Needing More Money

Chapter 26: Needing More Money

Rodney looked at Nami lying on the ground and fell into deep thought for a moment.

'Ha, what luck! I encountered Nami just before heading to Cocoyasi Village. Thankfully, I didn't kill the girl by hacking her to death or throwing her into the sea. Otherwise, I would have been in big trouble.'

Wiping the nonexistent sweat off his forehead, he asked, pretendingly, "Are you the little thief?"

"Yes," Nami nodded.

"You live in Cocoyasi Village?"

Nami: '... How does he know?'

She looked at him warily, unsure of his intentions.

Rodney bent down, broke the steel wire with a kunai, and helped her up. "Hello, let me introduce myself. I am Joestar J. Rodney, a pirate hunter."

"Red-Eye Rodney?!" Nami exclaimed.

"Please don't use that awful nickname. I prefer to be called the Fate Maker or simply Rodney," he said with a smile.

"Um, hello, Mr. Rodney," Nami replied with a touch of embarrassment, feeling like a middle school student taking a deep breath.

"But I've heard that Mr. Rodney has red eyes," Nami said intentionally or unintentionally.

Rodney's reputation skyrocketed after defeating the Krieg Pirates. He single-handedly decimated their fleet of a thousand men. None of the top executives of the Krieg Pirates survived; they all sank into the sea.

Only a small fraction of the thousand-man fleet managed to escape, while the rest became fish food, nourishing the sea.

Red eyes, resembling the pupils of a devil, became synonymous with Rodney. When people saw those eyes, it meant that death was lurking.

In East Blue, Rodney's name struck fear into pirates. The title of Red-Eye was more terrifying than his self-proclaimed "Fate Master."

Red eyes became a defining feature of Rodney.

"This is one of them," he replied, the scarlet tint fading from his eyes. 

Being watched by those eyes made Nami feel stiff as if she had fallen into an ice cave, as if some malevolent spirit had locked onto her.

Putting away his Sharingan, Nami felt a wave of relief. Rodney smiled and said, "I'm sorry. It's one of my abilities. I usually only use it when facing particularly troublesome opponents. Miss Nami, please don't worry."

Nami felt a sense of ease with Rodney now. He appeared refined and easy-going, with a smile like a friendly neighbor. She felt more at ease in his presence. It seems he's not a heartless butcher.

"Do you believe me now?" he asked.

Nami shook her head hastily. "I'm sorry for doubting you. Well, can I go then?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Miss Nami," Rodney replied with a smile.

Nami was taken aback, fearing the worst. Men are all the same, aren't they?

Stepping back, she forced a smile and asked, "Well, Mr. Rodney, what do you plan to do with me?"

Prepared for the worst, having spent so long sailing alone on the sea, Nami possessed a maturity beyond her years. She tried to stay calm and prepare for a fight to the death. In her heart, she wore a wry smile, knowing that a weak person like her couldn't resist someone as strong as Rodney.

However, everyone...

The desire to live burned within her once again and she decided to stall Rodney for a while.

Unaware of being labeled a "bad guy" in her mind, Rodney continued smiling. "I just want to ask you some questions."

"Questions? Please go ahead," Nami said, taking a deep breath and remaining on guard.

"Well, your village is under the control of the Arlong Pirates, right?" Rodney asked.

"..." 

Nami fell silent for a moment and then asked, "Are you planning to deal with the Arlong Pirates?"

"Oh, of course. It's my mission," Rodney replied.

'If it were him, maybe…'

Nami thought she saw a glimmer of hope, but when she remembered the power of the Arlong Pirates and the might of the merfolk, that hope quickly faded.

Even with Red-Eye Rodney, how could he possibly stand against Arlong? They were incredibly powerful and wicked. She had to ensure that everyone could survive.

"Please don't do that. You won't be a match for the Arlong Pirates," Nami warned.

Curiously, Rodney asked, "Are you doubting my abilities? No, please, believe me, I'm not a weakling."

"No, the Krieg Pirates are nothing compared to the Arlong Pirates. The merfolk are much stronger than humans! They have wrist strength more than ten times that of ordinary humans. They can easily toss and throw houses around as if they were toys. Humans and merfolk are like adults and children; there's no comparison."

The Krieg Pirates boasted so much, but they were nothing more than a group of small-time crooks. Nami once snuck onto one of their ships and stole some treasures. Humans cannot defeat the merfolk, she thought.

"Well, the Krieg Pirates were indeed a bunch of ragtag pirates, but I'm not just anyone. Please trust me, Nami, and take me to your village." Rodney's eyes were sincere and filled with confidence.

Seeing that look, Nami felt that she couldn't let Rodney go. A good person shouldn't be sent to die in vain. The Marines had nothing to do with them, so how could she allow him to go?

"You can't go! Are you an idiot? Those are merfolk, merfolk!" Nami exclaimed.

"Hah, who do you think I am? Don't worry, I will definitely help you get rid of them. Even if you don't let me go, I'll find a way to get there," Rodney declared, motivated by the thought of the Chūnin Exam and the enticing rewards that awaited him.

Moreover, he needs to kill Arlong, that extreme racist, who believed that merfolk were superior to humans, had nearly been beaten to death by Luffy. 

After learning that Jimbei had become a Shichibukai, Arlong furiously arrived in East Blue with his willing brothers, determined to establish the so-called "Arlong Park."

"You fool, can't you understand what I'm saying?" Nami shouted.

"Don't worry, I won't let you and your village down," Rodney reassured her with a smile.

Nami: "..."

'Well, after observing him, I can confidently say that this guy is an idiot! He will never admit defeat until he witnesses the power of the merfolk! But that's none of my concern. I need to find a way to escape from here immediately.'

Seeing Nami's displeasure, Rodney smiled, took out his purse, and pulled out a stack of banknotes. As soon as Nami saw the money, her eyes widened with desire. She couldn't take her eyes off the banknotes.

"How about this? As long as you take me to Cocoyasi Village, the money is yours," Rodney, aware of Nami's weakness, began to entice her.

Although it was possible to pass through Cocoyasi Village using a merchant ship, it would be a long and arduous journey. It was more efficient to take Nami's boat instead. 

"Wow! That's my hometown. How did you know?" Nami exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Rodney chuckled. "I have my ways. So, do we have a deal?"

Nami's gaze turned calculating as she considered the proposition. More money meant better chances of protecting her village and saving everyone. Reluctantly, she nodded. "Fine, let's do it. But remember, you have to keep your promise and not endanger my village."

Rodney grinned. "You have my word, Nami. I won't let anything happen to your village. Now, lead the way."

Nami smiled cautiously, hoping that Rodney's intentions were true. Deep down, she knew that their journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but she had to do whatever it took to protect her loved ones.

Together, they embarked on the small boat, ready to face the challenges that awaited them on their mission to confront the Arlong Pirates.