Chapter 58

The Arabasta Kingdom, situated on Sandy Island in Paradise, was one of the most ancient Kingdoms in the world. Its history could be traced back to five thousand years, and the Kingdom was also one of the most important Kingdoms in the World Government.

Eight hundred years ago, when the World Government was formed by the twenty most powerful Kingdoms of that time, the Nefertari Royal Family was the only one who did not abandon their Kingdom and settle in Mary Geoise.

Having ruled the Kingdom for over a thousand years, the Royal Family of Arabasta was one of the oldest reigning Royal Families in history. And they were one of the most beloved as well.

Arabasta was also one of the places that Sin had been looking forward to visiting for a long time. After all, the Black Family and the Nefertari Family shared a past and blood as well.

His paternal grandmother, Nefertari Sisi, was King Nefertari Cobra's Grand-Aunt, which meant that the King of Arabasta was Sin's second cousin.

The two families shared a history of over 800 years, and though they have had their differences at times, they always considered each other as allies.

However, these were the relationships that were better never made public. And they had never been made public, at least, not in the last 800 years.

The Black Family was linked to the Great Kingdom, and they were an integral part of the Void Century. It was really not worth the risk to associate with them because there were people out there who might still recognise the name.

Ever since the day he had received Granny Tsuru's call, telling him that the letter had come directly from the World Government, Sin had his doubts that it had something to do with his family name.

He did not know why, but he felt like there were people in the World Government who knew about the Black Family, and he was curious about what extent they were aware of the things.

The face of Mors crossed his mind several times in the last few days, and he really hoped that the madman had not made any links with those at Mary Geoise.

He knew that the chances of that happening were low, but there were still some chances. After all, Mors was a madman even if he was a proud Black.

"Hit, stop running!"

Sin broke out of his thoughts when he heard a cheerful call and glanced back at the deck, where Nami was happily playing with the white monkey. He smiled at her carefreeness, the purest of the joys, and then turned to look at the Ancient Port-City of Nanohana that they were approaching.

He could already pick up the sounds, the conversations, the hustle and bustle of the city, and it made him smile some more.

"I see that you have already made some plans." He said after he sensed the ladies walk out onto the deck.

"We are out of perfumes," Bonney informed him, "and we need more clothes for Nami and Nojiko." She excitedly said, earning a cheer from the orangehead.

"Sure." He shrugged.

Nanohana was famous for its perfumes and clothing market, and since it was one of the Grandline's major port cities, it was also multicultural. They could find all sorts of clothes there.

Then again, he knew very well that they had more than enough clothes already. After all, they had robbed the Holiday Island only twenty days ago.

"We have their attention now." He told them, and Robin slowly climbed up the Forecastle Deck and looked at the city.

Several Pirate ships were hastily leaving the docks, and those ships that were in their way parted to stay out of trouble.

"We are not robbing this town, are we?" Robin mischievously asked, knowing well that Sin wouldn't allow such a thing, and giggled when he just shrugged at her.

"We can if you want to." He said.

"I am not in the mood." She told him and then lazily stretched her arms, imitating him, and the girls behind them started laughing at their exchange.

"Where's Pascia?" Nami curiously asked, seeing that the purple-haired girl was missing.

"She's taking a nap. I think it is better if we let her catch up on her sleep." Bonney told her, and Nami understandably nodded her head.

The little girl then suddenly remembered something and happily rushed to her Captain.

"Sin!"

"Yes?" He curiously looked at her and caught her when she jumped into his arms.

"Now that you are a Warlord, it is okay for me to be seen with you, right?" She expectantly asked, and he gently smiled at her.

"What do you want?" He asked back, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Up!" She pointed at the sky, and he chuckled, fulfilling her request.

The two of them disappeared in a flash of lightning, and the next second, Nami's laughter resounded in the sky.

"It's beautiful!" She excitedly looked at one of the largest Islands in Paradise, taking a good look at its form.

They were high enough in the sky that they could see all of Sandy Island, and Nami was just transfixed by the beauty.

It was a scenery that most people in their lives would never get to witness, and her yearning for a power that would allow her to fly so high and so fast intensified.

She pouted a little when she remembered that Sin had hidden away the Ryu Ryu Fruit. And he had even refused to give it to her.

Then again, she did not really want to become a Dragon. She wanted to remain beautiful and cute. But it was hard...

"I already told you, didn't I? Be patient."

She heard him say and pouted some more.

"But who knows how long it will take to find a suitable fruit?" She complained, and Sin just smiled at her words.

Nami soon returned to appreciating and memorising the view of Arabasta Kingdom, and then turned to look at him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you!"

"You are welcome." He said and then started falling to the ground together with her.

"Aaaahhhhhhh!!!"

She screamed her heart out at the sudden turn of events, but quickly she calmed down when she realised that he was playing with her.

However, seeing them approaching the ground still tensed her heart, and then she decided to close her eyes, burying her face in his neck as she hugged him tightly.

A subconscious smile crept on her face when she heard Sin start laughing, but she still kept her eyes closed.

A minute later, they reached the ground, and Nami could not believe the feather-light landing that they had, and she was once again left in awe at his powers.

She opened her eyes and looked around them, and immediately grinned when she found the people in the market looking at them in fear.

Sin had brought her right in the middle of a busy market in Nanohana, and her tummy grumbled as soon as her senses registered the appetising smell coming from the restaurants around them.

"Let's eat before Bonney cleans up everything." He said, making her giggle, and then they entered the biggest restaurant that was close to them.

Ignoring the people who were either fearfully or curiously looking at them, the two took their seats, and then they decided on their order before calling out to the waitress.

"Sir." As nervous as she was in his presence, it was not just because of his status as the Warlord, but also because of how handsome he was in person.

Nami enthusiastically told her their order, and they only had to wait fifteen minutes before their food arrived.

"Would you like anything else?" The waitress nervously asked, and Sin smiled at her.

"Yes. Sit down and eat with us." Her eyes widened at his words, and she immediately turned to look at her manager, who had heard his words too and nodded to her.

Seeing her nervously plate food for herself, Nami could not help her giggles. But then started asking her questions about the market.

"Which is the best shop in the market for clothes?" She asked, and the waitress, who was a woman in her late twenties, thought before she answered her.

"If you are looking for a clothing shop with the best native collection, then that would be Rasa's shop. It's the biggest one with the red banners on Clothing Street. And if you are looking for other styles..."

Nami happily chatted with the waitress for several minutes, collecting all the information that that to her mind, and after she was done, Sin raised a question.

"How long has it been since it last rained here?" He casually asked, and the waitress sadly sighed.

"It's been nearly two years now." She answered. "The temperature isn't usually this harsh at this time of the year, but I guess since it hasn't rained for so long..." She then told them how life had started becoming hard for them, and how they had been losing tourists over the last few months.

Once she was done eating, Sin allowed her to return to her job, and it was also when the rest of their Crew entered the restaurant.

A minute later, when tables had been joined together, all of them took their seats, and Bonney immediately called a waitress to take her order.

"Did you sense it?" He smiled at his little sister, who nodded her head.

"I figured it out after I listened to your conversation with the waitress." Robin nodded to him, making the rest of the crew curiously look at them.

"What are you talking about?" Bonney asked, frowning a little.

"Someone is being unkind to the people of Arabasta." The younger Black mysteriously said, but refrained from talking in detail.

Sin had sensed it the moment he took Nami into the sky. The absence of rain in Arabasta was not natural. He has sensed some strange power sucking up all the moisture from the air.