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Orange Town.
This small town, famous for its oranges, was now the Buggy Pirates' stronghold.
"Finally got it!"
A graceful figure, clutching a sea chart, was currently fleeing desperately. It was Nami, who had just stolen the Grand Line sea chart from the Buggy Pirates. Behind Nami, the Buggy Pirates' subordinates were in hot pursuit.
"Ah! Help!"
Above, a large bird still flew, clutching Luffy.
"Captain Buggy, there seems to be an unidentified object above the harbor."
Inside a tent at a high point in Orange Town, a man with a distinctive red nose opened his eyes.
"Shoot it down," Buggy said coldly.
Boom!
A cannonball accurately struck the bird, allowing Luffy to break free and plummet towards the ground. His landing point happened to be right between Nami and her pursuers.
"Wha... what happened?"
Nami looked at the deep pit where dust was rising.
"Ah, I'm saved. That was an interesting journey."
Luffy jumped out of the pit, adjusting his straw hat.
"You, you are...?"
Nami looked at Luffy, feeling a sense of familiarity. After a brief recollection, she remembered the handsome face she had danced with on that merchant ship, who had promised to meet her again. His name was Lu En, right? This straw-hatted boy was the one who was on Lu En's ship when she escaped back then. Nami looked left and right, but didn't see Lu En's figure.
"Huh, you are!"
Luffy now noticed Nami, staring at her with a look of shock. Sure enough, this guy remembers her too. Just as Nami was about to say something, she saw Luffy's head suddenly tilt, his face a complete "?"
"Who?"
"..."
Nami's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Since he didn't remember her, why was he so shocked when he saw her just now?!
"Boss, it's me! I know Lu En!"
Seeing the somewhat stunned Buggy Pirates' pursuers, Nami quickly adjusted her emotions and said with a smile.
"Oh, the thief Lu En mentioned."
At the mention of Lu En, Luffy finally remembered.
"That's right, Boss! You're here to save me, aren't you? Then I'll leave it to you!"
At this point, Nami didn't care what Luffy called her. She pointed at the Buggy Pirates' pursuers, finished her sentence, and then dashed off in a flash.
"Hey, since you're that woman's boss, we'll capture you first, and then make that woman hand over the sea chart."
The Buggy Pirates' subordinates aimed at Luffy.
"Ah, I'm hungry."
Luffy clutched his stomach, his spirits low.
"Bastard! I'm talking to you!"
One of the pirate subordinates immediately became enraged and knocked Luffy's straw hat off with a punch.
"Don't touch my treasure!"
Luffy stretched out his arm to retrieve his straw hat, his eyes becoming extremely dangerous. Having angered Luffy, these pirate subordinates were naturally easily dealt with by Luffy.
"You're amazing!"
Nami, who had escaped to the rooftop to observe the situation, was pleasantly surprised to see this scene.
"I'm a thief who specializes in stealing from pirates, Nami. Do you want to work together?"
After seeing Luffy's skills, Nami, who had originally only wanted the Grand Line sea chart, began to set her sights on the Buggy Pirates' treasures.
"No, I don't want to work with you."
Luffy glanced at Nami, then turned to leave.
"Don't say that. I'll buy you dinner."
Nami said with a smile.
"Really?!"
Luffy's face instantly lit up with surprise.
...
"Delicious."
Inside a house, Luffy devoured a hamburger in one bite, his face beaming.
"Do you live in such a big place all by yourself?"
Luffy asked Nami curiously.
"No, I'm not from this town. Everyone in town fled because they were afraid of Buggy."
Nami said.
"So you're breaking and entering."
Luffy always spoke his mind.
"How rude! I'm a thief who specializes in stealing from pirates. Don't compare breaking and entering, such a low-level thing, to me."
Nami retorted.
"But a thief is a thief, right?"
Luffy said while eating.
"I must save up 100 million Beli. With this Grand Line sea chart, I can definitely do it."
Nami's face was full of determination.
"Sea chart? Are you a navigator?"
Hearing this, Luffy's eyes immediately changed.
"I'm much better than ordinary navigators."
When it came to navigation, Nami was very confident.
"Then do you want to join my pirate crew as a navigator?"
Luffy remembered what Lu En had said—that one must find a skilled navigator to go to the Grand Line—and immediately extended an invitation.
"No! So you're a pirate! I hate pirates the most!"
Nami's expression instantly changed upon hearing this. In her mind, Lu En's figure also appeared. She had thought Lu En, who had acted so strangely at the time, was a fellow professional. So, he was a pirate too!
"I see."
Luffy didn't push it, continuing to eat his food. Knowing Luffy was a pirate, Nami no longer brought up the idea of cooperation and prepared to leave. But upon reaching the window and seeing the Buggy Pirates' pursuers outside, her eyes flickered, and she looked at Luffy.
"However, if you agree to one condition, I'll consider it."
Nami smiled.
"Really?! I'll agree to anything!"
Luffy immediately said with surprise.
"Okay, you have to come with me to see Buggy."
Nami pulled out a rope and tied Luffy up.
"Why are you tying me up?"
Luffy looked puzzled.
"Is there a problem?"
Nami smiled, seeing Luffy tied up by her. Nami was very kind; otherwise, she wouldn't aim to earn 100 million Beli by only stealing from pirates. But when it came to pirates, she had no moral qualms about tricking them.
"Nothing. I wanted to meet the pirates anyway. Let's go quickly."
Luffy then smiled nonchalantly.
...
Meanwhile, Buggy was fuming over not being able to find the thief.
"Captain Buggy!"
A pirate subordinate shouted, running towards Buggy.
"What is it?"
Buggy was in a terrible mood. The Grand Line sea chart was very important to him.
"That thief came by herself!"
The pirate subordinate shouted.
"What did you say?"
Buggy's face was full of disbelief. He looked up and saw the thief, escorting a bound boy with a straw hat, walking towards him.
"It's them! This woman stole the sea chart!"
A Buggy Pirate subordinate pointed at Nami and shouted.
Slap!
Nami didn't panic. She just gave Luffy a fierce shove, and the bound Luffy immediately fell to the ground.
"I've caught the thief, Captain Buggy. Here's your sea chart."
Nami held up the sea chart.
"I'm glad you brought it back, but what changes has your heart undergone?"
Buggy took the sea chart, a strange smile on his face.
"My boss and I had a falling out. I've had enough of him. Please let me join your Buggy crew."
Nami smiled. This was the strategy Nami had come up with. Under the Buggy Pirates' pursuit, she couldn't escape anyway. She might as well use this pirate and the sea chart to gain Buggy's trust, then find an opportunity to steal the sea chart back and leave.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Buggy's eyes instantly became bloodshot.
"Ca... Captain Buggy is angry!"
"The devil's power is about to activate!"
The surrounding Buggy Pirates members looked terrified.
"Devil's power?"
Luffy, who had been pushed to the ground, blinked upon hearing this. Could this Buggy have eaten a Devil Fruit too?
"Hahahaha!"
The next moment, Buggy burst into laughter.
"Can't stand this idiot anymore? You're quite interesting, woman. Alright, I'll let you join."
Buggy laughed heartily. Nami's eyes curved in a smile upon hearing this. Infiltration successful. Pirates were simply easy to fool.
Then, Buggy Pirates' subordinates locked Luffy into a cage.
"Why are you locking me up?"
Luffy shouted. But no one answered him.
"I'm in a good mood today. What's your name, woman?"
Buggy looked at Nami.
"Nami."
Nami smiled, introducing herself.
"Good! Everyone, let's throw a welcome party for Nami! Let's make a grand ruckus!"
Buggy spread his arms, laughing.
"Oh!"
The Buggy Pirates' subordinates immediately roared in response. Then, fine wine and delicious food filled the Buggy Pirates' stronghold. The way pirates celebrated was by holding banquets.
"What's wrong? Eat more. This is your welcome party," Buggy said, laughing at Nami, who sat before him.
"Okay, thank you very much."
Nami responded with a smile. After successfully infiltrating, Nami was already plotting how to steal the sea chart back, and even how to steal the Buggy Pirates' treasure. The Buggy Pirates were well-known in the East Blue, and Buggy the Clown was famous for loving treasure. If she could steal the Buggy Pirates' treasure, she could definitely earn a fortune.
"Hahahaha! I'm in a wonderful mood! My men! Prepare the Special Buggy Ball!"
After a few drinks, Buggy burst into laughter.
"What are you doing?"
Nami watched in surprise as the Buggy Pirates' subordinates set up a large cannon and loaded a special cannonball into it.
"You're going to see the power of the Special Buggy Ball."
"Light it."
Buggy revealed a cruel smile.
Boom!!!
Accompanied by a violent flash of fire, the Special Buggy Ball was fired. The intense blaze directly blasted a hole through the town before them, destroying countless buildings in a violent explosion.
...
"What was that explosion?"
Zoro, who had already landed, looked at the fierce light.
"Th-that's Captain Buggy's ultimate move, the Buggy Ball!"
The three Buggy Pirates subordinates, who had been hijacked by Zoro and Lu En, explained, sweating coldly.
"Buggy Ball?"
Zoro muttered the name.
"Let's go. Luffy's probably there, after all, he's a trouble magnet," Lu En said, looking in the direction where the Buggy Ball was fired, a slight smirk on his lips.
Long time no see, Buggy.
...
"How magnificent! With the Buggy Ball and my Devil Fruit ability, I will surely conquer the Grand Line, don't you agree, Nami!"
Buggy gazed at his Buggy Ball's masterpiece, a wide grin on his face.
"Yes, yes, Captain Buggy."
Nami forced a response, suppressing the turmoil in her heart. Good, everyone in town had already left; no casualties.
"Huh? I'm the one who's going to conquer the Grand Line, I'll be the Pirate King!"
Luffy, hearing this, immediately looked displeased.
"Hmm?!"
Buggy's veins bulged in his forehead at the remark.
"Hahahaha! I knew why you couldn't stand this idiot, Nami."
Buggy found it laughable that such a brat would dare to claim he'd be the Pirate King.
"That's right, he's just an innocent who hasn't seen the world, so there's no way I could continue following him."
Nami could only agree with him.
"Good. Then I'll reward you with a Buggy Ball to blast your former boss away."
Buggy revealed a cruel smile.
"This also signifies your true allegiance to me. This is the real welcome ceremony, Nami."
Click!
A new Buggy Ball was loaded, aimed at Luffy.
"Fire! Fire!"
The surrounding Buggy Pirates' subordinates began to roar frantically.
"..."
Nami was handed a box of matches, but her hand trembled. She knew full well that if she didn't fire, Buggy would kill her. But how could she become like those cruel pirates?
"What's wrong? Your hand is trembling," Luffy suddenly spoke, causing Nami to flinch.
"You came to challenge pirates without enough resolve, that's why this happened."
Luffy, though tied in a cage and targeted by a Buggy Ball, showed no hint of panic.
"What is resolve?! Is it easily killing others? Is that a pirate's resolve?!"
Remembering past events, Nami bit her lip and retorted.
"No, it's the resolve to stake your life."
Luffy revealed a smile unlike his usual one, a smile that spoke of his true breadth of vision.
"Then let me do it."
A Buggy Pirates' subordinate, seeing Nami's hesitation, took a match, ready to light the fuse.
Whoosh! Bang!
Just as he was about to light the fuse, Nami pulled out an assembled long staff and fiercely knocked the pirate subordinate down.
"Nami, what are you doing?!"
Buggy's face was incredibly grim.
"I'm sorry!"
After her impulsive act, Nami's timid nature returned automatically. She bowed and apologized.
"Do you think an apology will suffice?!"
Buggy instantly transformed into his sharp-fanged, enraged self.
"What the hell? Are you only trying to save me now?"
Luffy also couldn't understand Nami's thoughts.
"Don't talk nonsense, I just acted on impulse."
"I just don't want to become like those cruel pirates."
Nami held her staff, wary of the Buggy Pirates' members who were gradually surrounding her.
"What? Just an impulse, huh?"
Luffy had thought Nami was going to join his pirate crew.
"Pirates took the lives of the most important people to me! Who wants to associate with them?!"
Seeing the situation had reached this point, Nami vented.
"So that's it."
Luffy understood. No wonder Nami, who had initially wanted to cooperate with him, immediately refused to join once she heard he was a pirate.
Hiss!
At this moment, the sound of a burning fuse came.
"Ah! The fuse is lit!"
Luffy immediately panicked. His rubber body could withstand blows, but not explosions.
"Fooling around has its limits, little girl! Beautifully kill her!"
Buggy's eyes were bloodshot at this point, completely enraged.
"Die gloriously!"
Several Buggy Pirates subordinates, eager to make an impression, immediately charged forward. Nami dodged with agile movements, then quickly ran towards the burning fuse.
"Water, where's the water?"
Luffy anxiously looked left and right.
"Damn it! No time!"
Nami looked at the fuse, which was about to burn out. Gritting her teeth, she directly grabbed it with both hands.
"Ah!"
The burning pain from directly grabbing the lit fuse caused Nami immense agony.
"You!"
Luffy looked at Nami's actions with some shock.
The fuse, in Nami's hand, finally slowly extinguished.
"Die!"
But the crisis wasn't over. The Buggy Pirates members behind her charged at Nami, raising their weapons. Nami closed her eyes in despair.
Bang!
"So many people, what kind of skill is it to bully a weak woman?"
A sneering voice came.
"Zoro!"
Luffy looked with surprise at Zoro, who had just dispatched the Buggy Pirate subordinates with his sword.
"Sashiburida na, Miss Thief."
Then, a familiar chuckle came. Nami looked over and saw the figure she had danced with on the merchant ship slowly approaching.
"Lu En! I can't believe you found your way here!"
Luffy said happily.
"Lu En... long time no see."
Nami subconsciously replied. She hadn't expected to meet him again on the vast sea, and in such circumstances.
"Check term."
Lu En, however, didn't have much time to reminisce with Nami at this moment. He looked at Buggy.
Buzz!
A dazzling golden light flashed. Buggy, indeed, had a great secret! Lu En's eyes gleamed.