Chapter 22: Syrup Village, Kaya!

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Nami's voice pierced the morning calm. "Hey! Captain! Can you bear to let a weak woman row a boat alone?!" Her words were a mix of jest and genuine annoyance, aimed at the slumbering Ace.

The night's festivities aboard the merchant ship had been a rare moment of respite, but the Navy's prying eyes had cut their celebrations short. The captain and his crew had facilitated their discreet departure, providing a lifeboat and supplies—a gesture that softened Nami's hardened views on pirates, if only slightly.

Ace, roused from his sleep, offered a lazy chuckle. "Don't say that, Nami. You're the navigator, and you chose not to use the sailboard with me," he teased, deflecting her irritation with a carefree ease.

Nami's retort was swift. "Yes, I am a navigator, but I am not a helmsman!" she snapped back, her frustration evident.

Their banter was interrupted by Nami's sudden inquiry about the origins of Ace's wealth. His response was straightforward: "These are all ill-gotten gains," he admitted, revealing a trove of treasures plundered from the corrupt and the cruel.

Nami listened intently, her conscience wrestling with the implications. Ace's actions, though unlawful, carried a sense of justice that resonated with her own moral compass.

With a deep breath, Nami shifted the conversation. "So Captain, where are we going next?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic pirate before her.

Ace's answer was simple. "We're in search of companions. I still lack a doctor on the ship," he said, his smile hinting at a plan already in motion.

Their journey led them to Syrup Village, where Nami's skills as a navigator shone brightly. "Nami, it's great to have you as my navigator," Ace praised, his spirits lifted by the smooth sailing.

Nami, flustered by the compliment, downplayed her abilities. Yet, deep down, she reveled in the acknowledgment of her dream—to chart the world.

As they disembarked, Nami's curiosity got the better of her. "How do you know there will be the doctor you want in this village?" she inquired.

Ace's reply was tinged with confidence. "Intuition, just like I feel that you are my destined navigator," he said, his gentle smile disarming Nami's defenses.

Nami's heart fluttered, confused by his words. "Don't say such misleading things," she stammered, flustered.

Ace's demeanor shifted to one of authority. "Come with me; my doctor seems to have something wrong," he declared, leading the way into the village.

The golden rays of dawn bathed Syrup Village in a gentle light, casting long shadows on the villa where a young girl named Kaya lay in bed, her face etched with pain and sorrow. The sound of the door creaking open broke the silence as Klahadore, her trusted butler, entered the room.

"Miss Kaya, the funeral has been successfully concluded," he announced, his voice devoid of warmth.

Kaya, still reeling from the loss of her parents, requested solitude, but Klahadore insisted she eat. Her refusal was met with his resignation, a routine they had performed many times before. Yet, unknown to Kaya, the man she relied on harbored a dark secret and even darker intentions.

As Klahadore's glasses flashed with malice, Kaya turned her gaze to the window, her thoughts a whirlwind of grief and uncertainty about her future.

Suddenly, the window opened with a soft crack, and two figures appeared on the ledge. Ace, with a gentle smile, offered his help, while Nami looked on with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Miss, it looks like something happened to you. Do you need help?" Ace's voice was kind, his presence a stark contrast to the cold calculation of Klahadore.

Nami's expression, though strange, hinted at a readiness to act. Together, they stood at the precipice of a new chapter, one that would intertwine their fates with that of Kaya and the hidden dangers lurking within Syrup Village.