East Sea
Shortly after leaving Cocoyasi Village, Gawain had someone deliver evidence of Nezumi collusion with Arlong to the nearby 77th Marine Branch Base.
That base had once been commanded by a man of integrity who perished in battle after refusing to tolerate the atrocities of the Arlong Pirates.
By now, Gawain estimated, the report concerning the corrupt Marine—known as "Nezumi"—should have reached Marine Headquarters in Marineford.
Although Gawain still intended to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict with the Navy whenever possible. But if the Navy refused to act on that Rat, he would personally see to it before leaving the East Blue.
As planned, the pirate ship sailed toward Para Island.
With Nami at the helm as navigator, they successfully avoided treacherous currents and bizarre weather phenomena along the way.
At first, some crew members had doubted Nami's abilities, but that skepticism quickly turned into near-reverent trust—earned in just a few days.
Now, her standing among the crew rivaled that of Gin. She had become an indispensable core member of Gawain's pirate group.
After all, a skilled navigator could dramatically improve the journey.
At this moment, Nami was reclining on a deck chair in a swimsuit, basking in the sun.
Only fifteen or sixteen, she had yet to develop the full charm she would possess in the future—but the signs were already there. Her waist was slim, her figure graceful… except for the flat chest, which Gawain often teased as "boring."
"Miss Nami, your orange juice," a pirate in a chef's hat said, handing her a glass with a flattering grin.
"Thanks!" Nami replied sweetly, accepting the drink and taking a sip. Her eyes sparkled.
"Mmm! Not bad~"
Just then, a messenger bird swooped in from the sky, circled the mast, and landed gracefully before her. It dropped a newspaper and collected the two hundred berries she offered before flying off again.
Unbothered, Nami unfolded the newspaper. Her eyes landed on the bold front-page headline, and a satisfied smile crept across her face.
"Arlong Pirates Annihilated. Corrupt Chief of East Blue's 16th Marine Branch Arrested..."
Another weight lifted from her heart.
Cocoyasi Village would finally have a new beginning.
Gawain hadn't hidden his actions from her, so now—reading this—Nami felt a deep surge of gratitude. When she reached the bounty section, her eyes widened.
"This is…"
"Kuro of a Hundred Plans, 33 million berries.
Man-Demon Gin, 20 million berries.
And... the Knight Gawain, 85 million berries—unchanged."
"And this photo…"
Looking at the bounty poster, Nami's lips curled into a mischievous grin. She gathered the crew on deck and lined up the three bounties, immediately capturing everyone's attention.
"Ooh~"
"My bounty went up too?" Kuro said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a subtle smile.
A bounty that once haunted him now symbolized strength.
"Wait... Gin's bounty is equal to Arlong's now?"
"But," Kuro muttered, "for those of us aiming for the Grand Line, this is just the kind of strength we'll need."
As he spoke, everyone's gaze drifted to Gawain's bounty—and particularly to the strained expression on his face. Then came the laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Did the Navy really use that movie character photo for the Captain's bounty?!"
"They even made it an official version—his 'true' appearance!"
One pirate pointed at the line of bold red traditional characters along the side of the poster, laughing so hard tears welled in his eyes.
Nami glanced at Gawain, then leaned toward Kuro and whispered,
"Wait… is our Captain really the inspiration for that movie character?!"
Kuro nodded earnestly.
"Yep. The disgraced knight who had an affair with the princess and was exiled. But the guy never talks about his past."
"I knew he was acting weird about it last time~"
"Hahahaha~!"
Hearing Nami's silvery laughter, Gawain shot them both a glower and stomped back into the cabin.
He felt deeply annoyed.
He used to find Sanji's bounty photo hilarious—until he realized the real clown was now himself.
Anyone who saw that photo would immediately know the dark stain left by the "original" Gawain...
Damn it, old man!
Why do I have to carry your burden?!
His lips twitched in frustration.
Looking through the porthole at everyone still chuckling on deck, Gawain could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
Unlike the so-called "friends" of his past life—who borrowed money and played tricks behind his back—these idiots who openly mocked him were, strangely, the ones he could trust the most.
"Seriously…"
"Can't you people just let that joke die already?!"
Not long after, the crew gradually dispersed, and the sky began to darken.
Nami gazed at the thickening clouds on the horizon and frowned slightly.
"A storm?" she murmured.
To be sure, she went to her room and retrieved a telescope, scanning the distant seas.
The sky was black with storm clouds. Lightning flickered across the heavens. The once-calm sea had turned restless, waves rising higher by the minute.
With her fears confirmed, Nami rushed into the captain's quarters.
"Captain!"
"A huge storm is coming—it'll engulf the whole area. With our ship's structure, I don't think it'll survive!"
Gawain nodded. He retrieved a chart, and after reviewing it with Nami, both of their brows furrowed deeper.
"No good," Nami said urgently.
"It's worse than I expected. The entire return route is covered."
"We need to find an island or port to shelter, or we're in big trouble."
Gawain didn't hesitate. He trusted her instincts completely.
After scanning the map, he pointed at one location.
"Let's go here."
Nami looked closely, then nodded decisively.
"Zesho Island?"
"There's a mountain in the center. It'll act as a natural barrier. It's only a few dozen nautical miles from here—definitely our best bet."
Soon, Gawain's command was issued.
As the sky darkened and the ship swayed more violently beneath them, the crew worked swiftly to change course.
They turned the ship and sailed toward Zesho Island.
Meanwhile, on Zesho Island…
Three figures stood silently, staring at a ship in the distance as it bobbed precariously on the rising waves.
They turned their eyes to the approaching storm.
After a long pause, Yosaku turned to Zoro, his expression twisted with exasperation.
"I must've been blind to let you lead the way."