Chapter 50: Thief and Robber? [+3]

"Wow! Nami, you're incredible!!!"

Just as Nami and Pikachu were getting closer, a pair of slender, soft arms suddenly embraced both of them tightly. Carina grinned, showing affection as she naturally slipped the bag containing Buck's head from Nami's waist and tried to put it on her own. She pretended to stay calm.

However, Nami swiftly turned her wrist and reclaimed the bloody bag.

"Tsk, you've got some skills."

Carina immediately remarked with a sarcastic tone.

"You're not bad either."

Nami retorted.

After a brief exchange of "businesslike compliments," the two smiled at each other with narrowed eyes. A subtle but intense atmosphere brewed between them, as if the loser of their unspoken contest would never recover from the defeat.

Carina's expression twitched slightly, seemingly at a disadvantage. But suddenly, she gave Nami a charming wink and playfully took her arm, acting all affectionate.

"My dear Nami, you didn't get hurt, did you? I was really worried about you when you were fighting those pirates!"

Carina's voice was filled with concern. 

But Nami wasn't swayed and smiled, exasperated, "You really are shameless~ You say things like that so easily." She pulled her arm back, feeling a bit defeated.

"Thank you for the compliment! A woman's got to rely on her wits to survive!" Carina grinned, displaying a sly look befitting her nickname of "fox spirit."

Nami rolled her eyes at her, clearly displeased, then pulled out a chair and sat down. "Enough, enough, I'm not going to waste my breath arguing with you!"

Nami looked like she had given up, admitting, "I'm here to talk business."

"Go ahead," Carina nodded, showing that she was ready to listen.

Nami glanced at Pikachu, who was being scolded by Butterfree, and then looked back at Carina. She slowly said, "Carina, you've seen what I'm capable of..."

"I have, I have! Nami, you were like a goddess out there, taking down that powerful pirate!" Carina immediately flattered with a smile.

But Nami wasn't interested in flattery. "Enough with the sweet talk!" She held up one finger, her dark eyes sparkling like stars. "One question!" 

"Do you want to join me and play the long game?"

"Honestly, I'm planning to form a crew, with the ultimate goal of finding the world's greatest treasure!" 

"I want you to be the advisor of my team!"

Nami knew that beating around the bush with Carina would only lead to getting outmaneuvered, so she decided to be direct with her proposal. This was one of her rare sincere invitations!

Carina, on the other hand, looked surprised by Nami's invitation and asked, puzzled, "A crew? Are you planning to become a pirate?"

As everyone knows, the greatest treasure in the world is the legendary Pirate King Roger's ONE PIECE, right? Putting together what Nami had just said, didn't it mean she intended to go after Roger's treasure?

However, Nami smiled and shook her head, her lips curving into a mysterious smile.

"No, no, no. I won't become a pirate; that's a worthless career!" 

"My ambition is far greater than that of the Pirate King!!!"

After acquiring Pokémon, Nami's spirit had undergone a significant change. Especially after hearing everything about the Pokémon world from Butterfree, she had become incredibly eager.

It was a world entirely different from the pirate world!

Everywhere was peaceful and serene. There was stable order and a favorable living environment. Even with some evil organizations around, they never persecuted civilians—a different breed of villain altogether.

She had even asked the Rotom Phone and learned that anyone could travel between worlds if they had enough points. 

Since then, Nami had only one goal...

...to earn enough Baileys to revive Bell-mère, and then, she and her family would travel to the Pokémon world and live a happy and stable life!

Unfortunately, Nami didn't know that the Pokémon world no longer existed...

But there were still many other quiet and peaceful worlds to choose from.

Of course, Nami wasn't about to explain this ambition to Carina just yet—not before Carina got her own Pokémon.

At this moment, Carina was shocked by Nami's idea. 

What kind of wealth could be more precious than the great treasure of Roger, the Pirate King?

For a moment, Carina even thought Nami had lost her mind after gaining power.

But when she saw the determination in Nami's eyes, Carina swallowed her doubts and looked at her seriously.

She knew Nami was serious this time!

With a sigh, Carina made up her mind and slowly said, "You really got me this time."

"So, what's the plan, my little thief-cat captain?"

"Hehe! So you agree?" Nami's face lit up with joy, no less excited than when she saw Pichu evolve earlier.

With Carina's help, she was sure to revive Bell-Mère faster!

As for Nami's question, Carina sighed again and replied, "Of course I agree. After all, who wouldn't want to have someone else to lean on instead of just surviving by their wits alone..."

Carina spread her hands and asked, "So, do you have a target already?"

"Well..." Nami's smile faded, and then she nodded slowly, enunciating each word: "The Hyde Kingdom, Duke Gordon!"

...

A few days later.

On the other side of the East Blue Sea, on a quiet and peaceful island.

A small boat slowly docked at the harbor. 

A man wearing a green windbreaker and yellow plaid shorts tied the boat to the dock. Another man in a blue jacket folded the sail. 

Then, both of them called out to the cabin in unison:

"Brother Zoro, we're here!"

After a moment, the cabin door opened, and Zoro stepped out, yawning.

"Joseph, Johnny, good morning!"

"Good morning! Brother Zoro!!!" The two sword-bearing men stood at attention like soldiers under inspection, shouting loudly.

Zoro, accustomed to their antics, waved them off casually.

Since a week ago, after watching him take down three bountied criminals in a row on a small island, these two had insisted on following him, claiming they wanted to learn swordsmanship.

Though Zoro usually preferred to be alone, he found himself agreeing, thinking about the bounties and how much time it took to cash them in with the Navy.

In addition to the pirates' bounties, a large part of their earnings came from the money they looted from the pirate groups.

Zoro had become not just a pirate hunter but a full-blown robber, stealing from pirate groups as they sailed!

No one could say how the pirates of this sea had survived the past two weeks. If they ran into Zoro, not only would their treasure be taken, but even their ship would be sold.

He was a complete bandit!!!

Now that Rotom's lease was almost up, Zoro had arranged to meet with Leo, the dimensional merchant, on this island today.

"That's right, the Dimensional Merchant is waiting for you on this island! Just follow me!" Rotom replied to Zoro's question.

Its screen flashed a radar-like image, marking Leo's location.

"Then I'll leave the way to you." Zoro replied, trying to shake off his fatigue and looking excited.

"I can't wait to see what my Pokémon will be!"

Zoro had learned about the power of Pokémon from Rotom and couldn't wait to make a deal with Leo.

Of course, he didn't expect to buy a powerful Pokémon from Leo for 5 million Baileys. What he really wanted to trade was something Joseph carried behind him...

...a Devil Fruit!!!

(End of this chapter)