Ryan Quinn lay sprawled across the massive bag of Berries, grinning ear to ear, absolutely delighted. Nami, seeing that Ryan was distracted, tried to quietly back away, step by careful step.
But just as she was about to slip away
"Wait."
Ryan's calm but commanding voice froze her mid-step.
"Eep! Wh-what is it? Is there... something else, Miss... uh, sister?" Nami stammered, forcing an awkward smile as she turned around. Her voice trembled slightly, her whole body stiff from nerves.
Truth be told, she didn't want to stay another second in front of this beautiful yet terrifying woman.
Yes, Ryan had helped her she'd wiped out the Arlong Pirates and freed Cocoyasi Village. But in return, she'd also taken away everything Nami had spent years saving.
And worst of all... Nami couldn't shake the feeling that if Ryan suddenly felt like it, she might just kill her on a whim.
Nami really, really didn't want to die yet.
"Hmm... do you know where the nearest Marine base is?" Ryan asked casually. She used her system to store away the eighty million Berries, then stood up and walked over to Nami.
With her delicate, pale hands, she gently wiped away the tears still clinging to Nami's cheeks.
"I need to trade these guys in for bounty money," Ryan said, tilting her head toward the trembling Fishmen scattered on the ground.
The Fishmen shivered even harder.
To them, this woman was no human she was a demon in human skin.
The mighty captain Arlong dead.
Two officers, Kuroobi and Chew dead.
Their musician, Pisaro dead before the battle even started.
All of them killed instantly, without a shred of mercy.
How could they possibly resist someone like that?
Any hint of defiance had long since evaporated from their hearts.
The Fishmen were now docile as lambs, not daring to even breathe too loudly, afraid that the slightest sound might earn them a sword through the chest.
"Hmm? You're trading them for bounty money? So... you're a bounty hunter?" Nami asked cautiously.
Ryan shrugged, a playful smile curving her lips. "Something like that."
"The nearest Marine base is the 16th Branch..." Nami said quietly, her voice dropping as a shadow crossed her face.
The 16th Branch.
That base was commanded by Captain Nezumi a corrupt Marine who had been colluding with Arlong for years, squeezing the villagers dry and pretending not to notice the Fishmen's tyranny.
Arlong might be dead, but Nami knew that rat of a man would soon crawl out from his hole, causing trouble again.
The thought alone made her stomach twist.
Ryan tilted her head, reading the change in her expression. "The 16th Branch, huh? Perfect. Take me there."
Nami's eyes widened. "Eh? You want me to... what?"
"Take me there," Ryan repeated with a grin. "I'll handle the rest."
Her reasoning was simple. She'd already accepted the task freed the village, collected the spoils. If she didn't see this through to the end, it just wouldn't sit right with her.
Besides, eighty million Berries wasn't pocket change.
With that kind of money, her strength could skyrocket.
And once she added the bounties from these pirates' heads... that would put her well over a hundred million.
Not bad for her first proper job.
If everything went smoothly, she'd make a fortune.
If not... well, she could always improvise.
If the Marines refused to pay, she'd just storm their base and take what she was owed.
And if that didn't work, she could always jump into the sea and vanish before they knew what hit them.
"Heh... that'd teach them," Ryan muttered to herself with a grin. "Let's see them try to stiff me on a payout."
Nami blinked. "You... want me to take you there?"
"Why not?" Ryan asked innocently.
"It's not that I can't..." Nami hesitated. "I just don't understand... why me?"
Ryan gave her a sly smile. "Because I don't know the way."
For a moment, Nami just stared at her, speechless.
The woman standing before her the same one who had single-handedly slaughtered an entire pirate crew was asking her for directions... like a lost tourist.
And that smile... that carefree grin made it almost impossible to hate her.
Almost.
Well, except for the part where she'd taken all her money.
(╯▔皿▔)╯
"I-I think... maybe someone else from the village could guide you instead," Nami said hesitantly.
She knew what would happen if Captain Nezumi saw her.
When he learned of Arlong's death and saw his severed head, he'd lose his mind. There would be a fight there was no avoiding it.
And if that led to Ryan getting branded a criminal... Nami couldn't bear the thought.
"Why not you?" Ryan asked curiously.
"Because... I'm a pirate," Nami admitted, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If I show up at a Marine base, they'll arrest me."
Ryan's smile widened. "Who cares? I'll protect you. Nobody's going to touch you while I'm around."
Her tone carried such confidence it was almost tangible. Even with only a fraction of her power restored, she could tear through the entire East Blue if she wanted.
Who could possibly stop her?
Nami opened her mouth to protest again. "Then maybe we should go somewhere else somewhere farther away to turn in the bounties."
Ryan blinked. "Farther? Why? Isn't the 16th Branch closer?"
Nami's eyes hardened slightly. "Because the commanding officer there Captain Nezumi is trash. He's the one who worked with Arlong all these years. If we go there, he'll definitely try to start trouble. He won't let us walk away."
Ryan's grin returned, sharp and fearless. "If he dares to mess with us, I'll just kill him."
"Kill him?! But he's a Marine officer! If you do that, you'll be branded a criminal for sure!" Nami exclaimed, horrified.
Ryan brushed off her concern with a laugh. "Let them try! If the Marines want to put a bounty on me, fine. I'll just make them regret it!"
Nami stared at her, speechless.
Ryan's eyes sparkled with mischief as she puffed out her chest proudly. "They think they can threaten me? I'll show them what real power looks like! The strong don't follow rules they make them!"
"'The strong make the rules'...?" Nami repeated quietly.
Ryan smirked, then added dramatically, "Let them learn the might of Great Britain!"
Nami blinked, confused. "Great... what?"
"Oh," Ryan said suddenly, as if remembering something. "I haven't introduced myself properly, have I?"
She straightened her posture, her expression turning regal and composed.
"My true name," she declared proudly, "is Artoria Pendragon, King of Britain also known as King Arthur."
Nami's eyes went wide as saucers. "W-what?!"
Ryan smiled faintly, her golden eyes glinting with both playfulness and authority.
In that moment, even the air seemed to bow before her.