Do you understand everything now?

"That is the truth... anyway, when did you become so skilled at creating things like this?"

As Nami sat in the lone chair in the room, she made herself at home and listened to Nojiko explain how she came up with the idea to craft a weapon for her.

"So, it's all because Luffy, who gave you the big picture?" Observing her embarrassment made Nami uneasy since Nojiko should not have felt the way she did in the first place. Taking into consideration that they were actually being kidnapped by that creep.

"Actually, I was just working on the blueprint he had made, so I didn't create anything."

"I don't know if it's just me, but you seem to be getting more comfortable with this situation... don't you miss home?"

Nami felt bad when she saw Nojiko's smile disappear, but she had to make sure so that she herself could become more determined in her plan to escape from Luffy.

Nojiko knew her younger sister wished she could get away from this place as soon as possible. She also felt the same way. All the memories she had were just the bad ones. She was afraid that her body also couldn't hold back the lust of that beast... but.

'But even if it's just a little... just a little... I'm enjoying my new life, and I can't imagine going back to Cocoyasi village and becoming an orange farmer while being haunted by Arlong's never-ending terror.'

"If there was ever a chance that you could get away, you have to take it... Don't mind me, and keep running... I hope you promise me," As Nojiko worked hard to avoid disappointing Nami, her smile appeared to be one of bitter weakness that actually conveyed another meaning.

The pungent smell of oil no longer made her uncomfortable, and neither did the dirty appearance of Nojiko, who had labored hard from morning until night in front of her. Instead, Nami was left with a feeling of emptiness in her heart when the older sister she knew had changed into someone she was not familiar with.

-

"Do you understand everything now?"

Igaram never in his wildest dreams, would have imagined that during his year spent working undercover at Baroque Works, someone would be able to dismantle him with such ease, and now he was being dragged away by these marines to be transported somewhere.

"I don't know what you mean. I am Mr. 8, one of the Frontier Agents... your actions today have gone way too far, Ma-Ma-Ma."

This was a common strategy for someone who was in disguise to use in order to keep his secret, but Igaram couldn't hide the pain all over his body as he couldn't stop grimacing.

"Stay still, or your injury will bleed out all over again... I don't have a lot of time to look after you, so you need to be careful," Igaram's ears picked up a gentle tone from Makino's words, and he noticed that she treated him with great care as well. However, he felt a chill just now, making him not dare to go against what she said.

"This Fool-"

"Maa, don't be angry yet, Luffy. I know how he feels his kingdom is not doing well... but I also feel troubled because he doesn't seem to need our help."

Luffy, who did not wish to bother with Igaram any longer, tried to follow Captain Hina's method by retreating from his approach, "If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have brought Princess Vivi instead of this idiot."

Igaram, the captain of the Arabasta royal guard, naturally felt angry when this man, who was much younger than him, repeatedly called him an idiot. However, after seeing Captain Hina place such a high value on this young man, Igaram tried his best to think rationally about the situation.

"Seeing your rude actions, I'm not sure you will help my kingdom?"

"Who told you to provoke those bounty hunters... You almost got Luffy hurt, you know," Again, he felt very intimidated by Makino, perhaps because she reminded him of his wife.

Luffy then related how they were given an assignment to investigate strange occurrences that took place in the Arabasta Kingdom. The Marines had a hunch that these events had something to do with one of the Shichibukai (also known as the Seven Warlords of the Sea).

Luffy was just another marine in Igaram's eyes, but because the young man talked more than the others, he assumed he was Captain Hina's trusted aide. Yet, based on the way that she looked at him, it did not seem this was the case.

"You can trust him. He is also a Captain like me," Seeing Igaram's shocked face, Captain Hina laughed in amusement. So, she quickly added:

"For the time being, he is still considered a candidate, and I am currently serving as his supervisor."

Igaram was surprised because he hadn't anticipated the young man in front of him to have such a high talent. Even the large waves that caused their ship to toss and turn and caused his wound to bleed once more couldn't hide Igaram's surprise.

-

Back at Whiskey Peak, Miss Monday, who had only moments ago been gone, has returned. She started to frown when she smelled the charred smell in the air, and the expressions of the bounty hunters she saw along the way made her feel even more uneasy.

The bar that had been her go-to hangout spot for as long as she could remember was no more. It had caved in and been consumed by the earth, leaving only dark black ashes behind. The rage that had been building up inside of her could no longer be controlled as she tore off her nun's robe, revealing a short dress with a pattern of magenta and white diamonds with three green flowers as the hook.

"Who did this!... Were pirates doing this!... Tell me!" A poor bounty hunter was abruptly grabbed by Miss Monday, after which he was barraged with angry questions, which nearly caused him to shit in his pants.

"Hiii... don't hurt me... It wasn't pirates, but marines who did it, and they also took Mr. 5 with them."

After responding to the muscular woman's question, the man had every intention of escaping her grasp. However, he suddenly felt a strong wind, and his vision spun and went dark.

After throwing the man, her emotional outburst did not subside. Rather, Miss Monday became even more irritated because she realized her partner was in danger. So, she hurriedly took out her Den Den Mushi before telling someone she knew about what had happened.