Chapter 34: Chapter 34 – Trip to Baratie 04.
[Chapter Size: 2281 Words.]
Third Person POV
Somewhere at sea, East Blue.
...
...
"Hmmm, I see..." Luffy was the first to break the silence, even without fully comprehending the woman's mysterious words.
'Clearly, you don't understand!' Everyone exclaimed, looking at the captain with astonished expressions.
"As my wife Marta said, this map and this key only brought trouble. We don't want to be involved with it anymore. I was just a trader who lived well in the South Blue. I doubt we can go back to our old life now..." The man expressed with regret.
Luffy could understand him. He also doubted that the world government would let them go unscathed. If they knew the operation failed and the couple still held these valuable items, they would be continuously hunted.
"Hae kirimvose, kostā emagon zirȳ, nyke don't jaelagon naejot involve ñuha valzȳrys se nyke isse bisa dombo!" The woman resumed her words, and Luffy just stared at her, not knowing how to respond.
"You're right, my love. It's better not to get involved anymore! So, as a token of gratitude, you can keep the items..." The man beside her affirmed.
"Wait, you're just giving them to me like this?" Luffy raised an eyebrow, showing surprise. Of course, he was curious about what was in that chest, but receiving the items so easily was unexpected... Not that he was going to leave with nothing; he already intended to have some possessions from here.
"We can't have these anymore. Our friends are among the dead bodies on this ship. So many deaths... Look around, many of them were our acquaintances, and they died like slaughtered animals, without a chance to fight back! Do you think we can live with these items that will make us targets on our backs? I won't even be able to go back home now..." The man named Kyrti vented, expressing the tragedy that had befallen them.
Luffy remained silent for a moment, absorbing the man's words. Then, he sighed and said, "If you're determined not to be involved with this anymore, I accept the items. But before that, explain to me what exactly these maps and keys are, better than before, and why the World Government is so interested in them."
The couple exchanged glances, and seeing that Luffy was genuinely interested, they began to explain the story behind their family's belongings. They detailed how these objects passed from generation to generation, recounting the history of an ancient lineage of explorers and hidden treasures. As they spoke, the couple revealed the peculiarities and mysteries behind these artifacts.
Luffy listened attentively, understanding the importance of these items to their family and how they ended up becoming targets of the World Government. When the explanation came to an end, Luffy nodded and said, "Got it. If you're willing to hand over these items to me, I accept. But know that I'll do what's in my power to ensure you can move forward without further worries."
"You're right; I don't think the government will let this slide. It would be better for you to disappear from everyone's sight with your old name and get a new identity," Luffy spoke bluntly, sure that the World Government wouldn't let this go either way.
The couple looked at Luffy with gratitude in their eyes. The man then pulled out a small, intricately decorated wooden chest with a kind of amulet attached, along with the map taken by Sky. "This is the real key, and these are my wife's family belongings. May they bring you what you desire."
Luffy took and looked at them.
"Can we give you a ride to our next stop, do you have any money?" Luffy asked again.
"We do, at least we had 300 million Berries since I knew this trip was dangerous, I took my savings to bring along, just don't know if they're still intact with the explosion..." The man warned, and Nami practically jumped with this information.
"300 MILLION?!!!" She couldn't believe this information... While only Kuina, Usopp, and Chouchou seemed stunned by this amount, the rest of the crew didn't seem very interested in money, no matter how much gold.
"Anyway, I'll first see what's in the chest... Nami, do you want to grab the gold?" Luffy said approaching the mysterious red chest, while the maid-dressed woman with a mop in hand jumped with bright and passionate eyes at these words.
Luffy took the key and went to the chest with the map; as the couple stepped away, he opened it while spying on all the objects with curiosity. The old map clearly showed the East Blue and pointed to an island, although not so updated, the key was ornamented in a triangular shape, and some documents inside the chest. Luffy examined them with interest, imagining what adventures, treasures, and mysteries might await him.
"So, this is the key, looks pretty old..." Luffy couldn't help but comment as he turned the talisman, which was the key, from side to side, inspecting it carefully.
"That's strange..."
"Where's the gold? Is this not a treasure chest?" Nami complained beside.
"Did you not go to get the treasure inside the ship? How can you be so fast?" Luffy was alarmed at this speed.
"I've already collected everything and inspected the entire ship to make sure nothing's missing. I even counted the money three times in that time; it's 306,599,100 Berries!!!" Nami said, looking for any sign of gold in that chest.
"What the hell?!" Luffy still complained; this woman had cheats when it came to money.
"There may not be gold, but there's certainly a treasure waiting for us..." Luffy commented with joy.
"Treasure!" Nami couldn't help but shout happily.
"A new adventure?!" Shirahoshi exclaimed excitedly with anticipation.
"New enemies?" Zoro said, opening a smile.
"A chance for me to prove that I'm a brave warrior?!" Usopp was excited; his wounds were better after Luffy applied the power of the Moa Moa no Mi, so he wanted to see the result of his hellish training like Zoro.
Not everyone spoke, but they had their own expectations for this treasure hunt.
"Alright, everyone, let's first get organized. As soon as we reach Baratie, we'll plan to search after that..." Luffy commented and continued.
"First, let's go back to our ship, then we'll set sail." Luffy concluded, carrying the chest to the Marine ship.
"And these men?" Kuina asked, seeing some men still unconscious.
"Leave them there. They executed civilians just by orders from their superiors. I won't stain my hands with the blood of unarmed men, but I don't intend to show mercy either..." Luffy said without looking back.
Nodding, Kuina and the others followed him closely behind with the couple and a Nami carrying bags of Berries.
"You're on a Marine ship?!" The man, Kyrti, asked curiously.
"We stole it..." Luffy casually commented, leaving the man stunned.
"Ziry iksos iā gevie lōgor, ao stole sȳrī!" The woman Marta responded.
"My love, you shouldn't say that..." The man said to the mystery of all listeners.
Ignoring the woman and her unknown words anyway, Luffy asked everyone to take positions for the ship to depart on its original route.
A day later, in the ship's treasury, Luffy and Nami were in front of the money.
The ship's maid followed him like a rat on the last day, hoping that the captain wouldn't make the money disappear like the last few times.
Now she was stuck to him with her legs closed around his waist, pulling his cheeks; she tried to restrict his movements, but Luffy's monstrous strength didn't even care about the woman clinging to his body.
"No!!! Don't make this money disappear!" Luffy heard Nami crying as he stood in front of the treasure. Luffy smiled at her.
Deep down, he liked this mischievous woman with her ambition for money.
"What's wrong? This treasure belongs to the Straw Hats; we need it to improve our ship, and afterward, I don't intend to take all the gold. I'm not so greedy as to leave those people like that after everything that happened..." Luffy commented, and Nami looked at him for a while.
"You don't seem so bad..." She couldn't help but comment.
"I'm an ambitious man and often bad, but I have my limits. I'm already satisfied with the map, key, and about 100 million of this gold." Luffy commented to no one in particular.
Nami looked at Luffy's words, letting all her greed for money disappear. She had been thinking about her life and them in the last few days.
"Luffy, let me ask you... Do you see me as your...nakama?" She asked cautiously.
"And are you really one of us?" Luffy raised an eyebrow.
"I..." She didn't know what to answer.
"Listen, Nami, I know you're a great navigator..." Luffy commented.
"You knew all this time?" Nami couldn't help but exclaim.
"Of course, I knew, but I'm not interested in having someone who isn't trustworthy as one of us. Your intention was never to be a part of the group..." Luffy looked serious at her.
"Then why am I here? You just wanted to laugh at me when you made me your maid?" Nami couldn't help but ask bitterly.
"Because I wanted to see your attitude; I know you have your problems, but you don't trust the group to try to help you, and I don't want someone on the crew who doesn't trust us or vice versa..." Luffy sighed as he focused on the money to make it a hundred times smaller. Nami didn't seem to care about it after hearing Luffy, choosing to stay silent.
"I thought that if you spent some time sailing with us, you might trust us enough to help you with Arlong..." Luffy began to walk out, leaving the lone cat-burglar in the room.
Nami was shocked by these words, torn between asking for help or not. Deep down, she was afraid that Arlong would not only kill the group but that the fish-men would take it out on her village, which she had been trying to free for years. She clenched her fists, looking down as she heard Luffy move away without looking back.
"Luffy... wait..." Luffy stopped as soon as he heard the slightly teary and nervous voice.
"If I asked you for help, would you be willing to risk your life and theirs to solve my problems?" She asked in the same tone.
"What are you talking about? If it's about Arlong and his group, I can handle them alone, silly girl. I may not be a fish-man, but I'm not an ordinary human either. In fact, I'm a monster!" Luffy smiled with that declaration.
Leaving Nami stunned, she clenched her hands and spoke again.
"Would you help me destroy the tyranny of Arlong in Cocoyasi Village and the nearby islands?" She asked calmly.
"How about I answer you with another question?" Luffy sighed and continued.
"Are you willing to truly be a part of this crew? What I intend to do sailing the seas will shock the entire world. I don't intend to be a Gol D. Roger; I'm more like a Rocks D. Xebec at sea. Maybe the whole world will be my enemy in the coming years, but I know I'll have a group that supports and trusts each other like a family... and they're willing to fight against all enemies. Arlong will be a flea compared to what you'll face." Luffy stopped and looked at the girl without words and continued.
"... Of course, the greatest navigator in the world is welcome here... So, I ask you, Nami, are you willing to embark on an adventure that will bring dangers thousands of times worse than Arlong? Are you willing to bear the burden that the whole world may be your enemy in the coming years, having only your crewmates to move forward with so many enemies? I won't force you, and in any case, I'm going to Cocoyasi Village to take the heads of Arlong and Commander Rat at base 16, whether you like it or not. But if you're still willing to join us, I'll make you feel like family and strengthen you to the point where you see Arlong as an insect from your past." Luffy didn't hide his intentions.
"Enemies thousands of times worse than Arlong? Being an enemy of the whole world? Getting so strong that Arlong is seen as an insect?" Nami didn't know Rocks D. Xebec, but she understood the weight of Luffy's other words. She couldn't imagine living with the whole world as her enemy.
But looking at Luffy's determination as he started talking to her, their eyes met, and she couldn't see any degree of hesitation in them, as if he had been expecting that storm to come.
'Is he really serious?' That was a question that left her stunned.
"I... I... I'm willing to join your crew!" She finally said after a few seconds of stunned silence.
How could she not? This group was quite reliable, even with people so different and of other species with different personalities; she had no doubt that they were trustworthy after spending a week with them.
"With this group, I can fulfill my dream of saving Cocoyasi Village and making the complete world map!" She told herself.
"That's great, Nami. Welcome to the crew!" Luffy had a big smile because finally, his navigator agreed to join the crew without betraying them first.
[System - Crew: Nami has joined as a member of your crew!]
"Finally..." Luffy muttered, keeping the same smile.
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