A few days later...
On a misty morning, the pirate ship docked in Orange Town. The members of the Straw Hats disembarked to make purchases. At noon, Logan returned to the pier with some daily necessities and fruits.
Upon getting on the deck and placing the items down, Logan noticed that Luffy had returned, accompanied by two large sacks of meat.
"Haven't the other two returned yet?" Logan glanced around the deck, wondering why it was taking so long.
"I didn't see them; they should be back soon," Luffy said, reclining with his hands behind his head.
"Uh-oh!" Suddenly, Logan slapped his forehead. "How could I forget? Zoro is a directional challenged idiot! I shouldn't have let him go alone!"
But what about Nami? Could she be up to another theft?
It didn't seem likely. She stole money for the sake of the village, and now that he had agreed to lend her money, there was no reason for her to steal.
Changing his posture, Luffy turned his legs up and casually remarked, "Well, Zoro might be directionally challenged, but this small town isn't that big. The main streets intersect, leading straight to the pier. Zoro shouldn't get lost."
Logan responded seriously, "No, he really can get lost!"
Given that Luffy had only spent a few days with Zoro, he had yet to fully grasp the extent of Zoro's sense of direction. Logan, however, knew that Zoro's lack of direction had reached extraordinary levels.
People often say that where there are enough people walking, a path forms. Yet, in Zoro's case, no matter how clear a path may be, he manages to lose it!
Ignoring Luffy's nonchalant response, Logan urged, "Stop lazing around; let's find them."
Logan pulled Luffy up, and they disembarked from the ship. The two made their way to the middle of the intersection, where several stores were situated.
"Old man, did you see a green-haired swordsman and a girl with orange hair?" Logan inquired as they reached the door of a noodle shop.
The boss shook his head. "I didn't see them, but people from the Buggy Pirates were here just now. They seemed to be looking for someone called... Nami. Could it be the two people you mentioned?"
"What? The Buggy Pirates are looking for Nami?" Logan's face turned serious upon hearing this.
He felt a surge of anger. Why else would the Buggy Pirates be searching for Nami if not because she had stolen something from them? Even after borrowing money, she still resorted to thievery. Was it true that a legendary thief never changes?
"Let's go. We need to save Nami!" Determined, Logan pulled Luffy up and rushed outside.
"Hey, hey! Those are the Buggy Pirates..." The noodle shop owner tried to warn them of the danger, but Logan's swift pace carried them out of earshot in an instant.
As for the whereabouts of the Buggy Pirates, Logan, being a seasoned traveler, knew where to find them. After running for a distance, they encountered Zoro sprinting towards them.
"Hey, hey! I found you guys! That woman on our ship was captured by the Buggy Pirates. Let's save her!" Zoro informed them, grabbing Logan and Luffy, and heading back towards the noodle shop.
"Idiot! The Buggy Pirates are here!" Logan pointed in the direction behind Zoro, his face showing frustration.
To the east of town lay the home base of the Buggy Pirates.
"That damn thief!! She actually stole my nautical chart! That's crucial for me to return to the Grand Line in the future!" Buggy paced back and forth in the yard, infuriated.
"Don't just stand there! Hit him! Beat him to death!"
Pointing at the captured villagers, Buggy angrily reprimanded them. These villagers had been randomly apprehended along the way, and Buggy, uncertain if they knew about Nami's whereabouts, decided to beat them first.
Whipping down his weapon, Cabaji struck one of the villagers, prompting immediate wails. The villager, in pain, confessed, "Stop the beating! I saw her."
"Say! Where is she?" Buggy demanded, lifting the villager through the air with a swift palm.
The villager, grinning through the pain, uttered with horror, "I saw her running back to you just now."
Running back here? Buggy's sharp eyes scanned the yard and eventually locked onto a big box. The box's position seemed different from before.
Without hesitation, Buggy commanded, "Get the Buggy cannon! Blast that box!"
A girl's scream erupted from the box, and Nami crawled out from above. "It's actually a girl!"
"Ahaha? She's so pretty!"
"Tut tsk tsk~~~" The pirates in the yard showed red eyes, captivated by Nami's appearance.
Upon seeing Nami, Buggy's expression turned fierce. He coldly declared, "Dare to steal my things! Damn it!" His palm swiftly launched, and his dagger struck Nami's chest.
"What!" Nami never expected Buggy to act without a word, denying her any chance to escape.
To avoid the incoming attack, Nami jumped towards a nearby box. However, the thrown dagger unexpectedly changed direction mid-air, chasing after her.
"It's over!" In mid-air, Nami couldn't alter her course, and the fast-flying sword posed a grave threat. If Buggy showed no mercy, she would surely meet her demise.
Facing this moment of life and death, Nami felt an overwhelming sadness. Cocoyashi Village was on the brink of salvation, and yet, she might perish before witnessing its liberation. The villagers had no chance of regaining their freedom, and she wouldn't be able to fulfill her promise to redeem the village.
Her motive for stealing the nautical chart wasn't selfish. She had heard from Logan that they were heading to the Grand Line, and Nami understood the importance of having the charts for such a journey. In exchange for Logan's promise to lend her money for the village, Nami had resolved to steal the Grand Line's map.
Now, facing imminent death, she thought of Logan. By the time he saw her lifeless body, she knew she wouldn't be able explain to him, her true intentions. He would likely believe she had reverted to her thieving ways.
Logan...
If only she could see him one last time before her demise, to prevent being misunderstood. He was the first person to believe in her just by looking at her. She desperately wished to be understood by him.
Suddenly, in her desperate thoughts, she saw the illusion of Logan before her. "It's great; I can still see you before I die. I'm satisfied," she thought, even though it was merely an illusion.
"Although I am very angry now, I will deal with you later!" Surprisingly, the hallucination spoke. But the next moment, shock engulfed her.
No...
This wasn't an illusion!
The sadness on her face transformed into excitement and joy. "Ah! Logan, you came to save me!?" she exclaimed.
"Of course! If I don't come, you will die!" Logan embraced Nami in mid-air, then extended his right hand and caught the flying dagger.
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