After Leo figured things out, a spark of inspiration lit up in his eyes, and a clever idea came to mind.
"Luffy, don't you think we really need a navigator?"
His voice carried a touch of persuasion, like a magician casting a subtle charm. Unfortunately, Luffy, still dizzy and out of sorts, didn't hear a word.
"I found someone perfect. She's probably the best navigator in all of East Blue."
Leo was just getting to the exciting part of his explanation when he noticed something that made a vein pop on his forehead—Luffy wasn't listening at all.
A giant anime-style cross mark formed on Leo's head in frustration. He clenched his cane and smacked Luffy's puffed-up belly with a solid thud. In an instant, a long stream of water spurted from Luffy's mouth like a broken fountain.
"Alive, alive~"
Luffy wheezed and groaned as he came back to his senses. Every inch of his body ached. He swore silently that he'd never tease Leo again. Who would've guessed Leo could hold a grudge for being asked about meat-growing trees?
"What did you say? Navigator?"
Luffy blinked and wiped his mouth, slowly standing up with the help of the boat's railing. He looked around, scanning the horizon.
"Where?"
"See that little boat out there?" Leo pointed at a small figure in the distance.
The moment the words left his mouth, Luffy reacted with lightning speed.
Whoosh!
His arms stretched across the sea like twin slingshots and grabbed the small boat in the distance, yanking it toward them with incredible force.
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
On the speeding boat, a young girl with orange hair screamed as the sudden tug threw her off balance. She clutched a heavy-looking bag to her chest with both arms.
"What is happening?! This has to be a nightmare!"
Even in the face of madness, she wasn't letting go of that bag.
Luffy stared curiously at the girl flying toward them. "Huh? She doesn't look like much. Can someone this scared even navigate a boat?"
Leo rolled his eyes and smacked Luffy lightly. "Don't judge by appearances."
He stepped forward and smirked. "Luffy, this is Nami—the famous thief of East Blue. Her navigation skills are said to be unmatched."
Nami, who had just landed on the deck with a thud, looked startled at first but quickly composed herself and nodded with a hint of pride.
Before she could speak, Leo added, "As our navigator, she'll be indispensable."
Luffy's face lit up like the sun.
"Oh! If Leo says so, then it must be true!"
He chuckled and picked up his straw hat from the deck, gave it a few pats, and placed it back on his head.
"Alright, Nami! I'm Monkey D. Luffy. From today onward, you're our navigator!"
"Let's go! We're heading to Shells Town!"
"Yes, Captain!" Leo responded playfully. He waved his cane, and vines of green wind wrapped around Nami's small boat, tethering it behind theirs.
A sudden gust of green-tinted wind erupted, launching the boat forward like a bullet.
Whoosh!
"Ahhhh?!"
Nami held tightly to the railing of her own boat, her eyes wide in disbelief. Was she just kidnapped? And was the boat… flying?
...
The boat sped across the sea at an incredible pace.
At first, Nami's head spun from the sudden acceleration, but she gradually adapted to the speed. She stood up shakily and looked ahead at the sail flapping above them.
"So, you're going to Shells Town to find that pirate hunter?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her voice.
Leo, who was sitting near the edge of the deck, gave her a side glance. "That's right."
Luffy laughed with his usual carefree energy. "I'm going to become the King of Pirates! So of course I need strong allies!"
He pointed to Leo with a grin. "Leo was the first one to join me! Now we have you too as our navigator!"
Nami groaned in frustration. "Who decided that?!"
She folded her arms, glaring at both of them. "You kidnapped me and just declared me part of your crew without asking."
She glanced at Coby, who was nervously keeping his distance, and sighed again.
After a bit of observation, she pieced things together. Luffy was clearly the loudmouth dreamer, Leo was the level-headed (but dangerous) one, and Coby... well, he was harmless.
Despite herself, she found Leo the most tolerable of the group, even if he acted aloof whenever she asked to be let go.
And then there was Luffy, who had the nerve to say, "Come on, being a pirate is fun! You can go wherever you want~"
Nami turned away in annoyance, her eyes locking on the slowly approaching town dock. "I don't care. I hate pirates."
She said nothing more, pulling the boat alongside the dock and helping secure it.
Leo jumped down with ease, landing softly on the wooden pier.
Off in the distance, shouts could be heard from within the town. Though life had grown harder since Captain Morgan's appointment, people were still trying to live their daily lives.
"Alright, Luffy. Since we've already eaten, we should head straight to the Marine base," Leo suggested, already stepping toward the road.
Luffy grinned, slamming his fists together. "Let's go!"
"Wait! Wait a minute!"
Nami ran up behind them, looking flustered. "What am I supposed to do?! You're just going to waltz into a Marine base?"
She looked genuinely baffled. Pirates, walking into the Marines' territory like it was a stroll through the park?
Leo raised an eyebrow as realization dawned on him.
Nami probably didn't have much faith in either the Marines or pirates. Maybe, like in the original timeline, she'd only turn to Luffy and his crew after being pushed into a corner.
A sly grin crept across Leo's face as his eyes shifted toward the bulging bag Nami had brought with her.
It was obvious what was inside: treasure.
He turned and said with a charming but devious glint in his eye, "Nami, right?"
"What do you want?" she asked, taking a step back, wary of the tone in his voice.
"Just relax and do your job as our navigator," he said smoothly.
With a small flick of his hand, the bag on Nami's back vanished into thin air.
Before she could react, Leo and Luffy were already running toward the Marine base.
"Come on, Coby!" Luffy shouted cheerfully.
"Ah?!"
Nami froze for a moment, staring at the now-empty spot where her bag had been.
Her anger surged like a volcano.
"That damn magician! Give me back my treasure!!!"
She gritted her teeth and bolted after them. She didn't care if it was a Marine base or a den of sea monsters—no one stole from Nami!
...
The group soon arrived outside a massive structure: the 153rd Marine Branch Base.
It resembled a towering fortress, with stone walls so high they blocked any view of the inside. At the base of one section, however, there was a slightly shorter part of the wall.
Coby, even in his timid state, could climb up and peek inside.
As they approached, the sounds of marching and shouting echoed from within.
Leo slowed down and placed a hand on the wall. "This is the place."
Luffy grinned excitedly. "Time to meet this pirate hunter!"
Nami finally caught up, panting and furious. "Where's my bag?!"
Leo gave her a cool glance, unfazed. "Help us get through this, and you'll get it back. Maybe even with interest."
"You...!!"
Nami growled, but deep down, she knew there was no getting away from them. Not yet.
She let out a heavy sigh, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Fine. But you better not mess this up, or I'm out."
Leo smiled knowingly.
Everything was falling into place.
The next stage of their journey—and their encounter with the infamous Pirate Hunter—was just beginning.