Boom!
Just a single sentence—and Nami's mind exploded.
He knew everything!
Nami stared blankly into Lin En's eyes. With her deepest secret suddenly exposed, she was at a complete loss.
But as the shock faded, her fear of Arlong surged back. She couldn't stop herself from lashing out.
"What do you know!? Those Fishmen aren't as simple as you think!"
"Everyone who's gone up against them is dead! Even if you're strong, you can't underestimate them!"
"Otherwise… Otherwise you'll die too!"
After being with the Straw Hat crew for a while, and witnessing the divine Yinglong phenomenon in Syrup Village, Nami knew just how strong Lin En was.
But the trauma she had suffered since childhood made the Fishmen even more terrifying in her mind.
Years ago.
When Octopus Hatchan had exposed the fact that her family had three members, her nightmare began.
Arlong had gunned down her mother. She was dragged away by the throat, forced to join the Arlong Pirates in shame...
Those memories—bitter, humiliating, and unforgettable—had etched themselves into her soul.
Nami didn't want that nightmare to spread to anyone else.
She hadn't known Lin En for long, but she could tell he was different from other pirates.
He didn't belong in the filth. He shouldn't be endangered.
And now, she was only a few million Berries away from fulfilling her deal with Arlong—buying back her village.
She couldn't afford to gamble it all now.
"Nami…"
Watching the usually sharp-tongued, fearless orange-haired girl crouch down, sobbing in despair, Kaya panicked.
The woman who just earlier had been mocking Lin En—why did she seem so fragile now?
Kaya immediately knelt beside her, gently hugging her shoulders."Don't be scared, Nami. Lin En and I will help you."
"Help me...? No… you can't…"
Nami shook her head bitterly, eyes brimming with tears that blurred her vision.
She looked like a helpless little kitten—pitiful, broken.
Lin En said nothing.
He wasn't Naruto next door. He couldn't erase someone's trauma with a few motivational words.
After all, this was an eight-year-long nightmare.
It wouldn't vanish so easily.
The deck fell into silence.
Nami, held in Kaya's arms, bit her lip. Her eyes flickered with hesitation. And finally—she made up her mind.
In one sudden motion, she pulled up her left sleeve.
On her delicate, pale arm… was a tattoo.
"This is the mark of the Arlong Pirates... I… I'm actually part of Arlong's crew!"
"Just like I pretended to be allied with the Straw Hats, I only joined you guys for your money."
"I'm sorry, but I had no choice. I know how powerful the Fishmen are."
"To them, we're nothing but lower life forms—scum that doesn't deserve to fight back…"
As she spoke, Nami slumped to the deck like a balloon with the air let out, her hands covering her face as tears streamed down.
She was sure Lin En would be disgusted by what she said.
And that was fine—as long as it kept him from doing something reckless.
She let it all out—her pain, her shame—even the secret deal she had made with Arlong to buy back the village with 100 million Berries.
"One hundred million!?"
Kaya gasped, covering her mouth in shock."So that's why you've been stealing treasure all over the place?"
She could hardly believe it.
Nami, who was only a few months older than her, had been bearing a burden so heavy, it felt crushing just hearing about it.
Lin En, meanwhile, stayed calm after hearing everything.
He slowly leaned down, gently wiping Nami's tears with his hand.
His voice was soft, warm.
"Nami, carrying all that pain while hoping for redemption… must be exhausting."
"Lin En?" Nami looked up, eyes still soaked in tears.
"Telling the truth, saying those cruel things—when what you really need is support… Why are you hurting yourself like this?"
Lin En softly caressed her cheek, his voice filled with compassion:
"Believe me, Nami… The nightmare you've been trapped in—it's not as scary as you think."
Their eyes met. His were steady, unwavering.
Nami's breath caught in her throat. Her gaze grew more and more conflicted.
Lin En wasn't finished.
"Those Fishmen… They're just schemers and bullies.""Even that 100 million—do you really think Arlong's going to honor your deal?"
"..."
Nami's heart pounded. Her clenched fists were turning white.
Of course she had considered the possibility of betrayal.
She wasn't stupid.
But she never dared think too deeply about it.
Because fulfilling the deal was the only thing she could cling to.
It had been her sole hope—the one thing that kept her going for the past eight years.
So she forced herself to stay calm and muttered:
"Arlong has always kept his word when it comes to money. He… he'll definitely stick to the deal."
"I've almost saved up the full 100 million. Soon, I can finally buy the village's freedom and—"
Bonk.
Lin En lightly knocked her on the head.
"Naïve! You've already earned 100 million for him—do you really think he'll just let you go?"
"Let me give it to you straight: he's colluding with that Marine, Captain Nezumi. They're planning to steal your money."
"As soon as you return, that rat's going to accuse you of theft and confiscate your savings. You'll have to start from zero again."
That last line struck Nami like lightning.
Her lips trembled uncontrollably. She wanted to argue back—but the words caught in her throat.
If Lin En could say something like that, it meant he knew something.
Had the Marines really joined forces with pirates…?
What was she supposed to do now?
Fear, helplessness, rage—it all surged through her, paralyzing her mind.
Seeing her like that, Kaya couldn't bear it anymore. She turned to Lin En and asked:
"Lin En-nii, are you really confident you can defeat those Fishmen?"
Lin En looked out toward the sea and calmly replied:
"Don't worry. I've been butchering fish for ten years at RT-Mart. My heart is as cold as my blade."
"Compared to regular fish, these Fishmen won't be any harder to fillet."
Kaya immediately relaxed.
After all, she knew—her husband would never bluff.
Nami, on the other hand, had been pushed into a corner.
She gripped her tattooed arm tightly and whispered:
"Why… why would you do this… It's so dangerous…"
"Dangerous?"
Lin En crouched down, gently grabbing her shoulders.
He pulled her into his arms and whispered against her ear:
"For you, I'm not afraid of danger."
"Because… I like you."