Nami's request

My name is Nami, also known as the Cat Burglar, and today was not my lucky day. I had only meant to grab a few valuables from this pirate ship, but I never expected it to set sail.

If I tried to escape at sea in broad daylight, they would definitely catch me.

Luckily, though, they had gotten into a fight with someone, giving me the perfect chance to slip away in the chaos.

Unfortunately, the fight ended quickly, and her plan was doomed to fail.

"Blue."

Satoru Gojo activated Blue, appearing behind Nami in an instant.

"Hi! What are you doing?"

"Who's there?!"

The voice suddenly came from behind her, startling Nami into whirling around.

Cold sweat broke out on Nami as she looked at the white-haired man wearing a black blindfold before her.

She swore she had checked that there was no one in this room before entering it.

After all, she had not earned the title of Cat Burglar for nothing. She could not possibly have made a mistake like that.

And the only door into the room was the one behind her.

The man before her definitely had not come through that door.

However he had gotten in, this man was anything but ordinary.

Am I going to die here today? I'm sorry, everyone in Cocoyasi Village.

"Are you stealing?" Satoru Gojo asked again.

"What are you doing here, then?" Nami mustered her courage and asked in return.

"I'm here for the same reason as you. I'm interested in this ship's treasure too!"

"Since we're in the same line of work, why don't we team up and split whatever treasure we get?"

Since he's here to steal too, I'll pretend to work with him, then shake him off once we're off the ship. He can split it with thin air!

You want this Cat Burglar's treasure? Not a chance!

Nami thought Satoru Gojo was there to steal as well.

"That's a very good suggestion, but..." Satoru Gojo paused before saying, "I refuse!"

"Why? If we work together, it'll be easier to get out of here!"

"Just now, the owner of this treasure gave all of it to me. Why would I steal my own treasure?"

Satoru Gojo tilted his head.

"Gave it to you? How is that possible? Unless..." A terrifying guess suddenly flashed through Nami's mind.

Did he defeat all the pirates on this ship? If so, I don't stand a chance against him!

"Sorry, boss! I didn't know the treasure had changed hands. Here, boss, take it!"

Nami knew better than to resist and handed over the treasure.

Hmph!

Knowing when to bend and when to stand firm is my way of stealing.

Satoru Gojo took it and casually tossed it aside, as though he did not care about it at all.

Ding!

Encountered Nami, an important character from the original story. Quest triggered! As a pirate, how could you remain unknown? Follow Nami and kill Arlong. Quest reward: random reward!

I didn't expect the system to give out quests too. What will the reward be?

I'll give it a try, then. It's only killing Arlong, anyway.

He's just a minor character the original protagonist has to defeat.

"You stole my things. What should I do with you?"

As he spoke, he put on a thoughtful look.

"I didn't know these were yours! If I'd known, I never would've taken them! Since I didn't know, please be generous and let me off!"

Pah! Your things? You just stole them yourself. Shameless!

Although that was what she thought, Nami let none of it show.

"Do you know the Arlong Pirates?"

"Yes, yes. Why?"

"Oh? If you take me to them, I'll let you go. How about it?"

"What do you want with them?"

Is he planning to join the Arlong Pirates?

He's so handsome, yet he wants to sink to their level!

"I hear they throw their weight around in the East Blue. I want to see for myself whether they're really that strong."

So he's looking for trouble with them. Heh, it'd be best if they killed each other!

But ordinary people can't overcome a Fish-Man's strength. It's none of my business, anyway! Better if he dies!

"All right! I'll take you there, and you'll let me go afterward!"

"Hahaha! It's a deal!"

A few days later, with Nami guiding them, they arrived at Cocoyasi Village.

"Sir, are we really going to pick a fight with the Arlong Pirates? They're not easy to deal with!"

The bald captain was deeply uneasy—no, Koratt. He was no longer the captain now.

"Relax. The Arlong Pirates are nothing to me!"

Satoru Gojo grinned.

"No! Please, let them go! They're only children!"

Pleas came from the distance.

Something's happened in the village!

Forgetting that she was still a hostage, Nami rushed straight into the village without a word.

"Hey, why are you running? Keep running and I'll shoot!"

Koratt drew his gun and shouted at Nami.

"Stop."

Satoru Gojo pushed Koratt's gun down.

"Follow her."

Two boys of eight or nine stood hiding behind Nojiko, their faces covered in tears as they clung to her legs.

Across from them, a burly Fish-Man with a saw-shaped nose held a large blade against Nojiko's neck, his face twisted viciously.

"Do you want to die with them?"

Arlong grinned cruelly. "Lowly humans dared to throw stones at me! They'll pay for it!"

"They're young and don't know any better. Please spare them this once!"

Nojiko pleaded again.

"If you won't move, you can die with them!"

Arlong raised his blade, about to bring it down.

"Wait, Arlong! Let them go, and I'll give you twenty million Beli!"

Nami arrived just in time and called out to stop Arlong.

Although she did not have that much money right now, there was enough on Satoru Gojo's ship.

After spending these past few days with him, she had realized that Sator Gojo was not the bad person she had imagined.

If she asked to borrow it, he would probably lend it to her.

It had never occurred to her that Satoru Gojo could defeat the Arlong Pirates.

Because as far as she knew, humans could never defeat Fish-Men.

"Nami, you brought money back! But even if you beg, it's no use. I'll kill them and take the money too!"

Lowly humans had thrown stones at him. It was a provocation, and unforgivable!

A bloodthirsty grin spread across Arlong's face as he swung his blade down.

"No!"

Nami cried out through her tears and started to rush forward.

But her speed could never match the speed of the falling blade.

Clang!

The sound of the blade striking rang out, but the bloody scene they had imagined did not happen.

A white-haired man had stopped the blade from falling.

Satoru Gojo had activated Blue, appearing before Nojiko in an instant and blocking Arlong's blade with his hand.

"What?!"

Arlong, his Arlong Pirates, and everyone else present stared at this sudden turn of events.

"Who are you? Are you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?"

Seeing that his blade would not cut through, Arlong pulled it back and questioned him.

"My name is Satoru Gojo. You just made my friend cry!"

"Friend?" Nami murmured, wiping away her tears.

"Yes, a friend. I consider you my friend. Don't you consider me yours? That really hurts!"

Satoru Gojo deliberately spoke in a dejected tone.

"I've never met a friend who threatens their friends!"

Nami smiled through her tears.

"Do you need me to beat them up for you?"

"Can I ask you to do that?"

"Of course!"

"Please beat them up for me!" Nami said.

"As you wish!"