As soon as the ship docked, Bahr took Daisy out for a lavish meal. The restaurant was bathed in candlelight, with fine wine and delicacies spread across the table as the two chatted happily.
After dinner, Bahr effortlessly charmed Daisy into a flustered state, spending a passionate night with her at the hotel. Watching her fall into a deep sleep, he curled his lips into a faint smirk, dressed neatly, and left with a flourish.
For him, this encounter was merely a delightful little interlude in life—and all the bills were paid by Daisy, the wealthy woman. He only lost a bit of energy, nothing more.
Later, Bahr met up with Nami the Cat Burglar. After some negotiation, the two struck a deal and set sail for Cocoyasi Village.
At the moment, Bahr lounged lazily on a rattan deck chair in shorts and a T-shirt, enjoying the caress of the sea breeze.
Honestly, though suits accentuated his figure, they were downright uncomfortable to wear.
Nami emerged from the cabin in a light short-sleeved top and skirt, biting her lip with a conflicted look in her eyes. She desperately hoped this man could help her save the village, yet she feared her hopes would be dashed.
After all, the pain Arlong had inflicted on her ran too deep.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally approached, her voice tinged with unease. "Yanzu, I should warn you—Arlong and his crew are fishmen, far stronger than ordinary humans. Are you really sure you can handle them?"
This was a fair transaction, devoid of emotion. There was no way he'd tell Nami his real name.
When it came to "shells," he treated them all the same!
"Don't worry, I'm no ordinary man," Bahr replied with an easy smile, his tone brimming with confidence.
In his eyes, those fishmen were nothing but small fry, hardly worth fearing.
"But..." Nami still couldn't shake her doubts, her brows tightly furrowed. She knew all too well the brutality of Arlong's crew—the village had been tormented beyond recognition over the years, its people living in agony.
She had indeed been drawn to Bahr's overwhelming strength, which was why she'd taken the risk to seek his help. Yet, the mere thought of Arlong's monstrous face made her heart pound with dread.
Bahr saw right through Nami's thoughts. The shadow of Arlong had long been seared into her heart, leaving deep psychological scars.
His eyes glinting, he decided to reveal a bit of his hand. "Nami-chan, have you heard of the great treasure of the sea—the Devil Fruit?"
Nami was annoyed but forced herself to stay patient. "The great treasure of the sea, the Devil Fruit. It's said those who eat it gain unimaginable powers. Why do you ask?"
Even in the isolated East Blue, she'd heard rumors of the Devil Fruit's legend!
Bahr crossed his arms, deliberately tilting his chin up slowly, his eyes narrowing into amused slits. "I'm a Devil Fruit Ability User."
Nami's eyes widened instantly, shock written all over her face. She had thought the "Devil Fruit" was just a myth, but now it seemed to be real!
Her curiosity was thoroughly piqued, and she leaned in like an eager child. "So when you pulled out that sword from nowhere, and that move where you sliced the ship from a distance—those were Devil Fruit powers?"
"Exactly."
That was one of the abilities granted by the Space Fruit—a dimensional pocket where he stored his weapons and treasures, retrieving them whenever needed.
But Bahr didn't bother explaining anything about flying slashes. Mystery was the whole point!
He casually raised his hand and flicked his fingers toward a wooden barrel on the deck. With a crisp crack, the barrel split cleanly in two.
This was the power of spatial cutting—a mere flick could create an invisible spatial rift, akin to an impossibly sharp blade.
These rifts could slice through anything. Their size and length were controlled by the user, extending up to hundreds of meters. Anything that touched the rift would be severed.
Bahr called this move the Dimensional Slash.
Of course, formidable Haki could defend against it—a fact he had confirmed through his own experiments, further proving that "Haki reigns supreme above all else."
To be clear, this wasn't just showing off. Displaying his strength would ease Nami's worries while also establishing authority in front of this shrewd Little Cat Burglar.
Nami gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. Before she could react, Bahr curled his finger, and suddenly, she felt a dizzying shift—the next second, she was standing at the bow of the ship.
"W-what just happened?!" she yelped in panic.
"My ability, of course."
This was the Space Transfer power of the Space Fruit, allowing him to relocate objects—or people—at will. It was similar to Trafalgar Law's swapping ability, except Bahr didn't need a replacement object. One could say he was exchanging them with air itself.
Bahr grinned smugly, thoroughly enjoying Nami's reaction.
He was shallow like that—he loved seeing beautiful women stunned by his overwhelming power. And shutting them up afterward? Pure satisfaction.
Acting cool feels great in the moment. Keep acting cool, and the high never ends.
Then, in a flash, Bahr's figure blurred as an imperceptible ripple distorted the air. The next instant, he was right beside Nami.
She shrieked, stumbling backward, but Bahr swiftly caught her by the waist. "Well?" he teased, smirking. "Not bad, huh?"
This time, he hadn't used Space Transfer—it was Space Teleportation, allowing him to instantly jump within a certain range. The movement left behind faint spatial ripples, though the more skilled the user, the less noticeable they became.
The Space Fruit granted many incredible abilities, but its weakness was obvious: extreme stamina drain. The stronger the ability used, the more his stamina depleted exponentially.
Additionally, all his powers had range limits. At his current level, he could freely manipulate space within a 100-meter radius centered on himself—effectively forming a Space Domain, much like Law's "Room." The difference was, Bahr didn't need to activate it deliberately. A simple gesture was enough.
Nami, still in his arms, barely registered the closeness, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is perfect! With power like this, the village can be saved!"
Bahr's smirk deepened as he pulled her closer, his gaze locked onto her delicate face. "Naturally. But don't forget our deal—once I deal with Arlong's crew, you're mine."
When fishing for pearls, you've got to have principles. And moral qualms? He had none.
Nami pressed her hands against her chest, her cheeks slightly flushed with discomfort. But the thought of her village's tragic state made her grit her teeth as she spoke firmly, "Fine. As long as you help me deal with Arlong and his crew, I'm yours."
At this moment, her heart and mind were consumed by the desperate need to save her village. Even if it meant leaping into an abyss, she was willing.
Bahr smiled in satisfaction, lifting his hand to tilt Nami's chin up. "Good. Just so we're clear—if you go back on your word afterward, I won't be gentle."
Given Nami's shrewdness, he had to set the terms upfront to ensure the deal was foolproof. After all, when it came to women, he preferred willing consent. He didn't want to resort to force.
Nami nodded firmly, her eyes filled with resolve. "Don't worry. I won't break my promise."
Over the years, she had saved up quite a bit of Berries, inching closer to the 100 million ransom she had agreed upon with Arlong. But deep down, she knew—he never intended to honor their deal.
Knowing was one thing, but what else could she do except cling to this faint hope?
The moment Bahr cleaved through the pirate ship with his blade, she had already made up her mind. This was a gamble, but one worth taking.
"Good," Bahr said, wrapping an arm around Nami as he gazed at the vast ocean, imagining life after dealing with Arlong's crew.
This was Nami the Cat Burglar, after all!
Nami paid no mind to Bahr's casual touch, her eyes fixed on the shimmering sea, her fists clenched tight. "This time, I will take down Arlong and his crew. I will save my village."
She silently steeled herself, vowing that even if it cost her every last ounce of strength, she would free Cocoyasi Village.