After Sandy and Nami exchanged glances, Sandy couldn't help but sigh. Damn, she was beautiful—those curves, that figure... tsk tsk.
Without thinking much, Sandy called out, "Hey, beautiful lady, are you heading to Shells Town?"
Nami blinked. "Huh? Yeah, I was planning to. Why? Is there a problem?"
With a casual leap, Sandy jumped straight onto Nami's boat. The moment he landed, the boat began to sway violently.
"Hey! Don't you have your own boat?" Nami shouted, glaring at him. "Why are you coming over here?"
Sandy grinned, slipping an arm around her waist as he whispered, "We're going there too. It's just... that other boat's too small. Three people can't even lie down comfortably—it's cramped."
Once the boat stabilized, Nami's face darkened. This guy just met me, and he's already grabbing my waist?!
Her voice turned sharp. "Aren't you going to let go of me? How long do you plan to hold on?"
Sandy laughed awkwardly and quickly withdrew his hand. "Ahaha... sorry, the boat was shaking too much. I was just worried you might fall."
[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing a 'flamboyant' operation. Reward: one box of TT... ]
Sandy's face went completely dark. "What the hell do you mean by that, Pheromone System?! Do I look like that kind of guy?"
He crossed his arms, muttering, "Who the hell would use that thing? Totally kills the mood..."
Luffy, sitting on the other boat, burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Sandy, your brain's seriously something else!"
Sandy narrowed his eyes. "Oi... don't tell me you actually saw something."
A short while later, both boats were sailing smoothly.
"Koby," Sandy called, "make sure to keep up."
"Why?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Do you even know how to navigate the sea?" Sandy replied flatly.
Luffy answered without hesitation. "Nope."
Nami rolled her eyes. "You don't know how, yet you say it so confidently."
Sandy pointed at her. "See? She probably knows how. Since our destination's the same, let's have her take us there."
Then, he introduced himself with a smile. "Name's Sandy. The pink-haired guy over there is Koby, and the one grinning like an idiot is Luffy. What about you?"
Though he already knew her name, Sandy decided to play it cool. If he said her name right away, she'd definitely get suspicious.
Nami smiled faintly. "I'm Nami. And your moves were impressive earlier—I saw you send that pirate captain flying."
Sandy glanced at the heavy bag beside her but pretended not to notice. If Nami thought he was eyeing her treasure, she'd probably kick him right off her boat.
At that moment, Luffy suddenly asked, "Nami, are you a navigator?"
Nami was momentarily taken aback, then replied, "Not officially, but I'm pretty good at it."
Luffy grinned ear to ear. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm gonna be the Pirate King! The guy next to you is my Vice Captain, Sandy! You should join our crew as our navigator!"
Nami frowned. "You're Pirates? Sorry, but no thanks. I hate Pirates the most."
Luffy didn't argue. He just shrugged and sat back down. Sandy, however, leaned against the side of the boat, smirking silently.
He knew well enough that until Nami's hometown problem was solved, she'd never truly join them.
Suddenly, Koby looked worried. "Luffy... I heard that Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro is there..."
Luffy tilted his head. "Pirate Hunter? Is he strong?"
Nami's ears perked up. Pirate Hunter Zoro? I've heard of him...
Koby nodded nervously. "Very strong! They call him a 'Demon Beast in Human Skin'!"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "If he's a good guy, I'll invite him to join us!"
Koby nearly fainted. "Wha—invite a Pirate Hunter to be your crewmate?! Are you insane? He kills Pirates!"
Luffy laughed. "I'm strong too. If he's a good person, he'll join. Hehehe..."
Nami twitched in disbelief. What kind of logic is that? Pirates inviting a Pirate Hunter... these two are nuts.
Before long, they reached the port of Shells Town.
"I have something to take care of," Nami said, stepping off. "Let's part ways here."
Sandy smiled. "Sure. Thanks for showing us the way, navigator. See you around."
Luffy stretched. "Let's go find that Zoro guy!"
Koby panicked. "Mr. Luffy, did you even listen to anything I said?!"
Sandy chuckled. "Koby, all you've heard are rumors. You haven't even seen the guy. Judging people by gossip—are you sure you're cut out to be a Marine?"
Koby froze, embarrassed. He had no comeback.
After some asking around, the group arrived at the Marine Base.
In the training yard stood a massive wooden cross planted in the ground. Tied to it was a muscular young man with a black bandana.
Despite the blazing sun, his aura was intimidating—sharp, wild, and commanding.
Luffy climbed onto the wall and whistled. "Whoa, that's the so-called Pirate Hunter?"
The tied-up man—Roronoa Zoro—snapped coldly, "Oi, you pests. Get lost."
Koby flinched. "M-Mr. Luffy... maybe we should just go..."
Luffy ignored him. "Why's he tied up there?"
Sandy sighed internally. He probably thinks we came to laugh at him. Damn, he's really got an attitude.
Suddenly, a small ladder appeared beside the wall—placed there by a little girl struggling to climb it.
Sandy, shaking his head, waved his hand, using his ability to teleport her inside the Marine yard.
The girl looked around in shock. "Huh? How did I get in here?"
Sandy grinned down from the wall. "Stop overthinking it. Just do what you came to do and head back."
The girl nodded, then ran to Zoro's side. "Big brother, you haven't eaten in days! You'll die if you don't eat! I made you these rice balls—please eat them!"
Zoro's glare softened slightly, but he still grumbled, "Go home, kid. If Monka's men catch you, you'll be executed."
Before he could say more, Sandy suddenly appeared beside her, picking up the rice balls.
"His hands are tied," he said with a grin. "Guess I'll help."
Zoro glared. "I'm not hungry. Get her out of here."
Sandy smirked. "You're tied up, yet still giving orders?"
Zoro's veins popped. "Bastard, what are you doing—?!"
Before he could finish, Sandy stuffed the rice balls straight into Zoro's mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph!!"
Sandy then picked up the little girl. "It's too hot here. Let's go grab something to eat."
[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing a 'bold' operation. ]
Sandy rolled his eyes. "What's so bold about that?!"
The girl blinked at him outside the base. "Big brother, was that you?"
Sandy grinned. "Yeah. Cool, huh?"
She nodded with wide eyes. "Mm! You're amazing!"
Luffy and Koby climbed down from the wall just then.
"Let's go eat!" Luffy said eagerly. "I'm starving."
"Me too," Koby agreed.
The girl smiled. "Come with me! My mom runs a restaurant."
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Can we eat for free?"
Meanwhile, inside the Marine Base, Zoro finally managed to swallow the crushed rice ball and growled, When I get out of here... I'm slicing that bastard! I almost choked to death!