Chapter 60: Terrible Acting, the Worst Witch?
In the woods near Cocoyasi Village, it looked as if a small meteorite had just struck.
Dust filled the air, and a patch of trees had collapsed.
In the center of the ruins, the "shima shima," with its comical duck head, was stuck upside down on a large broken tree.
The duck's mouth was still clutching a branch, looking both pathetic and hilarious.
"Cough, cough... What on earth fell down..."
A figure with short blue hair and healthy tan skin pushed aside the bushes and cautiously poked her head out.
It was Nami's sister, Nojiko.
She had been working in the Tangerine Grove and rushed over as soon as she heard the loud crash.
However, when she saw the scene before her, she was completely stunned.
Next to that strange duck ship, a group of odd-looking people lay scattered about.
A boy wearing a Straw Hat was hanging from a tree branch, laughing loudly;
A guy with a long nose was lying on the ground, twitching and foaming at the mouth;
And there were two people dressed in identical clothes, clutching their heads and crying bitterly.
The two were also shouting nonsense like "We survived!" and "Mama protect us!"
And in the very center of the ruins...
"Ow, ow, ow... That Red-eyed Bastard, he definitely did that on purpose..."
Sanji pushed aside the wooden boards pressing down on him and stood up with difficulty, clutching his aching back.
That fall just now had almost made him vomit up last night's dinner.
However, the moment he looked up, his gaze happened to meet Nojiko's not far away.
At this moment, because Nojiko had run so fast, fine beads of sweat hung on her forehead, and a few strands of blue hair stuck to her cheeks. That wild beauty instantly pierced Sanji's heart.
Hum—
The pain in Sanji's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by two giant red hearts.
His whole body instantly twisted into a pretzel shape, and he slid-knelt before Nojiko in a posture that defied human anatomy.
"Oh!! Where is this? Is it heaven?!"
Sanji pulled out a wild flower from nowhere and offered it with deep affection:
"Beautiful big sister! Did you save me? Ah, to repay your kindness, I am willing to dedicate my entire life to you!
"I am Sanji. May I ask your lovely name..."
"Idiot."
A cold voice came from the side.
Zoro leaned against a tree trunk, looking at Sanji with an expression as if he were looking at trash.
"Can't you move when you see a woman? You Pervy Kappa."
"What did you say?! You moss-head!"
Sanji snapped his head back, his face contorted. "This is basic etiquette for a gentleman toward a lady! What would a muscle-brained creature like you know!"
"Coo-coo, gah-gah! You're just a Crow in heat! Gah-gah-gah!"
Clay also emerged from the tangled branches, shook his feathers, flew onto Tatsuya's shoulder, and mocked Sanji loudly:
"Lord Clay is embarrassed for you! Gah-gah!"
"A... a talking Crow?!"
Nojiko watched this scene, took a step back in fright, and covered her mouth. Just where did these people come from?
"Hey! What happened! Nojiko!"
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.
Hearing the commotion, Nami, who was already nearby, also ran over in a panic.
When she pushed aside the bushes and saw the group of disheveled yet incredibly familiar figures, she froze on the spot.
Her pupils constricted violently, and her breathing stopped.
Luffy, Usopp, Zoro... and even that chef, Sanji.
They... they actually followed her here?
Nami's gaze swept over everyone one by one.
Finally, when her eyes landed on the black-haired boy standing in the shade of a tree, brushing dust off his clothes, her heart felt as if it had been gripped hard.
Tatsuya.
At that moment, Tatsuya also looked up, his deep black eyes looking at her calmly.
The corners of his mouth curled slightly, as if saying: "Caught you."
Guilt, emotion, fear... countless feelings surged in Nami's heart.
'Why... why did you follow me... you idiots...'
'If it's these guys... maybe they could really...'
But in the next second, reason doused the spark in her heart like ice water.
No... it's no use.
The opponent here is Arlong!
That cruel Fishman monster who rules all of Cocoyasi Village!
Even the Marine is helpless against him. No matter how strong these guys are, they can't be a match for a Fishman.
If they stay, they'll be killed!
Just like Belle-Mere back then...
I must... drive them away!
Nami took a deep breath, her nails digging deep into her palms. She bit her lip hard, forcing down the stinging in her eyes.
When she looked up again, her face had been replaced with a cold, mocking expression.
"Ha... you really are persistent, you idiots."
Nami crossed her arms, her chin tilted up, looking at everyone with a contemptuous gaze:
"To think you followed me all the way here... haven't you figured out the situation yet?"
"Nami!!"
Usopp didn't notice anything wrong and scrambled up from the ground excitedly.
"Great! We finally found you! Come back with us! Where's the going merry?"
"Go back?"
Nami gave a cold laugh and interrupted him:
"Don't make me laugh. Why would I go back with a bunch of penniless pirates like you?"
She pointed to the land around them, her tone icy:
"Look closely. This is Arlong Park territory, and I am an officer of the Arlong Pirates."
"Joining you before was just to use you to help me make money. Now that I've brought the money and the ship back to my turf..."
Nami couldn't bear it any longer; she could only turn around, her back to the group:
"You have no more use to me. If you know what's good for you, get lost! Leave the going merry to me as payment for your lives."
"Wha... what?! But Kaya gave that to us!!"
The smile on Usopp's face froze instantly, and he looked at Nami's back in disbelief.
"Nami... what are you saying... aren't we nakama?"
"Nakama? Don't make me laugh." Nami sneered, "Pirates don't have nakama, only mutual exploitation."
"You woman!!"
Johnny and Yosaku drew their swords in anger, their faces full of rage, "The Big Bros were so good to you! You really are that kind of treacherous witch!!"
Zoro didn't speak, but his hand rested on his sword hilt, his eyes sharp as he stared at Nami's back.
Luffy didn't speak either.
He just stood there, pressing down on his Straw Hat, his eyes staring straight at Nami without saying a word.
The atmosphere instantly dropped to the freezing point.
Nojiko stood to the side, looking at her sister's slightly trembling shoulders. She opened her mouth but didn't know how to explain.
"Heh..."
In the midst of this dead silence, a light chuckle suddenly rang out.
Tatsuya brushed the dust off his shoulder and walked toward Nami step by step.
"Hey! What are you doing! Don't come over!"
Hearing the footsteps, Nami turned around in a panic, trying to maintain her fierce expression, "I told you to get lost..."
However, she hadn't even finished her sentence.
A hand reached out in front of her.
Tatsuya didn't attack her; instead, he reached out and unceremoniously pinched Nami's delicate cheeks, pulling them slightly to both sides.
"Mmph?!"
Nami's cold and heartless expression shattered instantly, her mouth pinched into a comical duck shape.
"Let... let go..."
Nami's face turned slightly red, and she grabbed Tatsuya's wrists with both hands, trying to break free, but Tatsuya's hands were as immovable as iron pincers.
"Whatcha tryin' to do? Red-eyed Bastard! I'm not a member of your pirate crew anymore..." Nami protested unclearly.
Tatsuya leaned down slightly, his smiling eyes staring into Nami's eyes at close range.
"Miss Navigator."
Tatsuya said softly, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness:
"I have to say, your acting... is absolutely terrible."
"It's not even as good as a one-legged old man's."
"Wha..." Nami's pupils shrank.
Tatsuya let go, ignoring Nami's defense, and slowly pulled a blank "Ledger" from his coat, flipping through it with mock seriousness.
"Come, let's settle the bill."
"Stealing the going merry—that's a priceless treasure from Miss Kaya. If we convert it to Berries... hmm, let's call it 100 million."
"Then there are those hurtful words you just said, which caused immense mental trauma to our Captain's fragile soul. For emotional distress... that's at least another 100 million."
"Plus the 310 million principal you owed me before, along with the interest from this period..."
Tatsuya closed the "Ledger" and looked at the dumbfounded Nami with a smile, holding up five fingers:
"Congratulations, Miss Nami. You now owe me roughly 600 million Berries."
"Thinking of dodging the debt and driving us away? Not a chance."
Tatsuya took a step forward, closing in on Nami again, and said with a smile:
"Until you pay off this debt, you'll be working for us for the rest of your life. No matter where you run, I'll catch you and bring you back to pay up."
Hearing this, Nojiko, who was watching from the side, raised an eyebrow, her narrowed eyes darting between the two.
"You..."
Nami was left speechless by the rebuttal.
She looked at the man before her who spoke only of money yet refused to let her go. The high wall she had built in her heart began to shake violently, and tears welled up in her eyes.
These idiots... why won't they just listen!
Those Fishmen... are monsters!
"Shahahaha! Are they over there!!"
Just then, a burst of arrogant and unpleasant laughter came from deep in the woods, shattering the delicate atmosphere.
Nami's face instantly turned deathly pale.
From the other side of the woods, over a dozen tall, hideous Fishmen came strolling out arrogantly.
The leader was a sub-leader of the Arlong Pirates.
"Hmm? Is that Nami?"
The sub-leader saw Nami, and then his gaze fell upon Luffy and the others, his eyes turning fierce.
"And humans? Are they intruders?"
"Oh no! We've been spotted!"
Nami was struck with terror, and the fear in her heart exploded.
If Arlong found out she had brought outsiders back, not only these people, but Nojiko and the Village would suffer!
"Go! Quick!!"
Nami could no longer bother with acting; she slapped Tatsuya's hand away and pushed him desperately, her voice choked with tears:
"I'm begging you! Just go! Hide! Those guys are Fishmen! They'll kill you!!"
However...
No matter how hard she pushed, Tatsuya stood like a rooted tree, completely immovable.
In her exertion and frantic desperation, she even stumbled into Tatsuya's arms.
Luffy stood where he was, looking at the approaching Fishmen. He calmly stuck a pinky into his nostril and said flatly:
"No way. Baka."
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