On Hiroto's ship, a subtle scene was playing out.
"Is this necessary?" Nami asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes, it is."
Carina held a flintlock pistol, pointing the muzzle at her partner with a warm smile.
Nami looked incredulous. "Just for a man? We're partners."
Carina asked, "Are you talking about the time we met a group of pirates you tricked, and you ran off first without saying a word?"
"Or the time we discovered treasure together, but you tried to sneak off with it alone, and when I caught you, you acted like nothing happened?"
"Or maybe the fact that you secretly reached a cooperation with Hiroto and didn't even tell me?"
"Ahahaha..." Nami gave a sheepish laugh.
"I'm different from you, at least our pursuits are different." Carina shook her head.
"In my eyes, he is very valuable. You can't see it because your eyes only see money. Or rather, you don't want companions at all. Even with me, it's just temporary cooperation."
"But with him, I can make more money and go further. You tell me, who's more important?"
"You trust him that much?"
Nami didn't deny it.
The existence of Cocoyasi Village was the biggest difference between her and Carina.
She could see that Carina could accept cooperation, or even follow and become Hiroto's crew member.
She couldn't. At least, she had no way to abandon everyone and escape alone.
"A woman must survive on the sea using her wisdom." Carina suddenly gave a charming smile.
Her beautiful face when smiling made even Nami feel a bit dazed.
"But intuition is also very important. Taking a gamble when necessary is even more essential."
"So you're just going to commit yourself like this?" Nami couldn't help but ask.
"Of course not. We've been in contact for less than a month. I'll watch more. If he doesn't fit, I'll leave." Carina shook her head.
"But before that, I have to show my value. Trust is the first item."
"..."
Nami gave up on persuading Carina to steal the ship and run away with her.
"Besides, Nami, you're taking things for granted. I don't think we could escape anyway. I don't believe that man's confidence is just a bluff."
"How do you think he discovered we were being followed?"
Carina moved back a bit and looked toward the pirate ship where the flag was clearly visible.
"There's no movement over there anymore. Let's make a bet, Nami. I think he's the one who won. What about you?"
"Bet what?"
"The treasures picked this time."
"No."
"...Massaging the winner tonight."
"Fine."
Nami said flatly, "I bet he wins."
Carina: "?"
The bet between the two failed to materialize.
Nami stood at the ship's railing, gazing into the distance at the pirate ship that remained silent.
Could that man really have won?
That was the entire Black Cat Pirates, plus the Captain Jango, whose bounty was 2 million berries higher than his.
And he was alone. Logically speaking, it was impossible.
"He won. Let's head over."
Carina was also gazing into the distance, but with a telescope.
Seeing that there was still no movement, she said with certainty, "If the pirates had won, we would at least see them celebrating."
The commotion from the battle just now had been quite large.
Nami remained silent, simply focusing on manipulating the sails and steering the helm.
The ship slowly approached the pirate ship.
Soon, the hulls drew close, and Nami also saw it.
The scene on that pirate ship could only be described as hell. Countless corpses were piled on the deck, and crimson blood gathered like a stream, flowing freely.
She instinctively held her breath, staring blankly at the scene left behind after the total annihilation of the Black Cat Pirates.
The Black Cat Pirates, with a combined bounty of over ten million, were just gone like that?
'So strong.'
"So strong." Carina voiced Nami's thoughts.
She looked at Hiroto, the perpetrator, with joy, feeling she had found a treasure. Although she didn't know his specific character yet, at least in terms of strength, she was incredibly pleased and satisfied.
"Hiroto!"
Carina shouted loudly and jumped across from the ship impatiently.
"Wait, come back and dock the ship!"
Nami's voice was left behind as Carina boarded and walked up quickly.
The surrounding corpses and blood made her skin crawl instinctively, but she still maintained an air of nonchalance.
"Truly amazing, the Black Cat Pirates are completely wiped out."
Carina had intended to offer a string of flattery but she saw Hiroto raise his hand to stop her, holding up his long blade which was covered in cracks.
"First, help me find a good sword."
"Okay." Carina blinked and immediately went to do so.
"Nami, bring the ship over. Time to clean up the mess."
Hiroto threw away the ruined long blade. After a round of commands, Carina helped him find a long blade of decent quality. Then, Nami and Carina began to clear the battlefield.
The Black Cat Pirates' treasures, supplies, and valuable items were all salvaged.
Occasionally, pirates who had luckily survived were dealt with by Carina.
It was worth mentioning that during this time, Carina supervised Nami like a foreman, clearly acting as if she were on Hiroto's side.
Nami, on the other hand, remained the same, not considering herself a member of the team. Rather, in her eyes, the only difference between being here and being in prison was the attraction of a reward.
Hiroto didn't care about that. He knew Nami's situation and had a plan for how to act and how to bring her under his command.
What he needed to do now was process his gains and the issues at hand.
Opening the panel, new entry information appeared.
[Entry: Hypnosis]
[Quality: Green]
[Type: Active]
[Effect: Set a 'medium' to perform hypnotic suggestions on living beings. Includes but is not limited to berserk, emotional weakening, and emotional strengthening, but a corresponding price will also be paid.]
[Consumption: Stamina]
[Remark: If it were of gold quality...]