Cocoyasi Village.
Nami rowed a small boat toward shore, carrying a suitcase in one hand.
She had exchanged all the treasure stolen from Gawain's ship for cash. No more, no less—exactly 120 million berries.
It was all here.
It was her every hope of buying back the village.
"As long as I have this, I'll definitely be able to buy back the village!"
"I..."
Gawain and the others flashed through Nami's mind. Her steps paused slightly, but in the next instant, she moved forward again.
She passed through the empty village.
There was still no one around, just as before. Even the street vendors were gone. It was the same place she remembered.
The difference was that the gazes that should have been everywhere, all fixed upon her, had vanished completely this time.
"Everyone..."
Of course, Nami understood that it was not only the gazes that had disappeared, but the people themselves. An inexplicable unease rose in her heart.
Nami instinctively quickened her pace and ran toward the Orange Grove at the edge of the village.
Nojiko had already been waiting there.
The moment she saw Nami return, Nojiko's expression turned cold.
"What did you come back for?!"
Nami froze for a moment, then lifted the suitcase with a smile.
"Nojiko, I've gathered enough money to buy back the village!"
Nojiko pressed her lips tightly together.
"You can't buy it back!"
"How could that be? I've stayed by Arlong's side all these years, and he's never broken a promise when it came to money!"
Nami was full of confidence, hope written all over her face. Yet the more hopeful she looked, the more Nojiko felt a stabbing pain in her heart.
"That's exactly it... His agreement with you was to bring this money before him, wasn't it? But what if