Orange Town, just after Buggy's defeat.
---
The dust began to settle in the square. Buggy's body parts lay scattered, his head still lodged in the barrel. Townspeople cautiously peeked out from doorways and windows, their fear slowly replaced by curiosity.
"Did they really beat Buggy?" someone whispered.
"I think they did," another replied.
For the first time in weeks, a flicker of hope sparked in the hearts of Orange Town's residents.
---
A Proposal
Luffy picked up his straw hat from the ground, dusted it off, and placed it firmly back on his head. He turned to Nami, who was still clutching her bag of stolen treasure.
"You're pretty good at getting yourself into trouble," Luffy said with a wide grin.
Nami narrowed her eyes. "And you're pretty good at handling it. But don't think that means I trust you."
Luffy tilted his head, unfazed. "That's okay. I don't need you to trust me right away. But if you're good at maps and navigating, we could use your help."
She raised an eyebrow. "Use my help? You mean as part of your crew?"
"Yep!" Luffy said cheerfully.
Nami scoffed. "I don't work for free. If I'm going to help you, I want something in return."
"What do you want?" Luffy asked, genuinely curious.
Nami hesitated, her grip tightening on the bag of treasure. "I want to gather enough money to buy my freedom," she said softly, a shadow crossing her face.
Luffy's grin softened. "Alright. Deal."
"Wait a minute," Zoro interjected, his arms crossed. "You're just going to trust her? What if she steals from us?"
"She won't," Luffy replied simply.
Nami rolled her eyes. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not joining you for real. This is just a temporary partnership."
"Fine with me," Luffy said. "Let's go find a ship!"
---
Buggy's Revenge
As the trio began to leave the square, a raspy voice stopped them in their tracks.
"You think this is over?" Buggy growled, his head still stuck in the barrel.
Luffy turned, his grin widening. "Still talking, huh?"
"I'll get my revenge," Buggy snarled, his disembodied hand twitching on the ground. "You'll regret ever crossing me, Straw Hat!"
Nami sighed. "He's like a cockroach. Can't you just finish him off?"
Luffy chuckled. "Nah, he's not worth it."
Buggy's furious screams echoed behind them as they left the square.
---
Exploring Orange Town
The trio wandered through the town, which was slowly coming back to life. Shops reopened, and grateful townsfolk offered cautious smiles.
An old man approached them, his hands trembling. "Thank you," he said, bowing deeply. "You saved our town from Buggy's terror."
"It's no big deal," Luffy replied, scratching the back of his head.
"No big deal?" Nami repeated incredulously. "Do you know how much damage we caused back there? And now Buggy's crew will be after us!"
The old man interrupted, holding out a small pouch of coins. "Please, take this as a token of our gratitude."
Nami's eyes lit up at the sight of the money, but Luffy shook his head. "Keep it. Use it to fix up the town."
The man's eyes filled with tears. "You're a good man, young one. Thank you."
Nami stared at Luffy, confused. "You just turned down free money. Are you crazy?"
Luffy shrugged. "They need it more than we do."
Nami frowned but said nothing, her mind racing. This guy really is different… but I can't afford to trust him.
---
Finding a Ship
As night fell, the trio made their way to the harbor. Most of the ships had been destroyed or looted by Buggy's crew, but a small, battered sailboat remained intact.
"This will do," Zoro said, inspecting the boat.
"It's tiny," Nami complained. "We'll barely fit, let alone store supplies."
"It's enough for now," Luffy said, climbing aboard. "We'll get a better one later."
Nami sighed. "Fine. But if we're doing this, I'm the navigator. Got it?"
"Of course!" Luffy said cheerfully.
---
A Night of Reflection
Later that evening, as the boat drifted away from Orange Town, the trio sat around a small lantern. The stars above were bright, and the sea was calm.
Zoro leaned back, his swords resting beside him. "So, what's your story, Nami? Why do you need all that money?"
Nami stiffened, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "That's none of your business."
Zoro frowned but didn't press further.
Luffy, however, looked at her with genuine curiosity. "Whatever it is, we'll help you. That's what crewmates do."
Nami's heart clenched at his words. She turned away, hiding the emotions that threatened to surface. "Don't get too attached. Like I said, this is temporary."
Luffy didn't respond, but his smile remained.
---
End of Chapter.