45 Thank You, Ethan Pirates, We Will Pray For You!

"It seems you were right."

Nojiko's eyes sparkled with excitement upon hearing the screams of the Gyojins, her face radiating joy as she exclaimed, "This is wonderful! Finally, the villagers can live a better life."

As the group of girls arrived at the manor's gate, they found many villagers gathered outside, all wearing expressions of fear and confusion, unsure of what had transpired within.

There was a prevailing fear that the murlocs might turn violent and rush out to harm them.

"What should we do? Should we go inside and investigate?"

"No, no, that's the Gyojins' territory; entering could mean certain death."

"Did you hear those screams? They must have encountered a formidable foe."

"I think all of us should head home swiftly. If these villains break out later, none of us will escape."

"Damn Gyojins! I wish I could take them on!"

Suddenly, Genzo spotted Nami and Nojiko leading a group of strangers and approached them with a serious expression. "Nami, Nojiko, why did you bring strangers here?"

"This is dangerous; you could put them in harm's way. Please, urge them to leave immediately."

Dr. Nako, the village doctor, known for his wisdom, nodded in agreement and added, "Something has occurred within the manor. You two young ladies should leave this place quickly to avoid trouble."

The villagers expressed their concern and warmth, nodding in unison while attempting to persuade the girls.

Appreciating the villagers' warmth and kindness, Moodie furrowed her brows, smiled, and spoke happily, "Everyone is so kindhearted and straightforward."

Carina nodded in agreement, her beautiful eyes glinting mischievously, as she remarked, "Only a place like this could produce outstanding girls like Nami and Nojiko. Hehe~~"

Nami gazed at the villagers, stopped in her tracks, placed her hands on her hips, and beamed with laughter, appearing extraordinarily jubilant.

"I have some wonderful news to share with all of you. I've brought helpers, and they are incredibly strong."

"Did you hear that Gyojins screams? They're being eliminated one by one and can never oppress us again."

Nami raised her right hand, her large eyes shining brightly, and said with excitement, "From now on, there will be no more Gyojins in Cocoyasi Village, and everyone can live a good life."

Nojiko addressed the villagers before her and said, "Nami is right. The era of these despicable Gyojins is finally and completely over, and they will no longer pose any threat to us."

At that moment, the screams and the sounds of battle ceased within the manor. The atmosphere appeared to grow still.

The villagers exchanged bewildered glances, uncertain whether to believe what Nami and Nojiko had shared. Had the hired help truly defeated the Arlong Pirates, or had they met their demise at the hands of the Gyojins? These were the only two possibilities.

"You two have acted recklessly."

Genzo stared at Nami and Nojiko with a stern expression, scolding them, "Even if you were seeking help, you should have at least discussed it with the village."

"You can't just bring people here without any prior discussion. If something goes awry, it could put them and us in danger."

"You two…"

Genzo shook his head, expressing his discontent toward them.

Dr. Nako observed the two young ladies and furrowed his gray brows. He asked, "Can we truly trust the individuals you've invited here?"

"If we fail against these villains, our village will be utterly destroyed."

"You two acted impulsively and recklessly. Allow me to say..."

Before he could finish his sentence, loud laughter emanated from the manor.

Burgess emerged, striding confidently as he boomed, "What's the highest reward in East Blue? It's worthless! Wiiiihahahaha..."

Doc Q, riding Stronger with a sinister smile, commented, "It's a pity there are too few Gyojins; otherwise, I could have poisoned more of them to death."

"The past few days of practice have undoubtedly made me stronger," Gin asserted determinedly, clenching his fists. "But it's not enough; I must become even stronger. I vow to catch up to the captain's pace."

Lafitte, ignoring the villagers around, smiled faintly as he addressed Baccarat and the others. "The Fishmeen inside have all been taken care of."

"We'll return to the ship first. After you've completed your tasks, depart immediately."

"It's done?"

The villagers exchanged incredulous looks. How could it possibly be over so quickly, considering the vast number of murlocs inside?

It was almost unbelievable!

"Thank you, thank you so much for your assistance!"

Nojiko finally comprehended the situation and quickly expressed her gratitude to Lafitte and the others.

Nami blinked her large, bright eyes and offered a grateful smile. "Although you told us not to be overly polite, I still want to convey my thanks."

"Thank you all so much."

Law remained stoic as he spoke, "We're merely fulfilling the captain's orders. The ones you should thank are not us."

Having spoken, he walked away from the village, uninterested in wasting any more time there.

Similarly, the other team leaders displayed no interest in the village and departed one by one.

"Let's go. We should enter and see what these Gyojins were like and then leave this place."

Betty, always decisive, walked into the manor to investigate what had transpired.

Honey Queen nodded and, with a smile, stated, "Since we've already disembarked, we can't turn back without witnessing the true nature of the Gyojins."

Nami looked at the villagers with a broad grin. "Join us in entering and confirming that the Gyojins have been completely defeated."

"Most importantly, if you wish to exact revenge, you can kick those Gyojins a couple of times to let off some steam. Hehehe~~"

Nojiko nodded in agreement and urged, "Everyone must be eager to witness the demise of these vile murlocs. Let's go in together!"

Subsequently, the entire group ventured into the manor to witness the aftermath of the battle.

Upon entering, they beheld a scene of devastation: the manor lay in ruins, houses had collapsed, the ground had sunken, and trees were shattered. Most strikingly, lifeless Murloc bodies were strewn about, their blood staining the ground crimson a grim testament to their tragic end.

The air was heavy with the

  Stenchs of blood and the acrid scent of smoke from the battle's aftermath quite an unpleasant atmosphere.

"It was indeed a fierce battle."

Betty casually took a drag from her cigarette and commented, "It's evident that they went all out to fulfill Ethan's orders."

Honey Queen regarded a nearby Murloc corpse, and curiously noted, "So, this is a Gyojins? It looks quite similar to a human."

"I wouldn't say they're very similar."

Carina shrugged her shoulders and stated with an air of indifference, "These Gyojins are rather ugly and grotesque; they're quite repulsive."

Upon seeing countless Gyojins corpses scattered on the ground, Nami clenched her right fist and waved it jubilantly in the air. She exclaimed, "It's over! These creatures are all gone."

"From now on, no one will be oppressed, and everyone can lead a good life. It's truly joyful! Hahaha..."

Nojiko covered her mouth, tears of joy streaming from her beautiful eyes as she exclaimed, "It's over... My mother's revenge is finally achieved..."

"I'm so happy..."

The villagers, along with Nami and Nojiko, began to comprehend the situation and let out collective shouts of joy.

"They're all gone, hahaha!"

"Those wretched Gyojins! I'm going to avenge my father and stab them again and again even if I die of exhaustion!"

"Nami, Nojiko, thank you! You've saved every one. I'll always remember..."

"No, no. We should thank the Ethan Pirates. They are kind people. Thank you, Ethan Pirates. May God bless you all!"

"Benefactor, I will set up a shrine in your honor at home and pray for God's blessings upon the Ethan Pirates, that you may all enjoy smooth sailing and be free from harm and adversity."

"Long live the Ethan Pirates! You're an inspiration to all those trash pirates!!"

.....

Cocoyasi Village, located on a mountain nearby:

Here lies a grave, surrounded by green trees and shaded by grass, with fresh air.

It's a very peaceful burial place.

It's where Bell-mère rests!

At this moment, three people were standing silently in front of the grave: Nami, Nojiko, and Genzo.

"Mother..."

Holding flowers in her hands, Nami gazed at the tombstone with beautiful eyes, a happy expression on her pretty face, and said with a knowing smile: "Nojiko and I are leaving."

"You heard me right, we are going out to sea, to see the vastness of this world, and to experience many, many adventures."

"Didn't you say that as a woman, you must always be strong, and have confidence and enthusiasm for life?"

"Now that we have done it, we are full of hope and full of anticipation for the future."

"After the adventure is over, Nojiko and I will return to our hometown, and then we will come to you again and tell you the story of our adventure, hehe~~"

Nami's eyebrows curved, and her smile was pure and lovely, she didn't say anything more, she squatted down, and gently placed the flowers in front of the grave. After that, stood up, stepped aside, and waited for Nojiko.

Speaking of that, in the manor, Nami persuaded Nojiko to leave with her and go sailing together. However, Nojiko refused and wanted to stay in Cocoyasi Village to look after Bell-mère's grave.

But Reiju and others persuaded them to let Nojiko leave with Nami so that they would have a companion, and Nami wouldn't be so bored. Most importantly, Baccarat also joined in. Her words were the most effective, and she seemed to have a halo of luck, with her wishes coming true.

So what could Nojiko do? She obediently accepted her situation of boarding the ship and setting sail with them.

"Mother, Nami is right, we are all very strong now, full of hope for life."

Nojiko also held flowers, silently staring at Bell-mère's tombstone, a gratifying smile on her beautiful face.

"Now that the Gyojins have all been defeated, the villagers can live a happy life, everything is getting better and better, and you don't have to worry anymore."

"Mother, in a few years, Nami and I will conclude our adventures. When that time comes, we will return to our hometown and share our adventure stories with you every day."

"I believe you must be very interested and enjoy listening."

"Mother, farewell, we are leaving. You must watch over us from heaven and bless us with happiness and health forever."

After finishing speaking, she squatted down slowly and gently placed the flowers on the ground.

Genzo looked at the two of them with a serious expression and said solemnly: "If you two can't stay away for too long, remember to come back early."

"Don't endure hardships out there and insist on not returning home."

"Also, if you have time, come back and visit your mother. She likes having you with her the most."

Genzo waved his hand and said impatiently: "Go, don't keep your benefactors waiting too long."

Nami rolled her eyes at Genzo and felt quite speechless toward this old man who resembled her father. Although Genzo was always so serious, he was a man who was tough on the outside but caring on the inside. He took great care of the two of them and treated them like his daughters.

"Alright, alright, let's go. Take care of yourselves!"

Nami turned around, took a step forward, waved back at Genzo, and said her goodbyes. Nojiko looked at Genzo, bowed, and said with a smile, "We're leaving. Take care of yourself."

After finishing speaking, she quickly ran forward and caught up with Nami.

Genzo stood quietly, silently watching their departing figures, with a rare hint of warmth showing on his serious face.

"Bell-mère, these two young girls are going to sail the seas. They've grown up, and it's time for them to go out and experience life."

Genzo turned his head to look at Bell-mère's picture, smiled slightly, and said, "In the days to come, you won't be alone either."

"Because I'm here to keep you company, to chat and converse with you."

"Do you think they will be happy in the future? I believe they will be."

A gust of wind blew, the leaves rustled, the grass swayed slightly, and the flowers on the ground also trembled, as if in response to Genzo's question.

The two of them would live happily ever after...

On the Deck of the Ethan.

At this moment, the large ship had left the coast and was heading for the deep sea.

"Damn, every time a woman joins, does it have to come with drama, wow!!"

Burgess shook his fist, practicing Armament Haki, and cursed angrily.

Doc Q reclined on the deck chair, smiled strangely, and said, "There's no way around it. The captain is really fond of women; he can't resist when he sees beauties, and they all have to come aboard."

Gin sneered and said, "The captain knows how to train, so why the interest in women? Stop talking nonsense."

"Judging by his appearance, the captain isn't a womanizer; there's no doubt about it!"

Hawkins was playing cards again, his voice extremely low.

Lafitte twirled his cane and said politely, "The captain has a beautiful woman; isn't that great?"

"Dealing with you guys every day, life is so boring. It's better to have some beauty."

Inside the practice room.

Nami looked at the man in front of her, blinked her big eyes, and said with a smile, "Captain Ethan, this is my sister; she also wants to join us."

"Do you think that's okay?"

At this point, the ship had already set sail, and Nami had only just come to ask Ethan. She was confident that he would agree because all the girls had agreed to this plan.

"Captain Ethan, hello, my name is Nojiko. Please take care of me in the future!"

Nojiko stood tall and slim, bowing to Ethan with an extremely sincere tone.

Ethan didn't turn around; he continued to wield his large sword and said lightly, "Yes."

Reiju looked at Nojiko and said gently, "Ethan is like this; he doesn't care about much else; he just knows how to train."

"So don't be surprised that he doesn't say much; in fact, he welcomes you very warmly."

Betty took a puff of her cigarette and then said, "His welcome is different; you just need to get used to it."

Carina's eyes sparkled, and she said with a smile, "Nojiko, I wasn't used to it at first, but I realized later that Ethan has this kind of personality."

"Nojiko, it was like this when I first joined the crew."

Nami looked at her sister and laughed, "At that time, I couldn't understand Ethan's responses. I didn't know if he agreed or not."

"So, despite him saying just those two words, it means a lot."

Nojiko nodded slightly, smiled, and said, "That's fine; I can get used to it."

Then, all the girls started chatting, discussing recent encounters with Gyojins, laughing constantly, and feeling very happy...

Three days later.

In a certain area of the East Blue Sea.

"Report..."

"We're under attack, and the directional bird has been destroyed. We're under attack, the directional bird..."

An urgent siren blared from the observation deck...