"Miss, this way please. The president is already waiting!"
The white-haired beauty, Mirajane, opened the office door and gestured politely to Nami.
"Thanks!"
Nami nodded and stepped inside.
"What would you like to entrust us with?"
Sugisawa Yuuto swiveled in his chair with effortless grace, finishing the question before it even left his mouth.A slight frown appeared on his face as his eyes scanned the orange-haired girl before him.
It was only natural that he recognized her.
As a traverser, how could he not?A member of the protagonist group—the Straw Hat Crew.Nami, the genius navigator, the clever "Cat Burglar."
And… he already knew why she had come.It was time to deal with the evil Arlong Gang.
Yuuto's sharp gaze made Nami's delicate frame shiver, a spike of panic rising in her chest.
"Don't be nervous, miss. Take a sip of tea first, then tell us about your commission,"Mirajane said softly, handing over a steaming cup.
"Um…"
Nami sipped the tea, steadied herself, and immediately recounted the story of Arlong and his gang—their tyranny over Cocoyasi Village and the surrounding settlements.
"How could this happen… it's too cruel!"Mirajane's gentle face flushed with sympathy, her eyes full of heartfelt concern.
"Please… drive Arlong and his gang out of Cocoyasi Village and all of East Blue. That is my commission!"Nami bowed deeply, her plea sincere.
"And the reward? How much have you prepared?" Yuuto asked calmly.
"One hundred… one million Berry," Nami replied.
Of course, she could have offered more, but she was cautious.At first, she knew little about the guild, uncertain if Yuuto could handle Arlong.Secondly, revealing everything immediately would leave little room for negotiation.
After all… she had heard that Yuuto had once taken a commission to eliminate the East Blue overlord, Creek, and had only received 10,000 Berry.Compared to that, her one million Berry seemed generous enough.
"Miss Nami… one million Berry? Don't you think this is a bit inconsistent with the scale of your request?"Yuuto's half-smile was teasing.He knew her weakness for money.Arlong had to be dealt with, but first… he would playfully test this little money fan.
"I understand the danger of this task. President Yuuto, just tell me—if you can eliminate Arlong and his gang, no matter the price, I'll pay!"Nami gritted her teeth, determination burning in her eyes.
"In that case… I won't hold back. I want this number!"
Yuuto smiled and raised two fingers.
"Two million?" Nami guessed.
He shook his head.
"Then… twenty million?" she tried again, her voice wary.
Still he shook his head.
"Two hundred million?"
The corners of Nami's mouth twitched. This was already beyond her expectations.She clenched her jaw, trying to remain composed.
Yuuto shook his head once more, revealing his final offer:
"Two billion. A hundred million per village. I will make Arlong and his gang vanish from this world!"
"N-Nani?! Two billion?!"
Nami staggered slightly, her mind screaming "robbery!"
Mirajane's beautiful eyes widened, clearly shocked by Yuuto's audacious offer.
In her experience, Yuuto was never motivated by rewards.If a client had money, he might accept more; if not, less—or sometimes, he would accept nothing at all.For Creek's commission, the reward was just 10,000 Berry—all he had wanted was a glass of water and a bowl of rice.
Yet now… for the girls suffering under Arlong's rule, Yuuto had offered an astronomical two billion Berry.
Mirajane didn't know why, but she trusted him completely, certain he had his own reasons. She stayed silent.
"How about it, Ms. Nami? My quote is high, but it's worth every Berry,"Yuuto said with a gentle smile.
Nami bit her lips, silent.A hundred million Berry could already have bought Cocoyasi Village.Two billion? Twenty villages!It was far beyond her ability. She had worked so hard to save for her modest goal—this was simply impossible.
"Sure enough… it's still impossible," she murmured, preparing to leave.
"Don't rush to give up. Our guild supports installment payments. One Berry down, the rest can be repaid through work. Coincidentally, I'm short a few hands myself," Yuuto said, smiling.
"Oh~"
Mirajane's jaw dropped. She finally understood the real reason behind Yuuto's outrageous offer.It wasn't about money—he clearly cared for the girl's potential.
"Whether you choose to accept or not, take your time, Mira. Please escort Miss Nami to rest," Yuuto instructed.
"Yes, President~"
A few minutes later, Mirajane returned, having settled Nami.
Looking up at Yuuto with wide, beautiful eyes, her lips pursed slightly.
"What's the matter?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"Hmph. The president is really playful… he already has us, clearly!"
"Jealous?" Yuuto teased, a wider smile on his face.
"Who's jealous~?" she flustered, eyes flickering.
Yuuto chuckled and drew her into his large hand, holding her affectionately.
"You overthink, Mira. I want to keep Nami for the future development of the guild," he said seriously.
"Really?" Mirajane's gaze was skeptical.
"Certainly," Yuuto confirmed."As I said, we're heading to the Grand Line soon. The weather there is unpredictable. We can't manage without a skilled navigator. Nami is exactly the talent we need."
"Miss Nami is a navigator?""Ordinary people can't sail the sea alone!""Exactly," Mirajane nodded.
"So… where to next? Shall we meet Erza first?"
"No need. Go straight to Cocoyasi Village," Yuuto commanded.