3. Is This Cat Really Normal?

The fisfmen were furious at Tom's teasing, their red eyes glaring, though it had no effect on Tom!

After relentlessly swinging for what felt like ages, even the burliest fishman finally succumbed, collapsing from exhaustion.

Tom sipped his tea, then pulled out a baseball bat from behind him once more, his grin turning sinister.

Seeing Tom's wicked grin, the three fishmen lost their earlier bravado, huddling together tightly, fear evident in their eyes.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

....

After nearly three minutes of relentless pounding, as soon as Tom stopped, bulges appeared on the heads of the three fishmen, towering even taller than two-story buildings!

After dealing with the three fishmen, Tom clapped his hands and shot a smug look at Al, as if to say:

'These dumb fish are no match for Jerry and his crew!'

"Great job, Tom," Al said, gently petting Tom's head. After praising Tom happily, he added, "Now, go tie them up, and then we'll find a spot for me to cook up some fish head soup for you."

Tom licked his lips, his face beaming with anticipation. He deftly retrieved a bundle of ropes from behind the blanket and neatly bound the three fishmen who had taken a beating.

"Alright, come on out! you have been watching this show for so long, You ought to pay some admission fee," Al remarked, gazing deeply at the large tree not far away.

While Tom battled the fishmen, Al noticed someone observing them.

Though Al paid no mind to the two figures lurking nearby, they were mere spectators, an now that the skirmish had ended, Al anticipated that those two observers would likely shower them with praise, given their apparent admiration for swordsmanship.

Peeking out from behind the tree, Nami, initially frozen in shock, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the fishmen had been dealt with. She cautiously stepped forward.

Observing the girl with short orange hair before him, Al immediately recognized her as the notorious Cat Burglar—Nami.

"Who are you? Attacking fishmen in Arlong's territory? Aren't you afraid for your life?" Nami eyed the tall boy in front of her warily, her tone tinged with apprehension.

"Fear?"

Al chuckled, his tone light and playful.

"If he dares to bother me, I wouldn't hesitate to take him down."

Al's casual remark stirred a tempest of thoughts in Nami's mind.

'Who is this seemingly youthful boy?'

'To him, a pirate with a bounty of 20,000,000 Berries seemed insignificant, merely a bug to be squashed!'

'If he's serious, could I hire him to eliminate Arlong?'

A daring notion sprouted in Nami's mind.

'But how can I convince him to make such a promise?'

'He doesn't strike me as a bounty hunter either.'

As Nami pondered, Kaneshiro stirred from his coma.

Upon spotting Nami, he exclaimed, "Nami, help us!"

Tom, with a baseball bat slung over his shoulder, shot Nami a menacing glare.

Caught off guard by Tom's expression, Nami swiftly retrieved three wooden sticks from her chest, combining them into one, and rendered Kaneshiro unconscious with a swift blow.

Then, offering an awkward smile, Nami waved his hands in reassurance and explained, "I'm not with them, please don't misunderstand."

"Moreover, I'd like to strike a deal with you."

"No matter the cost, I'm willing to agree!"

Al yawned lazily and inquired, "What kind of deal?"

"Help me take down Arlong!" Nami's voice surged with fury at the mention of Arlong, revealing the depth of her hatred.

"Any price?" Al's tone remained remarkably composed.

He had anticipated Nami's request, understanding well the reasons behind her intense animosity toward Arlong, a familiar tale among those versed in One Piece.

Gritting her teeth, Nami nodded resolutely. "Any price, as long as it means his demise!"

"Tom, what do you think?" Al didn't immediately respond; the threat of Arlong held little weight for him.

Contrary to his indifference towards Arlong, Al placed greater importance on Tom's feelings. If Tom found the situation bothersome, Al wouldn't agree to the deal.

Observing Nami on the verge of tears, Tom retrieved a pack of tissues from behind him, handing it to her before patting her back with a determined expression.

"Since Tom doesn't object, I'll accept your offer," Al stated. "However, there's something you need to understand: my fee is steep."

Al grinned brightly, then grabbed the large knife from the ground. He severed the ropes binding the fishmen and, in the process, removed their fins.

"Tell Arlong to prepare himself," Al declared. "I've yet to sample shark soup!"

The three fishmen cast terrified glances at Al and hastily fled, fearing he might change his mind.

"This guy is truly frightening!"

"We must inform Brother Arlong to seek revenge for us!"

.....

Once the fishmen vanished from sight, Al clapped his hands and grinned.

"So, Tom, ready for the hunt?"

"Googoogoo~" Tom responded, clutching his stomach, his smile awkward as he gestured to Al.

"Tom, you're something else," Al muttered, covering his face with his hand.

Nami couldn't help but be amused by the interaction between this peculiar pair.

"Before we set off, why don't you come to my place to refuel? I'm quite handy in the kitchen," Nami offered.

"Then I'll take you up on that," Al replied.

.....

Nami's house sat nestled on a hillside, a distance away from Cocoyasi village.

Once inside, Nami deposited the green sack in a room before brewing cups of coffee for Al and Tom, asking them to wait a moment.

Though Tom was starving, he offered to lend a hand.

Nami seemed taken aback—could a cat cook?

Before she could respond, Tom had already grabbed a knife, skillfully peeled potatoes, and expertly fried eggs, all while balancing with one foot on the pan.

"Hey!" Nami's shocked eyes widened, her voice rising several octaves, her hand trembling as she pointed at Tom.

Al remained unfazed.

Tom is almost omnipotent, except for his inability to catch Jerry. He efficiently multitasked, handling cooking duties with ease.

After a while, Tom had prepared eight dishes and a soup, elegantly arranging them on plates and inviting Nami and Al to dine.

Nami's worldview was shattered.

'Was it truly normal for a cat to possess such formidable combat abilities, culinary skills, and gentlemanly manners?'

However, Tom remained oblivious to Nami's thoughts. In his own eyes, he was simply an ordinary house cat.

As if sensing something lacking on the dining table, Tom retrieved a few candles, goblets, and various items needed for a luxurious dinner from behind.

In the blink of an eye, the once plain cottage was transformed by Tom into a scene of romantic splendor.

Nami was left stunned, while Tom stood by, playing the violin with an air of enchantment.

Even Al couldn't help but be impressed by Tom's mastery. However, what intrigued him more was where Tom had acquired these items.

Puzzled, Al inquired, "Tom, how much more do you have hidden back there?"

After pondering for a moment, Tom set aside the violin and began pulling out items one by one from behind:

Mouse traps, cheese, matches, rope, baseball bats, golf clubs...even three revolvers, and a shotgun!

After pulling items out for a solid ten minutes with no sign of the stash running out, Al hastily called a halt.

Tom looked puzzled as he began to shove the half-filled refrigerator back into place.

Surveying the mound of oddities like a small mountain, Al couldn't help but wonder how all of it fit inside such a small frame.

Yet, he had touched Tom's back before, finding it to be like that of any normal cat.

But it didn't matter now; after all, Tom was Tom—anything was possible!

However, Nami didn't share the same sentiment; her petrified form lay shattered into pieces.

Observing Nami's shattered state, Tom eagerly stepped forward, ready to assist in piecing her back together.

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