Chapter 70: Orange Trees and Windmills, Destination Loguetown!
The day of departure had finally arrived.
The morning sunlight spilled over the harbor of Cocoyasi Village, and the Going Merry was already fully prepared to set sail.
"Careful! Don't damage the Roots!"
On the deck, Usopp was directing Johnny and Yosaku as they cautiously transplanted three lush orange trees onto the aft deck.
Those were the orange trees left behind by Bell-mère, representing Nami's deepest attachment to her mother and her hometown.
"Don't worry, Miss Nami!" Usopp wiped the black soot from under his nose and puffed out his chest proudly.
"This great me is a genius designer! I've specially planned a small garden on the deck to ensure these orange trees can enjoy the best sunlight and sea breeze!"
"Hmph, I guess you're somewhat useful after all." Nami looked at those familiar orange trees, a hint of tenderness flickering in her eyes.
At this time, the shore was crowded with villagers who had come to see them off.
Just as Luffy was preparing to board the ship, a calloused hand pressed down on his shoulder.
Covered in scars and with a windmill stuck in his hat, the Sheriff Genzo pulled Luffy aside with a solemn expression.
"Straw Hat."
Genzo pointed to the windmill spinning in the wind on his hat, his voice low and serious:
"Do you know who this windmill was planted for? It was to make that child, who loved to cry since she was little, show a smile."
"I'm entrusting Nami to you all. But... if you ever dare to let Nami's smile disappear..."
"I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and never let you off!!"
Facing this warning filled with killing intent, Luffy was not intimidated.
He pressed down on the Straw Hat atop his head, grinned, and revealed his signature smile:
"Hee hee hee! Tatsuya won't let that happen!"
"..."
Genzo froze for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "You guy... forget it, just get lost already."
...
"Raise the sails! Set sail!!"
Following Luffy's command, the white sails of the going merry billowed out, and the ship slowly pulled away from the harbor.
However, Nami was nowhere to be seen on the deck.
"Hey! Where's that woman? She didn't have second thoughts, did she?" Zoro leaned against the mast and asked doubtfully.
Just as the ship was over ten meters away from the shore.
"Wait a minute!!"
A vibrant voice called out.
Nami was seen rushing out from the crowd carrying her luggage. With a vigorous leap, she jumped high and landed steadily on the going merry's aft railing.
She turned around, looking at the villagers on the shore who were waving with tears in their eyes, reluctant to see her go.
There was no deep confession as one might imagine, nor was there a heart-wrenching hug.
Nami took a deep breath and suddenly made a huge face at the shore, pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue:
"Bleeeh—!!"
Then, she suddenly lifted the hem of her top and gave it a hard shake.
"Clatter, clatter—"
Countless bulging wallets fell out of her clothes like raindrops, piling up on the deck.
Nami hugged the pile of wallets, smiling like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat:
"Everyone!! Take care! I'll be taking your wallets without ceremony!!"
This scene happened so fast that the villagers on the shore instinctively reached for their pockets.
They were empty.
After a brief silence.
"You bastard!!! That was my secret stash!!"
"You little Cat Burglar!! You're still stealing even as you leave!!"
"She's still the same as ever!! Give me back my money!!"
The villagers' veins bulged one by one as they waved their fists and roared furiously at the departing ship.
However, as they roared, their voices began to choke up.
Their angry expressions gradually melted away, turning into faces full of tears.
Genzo held his hat, Nojiko covered her mouth, and all the villagers at this moment desperately waved their hands, shouting their final blessings with all their might:
"Goodbye!!! Nami!!!"
"You must be happy!!!"
"Don't catch a cold!!"
Hearing the shouts coming from behind her, Nami could no longer maintain that money-grubbing face.
She turned around, her back to the village, as tears poured out like a broken dam.
"Sob, sob... Everyone... thank you..."
The young girl knelt on the deck, hugging the pile of wallets, crying her heart out in the sea breeze.
A long time later.
The going merry had already sailed into the vast ocean, and Cocoyasi Village had long since disappeared over the horizon.
Nami sat under an orange tree, still sobbing from time to time, her red eyes looking like a rabbit's.
"Here."
A slender hand reached over, handing her a cup of steaming Orange Tea.
Tatsuya had walked over at some point, and behind him, Clay was obediently perched on his shoulder.
"This is from the stock I got from Nojiko, brewed specially for you."
Tatsuya sat down beside Nami with a smile, looking out at the distant sea, his tone relaxed:
"Stop crying, or your eyes will swell up like walnuts."
"Shut up! None of your business!" Nami took the teacup and gave him a sharp look, but a warm current surged in her heart.
"Oh, right."
Tatsuya seemed to suddenly remember something and pointed to the cabin behind them:
"The day before yesterday, I took the liberty of scavenging through the ruins of Arlong Park.
"Although the Marines took the bulk of it, some of the remaining treasure and Gold from the Arlong Pirates..."
"I also added some interest for you; it's all piled up in the warehouse."
Hearing the word 'treasure'...
"Ding—!!"
Nami, who was just tearfully immersed in sadness a second ago, instantly looked up.
Those red eyes instantly turned into glittering Berries symbols at this moment!
"Re... Really?!"
Nami tossed the teacup aside and rushed into the cabin. A moment later, her excited screams came from inside:
"Waaaaah!! Gold! It's Gold!! I'm rich!!"
Immediately after, Nami rushed out like a gust of wind, grabbed Tatsuya's arm, and said with a face full of flattery:
"Tatsuya! You're such a good person!! I like you the most!!"
"..."
Tatsuya's body and smile couldn't help but freeze.
Seeing this, Zoro couldn't help but complain with a face full of black lines:
"This woman... she changes faces so fast."
Sanji, on the other hand, was biting a handkerchief and rolling on the ground: "Waaaah! I want to give Miss Nami treasure too! I want to be hugged by Miss Nami too!!"
After some commotion, the atmosphere on the ship became lively again.
"Alright! Boys!"
Luffy took his special seat—the sheep head of the going merry—and facing the sea breeze, he pointed ahead excitedly:
"Our crew is complete, we have a ship, and we even have bounties!"
"Where to next? Nami!"
Nami was in a great mood. Holding the sea chart, she pointed to a spot in the East, her eyes shining with light:
"If we want to go to the Grand Line, we must first pass through that place."
"That is the final checkpoint before entering the Grand Line, and also the legendary..."
Nami's voice rose a bit, carrying a hint of awe:
"The place where the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was born and executed."
"Loguetown!!"
"Loguetown?!"
Hearing that name, Luffy suddenly stood up, his hands firmly pressing down on the Straw Hat atop his head.
In those black eyes, an unprecedentedly brilliant light instantly erupted:
"The place where the Pirate King... was born and died..."
"Yosh!!"
Luffy raised his fist and shouted toward the endless sea:
"It's decided! Full speed ahead!!"
"Target—Loguetown!!!"
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