us about it. Maybe we can help."

"It's rare to meet someone I get along with so well. We ought to help each other, shouldn't we?"