Sabaody Archipelago, GR-42.
"Th-that lightning… was that from the Clima-Tact?"
Usopp stared dumbfounded at the few charred bodies still smoking on the ground, then looked at Nami, who was wiping her hands with a silk handkerchief with a look of disgust.
"Nami, what exactly did you go through these past two years? That legendary G-5 Branch… is it some kind of hellish training camp?"
"Training?"
Nami casually tossed the handkerchief into the trash, flicked her orange hair, and curled her lips into a playful smile.
"Not really. If I had to say… it was more like training in 'how to elegantly control wealth and power under absolute military protection.'"
"Huh?" Usopp didn't understand at all.
"Simply put," Nami patted Usopp's shoulder, "I'm very strong now. Both physically… and economically."
"Let's go, Usopp."
Nami strode forward, her high heels clicking crisply against the stone pavement.
"To where the Sunny is docked. It's been two years, Franky should already be there, right?"
"Oh… oh!" Usopp hurriedly hoisted his large backpack and followed.
"Oh right, Nami, let me tell you, these past two years on the Boin Archipelago, I became a true warrior of the sea! Even though I almost turned into a fat guy, but..."
The two chatted as they walked toward GR-44.
Along the way, whether pirates or bounty hunters, everyone instinctively stepped aside when they saw Nami's aura of "keep strangers away, acquaintances pay up."
…...
GR-44, Thousand Sunny docking area.
A massive ship with a lion figurehead rested quietly at the shore, its coated hull shimmering with rainbow light under the sun.
"SUPER!!!"
A thunderous shout broke the silence.
A man with an absurdly massive upper body, like a robot… or rather, a cyborg, stood on deck striking his signature pose.
"Franky, bro!!"
Usopp waved excitedly.
"Oh! Is that Usopp?!"
Franky turned around, revealing his mechanical head capable of changing hairstyles at will. He pressed his nose for three seconds, and his hair instantly transformed into two giant beetle pincers.
"Two years, huh? You're looking manlier!"
Then his gaze shifted to Nami.
Franky's electronic eyes flickered as if analyzing data.
"Nami-boss! You've changed a lot! That outfit… South Sea silk? Those shoes, limited edition from Mary Geoise? Wow, looks like you've been living the high life!"
"Finally, someone with taste-"
Nami nodded in satisfaction and leapt lightly onto the deck.
She glanced around the Sunny and saw it was in excellent condition, better than two years ago.
"Thanks for taking care of her."
"Of course! This is the dream ship that'll carry us to the end of the world!"
Franky proudly pounded his chest, producing a metallic clang.
"Yohohoho… everyone seems lively."
A skeleton gentleman floated out of the cabin holding a cup of tea.
"Two years, and Nami-san has become even more radiant. It's blinding… though I don't have eyes! Yohohoho!"
"Brook!" Nami greeted with a smile.
"Um… Nami-san," Brook bowed politely,
"As a reunion gift, may I see your-"
"Bang!"
A gunshot rang out.
It wasn't Nami; her belt-mounted G-5 automatic defense device instantly fired a rubber bullet, hitting Brook square in the skull.
"Ow!" Brook clutched his head and collapsed.
"Sorry, sorry," Nami said casually, blowing on the device,
"That's 'Anti-Pervert System 2.0' from Chief Rehn. Pretty responsive, huh?"
"S-scary technology!" Usopp gulped.
At that moment, another tall figure stepped out of the cabin.
Nico Robin, dressed in a dark blue leather outfit and sunglasses, radiated calm intelligence.
"Long time no see, navigator," she said with a gentle smile. "So the rumors are true, you became the one pulling the strings at G-5?"
"Just handling finances."
Nami hugged her.
"What about you, Robin? Following the Revolutionary Army, no trouble?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to the leader's care," Robin replied softly.
Usopp looked around. "Where's that moss-head Zoro? And Chopper? Most importantly… where's Luffy?"
"I'm here too!"
A furry reindeer, no, a humanoid Chopper, ran up carrying a giant medical bag.
"Everyone!! I missed you so much!!"
He crashed into Usopp, then rubbed against Robin before looking at Nami.
"Sniff sniff… Nami! You smell… really nice!"
"Cotton candy?"
"No," Chopper said dreamily, "high-grade banknote ink… and pure gold!"
Everyone: "..."
"As for Zoro…"
Robin pointed to the stern. "He arrived first. Said he'd nap while waiting. He should still be sleeping."
"FIRST?!"
Everyone, except Robin, shouted in shock.
"That's a miracle! He didn't get lost to Marine HQ?!"
"So noisy…"
At the stern, a green-haired man sat up lazily, one eye open, the other marked with a scar.
Zoro yawned. "You guys are too slow. I've been waiting forever."
"You're the last person who should say that!" Usopp snapped.
Zoro glanced at Nami. "Heard you became a Marine lapdog? Why do you smell like money?"
"What did you say, moss-head?!"
Nami's veins bulged, but she quickly calmed down, smiling as she pulled out a notebook.
"Zoro, that insult is recorded. As my crewmate, you owe 100,000 Beli to retract it. If you can't pay, it'll be deducted from your future treasure share, with G-5 loan interest. Daily rate: 5%."
"WHAT?! Are you a demon?!" Zoro drew his sword.
"Calm down!" Chopper hugged his leg. "You can't mess with Nami anymore!"
…
Meanwhile, on another shore of Sabaody,
"I'm hungry…"
A boy with a straw hat and a large backpack walked sluggishly.
Monkey D. Luffy.
"Rayleigh said everyone's here… where are they?"
Suddenly, "Straw Hat Luffy spotted! Surround him!"
Marines flooded in.
"Oh? Marines?"
Luffy tilted his head calmly. "I'm in a hurry. Don't wanna fight."
"Fire!!"
Gunshots rang out, but before he moved, Boom!!
A massive robot dropped down, blasting Marines away with lasers.
"SO COOL! A robot!! Is that my crewmate?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Idiot Luffy! Over here!"
Zoro shouted from the Sunny.
"ZORO!!"
"Gomu Gomu no, Rocket!!"
Luffy launched himself and landed on deck.
"Everyone!!!"
He grinned widely. "Long time no see!!"
"LUFFY!!"
Usopp and Chopper tackled him in tears.
The crew smiled, reunited at last.
"Save the reunion for later!"
Nami stepped forward with authority.
"If we don't leave now, they'll destroy the coating!"
"Aye!" Franky shouted.
Then Luffy raised his hand seriously.
"I have two questions."
"What?"
"First, why is that guy who pretended to be me… roasted?"
"I took out the trash," Nami said casually.
"Oh, okay."
"And second… I'm starving. Who cooks?"
Silence.
"…No chef," Nami said bluntly.
"If I cook, it's 100,000 Beli per meal per person."
"WHAT?!" Luffy panicked.
"I'll make sandwiches," Robin said.
"I can grill fish!" Usopp added.
"I can make cotton candy!" Chopper said.
"I can cook expired rice!" Brook added.
Zoro: silently polishing sword
"NOOO!! I want meat like Hancock's!!"
…
Just then, "Fire!! Sink that ship!!"
Sentomaru charged in with Pacifistas.
Nami snorted, planted a G-5 flag on the Sunny, and grabbed a loudspeaker.
"Attention Marines!"
"I am Nami, Special Consultant of G-5!"
"This ship carries important goods personally requested by Admiral Renzo!"
"If you so much as scratch it-"
"I'll have your entire budget for next year cut. Even your toilet paper!"
"…!!!"
The Marines froze.
G-5. Renzo. Budget cuts.
Even Sentomaru hesitated.
"…What do we do?" a lieutenant trembled.
"…Damn it…"
"Franky! Now!"
"Coup de Burst, FIRE!!"
BOOM!!
The Sunny blasted into the sky and escaped.
"Bye, idiots!" Nami waved.
…..
On the Sunny, "YOU WERE SO COOL, NAMI!" Chopper sparkled.
"They're just afraid of being poor," Nami smirked.
"In this world, besides Haki… there's also budget power."
Luffy sat at the figurehead, grinning.
"Everyone's here!"
"To the New World!!"
"OOOHHHH!!!"
Adventure begins again.
"Grrr…"
"My stomach…"
"Nami… discount?"
Nami sighed and tossed him a premium bone-in meat.
"One-time freebie."
"YOU'RE AN ANGEL!!"
"Only once!"
"And Zoro, NOT THAT WAY, THAT'S THE CALM BELT!!"
"Usopp, stop eating my oranges!"
"Franky, steer the ship!"
Amid laughter and chaos, the Straw Hat Pirates are back.
....
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu