The morning sun glinted off the ocean's surface, but the light did little to lift the heavy atmosphere that had settled over the Baratie's deck. Luffy stood at the railing where Nami had been just hours before, staring out at the empty horizon. His straw hat cast a shadow over his eyes.
"She really left," Usopp said quietly, breaking the silence that had stretched between them since dawn. He sat on a crate nearby, his long nose drooping. "Just... took the ship and left."
Zoro leaned against the mast with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. She did."
"But why?" Usopp's voice cracked slightly. "I thought we were a crew. I thought she was our friend."
Gil stood a few feet away, his hands in his pockets. He'd been quiet since they'd discovered the Going Merry was gone, processing what had happened. Part of him had seen something in Nami's eyes yesterday—a conflict, a pain she was carrying. But he hadn't expected this.
"There has to be a reason," Gil said finally. "People don't just leave like that without one."
"Maybe she was just using us the whole time," Usopp muttered, though his tone suggested he didn't really believe it. "Maybe she was planning this from the start."
"No." Luffy's voice was firm, cutting through the speculation. He still hadn't turned from the railing. "Nami's our navigator. She's our friend. Something's wrong."
Zoro opened one eye to look at his captain. "You sure about that?"
"Yeah." Luffy finally turned around, and despite everything, there was no anger in his expression—only certainty. "I don't know what happened, but Nami wouldn't just leave us. Not like this."
Sanji emerged from the restaurant's interior, carrying a tray with coffee and food. His usual swagger was subdued. "Figured you idiots might need breakfast. Can't chase after a wayward navigator on an empty stomach."
"We're going after her?" Usopp asked, perking up slightly.
"Of course we are," Luffy said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "She's part of our crew."
"There's just one small problem," Sanji said, setting down the tray. "Your ship is gone, and unless one of you can walk on water, we're stuck here."
It was a valid point. The Going Merry had been their only vessel, and while the Baratie was a ship, it was also a restaurant with a full staff and customers. They couldn't exactly commandeer it.
"We'll figure something out," Luffy said with his characteristic optimism. "We always do."
Gil picked up one of the coffee cups, letting the warmth seep into his hands. "First, we need to know where she went. The ocean's a big place."
"That's the real problem," Zoro said. "She could be anywhere by now."
As if on cue, a commotion arose from the water below. Voices called out—loud, energetic voices that carried across the morning air.
"Ahoy! Baratie! Anyone home?"
The crew moved to the railing and looked down. A small boat had pulled up alongside the floating restaurant, and in it were two men who looked like they'd seen better days. Both wore bandanas and carried themselves with the rough confidence of people who lived by the sword. The one with the triangular sunglasses was waving enthusiastically.
"We're looking for someone!" the other one called up. He had a star-shaped mark on his cheek. "A swordsman! Goes by the name of Roronoa Zoro!"
Zoro's eyebrows rose. "Johnny? Yosaku?"
"BIG BRO ZORO!" both men shouted in unison, their faces lighting up with recognition.
Within minutes, the two bounty hunters had climbed aboard, and Zoro found himself being enthusiastically embraced by both of them at once.
"Big bro! It's been too long!" Johnny said, his sunglasses slightly askew from the excitement.
"We heard you were traveling with Pirate Hunter Zoro, but we didn't believe it until we saw you!" Yosaku added.
Zoro extracted himself from their grip with a grunt. "I'm not a pirate hunter anymore. I'm a pirate."
Both men froze, staring at him in shock.
"A... a pirate?" Johnny stammered.
"But big bro, you hunted pirates!" Yosaku protested.
"Things change." Zoro gestured to the others. "This is my crew. That's Luffy, our captain. Usopp, Gil, and the cook is Sanji."
"Your captain?" Johnny looked at Luffy with wide eyes. "But you're the great Roronoa Zoro! How can you—"
"He's strong," Zoro said simply. "Stronger than me. That's all that matters."
Luffy grinned at the two newcomers. "Nice to meet you! Any friend of Zoro's is a friend of mine."
Johnny and Yosaku seemed to be having trouble processing this information, but they recovered quickly, introducing themselves properly to the rest of the crew. They were bounty hunters, they explained, traveling the East Blue in search of pirates with prices on their heads. They'd heard rumors that Zoro was in the area and had come to find him.
"So what brings you guys out here?" Gil asked. "Just looking for Zoro, or is there something else?"
The two bounty hunters exchanged a glance, and something shifted in their expressions—a nervousness that hadn't been there before.
"Well, actually," Johnny began, scratching the back of his head. "We were heading away from the Conomi Islands. Things are getting... tense up there."
"Conomi Islands?" Usopp repeated.
"Yeah, it's a group of islands in the East Blue," Yosaku explained. "About a day's sail from here, maybe less with good wind. But it's not a place you want to go right now. Not unless you have a death wish."
"Why's that?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette.
Johnny's expression darkened. "Because of Arlong."
The name hung in the air like a curse. Even Zoro, who rarely showed concern about anything, seemed to tense slightly.
"Who's Arlong?" Luffy asked.
"A fishman," Yosaku said quietly. "One of the most dangerous pirates in the East Blue. He and his crew took over the Conomi Islands years ago. They rule the place like tyrants, making the people pay tribute just to stay alive."
"Fishmen are naturally ten times stronger than humans," Johnny added. "And Arlong's crew is made up of some of the toughest fishmen around. They've got a bounty of twenty million berries on his head, but no one's been able to touch him."
Gil felt a chill run down his spine. Twenty million berries was a significant bounty, especially in the East Blue where most pirates had bounties in the single-digit millions at best.
"This Arlong sounds like bad news," Usopp said, his voice wavering slightly. "We should probably stay far away from there."
"Wait," Gil said suddenly, a thought occurring to him. "You said you were coming from the Conomi Islands?"
"Yeah, we were scouting the area," Johnny confirmed. "Thought maybe we could find some smaller bounties around there, but the whole place is locked down by Arlong's crew. We decided to cut our losses and head out."
"When did you leave?" Gil pressed.
"Early this morning, just before dawn," Yosaku said. "Why?"
"Did you see a ship? A caravel with a sheep figurehead?"
Both bounty hunters blinked in surprise.
"Yeah, actually," Johnny said slowly. "We passed one heading toward the Conomi Islands. Thought it was strange—most people are trying to get away from there, not sail toward it. Had a sheep head on the front, just like you said."
The crew exchanged glances. The pieces were starting to come together, though the picture they formed was troubling.
"That was our ship," Luffy said. "Our navigator took it."
"Your navigator is sailing toward Arlong's territory?" Yosaku's eyes widened. "That's suicide! Why would anyone—"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Zoro interrupted. "But it doesn't matter why. We're going after her."
Johnny and Yosaku looked at each other, then at the crew, then back at each other. Some unspoken communication passed between them.
"Big bro," Johnny said carefully. "I don't think you understand. Arlong isn't like the other pirates you've faced. He's a monster. His crew has terrorized those islands for years, and no one's been able to stop them. If your navigator is going there, she's either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish."
"Or she doesn't have a choice," Gil said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Think about it," Gil continued. "Nami's been with us for weeks. She's had plenty of opportunities to steal the ship and leave if that's all she wanted. Why now? Why head straight for one of the most dangerous places in the East Blue?" He paused. "Unless she has to."
"You think someone's forcing her?" Sanji asked.
"I think there's more to this than we know," Gil said. "And the only way we're going to find out is by going after her."
Luffy nodded firmly. "Gil's right. Nami needs us, even if she doesn't want to admit it. We're going to the Conomi Islands."
"But how?" Usopp asked, gesturing around them. "We don't have a ship, remember?"
This was the problem they kept coming back to. Without the Going Merry, they were stranded.
Sanji exhaled a stream of smoke, thinking. "The old man might have a solution. Baratie has a few smaller vessels for supply runs. He might let us borrow one."
"Would he do that?" Gil asked.
"For me? Probably not. But for a crew trying to rescue one of their own?" Sanji's expression softened slightly. "Yeah. He'd understand that."
It took some convincing—Zeff was not a man easily swayed—but eventually, the head chef agreed to lend them a small but seaworthy vessel. It wasn't as nice as the Going Merry, but it would get them to the Conomi Islands.
"You bring it back in one piece," Zeff growled at Sanji. "And if you die out there, I'll kill you myself."
"Touching as always, old man," Sanji replied, but there was affection in his voice.
As they prepared to depart, Johnny and Yosaku approached Zoro.
"Big bro," Johnny said. "We're coming with you."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "You just said Arlong's territory is a death trap."
"Yeah, well," Yosaku scratched his cheek. "You're our friend. And friends don't let friends sail into danger alone. Besides, we know the waters around the Conomi Islands. We can guide you there."
"Plus," Johnny added with a grin that didn't quite hide his nervousness. "Someone's gotta make sure you don't get lost on the way."
Zoro actually smiled at that—a rare expression. "Alright. Welcome aboard."
The crew loaded supplies onto the borrowed ship—food, water, weapons, and everything else they might need. The sun was climbing higher in the sky, and a good wind was blowing from the south. Perfect sailing weather.
Luffy stood at the bow as they prepared to cast off, his straw hat firmly on his head and his eyes fixed on the horizon. There was a determination in his posture that Gil had come to recognize—the absolute certainty that they were doing the right thing.
"Everyone ready?" Luffy called back.
"Ready, captain," Sanji confirmed from the helm.
"Let's go get our navigator back," Zoro said, checking his swords one final time.
Usopp was pale but nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."
Gil took his position, feeling the familiar weight of anticipation settling over him. They were sailing toward danger—toward a pirate with a twenty-million-berry bounty and a crew of fishmen who were naturally stronger than humans. They were going to face an enemy that had terrorized an entire region for years.
But they were also going to help a friend.
"Cast off!" Luffy shouted.
The ropes were released, and the ship began to pull away from the Baratie. The restaurant's staff had gathered on deck to see them off, and Zeff stood at the railing, his arms crossed and his expression stern. But as Sanji looked back one last time, the old chef raised a hand in farewell.
The ship caught the wind and began to pick up speed, cutting through the waves toward the east. Johnny and Yosaku took positions near the mast, ready to provide guidance when they got closer to the Conomi Islands. The rest of the crew settled into their roles—Sanji at the helm, Zoro keeping watch, Usopp checking their supplies, and Luffy at the bow, always at the bow, looking forward.
Gil stood near the stern, watching the Baratie grow smaller in the distance. They were leaving behind safety and sailing toward uncertainty. But that was what being part of a crew meant—facing the unknown together, supporting each other no matter what.
"Hey, Gil."
He turned to find Luffy had come back from the bow, his usual grin in place.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," Luffy said simply. "For believing in Nami. For wanting to help her."
Gil shrugged. "She's part of the crew. That's what we do, right?"
"Right." Luffy's grin widened. "This is going to be fun!"
Only Luffy could look at sailing toward a dangerous pirate's territory as "fun," but somehow, his enthusiasm was infectious. Gil found himself smiling despite the situation.
"Yeah," he said. "I guess it will be."
As the ship sailed on, the crew fell into a comfortable rhythm. Johnny and Yosaku shared stories about their bounty hunting days with Zoro, their voices carrying across the deck. Sanji prepared a meal for everyone, insisting that they needed to keep their strength up. Usopp worked on his weapons, his hands steady despite his earlier nervousness.
And Luffy remained at the bow, his eyes on the horizon, leading them forward.
The Conomi Islands were still hours away, but with every passing moment, they drew closer to answers. Closer to Nami. Closer to whatever truth had driven her to leave.
The wind filled their sails, and the ship cut through the waves with purpose. Behind them, the Baratie disappeared from view. Ahead, somewhere beyond the horizon, their navigator waited—whether she knew they were coming or not.
The crew of the Straw Hat Pirates was sailing toward their next adventure, and nothing was going to stop them from bringing their friend home.