Chapter 165 - 23

Chapter 23Chapter 26: Even a Rabbit Bites When CorneredOutside, there was noise and the sound of laughter.The indulgence that followed extreme oppression had the entire Cocoyasi Village in a frenzy, celebrating their new life at this moment.Arlong Park, the symbol of their rule, had been turned into ruins—completely destroyed, as they say.It was destroyed to such an extent that one wouldn't even know if it could be done even if every villager outside was given a cannon.Those who didn't know would have thought that person had some deep-seated hatred for Arlongs Crew.In reality, they had only met for the first time today.Arlong never would have imagined in his wildest dreams that he would end up like that.Forget about waiting for the Marine to come and arrest them; not many were left alive. The remaining broken and maimed Fishman were finished off by Zoro and the others who had just arrived."He seems like an excellent Captain."Nojiko looked at Nami, who was lying on the bed with her fair shoulders exposed and a white bath towel covering her back. "Didn't you say he's been studying medicine lately? This is a good opportunity. Why not let him practice on you?""Do you even hear yourself?"Be Luffy's guinea pig?She wanted no part of that.Besides, after just pouring out her emotions and crying her eyes out in Luffy's arms, she wanted to act like an ostrich the moment she saw his face now.Nami looked flustered and annoyed.Lying on her stomach, she glanced at the tattoo on her arm.Then she looked at Nojiko's arm, which had a tattoo just like hers.When she was a child, after her talent for navigation was discovered by Arlongs Crew, this tattoo was branded onto her arm, and she was forced to become a member of Arlongs Crew.Seeing Nami crying, Nojiko had also gone and gotten a tattoo, turning herself into a 'bad girl'."Isn't your relationship with your Captain pretty good? I heard from that long-nosed guy that you two are already sleeping in the same room."Nojiko had a teasing smile on her face."I told you, that's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! We were really just studying." Nami, embarrassed and angry, tried to push herself up."Yes, yes, yes. Studying knowledge is knowledge, and the posture isn't bad either. It's not like I'm against you dating.""Nonsense! Besides, why would I need your permission to date?"Nami was a bit frazzled. She grabbed a corner of the towel to wrap around her chest and sat up. "I think it's been too long since I've taught you a lesson. Let me show you what's what before I leave.""Tsk." Nojiko's brow twitched. "So impressive. Are you trying to crush me to death with your chest this time?"The corners of Nami's mouth curled up. "Can you handle it?""We're about the same size. If you can do it, why can't I?"Saying this, Nojiko reached out and gave Nami a playful pat, taking the opportunity to feel how much Nami had developed recently. After a moment of reflection, she said, "Hurry up and lie down. This thing has been there for a long time, so it might not be easy to remove.""My handiwork isn't that great, so don't blame me.""If you keep rambling, I'll flatten you."The two sisters went back and forth.Just as Nojiko dabbed a bit of alcohol onto a handkerchief, a voice suddenly came from outside."Nami!"Is that Luffy? Nami stood up instinctively, then realized something as her pupils shrank.With a click, the door opened.It was opened somewhat violently. Luffy looked into the room, panting."Eh?"He saw Nami wrapped in a bath towel, her breathtakingly devilish figure barely contained and partially visible.Luffy was completely dazed, his eyes turning a bit blank.He only came to get his hat back!"...Close the door!""Oh, oh, oh." Luffy obediently closed the door and came inside."Didn't you lock the door?!" Nami looked at Nojiko, gritting her teeth."I did, but your Captain is too strong." Nojiko went to the door and glanced at the lock.Then she saw the embarrassed Nami, and the corners of her mouth curled upward.Nami can actually get shy?A rare sight indeed.Nojiko wished she could take a picture of this scene. She couldn't help but marvel—is this what they call a girl in love? Nami's personality used to be so boisterous."Hiss, my hand suddenly cramped up," Nojiko said.Then she called Luffy over, explained what Namiwas about to do, and handed him an honorable task."The door is broken. I'll keep watch for you. Keep it down and don't make any strange noises, okay?" Nojiko gave Nami a wink."It's your brain that's cramped!"Nami cried out, "Hey, don't leave!"Nojiko didn't look back; she was completely unresponsive to the call....Only the two of them remained in the room."What are you looking at?""Huh? What?"Luffy was still thinking about what Nojiko had just told him. When he looked up, he saw Namiclutching the bath towel to her chest with both hands, staring at him with an indescribable expression.He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt a bit of a chill."Nami, that...""Hmph."That 'hmph' was quite expressive.She muttered something under her breath about Nojiko as her fair, jade-like feet stepped across the floor back to the bed."I have no choice but to let you do it. Don't let your eyes wander!""What's there to see anyway?" Luffy curled his lip."You jerk!" Nami suddenly propped herself up, and the towel slipped."Aaaah! You Rubber idiot, forget everything that just happened right now!""Sorry, I think I have a photographic memory." Luffywasn't lying."Drop dead, drop dead, drop dead!"Luffy didn't actually have much confidence in his handiwork, but since both Nojiko and Nami had said so, he could only brace himself. He was currently multitasking, his eyes wide with focus. This was practically harder than dealing with Arlongs Crew."Why did you come here?" Nami asked."I came for my hat.""Hmph, that's just an excuse. You pervert were probably waiting outside, ready to barge in and peep at any moment.""Is it still called peeping if I barge in?" Luffyretorted.Nami was momentarily speechless.Even a rabbit bites when cornered.Luffy had gradually changed from his previous pure and innocent personality to something more mischievous.As it turned out, pressure can cause a person to explode in various ways.Luffy was under high pressure all day long, which was a far cry from his previous state of having an empty mind. Arlongs Crew was the primary target of his frustration.Especially since he had opened the door to a New World."Alright, I'm exhausted."Nojiko heard Luffy say this just as she walked in."Did I come at a bad time?" Nojiko walked in with a grin, holding some clothes. "The banquet outside is just reaching its evening finale. You two can continue.""Eh, is there no more meat?" Luffy wailed."There is, there is. Look at Nami." Nojiko reached out and poked Luffy's elastic cheek.Nami was only wearing a bikini top, with tight blue jeans on her lower half.The tattoo on her left shoulder had been changed into a Tangerine Windmill with a small Straw Hat."Nojiko!"Nami was only wearing this because she had no other clothes; even a bikini was better than being covered by only a towel."Nami has great taste in clothes. There are lots of nice outfits in the room: maid uniforms, bikinis, stockings, high heels... want to see?" Nojikocompletely ignored Nami's tantrum, resting her chin on her hand as she'sold' the idea to Luffy.Chapter 27: I'll Go Take a Shower FirstLuffy had seen so much violent shaking lately that even his vision was swaying. To be honest, he was a bit dazed.The key was that whenever Luffy got distracted, a warning sound would go off."Mm-hmm, seems okay. I kind of want to see." His voice sounded a bit perfunctory, and his eyes were even in a vacant state."Just a little?" Nojiko's voice suddenly rose.It was as if this was something unacceptable to her.I'm the one being looked at, why are you getting so excited!"Hmph, in your dreams. Both of you, get out." Namistarted ushering them out."Did you forget? This is my room."Nojiko narrowed her eyes.Nami was momentarily speechless. Just as she was about to argue back, she was tossed out of the room by Nojiko.It was as if she had suddenly become homeless.Wait, where's Luffy?Only then did Nami recall the abrupt situation. Her expression changed, and she quickly rushed back into the room to drag out Luffy, who was lying on the floor.Why did that Nojiko have to have such a sleazy expression?She could have just left Luffy outside. Those who got drunk at the banquet would just find a random place to sleep.But after a moment of hesitation, Nami still brought Luffy back to her room.He was an injured person after all. Though with Luffy's freakish recovery rate, Nami felt his injuries would be mostly healed in a couple of days.She regretted bringing him back a little.Wouldn't bringing Luffy to her room late at night just confirm those rumors?As it turned out..."What are you looking at? Is that book really that interesting?"Nami looked down at herself; everything was perfectly fine, wasn't it?"It's not about whether a book is interesting or not; it's about whether it's useful."Luffy looked at Nami and spoke with a serious expression."Is that something you would say?"In just a few short days, it felt as if years had passed.