High in the sky, ten thousand meters up.
Luffy was still wedged in the giant bird's beak. Looking down at the land becoming clearer below, he wasn't afraid—in fact, he beamed.
"Shishishi! Don't know where this is, but it looks lively!" Luffy glanced at the bird struggling to flap its wings and grinned. "I'll get off here! Thanks for the ride, Birdy!"
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Luffy took a deep breath, his arms stretching like pythons to wrap tightly around the bird's neck and body. He gave a massive squeeze!
"GA-K!? (I'M DYING!!)" The bird let out a shrill shriek, its beak flying open from the pain.
"See ya!" Luffy dropped like a meteorite, whistling through the air toward the ground. "Waaaaah—!!"
Meanwhile, on a street in Orange Town.
A young woman with short orange hair and a lithe figure was running, breathless. Behind her, three pirates wielding cutlasses and wearing clown makeup were in hot pursuit.
"Stop right there! Hand over the grand line map!" "Filthy thief! You dare steal from the great Captain Buggy!"
Nami gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around for an escape route. Just then, a sharp whistling sound came from above.
BOOM—!!
A figure plummeted from the sky, slamming into the ground right in front of Nami. The pavement shattered, dust billowing as if hit by a cannonball. The three chasing pirates screeched to a halt. "W-what the hell?!"
As the dust cleared, Luffy stood up as if nothing had happened, patted the dust off his straw hat, and shook his dizzy head. "Whoa... that was high. What a fun trip." He looked left and right, his eyes landing on the orange-haired girl. "Eh? Where am I?"
Nami froze for a second, then her eyes twinkled with a sudden plan. She pointed at Luffy and screamed with joy, "BOSS!! You're finally here! You've come to protect me, right?"
"Huh?" Luffy looked baffled. "Boss? Who? I don't know you."
"I'll leave them to you, Boss! Take care of these three for me!" Nami didn't give him a chance to explain. She turned on her heel and zipped into a side alley like a nimble cat.
"Hey! That woman's getting away!" "It's this brat in the straw hat blocking the way!"
The three Buggy lackeys glared at Luffy, brandishing their blades. "So you're an accomplice? If you're her boss, then die!"
"I told you, I don't know her!" Luffy sighed, a bit annoyed. Facing the descending blade, he didn't even dodge. He just threw a casual punch.
BAM!
The lead pirate was sent flying, blade and all, embedding himself into a nearby wall.
"W-what?!" The remaining two gasped.
"Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!!"
Luffy's arms snapped forward like bullets, striking both pirates squarely in the face. With two dull thuds, they collapsed, eyes rolling back.
Watching from a rooftop, Nami covered her mouth in shock, her escape forgotten. He's so strong... he took them out in an instant... She hesitated, then hopped down, landing in front of Luffy.
"Um... thanks for that. Who are you, anyway?"
Luffy picked up his hat. "I'm Luffy. The man who's gonna be King of the Pirates."
"A pirate?!" Nami's gaze turned cold for a split second before she masked it with a sly smile. "I'm Nami. I'm a thief who specializes in robbing pirates. Hey, you're pretty good. Want to team up?"
"No," Luffy rejected her flatly. "I need to find my companions."
Suddenly, Luffy's knees buckled. He deflated like a popped balloon, sitting on the ground as his stomach let out a thunderous roar. "Ah... flew for too long... used too much energy. I'm so hungry, I can't move..."
Nami watched the powerhouse turn into a wet noodle and couldn't help but giggle. "You're hopeless. Since you saved me, I'll treat you to a meal."
"REALLY?! IS THERE MEAT?!" Luffy's eyes turned into searchlights.
A short while later, in a deserted restaurant.
Luffy was devouring piles of food, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel's. "Is this your house?" he asked muffledly.
"No," Nami sat opposite him, chin in her hand. "The townspeople fled to shelters because they're scared of 'Buggy the Clown.' This place is empty."
"Oh, so we're thieves stealing food," Luffy commented casually while eating.
"How rude!" Nami slammed the table. "I told you, I only steal from pirates! It's called 'redistributing wealth'!"
Luffy swallowed a massive chunk of meat and tilted his head. "But a thief is still a thief, right?"
"Shut up!" Nami snapped. "Whatever. I have to make 100 million Berries no matter what."
"100 million?!" Luffy's jaw dropped. "That's so much! What do you need it for?"
Nami's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly forced a smirk. "That's a secret. But... once I have a map of the Grand Line, 100 million won't be a dream anymore."
"A MAP?!"
The words hit Luffy like a lightning bolt. He leaned in close, eyes shining. "You can read sea charts? You're a navigator?!"
"Of course. My navigation skills are top-tier," Nami said confidently.
"THAT'S GREAT!!" Luffy shouted. "Join my crew! Be my navigator! I've been looking for one!"
He began to complain with a look of lingering fear. "You have no idea—my Vice-Captain is a guy who only knows how to sleep and stare blankly. Without a navigator, we'll definitely starve to death at sea!"
"No!" Nami slapped his hand away, her expression cooling. "You're a pirate, right?"
"Yeah! Shishishi."
"Hmph. The thing I hate most in this world is pirates!" Nami said coldly. "I only like two things: money and tangerines! Joining a pirate crew? Not in a million years!"
"You don't want to...?" Luffy didn't push it. He shook his head and went back to his food. "What a shame."
Just then, shouting and heavy footsteps echoed from outside. "Hey! Have you found that thief girl yet?!" "Where did she go? Captain Buggy is losing his temper!"
Nami's expression shifted. She looked at the eating Luffy, and a bold plan formed in her mind.
"Hey, Luffy." Nami suddenly put on a sweet smile, leaning into his ear. "If you do me one favor, I might... consider joining you."
"Really?!" Luffy looked up, delighted.
"Of course! I want you to come with me to see Captain Buggy," Nami said with a smile. "But... we'll have to make you look a little... uncomfortable." She pulled out a thick hemp rope like a magic trick.
Five minutes later, Nami was dragging a bound-and-gagged Luffy out of the restaurant.
"Why am I tied up?" Luffy asked, perfectly calm even as he chewed a last bit of meat.
"It's... a special ceremony," Nami hedged. "You don't mind, right?"
Luffy thought for a moment. "Hmm... okay. I want to see this Buggy anyway. Let's go!"
Looking at the overly innocent boy, Nami felt a flicker of guilt, but she crushed it with her obsession for 100 million Berries. I'm sorry... for the village, I have to do this.
Meanwhile, at the Orange Town docks.
The humble wooden boat finally made landfall. "Phew... finally here." Zoro hopped onto the dock, stretching. "Where's that idiot Luffy?"
Viktor stood up, straightening his collar. He glanced at the three "human engines" who were trying to sneak away and smirked.
THUMP!
Viktor kicked one of them in the rear, sending him face-first into the sand. He looked down at the three trembling pirates. "Hey. Did I say you could leave?"
"Lead the way." Viktor pointed toward the large tent in the center of town flying a pirate flag. "Take us to see your... 'Clown' Captain."
At the word "Clown," the three pirates turned green and began kowtowing frantically. "Master!! Please!! We told you never to say that word!!"
"If Captain Buggy hears it, we'll all be blown to ashes!!"
Viktor smiled casually, a red light flashing in his eyes. "You might be. We won't. Let's go, Zoro. Let's see if our Captain is causing trouble for people again."