Chapter 133: Nami: How Much?!
East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.
The last rays of the setting sun bathed the small house in a warm, orange glow, dyeing the courtyard the same color.
Genzo pushed his bicycle past the gate, the small pinwheel on his head spinning in the breeze. He turned and looked at the empty house with a nostalgic expression.
It had been over half a month since Belle-mère had moved out. He wondered if she was happy now.
She must be, right?
After all, the woman had been laughing heartily before she left, saying that after toiling in the tangerine grove for over a decade, she could finally go out and enjoy a nice, long vacation.
"Sigh…"
Genzo sighed and was about to turn and leave when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Excuse me."
Two men in black suits and sunglasses stood at the gate, holding a file, a polite but distant smile on their faces.
"Are you Mr. Genzo?"
Genzo was taken aback. He looked them over. "And you are?"
"I am a member of the World Government's CP3. I've been sent to investigate a few things," the man on the left said with a slight nod. "Regarding Shane."
Shane?
So it's just as Belle-mère predicted!
No, to be precise, this was Shane's idea.
That kid was really far-sighted. The moment his bounty had risen to around 500 million Berries, he had immediately had Belle-mère move. As for where she had moved to, not even he knew.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it.
He hadn't thought that the World Government and the Marines would stoop so low as to go to the countryside and bother a retired old Marine.
But now…
Genzo's pupils constricted for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He snorted, his voice suddenly filled with anger.
"That ungrateful little bastard? What do you want with him?!"
"Oh?" the CP3 agent on the left raised an eyebrow. "It seems you don't have a very good impression of him."
"Good impression?! It's worse than that!"
Genzo stomped his foot and cursed, gritting his teeth. "That ungrateful wolf! After our village raised him for so many years, what did he do?! The moment he came of age, he went out to sea and became a pirate! And he killed so many Marines who were upholding justice! He's a disgrace to Cocoyasi Village!"
His voice grew louder and louder, even attracting the attention of a few nearby villagers.
"That's right! That bastard!"
"We should have kicked him out of the village back then!"
"I knew he was no good years ago! He tore down all the mountains on the island! Now we don't even have a place to go for a spring outing!"
"That's right! Even when he was a kid, he was always causing trouble! He almost ate the big white dog at the village entrance!"
The villagers all gathered around, angrily denouncing Shane's crimes, each one of them so indignant that it was as if they wanted to strangle him with their own hands.
A large white dog also barked angrily, clearly sharing their hatred for Shane.
The CP3 agent narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"You all hate him?"
"Hate him? Of course we hate him!"
Genzo said angrily. "That bastard led Nami and Nojiko, two good girls, astray! And now, even Belle-mère couldn't stand the dirty looks from the village and had to leave! That bastard, he'd better never come back, or I'll be the first to break his legs!"
"That's right! Break his legs!"
"So he'll never dare to come back to the East Blue again!"
The villagers were in an uproar. Some even waved their hoes, as if they were ready to fight.
The two men in suits exchanged a look and finally nodded. "We understand. Thank you for your cooperation."
Ten minutes later, the two of them were on a small path outside the village, under a coconut tree, calling their superior.
"...We've finished our inquiries, sir. Shane's adoptive mother has moved, and her whereabouts are unknown. His two sisters are with him, and the villagers all harbor a deep hatred for him."
"In other words, there is nothing in Cocoyasi Village that we can use to threaten Shane."
"Understood. We'll be returning to base now."
Meanwhile, in Genzo's house, the villagers were gathered in the living room, listening to his summary.
"Those two are gone,"
Genzo said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "But we can't let our guard down. That was just the overt part. There might be more to come, in secret."
"For example, they might disguise themselves as ordinary merchants or travelers to try and get information. In any case, just remember, in front of outsiders, we stick to the original plan."
"Understood, Genzo! Don't worry!"
"Hmph, trying to disguise themselves? Those dogs who framed Shane, they can't hide their stench!"
...
Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
The cicadas chirped outside the window. In the height of summer, the wind chimes under the eaves of the dojo tinkled in the evening breeze.
"Dinner's ready!"
A hearty voice came from the kitchen, and the children in the dojo cheered, dropping their bamboo swords and rushing to the dining hall.
Zoro and Sanji were at the very front, pushing and shoving, trying to be the first one in.
"Moss-Head! Get out of the way!"
"Curly-Brows! You're the one who should get out of the way!"
The two of them began to wrestle at the door, and the commotion grew louder and louder. Just then—
"Hey, you two little rascals!"
Belle-mère walked out of the kitchen, a cigarette between her lips. She grabbed both of them by the ear. "You're practically young men now, and you're still fighting at dinnertime like little kids? It seems today's training wasn't enough, was it?"
"Ow, ow, ow!" Zoro winced. "Auntie Belle-mère, let go!"
"What are you talking about, Moss-Head? So rude! Who's an auntie?!" Sanji said, standing on his tiptoes to ease the pain and indignantly defending her. "She's a beautiful big sister!"
"You silver-tongued devil!"
Belle-mère wasn't buying it. She snorted and dragged the two of them to the front yard.
"As punishment for disrupting the dinner order, you two, now, immediately, will do two thousand one-handed push-ups! You can eat when you're done!"
"Two thousand?!" the two of them cried out in unison.
Normally, that amount of training would be nothing, but they were starving!
On the tatami mat in the main house, Koshiro sat with a cup of hot tea in his hand, a smile on his face as he watched the scene.
After Kuina and Zeff had left, these two had become more and more unruly, constantly fighting and making a racket. He, with his gentle nature, had been at a loss.
But now, since Ms. Belle-mère had arrived half a month ago, the two of them had been much more well-behaved.
Was it because they were afraid of the formidable Belle-mère herself…
…or were they afraid of the "big brother" who could scare them into submission with a single glare?
Or both?
Koshiro's gaze fell on the newspaper that was fluttering in the wind on the table, and he was a little dazed.
A billion Berries…
How long has it been since he set sail? Just two months, right? And his bounty has already reached such a terrifying level.
Even he, who had seen and heard a lot, only knew one person with a higher bounty.
If he were given another year or two, Koshiro couldn't even imagine what this child would achieve.
Of course, besides that…
Koshiro gently flipped through the newspaper and took out the second wanted poster, silently looking at the black-haired girl with the high ponytail.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
Following that young man, she will surely become the world's greatest swordswoman, right?
When you come home, come and put me in my place. Make this foolish old father apologize for the words he shouldn't have said that night.
"Kuina…"
Good luck.
...
Grand Line, Jaya Island.
This was the half of the island that had been left behind after the Knock Up Stream had shot the other half into the sky.
And the town of Mock Town on the island was a notorious gathering place for outlaws. Many pirates who passed through would stop here for a while.
At this moment, in the afternoon, a tavern was a scene of chaos and noise.
Pirates were chugging rum and bragging about their adventures, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat.
"Hey, have you seen the latest newspaper? That monster, Shane, rejected the Warlord invitation, and his bounty has gone up to a billion Berries!"
"Of course! This is big news that has shaken the whole world! Every pirate in the Grand Line knows about it! You don't have to tell us!"
"Ayu's news is so outdated!"
His comrades laughed and teased him.
A pirate sighed. "A billion Berries… there must be at least a few hundred bounty heads on this island, if not a thousand. I wonder if all of them combined are worth as much as this one guy."
"Of course not!"
"That's right! That's a billion Berries! If you ask me, all the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line combined don't have a bounty that high!"
"Huh? That's not right, is it? It should be at least a few billion, you idiot!"
"Who are you calling an idiot, you bastard! You're illiterate too! If you were so smart, would you have become a pirate?"
The two of them argued, and the surrounding pirates also took sides, the supporters of both views equally divided.
But in any case, one thing was certain.
A billion was a number that was far beyond their comprehension.
After all, in the first half of the Grand Line, pirates with bounties of over one hundred million were few and far between, and five hundred million and above was a realm that only the monsters of the New World could reach!
Just then.
Screech—
The saloon doors were pushed open, and a tall figure stepped in.
In an instant, the noise in the tavern died down.
All eyes were involuntarily drawn to this man—
A black coat, sharp, hawk-like eyes, and… that iconic cross-shaped black sword!
"T-The World's Greatest Swordsman, 'Hawk-Eye' Mihawk?!"
Someone recognized him and whispered in terror, the cup in his hand shattering on the floor with a clatter.
The others, who hadn't recognized him, were also stunned. The smarter ones were already quietly dragging their comrades out the back door.
Hawkeye paid no mind to the commotion around him and went straight to the bar. Behind him was a nervous and uneasy Tashigi.
"A tequila, on the rocks," he said, ordering a drink for himself. He glanced at Tashigi and then ordered her the tavern's most popular cherry pie.
The two of them found an inconspicuous table in a corner and sat down. Tashigi finally began to relax.
"Mr. Mihawk," Tashigi asked in a low voice, "do you really think that Lord Shane and his crew will come here?"
"Just trust me,"
Hawkeye said, taking a sip of his drink. "If Shane doesn't arrive here within three days, I'll write my name backward from now on."
He was very confident about this.
Shane's crew's route, so far, had been predictable.
From Whiskey Peak to Little Garden, and then to Alabasta. Following that pattern, the next stop was, without a doubt, Mock Town.
"Speaking of which, you've been in low spirits ever since we arrived on this island," Hawkeye said, glancing at the girl across from him. "It's strange. His fame has increased, so you should be happy, like last time, right?"
"I-I am happy for Lord Shane, but… but…"
Tashigi's secret was exposed, and she lowered her head in frustration. "Lord Shane is moving too fast. It just makes me feel that I'm getting further and further away from him."
"..."
Hawkeye silently looked at the girl before him, not offering any words of comfort.
In his opinion, Tashigi's talent for the sword was only passable, a far cry from the swordswoman with a similar appearance who was with Shane.
But her obsession with the way of the sword, and the state of complete focus she entered when she was practicing, was something he truly admired.
What a shame.
Hawkeye shook his head slightly and looked away.
This little girl, if she had continued to study under his guidance, might have actually achieved something in the way of the sword.
But their agreement was that he would only teach her temporarily, and that after they found Shane, they would go their separate ways.
And now, Shane was about to arrive on this island.
Their time together was coming to an end.
Why should he worry about a passing stranger?
...…
Meanwhile, on The Curtain Call.
Shane pushed open the door to the training room and walked out, rubbing his sore fists with a frustrated expression.
"I couldn't do it. Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
He sighed sadly.
When he had been sparring with Garp, he had paid close attention to how the old man used his Conqueror's Haki Infusion and had committed it to memory.
It was becoming a must-have skill for anyone who wanted to fight at the top, and since he had the opportunity to learn it, he had to give it a try.
Unfortunately…
"It's not that simple, after all," he said, looking at the Poneglyph in the training room and shaking his head.
Since he had parted ways with Garp two days ago, he had been practicing relentlessly, but he had tried all sorts of methods, and he still couldn't apply his Conqueror's Haki to his physical attacks.
This was to be expected.
Shane was at most a little disappointed, not discouraged.
After all, he had only awakened his Conqueror's Haki two months ago.
This was a top-tier combat technique that only a handful of old geezers in the world could use. How could it be so easy to master?
Even Luffy, under Rayleigh's careful guidance, had spent two years and still hadn't learned it.
As for Yamato? The only reason she could use it so freely at a young age was because of Kaido's daily, rigorous training.
There's still a long way to go. I can't be too impatient!
Shane comforted himself.
But he hadn't come away empty-handed. In fact, he had gained a lot.
Garp had fought him with all his might this time, and it was nothing like their playful sparring on Mt. Colubo.
The old man's powerful control over his Armament Haki, especially the technique of constantly compressing and enhancing the strength of his Haki emission, had enlightened him a lot.
From now on, he would focus on this aspect and, with the help of the Poneglyph, practice more.
He was confident that it wouldn't be long before the strength of his Armament Haki would reach a new level.
"Hah…"
He stretched, pushing aside his stray thoughts, and walked through the corridor to the deck.
He happened to see Nami excitedly holding up a newspaper and shouting, "Hey! Everyone! Come and see! Our new bounties are out!"
"A new newspaper just came in?"
Shane raised an eyebrow and walked over.
"Big Bro!" Nami's eyes lit up when she saw him. "Look! The front page is all about you! Your bounty has gone up to a billion Berries!"
A billion?
Shane glanced at the photo on the front page and couldn't help but chuckle.
It seemed the World Government had really been provoked this time and was furious.
This bounty, in the New World, would probably only be second to the top commanders of the various Emperor's crews: King, Katakuri, Marco, and Beckman.
And among the new generation, he was in a league of his own, far ahead of everyone else.
"What about the others?" he asked casually. "They went up too, right? And you, has Marine Headquarters cleared up the misunderstanding about Gin?"
"I-I haven't looked at the back yet," Nami muttered. "I was waiting for you and everyone else to come, so I could tell you all at once."
"Everyone's here now," Nojiko said with a grin, holding the little mochi-like creature. "You can read them out to us now."
She stroked the little mochi-like creature's head. Yesterday, at breakfast, everyone had finally noticed the little guy's change.
The little white rice ball had turned a pale yellow and had grown a tail. The direction of its growth was very strange.
Could it be that after staying in Alabasta for so long, the hot desert sun had changed its color?
That was everyone's initial theory, but in any case, the little mochi-like creature was still very cute, and the extra fluffy tail was fun to pet. Its position as the crew's mascot was unshakable.
"I know, I know, I'll look now… no, wait!"
Nami suddenly gritted her teeth and threw the newspaper to Smoker. "Smokey, you read it! I-I'll just listen."
"Hmm?"
Smoker subconsciously took the newspaper and looked at her, puzzled.
Just a few days ago, whenever a newspaper arrived, Nami would be the first to snatch it up and read it in secret.
And now that the new wanted posters were really out, she was suddenly so timid?
"You care too much about this," he said, shaking his head and shaking the newspaper open.
"W-Who cares!" Nami said stubbornly.
"..." Smoker couldn't be bothered to argue. He glanced at the back of the paper and, looking at the wanted posters, he clicked his tongue. "Hey, Kuina, your bounty has gone up quite a bit. You've really pulled ahead of everyone else."
"How much?" Kuina, who was polishing the Wado Ichimonji, glanced over.
"'Rain-Slicer' Kuina of The Curtain Call, according to the latest intelligence, has been confirmed as the official vice-captain of the Curtain Call Pirates. Her bounty has been raised to 200 million Berries…"
Smoker read, and then he grinned. "In any case, besides Boss Shane, you're the first to break the 200-million-Berry mark. That's very rare in the first half of Paradise."
Kuina nodded slightly and went back to polishing her sword, her expression unreadable.
"What about me?" Nojiko asked curiously.
"You're right after Kuina. You're also one of the crew members whose bounty has changed the most,"
Smoker said, pulling out a wanted poster and handing it to her. "Your epithet has changed too. It's now 'Winter's Fist' Nojiko, user of the Snow-Snow Fruit. Bounty: 130 million Berries."
It's doubled!
Nojiko's eyes lit up, and she happily took the wanted poster. Before, besides Nami, she had always been at the bottom of the crew's bounty list!
"What about me?! What about me?!"
Nami finally couldn't hold it in any longer and asked impatiently.
"After that is Gin. His bounty hasn't changed,"
Smoker said, a little surprised. "So Marine Headquarters must have really found out that the fire wasn't Gin's ability. Let me look at the back… hmm, old man Zeff, and myself… this last one must be yours. The bounty is…"
Nami held her breath.
"…one hundred million Berries!"
"H-How much?!" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Congratulations!" Smoker shrugged and pulled out the last wanted poster. "The ability of the Flame-Flame Fruit no longer belongs to Gin. Huh, wait!"
He suddenly froze, a look of shock on his face.
And the others, looking at the wanted poster he had pulled out, were also stunned. They looked at each other, their expressions strange.
In the photo…
It was definitely Nami, but only the bottom half of her head was visible. The main part of the photo was a white, mochi-like ball, which was perched on her head and smiling cutely at the camera.
And the text below read—
[FLAME WHITE BALL - MOCHI, BOUNTY: 100 MILLION BERRIES!]
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