"No kidding?" Nochi asked, curious.
"Didn't you hear? He's Uncle Ross's son — came back from that monster-infested stretch of the Grand Line. Of course he's powerful!"
Nami watched Whiteflame's retreating figure, interest sparking in her eyes.
Cruel and cold, but undeniably handsome; beneath that forever-aloof gaze lay endless mystery. She couldn't help sneaking another look.
"Maybe… he's rich too," she thought, and a little gleam of greed lit her eyes.
Nami hurried to catch up, but not before she grabbed a water pipe and gave Arlong a few good smacks, venting years of pent-up anger.
…
"This is Ross's grave… Red-Haired Shanks buried the couple together."
They reached a cliff on the hill behind the village. Stones formed a small mound. A wooden cross stood before it, a skull hung from the cross — clearly the head of the murderer, taken by Shanks as an offering. The names carved on the cross read Bai Ross and Gershali.
Whiteflame stared at the grave, expression deep and unreadable. Aken and the three women nodded respectfully and left him alone.
Whiteflame stayed there a long time.
"Farewell," he finally said.
Then he knelt and, with solemnity, performed three deep bows before parents he had no memories of meeting.
There was no lingering grief — Whiteflame turned and walked away. He knew they would never reunite. He was a demi-human — truly everlasting, immortal.
So there was none of the melancholy sentiment one might expect. Everything, he decided, would be carried off by the mountain breeze and left to the past.
…
By the seventh day after Whiteflame's arrival, Coco Village had become a bustle of activity.
Whiteflame spent freely from his seemingly endless wealth to rebuild the village. As a Gold-Gold Fruit (Goru Goru no Mi)user he even discovered a gold vein beneath the island.
"Oh my—this is gorgeous!"
That day Nami stepped onto the new Nine Dragons(the sky-island ship claimed from Shiki) for the first time, awestruck.
Polished by the three women, the palace was now even more exquisite and bursting with luxury. Nami gasped as she took it all in.
"That sword on the wall — sixty million Beli!"
"That gilded scepter — ninety million!"
"That jeweled crown — one hundred and fifty million!"
"Wow… so rich!"
Nami's eyes turned into Beli signs; she was nearly intoxicated by the splendor.
"If you want them, I'll give them to you — on one condition," Whiteflame said coolly.
"Really?!" Nami asked, stunned. "What condition?"
"Become my navigator," he answered.
Chapter 90 — Admiral Kizaru!
"You want me as your navigator?!" Nami was surprised — she hadn't expected this.
In the days she'd known Whiteflame, Nami had learned the Grand Line wasn't merely monster-infested — the first half, Paradise, was filled with pirates like Arlong and far worse, while the second half, the New World, hosted world-shaking powers. That Whiteflame had survived the New World and returned to the East Blue made her respect him immensely.
To be invited to join him… it was beyond her imagination.
"You have the talent to be a navigator. If you accept, all of this — the ship, its riches, even the gold vein we found — you'll control," Whiteflame said.
"Really… all of it?" Nami asked, incredulous.
"Of course," he nodded.
Her heart raced. Wealth, freedom, and the chance to pursue her dream — a map of the entire world. If she joined him, he would protect her and help her achieve it.
"A worldwide map?" Whiteflame mused. "It'll be time-consuming, but I happen to have an abundance of time."
"Yesss!!" Nami leapt for joy.
She'd not only gained unimaginable wealth but also the freedom to chase her dream. It felt like a fantasy.
"Hm?"
Whiteflame's gaze sharpened. He moved to the island's edge and scanned the horizon. A fleet of warships was swiftly approaching, a black silhouette at the meeting of sea and sky.
"Warships… the Marines?"
"Seems my provocations have pushed the World Government too far — they've sent over a dozen ships to deal with me."
Whiteflame's face remained calm. No matter how many Marines came, the outcome wouldn't change — as far as he was concerned.
As the fleet closed, a streak of yellow light flashed from the lead ship. A long beam leapt over the sea in a matter of breaths, arcing into the sky and striking down straight in front of Whiteflame.
Tall, slim, wearing a yellow-and-white striped suit and frog-shaped sunglasses — the one who stepped down was Admiral Kizaru.
"Well, well, finally we meet. You look younger in person than in the pictures," Kizaru said, hands in his pockets, his eyes casually appraising Whiteflame. He appeared relaxed, as if the man before him were just another punk — not the type who'd slain Shiki.
"Admiral Kizaru of the Marine Headquarters," Whiteflame said flatly.
"Over a dozen ships and an admiral himself — looks like the Marines couldn't stay idle," Whiteflame added.
Nami's face changed. She'd heard of Marine Admirals — the government's top-tier fighters, terrors to pirates. That such a figure would appear in the East Blue, in Coco Village, was extraordinary.
Kizaru smirked at Whiteflame.So it was you. From your debut you knocked out Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, shattered the Donquixote Family, then took down Jack the Drought and Charlotte Cracker, went after Gild Tesoro… and recently you even killed the fabled Shiki.
Kizaru's tone was light — almost conversational — but the implication was clear: the World Government had taken notice.
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