Hope (Please Follow! Tuesday PK Recommendation Slot!)

Several days later.

The injured members of the Gawain Pirates had mostly recovered.

With the Catman Brothers and Jango handling Raven Port, the nearby sea routes gradually stabilized as well.

According to Gaza, over the past month, both merchant ships from around the world and traders from the East Blue itself had increased significantly.

Raven Port was raking in money, and Molly was smiling like a little fox.

Even the support provided to the Gawain Pirates had been raised by several levels.

Everyone's standard of living visibly improved. Even Catman Sam, who had once been painfully thin, had noticeably filled out.

"I wonder if it'll affect their fighting."

Gawain looked at the gradually plumping Sam and the even fatter Buchi, then sighed helplessly. The two merely scratched their heads with somewhat sheepish looks.

Seeing that, Gawain could not be bothered to lecture them. He ordered, "We've rested long enough. It's time to move. Go find Kuro and Akin."

"Yes!"

The two answered, then hurriedly pushed open Gawain's door and left.

A few minutes later.

Two equally gaunt figures, one tall and one short, walked side by side into the main hall of Para Island. Both were covered in sweat, clearly having been in the middle of training.

Kuro had not even removed the Claw Blades from his hands. His face carried the irritation of someone whose training had been interrupted. "Gawain, what's so urgent?!"

Considering the experience Kuro contributed every day, Gawain did not hold it against him and went straight to the point. "It's time for us to retrieve the treasure that was stolen from us."

"With the structure of our current ships, we can't sail normally through the Grand Line's harsh weather. And if we want to build a Pirate Ship sturdy enough, money is indispensable."

Kuro nodded and asked, "Where's the target?"

Gawain took out a map of the East Blue from the table beside him. After searching for a while, he pointed at an island on it. "Here!"

After studying it closely, Akin frowned. "If I remember correctly, this place and dozens of nearby villages are all Fishman Arlong's territory."

"There are rumors in the East Blue that he's a fishman who came from the Grand Line. He probably won't be easy to deal with."

"Heh."

Kuro sneered. "In the East Blue, we have no equal!"

Gawain glanced at Kuro.

The image of a certain old man in his seventies, absurdly powerful, suddenly surfaced in his mind.

He muttered instinctively, I remember that after Garp handed Luffy and the others over to Dadan in the original story, he never returned to the East Blue, right?!

I hope I'm remembering correctly.

"What?"

Kuro asked in confusion.

Gawain shook his head. "Nothing. Barring any surprises, there really isn't a pirate crew in the East Blue that can stand against us."

"Krieg can't. Arlong can't either."

"And this time, our target isn't just the treasure. Cocoyasi Village also has a navigator who would be considered first-rate even on a global scale."

"Who?"

Kuro's eyes lit up.

The crew's navigator had recovered from his injuries, but Kuro knew his capabilities. He could barely manage sailing in the East Blue.

Taking him to the Grand Line would be outright suicide.

Besides.

What happened last time had already made him realize just how important an excellent navigator was to a pirate crew.

Gawain smiled faintly. "You'll know when we find her."

"Heh, always acting mysterious."

Kuro's mouth twitched, and he immediately stopped talking.

Naturally, Akin had no objections to Gawain's decision.

After all, his position was combat captain. Decisions like these were usually made by the captain, First Mate, and navigator.

The three settled on the plan.

They set out the next day.

At the harbor, a small Pirate Ship carrying enough supplies to last more than half a month slowly sailed toward the distant sea.

This time, Gawain brought only a little over twenty crew members. Their sole task was to keep the ship sailing normally.

If a real fight broke out, having too many people would be more of a burden than a help to the current Gawain, Kuro, and Akin. It was better to keep things as streamlined as possible.

The Pirate Ship sailed toward Cocoyasi Village, gradually vanishing beyond the horizon.

East Blue.

Cocoyasi Village.

At the edge of the village.

Nami stood beneath an orange tree, looking at the treasure buried in a pit. She counted the value of the items bit by bit on her fingers.

The more she spoke, the brighter her eyes became, and a radiant smile appeared on her face.

"Even calculated at the lowest East Blue rates, this treasure is worth more than 100 Million Berries. It's enough to buy back the village."

She had originally still been far from her goal, but what she gained from working with Carina this time was far beyond anything she had imagined.

Though they had gone through countless dangers, and Nami had nearly died beneath pirate blades several times.

Looking at the treasure before her, Nami felt that everything she had given was worth it.

"As for the pirates who lost their treasure, they can only count themselves unlucky. Most of this stuff was stolen from various islands anyway."

"Then the villagers won't have to keep working for Arlong. They won't have to pay that 100,000 protection fee every month. Akin won't have to risk his life protecting everyone, and Nojiko..."

As she spoke.

Tears slid down Nami's cheeks, falling to the ground and being absorbed by the soil.

A few minutes later.

Nami wiped away her tears and carefully buried the treasure. She even found leaves to spread over the ground as camouflage before cautiously turning to leave.

She never noticed the fishman occasionally poking his head out of the water in the distance, nor the trace of mockery in his eyes.

Bang!

Nami violently shoved open the door to the top-floor room of Arlong Park.

Arlong was inside discussing recent matters with Rat when he saw a familiar face.

Rat glanced at Nami, then turned to Arlong. "Then that settles the recent matters. I won't disturb you any longer."

"Mm."

Arlong nodded. Ignoring Nami, who had barged through the door, he said to Hachi at his side, "Hachi, see our friend out."

"Okay."

Hachi, the octopus fishman, wore a foolish grin. After waving to Rat, he led him away.

Only then did Arlong turn his attention to Nami. A mocking smile curled at his lips, revealing his sharp shark-like teeth. "Isn't this our navigator? You look pretty pleased with yourself. Have you gathered enough money to buy back the village?"

"Of course!"

Nami looked at Arlong with blazing eyes. "I want to buy Cocoyasi Village back from you!"

"As long as you have the money, everything can be discussed."

A playful glint flashed in Arlong's eyes. He then followed Nami to the edge of Cocoyasi Village.

He watched with his own eyes as Nami dug up the treasure she had hidden.

"It's all here!"

"Even at the lowest East Blue prices, these treasures are worth more than 100 Million Berries!"

As she spoke.

Nami slowly opened her treasure chest in front of everyone.

Arlong gave it a glance, but his expression turned cold. "Are you playing me?!"