Part three - Nami 3/4

- Is it possible for me to take part in your, of course, interesting conversation? - A man's voice rang out from behind the swordsman, because of which he instantly turned pale in face, and his forehead was covered with noticeable sweat. - And, Zoro, won't you deign to explain to me who this "he" of yours is? Honestly, I'm very interested!

- Luffy, I found Nami. - Stepping aside, the swordsman turned around, immediately surrendering the girl without any hesitation.

Kindness, as they say, kindness, but your own skin is more expensive!

Still sitting on the ground, Nami appreciated the new character. Fashionable open flip-flops on the legs, long, some dark green, acid-colored shorts, dark purple, again, acid-colored short-sleeved T-shirt. The eyes were hidden under fashionable sunglasses, through the glass of which was visible a small scar under the left eye, and a shock of black hair, covered by an old, noticeably frayed, straw hat. In other words, the guy standing in front of her, in the eyes of the girl herself, looked, if not completely harmless, then somewhere nearby ... especially against the background of Zoro and surrounded by the lying bloody corpses of pirates, whom the latter had made. And with all this, as Nami understood from the reaction of the swordsman, it was he who was the main one in their duet.

- Found Nami? - she asked again, when the meaning of the spoken words finally reached her. - You were looking for me? What for?

The girl felt her heart rushing away somewhere in the area of ​​her heels. She immediately remembered all her assumptions about the swordsman standing next to her. And, considering what she had witnessed a minute earlier, Nami quite clearly understood that she would not be able to escape. And if it does work out, then definitely not now. Not when there is a Death Machine like that next to her. Until today, the girl did not even suspect that there were people in the world who could well compare in strength with the fish-men she hated. However, the famous East Blue swordsman served as an excellent proof of that.

In response to Nami's question, Luffy squatted down in front of her.

- How about joining our family? - He offered with a wide smile.

- Uh-uh ... what? - the girl expected a lot, but definitely not that, so her answer turned out to be appropriate.

- Luffy, I warned you that you'll have to explain all the time - Zoro said, for which he bothered with the offended look from the guy.

- Hey, only a real family can make me the Pirate King, a regular team can't handle it!

- The Pirate King? - the completely confused girl involuntarily repeated.

- We are pirates! - Luffy proudly prodded himself in the chest. - And we need an excellent navigator so that he can guide us through any sea!

Now everything finally came to Nami, and there could be only one answer to the offer made to her:

- I will never become a pirate! - She blurted out furiously.

- Hmm ...- Luffy, who was squatting in front of her, looked closely into her eyes, over his fancy glasses. In a reciprocal look, Nami splashed a whole sea of ​​contempt, rage, anger, disgust, and even the devil understand what. It was immediately possible to tell that she very, very much does not like pirates. However, the guy was not at all embarrassed by this alignment, and in a calm voice he asked her one simple, but lethal question for her: - Then, how do you explain your tattoo on your left shoulder?

Nami immediately involuntarily covered the said shoulder with her palm, although she was wearing a striped T-shirt, and so it covered everything perfectly.

- How… how did you know? - with a distinct note of fear in her voice, she asked.

-You know, I chose you as my navigator for a reason - Luffy replied with a slight smile on his lips. - If I just needed an excellent navigator, I would have found it a long time ago. However, in my family I need people who have more than just skills at their heart. And judging by what I have learned about you, you are completely suitable for us.

- I ... I already said ...

- That you will never be a pirate? Then I repeat my question: how do you explain the tattoo on your shoulder?

- ...

- Do you want me to share my theory?

-?

- Judging by the information I have gathered, you started stealing very early. And the pirates mostly took you to their place as an unsurpassed navigator and cartographer. Then you waited for the pirates to take large loot, after which you robbed them and disappeared from the ship. You disappeared, sometimes quietly, and sometimes, as, for example, today, finally slamming the door loudly. You work all over the East Blue, except for one area. An area that I believe is controlled by a pirate crew of fish-men who sailed into our sea about eight years ago from the Grand Line. A team where a certain Arlong acts as the captain, whose pirate flag is tattooed on your shoulder.

- Where ...

- However, that was the easiest part - Luffy continued, not letting the overtly shocked Nami finish his sentence. - It turned out to be much more difficult to obtain further information. For example, information that you are from the village of Kokoyashi, you have a sister and a mother, whom Arlong killed personally, after which you joined his team ... it seems like he paid you a lot of money to draw cards for him. I couldn't collect anything else for you, the fishmen around the area controlled by them set up a painfully good blockade. However, this does not prevent me from speculating on the relevant topic. In particular, to build theories about why a thirteen-year-old girl, who seems to receive a lot of money from Arlong for drawing maps, started robbing pirates. And why did this same girl so willingly join the ranks of the pirate who killed her mother? And, finally, why, one girl we know, who hates all pirates so fiercely, has been working tirelessly for so many years for one of the same pirates she fiercely hates?

Nami's face took on a deathly pale shade. She was sitting on the ground and staring at Luffy with wide eyes in horror. Blood slowly trickled down her chin from her bitten lip, but she didn't even notice it.

- And you didn't tell me anything about it - either complained, or accused, or simply stated the fact to Zoro, after listening to a short speech performed by Luffy.

If he had known about this situation earlier, then he would not have advised Nami to flee from the island. Ask him, and he would be tortured to list the shortcomings of his captain, but he also had merits. The swordsman clearly understood that as soon as the girl joined their family, the days of the Arlong Pirates terrorizing her home island would be numbered. Throughout the East Blue, only their family could provide such a guarantee.

- Nami, what did he promise you? - Luffy asked kindly, ignoring his first mate. - Why do you need money? And why don't you just run away?

- This ... this ... this is not y-your business! - despite the attempt to seem solid, treacherous tears involuntarily rolled down on her cheeks. - I-it's not your business at all! She said.

Luffy shook his head. - It concerns me as well as it concerns. I have long decided to make you my navigator, and therefore a member of my family. And I will kill anyone who decides to threaten my family - the guy said in the same calm and benevolent voice. At the same time, he continued to look into Nami's widened eyes with a slight smile on his face. Only now his smile was affectionate, like a father looking at his beloved daughter. Surprisingly, the expression on his face, completely inappropriate for his age, looked so natural, as if he were not sixteen years old, but all sixty. - Now tell me, Nami, what did Arlong promise you for your money?

- ... - Without answering, the girl lowered her head.

Treacherous tears began to drip profusely from her chin.

- Nami, I'm not your enemy, I give you my word! And even if he were your enemy, then from the knowledge of your motives, nothing would have changed anyway.

Argument.

- If… if I bring Arlong a hundred million bellies, he will free my village. And when it comes to money, Arlong always keeps his word.

Zoro and Luffy looked at each other in silence.

- Nami… do you really believe in such a promise? - Luffy asked.

The girl at the boy's words flinched as if Luffy had hit her with his hand, and it all spoke for itself. No, she didn't believe in Arlong's words ... or rather, she did, but not quite as it should. Intellectually, she clearly understood that Arlong was lying, but she had no other hope, so she, with the despair of a drowning man, grabbed the only straw she had.

- You know, according to my information, Arlong really keeps his word when it comes to money - Luffy spoke up again, causing Nami to throw her head sharply, looking at the guy with insane hope in her eyes. Now, more than ever, she wanted to hear confirmation that all her efforts were not in vain. - And, most likely, he will really liberate your village, - Luffy continued, and at his words, such a happy smile blossomed on the girl's face, as if all her dreams were fulfilled here and now. - But have you ever thought about the future? What happens after you give Arlong the money and he frees your village?

Nami's happy smile slowly faded from her face, and clearly readable bewilderment appeared in her tear-stained eyes.

- So, I'll tell you what will happen next. A free village will appear on your island. A village in which, for example, it will not be possible to shelter other inhabitants of the island on pain of death or another capture. And residents will not be allowed to leave the village without paying a certain fee. Naturally, they will also have to pay for trade with other villages. In fact, nothing will change and Arlong will not break his word. But he will make you one more offer so that you continue to work for him. Personally, this is how I see the situation.

- ...

- Nami?

- And if you're wrong?

- In terms of?

- If you are wrong, and Arlong will keep his word as it should ?! - wiping her cheeks wet with tears with her palms, the girl looked defiantly at Luffy.

- Hmm ... - the guy got to his feet and folded his arms over his chest. - How much money do you have left to collect? - a few seconds later, he asked.

- ...

- Nami, this money isn't with you anyway, - Luffy rolled his eyes. - Moreover, I'm sure they are hidden somewhere on your home island. Therefore, no matter what you tell me, I will not be able to get them. At least get it without visiting your island ... an island whose surrounding waters, I remind you, are tightly controlled by Arlong and his gang.

Argument. Another.

- … Thirty million - finally, after a full minute of looking at Luffy, Nami reluctantly admitted.

- Total? - he was surprised. - Then I propose a deal.

- Which one?

- You become our navigator for the next six months, and in return we help you collect the remaining money. What do you think about that? In just six months of working as a navigator, you are guaranteed to have the required amount. You've already seen Zoro's power. -Luffy gestured around the bodies of the dead pirates lying around them. - You will be much safer with us than alone. There will be no point in your deal with Arlong if your neck is twisted before you can fulfill your part of the agreement. Today's example is illustrative. If Zoro were your enemy, you would already be dead ... or do you want to continue to hope for luck? Isn't that too rash? I offer you security and a steady flow of money, in exchange for your talent as a navigator.

Nami scrutinized the faces of Zoro and Luffy with suspicious eyes, then the bodies of the dead pirates, and finally her sack of gold that she was holding with her hands to her chest.

- I agree ...- she said, and then, noticing Luffy's face breaking into a wide smile, she hurriedly added, - Only for six months! You help me collect the remaining money, and for that I will be your navigator, but that's all. After the terms of the deal are met, we will part ways. Going?

- I agree! - Luffy nodded enthusiastically, extending his hand to Nami.

The girl, carefully grasping the outstretched hand, rose to her feet, never seeing Zoro's sympathetic gaze directed at her back. Given the swordsman's personality and appearance, the sympathetic expression on his face looked completely unnatural. And it said a lot, but especially about who exactly Nami decided to shake hands with. No wonder people say that ignorance is a blessing.