Chapter 73: Nami's "Secret Weapon"? Reunion in Front of the Execution Platform!
Loguetown, the town known as the "Beginning and the End," boasts the most prosperous commercial street in the East Sea.
Shops lined both sides of the street, and the air was filled with the clamor of voices.
Inside a high-end clothing store named "ROSE," the decor was exquisite, and the faint scent of perfume drifted through the air.
"Hum hum~ This one is nice, and this one is also very suitable for the climate of the Grand Line."
Nami was humming a little tune, weaving through the clothing racks in a cheerful mood, picking out clothes she liked.
On her shoulder, the black Crow Clay was looking around restlessly.
"Caw caw! This great one wants..."
Clay's rasping, broken-gong-like voice had just started to ring out before he could voice any "grand theories."
Snap.
A fair hand moved with lightning speed, accurately pinching his punchable beak shut.
Nami held Clay in her arms like a plush doll, her hand firmly clamping his beak, not letting him make a single sound.
She lowered her head, a "kind and gentle" smile plastered on her face:
"Be quiet for me, Clay."
Nami leaned close to Clay's ear and whispered softly:
"If you dare make another sound, I'll have Sanji stew you into Crow soup tonight."
"Mmph! Mmph mmph!!"
Clay instantly felt a bone-chilling murderous intent. Scared into a cold sweat, he could only nod desperately, indicating he would absolutely shut up.
Having dealt with the noisy Crow, Nami was in a great mood and continued her shopping spree.
As the Navigator who was about to enter the Grand Line, she selected several sets of practical clothing that were both fashionable and adaptable to the changing weather.
Just as Nami was preparing to go to the counter to pay.
Her footsteps came to a stop as if possessed when she passed a corner in the deepest part of the shop.
That was... the "Private Lingerie Section."
Under the soft lighting, the display cases held several pieces of intimate apparel with bold designs and exquisite materials.
Nami's gaze was involuntarily drawn to three of them—
Two were matching sets of underwear with black lace trim, mysterious and sexy;
The other was a wine-red silk camisole nightgown, its silky texture shimmering with a charming luster under the lights.
Gulp.
Nami subconsciously swallowed, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Right... it's just because I've grown up, and I'm going to the Grand Line soon, so I need to wear something better..."
"That's right, that's it! This is just for... comfort!"
Nami blushed, frantically making excuses in her mind, trying to convince her wildly beating heart.
"Oh, this young lady really has an eye for quality."
Just then, a young and beautiful female shop assistant walked over with a smile.
Her eyes flickered between Nami's shapely figure and those bold pieces of clothing.
She then leaned closer to Nami and said in an ambiguous, seductive tone:
"These two are current Loguetown limited editions, made with high-quality silk from the South Blue."
The assistant winked and added meaningfully:
"These designs are enough to drive men... 'crazy'."
Hearing those words... an image inexplicably surfaced in her mind...
Whoosh—
Nami's face instantly turned as red as a cooked shrimp, and steam even began to rise from the top of her head.
"Aaah! What am I thinking!!"
She screamed in her heart, but under the assistant's smile that seemed to see through everything, Nami's brain overheated.
"Wrap... wrap them up!!"
"I'll buy them!!"
...
A few minutes later.
Nami walked out of the "ROSE" clothing store carrying several bags.
Even as she walked down the street, the blush on her face hadn't completely faded, and she tightly clutched the bag containing the "secret weapon."
"Caw?" Clay, on her shoulder, curiously poked his head out, wanting to see what good stuff the Big Sis had bought.
"What are you looking at!"
Nami immediately glared at him fiercely and threatened in a low voice:
"What you just saw, you are absolutely not allowed to tell anyone!!"
"Otherwise... I'll really stew you! Do you hear me!"
Clay was so scared he immediately retracted his neck, thinking to himself that women are truly terrifying.
Just then.
Whoosh—
A sudden cold wind blew through the bustling street.
The originally bustling crowd couldn't help but shrink their necks.
As a genius Navigator with top-tier talent, Nami's body shuddered violently; she keenly felt the surrounding air pressure dropping sharply.
This feeling...
Nami immediately put away her previous shyness and playfulness, her expression becoming serious.
She looked up at the sky.
The sky above Loguetown, which had been clear just a moment ago, was now covered in dark clouds. The thick cloud layer pressed down low, as if within reach.
"This change in air pressure... it's no ordinary storm."
Nami frowned deeply, a strong sense of unease rising in her heart.
"I must find Luffy and the others quickly, then set sail immediately!"
Nami didn't hesitate; she identified the direction and immediately ran towards the execution platform square in the center of town.
...
At the same time.
In the intricate alleys of Loguetown.
"Eh? Where on earth is the execution platform?"
Luffy scratched the back of his head, running around the alleys with a look of confusion.
It clearly looked close, but no matter how he walked, he couldn't reach it. This town was practically a maze for someone like him with no sense of direction.
Just as Luffy turned a street corner.
"Found you! Straw Hat!"
A man and a woman suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his only path.
The woman had an incredibly hot figure, wearing a bikini top and a cape, carrying a massive iron mace. Her skin was as smooth as jade, seemingly radiating light in the dark alley.
Beside her stood a mysterious man wrapped in a large cloak that hid his face.
"Hehehe..."
The woman giggled and took a step forward, looking at Luffy with eyes flashing with confidence:
"Still as cute as ever, Luffy."
She struck what she considered to be her most charming pose and asked coquettishly:
"Hey, Luffy. Do you think... I am the most beautiful woman on this sea?"
The air was silent for a few seconds.
Luffy stopped, extended his pinky, and expressionlessly picked his nose.
He looked the strange woman up and down, then asked with a blank face:
"Huh? Who are you? Old lady."
Thwack—
It was as if an invisible arrow had pierced the woman's heart.
"Old... Old lady?!!"
The previously charming Alvida's forehead instantly bulged with veins, her beautiful face twisting with rage:
"I am Alvida!! You insensitive rubber man!!"
"And! Don't call me old lady!!!"
"Alvida?" Luffy tilted his head. "Don't know you. The Alvida from before was an ugly, fat old hag."
"That was me! I ate the Sube Sube no Mi and became beautiful!!" Alvida roared.
Just then, the man in the cloak beside her couldn't take it anymore either.
"Stop wasting words with him! Alvida!"
The man suddenly threw off his cloak, revealing his signature Big Red Nose and clown outfit.
"Long time no see! Straw Hat!!"
Buggy spread his arms, several throwing knives gripped between his fingers, a vengeful sneer on his face:
"This great one is here to take your life!!"
Seeing this face, Luffy's memory was finally jogged.
His eyes instantly lit up, and he pointed at Buggy, shouting:
"Ah!! It's the Big Red Nose!!"
"Who are you calling Big Red Nose! Bastard!!"
Buggy instantly lost his cool; this was his biggest taboo. "I am Captain Buggy!!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!!"
Luffy didn't bother listening to their nonsense and threw a punch directly at them.
"Useless!"
Alvida puffed out her chest, not even trying to dodge.
Slip!
Luffy's punch hit Alvida's smooth skin and instantly slid off to the side due to "zero friction," smashing directly into the wall.
"What? It slipped away?" Luffy was stunned.
"Hehehe, even dust can't get a foothold on my skin!" Alvida laughed triumphantly. "You can't hit me!"
Meanwhile.
"Chop-Chop Senbei!!"
Buggy activated his fruit ability; his lower body suddenly flew out, kicking towards Luffy's back with rotating blades.
"Whoa!"
Luffy jumped away quickly, but his arm was still grazed, leaving a small cut.
"Dammit! How annoying!"
Although Luffy's strength was far beyond what it used to be, facing these two "former bosses" with bizarre Devil Fruit abilities and seamless teamwork.
Coupled with his lack of adaptation to the Sube Sube no Mi, he actually found himself on the defensive for a moment.
"Hehehe! Straw Hat! You can only act tough here!"
Buggy looked at the somewhat flustered Luffy, and his eyes darted around as a plan formed in his mind.
While controlling his body parts to harass Luffy, he deliberately retreated towards the alley exit:
"What's wrong? Don't you want to go to the execution platform?"
Buggy pointed at the towering square outside the alley and issued a sinister provocation:
"Then come on! That place... is where the Pirate King died, and it will also be your burial ground!!"
"If you have the guts, follow us!!"
After saying that, Buggy and Alvida turned and ran, heading straight for the center of the square.
"Stop! Big Red Nose! Slippery Old Lady!"
Luffy didn't even think; he roared and chased after them:
"I'm going to send you all flying!!"
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