Cocoyasi Village.
The Thunder God ship quietly docked on the coast.
Sanders lowered the sails and took down the pirate flag. Carrying a large chest, he jumped ashore, with Robin and Issho following closely behind.
"Captain, what's inside the chest?"
Robin glanced at the small box Sanders had handed her and pointed at the large chest he was carrying.
"There's Berries inside—about 100 million!"
Sanders patted the large chest on his shoulder, his smile carrying a hint of mystery.
"As for what's inside the box you're holding, you'll find out soon enough."
"One hundred million Berries?!"
"Why are you carrying so much money?" Robin asked, puzzled.
She didn't doubt for a second that the chest held 100 million Berries. The ship's storage was packed with treasures, and Berries was probably the least valuable of all of it.
Compared to the overall wealth in the storage room, 100 million Berries was just a drop in the ocean.
"Our future navigator will definitely need this 100 million Berries," Sanders said with a smile.
"But once she gets it, the outcome might not be so pretty."
"Alright," Robin smiled back, not pressing him further.
After all, they would find out soon enough what Sanders was planning.
Meanwhile, Issho's pale eyes gazed towards a certain part of Cocoyasi Village, his brow furrowing slightly.
The three of them walked into the village.
It seemed unusually quiet. They walked for a while without encountering anyone.
Suddenly, a man wearing a police uniform, sporting a mustache and covered in scars, stepped out from a corner. A cigarette hung from his mouth.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The man blocked Sanders and his crew, his face serious.
Sanders took one look at him, and the man's appearance immediately matched a figure from his memory.
It was Genzo, the chief of Cocoyasi Village's security.
A good man.
"We're pirates, here to find a girl named Nami," Sanders said with a warm smile.
Robin shot Sanders a surprised look.
Was it really wise to reveal they were pirates in front of a civilian?
"Pirates?!"
Genzo's face changed.
Upon hearing the word "pirates," Genzo's first thought was that pirates whom Nami had stolen from had come looking for her.
By this time, Nami had already started going out to sea to steal treasure from pirates.
And Genzo knew full well why Nami was doing this.
"There's no one by that name here. You've got the wrong place," Genzo said, trying to remain calm, hoping to send Sanders and his group away quickly.
"I think you've misunderstood. We've heard that Nami has incredible navigational talent, so we're hoping she'll become our navigator," Sanders explained.
Upon hearing they weren't here for revenge, Genzo breathed a sigh of relief.
Nami had always had a gift for navigation, something even Arlong's crew had taken advantage of by making her their cartographer.
"She…"
Just as Genzo was about to say something, he suddenly heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching in the distance.
His face changed, and he quickly pulled the three of them into hiding.
A hideous, fierce-looking fish-man strutted down the street.
After the fish-man passed by and was out of sight, Genzo let out a long breath.
"This place is dangerous. A group of fish-men has taken over. Nami probably won't leave with you. You should go quickly. If the fish-men find you, it will be extremely dangerous," Genzo warned Sanders.
In truth, if it were up to him, Genzo would want nothing more than for Nami to leave with these people.
It wasn't just him.
All the villagers in Cocoyasi wanted Nami to escape from here.
That's why they pretended not to know that Nami was saving money to buy back the village.
They didn't want Nami to become a bargaining chip when she finally tried to break free from Arlong's crew.
But Genzo also knew that Nami would never abandon Cocoyasi Village and leave on her own.
Though the people in front of Genzo were pirates like Arlong's gang, both men were tall and imposing. However, Genzo didn't believe they could stand up to the fish-men. The fish-men were too powerful—so strong that even the Navy ships couldn't defeat them.
So, Genzo quickly tried to dissuade Sanders and his crew.
"We're not leaving. Can you take us to see Nami?" Sanders said with a smile.
"Oh dear, why won't you listen?" Genzo looked anxious.
"Those fish-men are extremely brutal. If they find you, you'll lose your lives." Seeing that Sanders refused to leave, Genzo was getting desperate.
"Alright, I'll take you to her sister first. After you meet Nami, you should leave quickly," he said, realizing Sanders was determined.
He led Sanders and the others through the village, avoiding places where the fish-men might appear, toward Nojiko's house.
Along the way, Issho asked, "Are those fish-men treating you very badly?"
"They're more than just bad. We have to pay them to stay alive. Ten thousand Berries for adults, five thousand Berries for children. Those who can't pay are killed on the spot," Genzo said, his tone despondent.
"Is that so? How cruel," Issho murmured softly.
"Hasn't the Navy come to help?" Robin asked curiously.
"They've come several times, but they're no match for those fish-men. The fish-men are too powerful, like monsters. I really think you all should leave before it's too late," Genzo urged once more.
But Sanders and his crew didn't seem to care, which left Genzo feeling helpless.
They soon arrived at a house. The backyard was planted with tangerine trees.
Genzo knocked on the door, and a young girl with short blue-purple hair and some tattoos opened the door, poking her head out.
"Genzo? Who are these people?"
The girl looked at Sanders and the others, puzzled.
"Let's go inside first. The fish-men might see," Genzo said, pushing the door open and walking in.
After closing the door, Genzo introduced Sanders and his crew.
"You've come to find Nami, and you want her to be your navigator?" Nojiko asked, looking at Sanders.
"That's right," Sanders replied with a smile.
"Nami won't leave here. You should go quickly. If the fish-men find you, you won't be able to escape," Nojiko said, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Can we at least meet her? Maybe she'll agree," Sanders said as he placed the large chest on the ground and sat on top of it.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Both Genzo and Nojiko's faces filled with alarm.
"Who is it?" Nojiko called out loudly.
"It's me, Nojiko," a clear female voice answered from outside.
Genzo and Nojiko simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
Genzo opened the door, and in walked a young girl with orange hair. She looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, her face carrying a maturity beyond her years.
As soon as she saw Sanders and the others, her expression changed.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Nami demanded.
"Is this the navigator the captain was looking for? She's just a kid," Robin said with a soft chuckle as she looked at Nami.
"We're pirates, and we want you to be our navigator," Sanders said.
"I won't leave here. Please go now," Nami said firmly, her small face full of determination.
"Aren't you even curious to hear our offer, Miss Navigator?" Sanders stood up from the chest, his tall figure exuding an intimidating presence.
Nami took two steps back, warily eyeing Sanders.
"No matter what the offer, I won't leave! This is my home," Nami said.
If she left, Arlong would slaughter everyone in Cocoyasi Village.
She would never allow that to happen!
She needed to save up 100 million Berries to buy the village's freedom from Arlong.
"Is that so?"
Sanders smirked, snapping his fingers lightly.
He opened the large chest, revealing stacks upon stacks of Berries.
"If you agree to be my navigator, you'll get a salary of 10 million Berries every year."
"Berries!!!"
At the sight of the money in the chest, Nami's eyes immediately turned into Berries signs.
Even Genzo and Nojiko were stunned by the sight of so much money.
How much was inside that massive chest?
"So this was why the captain brought so much Berries. How interesting," Robin said with amusement, looking at Nami, who was acting like a greedy treasure hunter.
"There's 100 million Berries here. If you agree to be my navigator, it's yours as a signing bonus. After that, you'll receive an annual salary of 10 million Berries."
"One hundred million Berries!!!"
Nami's eyes sparkled even brighter.
Hearing that she could get 100 million Berries just by becoming his navigator, plus 10 million Berries every year, Nami was filled with excitement.
"Are you… serious?" Nami's voice trembled as she spoke.
"Of course!"
Sanders nodded, pushing the large chest toward Nami.
"Did you hear that, Nojiko, Genzo?"
"There's 100 million Berries here! With this, I can finally buy back Cocoyasi Village!"
Nami said excitedly, her eyes brimming with tears as hope for the future filled her face.
As for working as a navigator for someone else, Nami didn't care. It was far better than being forced to be Arlong's cartographer—the one who killed Bell-mère.
But Nojiko and Genzo didn't share Nami's joy.
Instead, their faces grew somber, and a heavy atmosphere surrounded them.
Lost in her excitement, Nami didn't notice. She was too happy and filled with the hope that she could finally free her village from Arlong's cruel rule.
Robin observed Nojiko and Genzo, then glanced at Nami, seemingly deep in thought.
"I'm willing to be your navigator. So, this 100 million Berries is mine now, right?" Nami checked the Berries in the chest, carefully verifying its authenticity before looking at Sanders seriously.
"It's yours. You can do whatever you like with it—give it away, burn it, whatever you want," Sanders said with a smile.
"Alright, thank you! Give me some time, and I'll become your navigator," Nami said gratefully, then hurriedly dragged the large chest outside.
The small figure hauling the enormous chest wore a smile of pure joy and excitement.
Nojiko pressed her lips together, her face turning pale, while Genzo hung his head in silence.
They both knew Arlong wouldn't let Cocoyasi Village or Nami go.
Everyone knew it.
Everyone except Nami, who still clung to her hope.
As Nami left the courtyard, beaming with happiness, Genzo turned to Nojiko and said, "This is the end, Nojiko. It's time to settle things with those bastards."
Then he looked at Sanders.
"You don't know anything about this situation, but thank you for the Berries. If you can, please take Nami out to sea when the time comes. I'm asking you to take good care of her."
With that, Genzo bowed deeply to Sanders and his crew.
"I'm begging you!"
Genzo left, a firm resolve in his heart, as he began gathering the villagers.
"No matter what happens, don't go outside," he said.
"When you see Nami, take her and leave immediately."
Nojiko grabbed a knife from a room, said something to Sanders, and then dashed out.
"You're quite cruel, Captain!" Robin said, looking at Sanders.
From the conversation and the reactions of Nojiko and Genzo, she had pieced together the situation.
A group of fish-men had taken over the village and made some kind of deal with the young navigator girl—if she could pay 100 million Berries, they would let her buy back the village.
Having wandered and seen the filth of the world from a young age, Robin knew the truth: the girl's hope would soon be shattered. The fish-men wouldn't keep their word, and Nojiko and Genzo's reactions confirmed it.
That's why she called Sanders "cruel."
He was about to destroy the innocent dreams and fantasies of a teenage girl.
It was a bit harsh.
"This world has no place for naivety. You must face reality if you want to survive," Sanders said calmly.
He could easily descend like a god and kill Arlong's entire crew.
But if he did that, Nami would never grow.
Robin fell silent.
Yes.
The world didn't need innocence.
She had suffered because of her own naïveté as a child.
Compared to her, Nami was fortunate now.
Because Nami had them—Sanders and the crew—to support her.
No matter what happened, her cherished friends and village wouldn't be harmed.
"We're here, after all," Sanders added.
"Those people outside won't be harmed,"
Sanders said calmly as he listened to the crowd gathering outside.
"And besides, I've already prepared a gift of apology." He pointed to the small box in Robin's hands.
"Treasure?"
Robin recalled Nami's greedy expression when she saw the Berries earlier.
"Something more valuable than treasure. You can open it and see."
Curious, Robin opened the small box. Inside, there was a strange fruit, with patterns swirling around it resembling lightning.
"This is... a Devil Fruit?!"
Robin was surprised, not expecting that inside would be one of the sea's rarest treasures.
"What do you think of this gift?"
Sanders asked with a smile.
"Revenge is most satisfying when done by one's own hand. She'll take the power I'm giving her and get her revenge herself!"
"You're not suggesting Nami eat this Devil Fruit and go seek revenge on her own, are you?" Robin asked, shocked.
"There's no way she'd be strong enough to defeat those fish-men right after eating a Devil Fruit."
Devil Fruits do indeed grant immense power, but those naturally stronger fish-men wouldn't be so easily defeated, especially with her unfamiliarity with the power.
"But what if it's a Logia-type Devil Fruit?" Sanders replied nonchalantly.
A Logia-type Devil Fruit grants the ability to transform into elements. None of Arlong's crew knew how to use Haki or had Sea-Prism Stone, so as long as Nami avoided falling into the sea, she'd have a fighting chance.
Her first battle as a member of the Thunder God Pirates could be against those fish-men, which would be a good opportunity to test her skills.
"A Logia Fruit?!"
Robin's jaw dropped, staring in disbelief at the Devil Fruit in her hand.
Even Issho showed a trace of surprise on his face.
Robin had never imagined that this Devil Fruit was actually one of the rare and powerful Logia-types.
Every Logia-type Fruit was incredibly strong. Its element-based transformation made its user nearly invincible in a place as small as the East Blue.
No wonder the captain wanted Nami to exact her own revenge. With the power of a Logia Fruit, maybe she really could pull it off.
"Which Logia Fruit is it?" Robin asked curiously.
"You'll find out soon enough,"
Sanders replied with a mysterious smile.
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T/N:
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