The forest breeze blew gently, carrying the faint, sweet scent of tangerines unique to the island.
"Ugh... hmph..."
Nami's sobbing gradually subsided, leaving only intermittent whimpers. As logic slowly returned to her brain, she suddenly realized something—she was currently clinging to Viktor like a distressed little girl, her entire face buried in his chest.
And all around them...
Luffy was picking his nose while staring at the sky; Zoro was leaning on his blade with an amused smirk; Sanji was biting a handkerchief, weeping tears of blood and jealousy.
Usopp, Johnny, and the others had their eyes wide open, looking as if they were witnessing some scandalous gossip.
Then, she saw her sister Nojiko, whose eyes were crinkled so far in a smile they were practically slits.
"AHHH!!!"
Nami's face instantly flushed a deep crimson, looking like a overripe tomato. As if struck by an electric bolt, she shoved Viktor away with all her might and scrambled back several paces. Covering her burning cheeks with both hands, she shrieked incoherently:
"You... you guys! What are you looking at! Forget it! Every single one of you, forget what you just saw!!"
"My, my, how heartless, Miss Navigator."
Viktor didn't seem annoyed at being pushed away. He simply glanced down with a smirk at the obvious damp patch on his chest. Looking up, his dark eyes twinkled as he teased the mortified Nami: "You were crying so hard just a second ago that you soaked my clothes..."
"Cleaning fees plus emotional consolation fees... I'm adding that to the tab."
"You... you money-grubbing bastard!!"
Nami instantly exploded in embarrassment. The lingering trace of tenderness and emotion vanished into thin air. She marched forward, raised her foot, and unceremoniously stomped on Viktor's instep, grinding it twice for good measure.
"Go to hell! You red-eyed loan shark demon!!"
"Sss..." Viktor took an exaggeratedly sharp breath of pain.
Watching the two of them interact like bickering rivals, the heavy, oppressive atmosphere that had hung over the group lightened considerably.
"Hehehe..."
Nojiko, who had been standing by, couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. Seeing Nami angry—but with a spark back in her eyes—brought her an immense sense of relief.
How long had it been? Since that nightmare day eight years ago, Nami had never shown such vivid, genuine emotion.
"Alright, everyone."
Nojiko stepped forward, offering a warm invitation: "This isn't the place to talk. If you don't mind, come sit at my house."
She glanced at the sulking Nami, then looked seriously at Luffy and the others. "I think there are things... truths about the heavy burden Nami has carried for eight years... that you have a right to know."
Nojiko's home was a cozy wooden cabin nestled on the edge of the tangerine grove. As the group gathered in the small living room, Nojiko brought out tea. However, just as she took a deep breath to begin the heavy tale of the past—
Creak—
Luffy suddenly pressed down on his straw hat and stood up from his chair. Without looking at anyone, he turned and headed straight for the door.
"Luffy? Where are you going?" Usopp asked, confused. "Nojiko is about to tell us about Nami's past."
"I'm not listening."
Luffy stopped at the door, his back to the group. His voice was flat but carried a weight of absolute conviction. "I have no interest in her past."
With that, he pushed the door open and walked out, leaving behind a cool, retreating silhouette.
"That guy..." A smile tugged at the corner of Zoro's mouth as he crossed his arms. "Well, that's Luffy for you."
"I have no interest in hearing a sad story either." Sanji lit a cigarette. He didn't leave, but he sat quietly in a corner. Viktor leaned against the wall, holding his teacup, his expression unreadable.
Outside, Luffy wandered aimlessly through the village. He walked toward a mound of earth with a pinwheel stuck in it—the one Genzo had put there to make Nami laugh when she was little.
"Oh! This pinwheel spins so fast!" Luffy reached out curiously, wanting to make it spin even faster. He used a bit too much force. Snap. One of the blades broke off.
"HEY!! What do you think you're doing, Straw Hat brat!!"
A roar erupted. Genzo, the scarred police officer wearing a pinwheel on his hat, happened to be passing by. Seeing this, his mustache practically twitched with fury. "That was for Nami... you bastard! Stop right there!"
"Ah! Sorry, old man! I didn't mean to!" Luffy stuck out his tongue and bolted.
Inside, Nojiko's voice was low and sorrowful as she wove the tale of courage, sacrifice, and a desperate promise.
She told them of Bell-mère, the poor mother who loved her daughters so much that she chose a calm death before Arlong to protect them.
She spoke of Arlong's tyranny and the crushing agreement—that if Nami could gather 100 million Berries, she could buy the village and everyone's freedom.
"For eight years... Nami joined the crew of the man who killed her mother. She became a thief who targeted pirates for that promise..." Nojiko's voice choked up. "She bore the misunderstandings and insults of the entire village, fighting alone at sea... all just to save that 100 million."
Silence fell over the room.
"Waaaaah... so tragic! Nami-san is so great!" Johnny and Yosaku were already a mess of tears, hugging each other and wailing.
Usopp was a fountain of snot and tears himself, clenching his fists and cursing through gritted teeth. "That Arlong... he's a monster! Unforgivable! I'm going to shoot a hole through his fishy head!"
In the corner, Sanji's head was bowed, his fringe shadowing his eyes. Only the glowing tip of his cigarette betrayed the turmoil within.
Zoro remained still with his eyes closed, but the sharp killing intent radiating from him made the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees.
On the other side of the room, Nami was clutching Klay the crow, seemingly using the bird as a shield for her emotions.
"Caw... CAW!!" Klay struggled frantically. Nami had stuffed a giant tangerine into his beak, nearly choking him.
"Eat up, it's very sweet." Nami kept her head down, mechanically peeling another tangerine. Her voice was quiet. "Just... just a little more money, and I'll have the 100 million. Arlong is a bastard, but he gave me his word. Once the money is there, everyone will be free."
"Heh."
A sudden, cold chuckle broke the tragic atmosphere. Viktor set down his teacup. His black eyes looked coldly at Nami as he delivered a harsh splash of reality.
"Nami, you're a brilliant navigator. But when it comes to judging character... you're incredibly naive."
"Do you really believe a pirate would honor a promise that offers him zero benefit?"
Nami's hand froze mid-peel. She looked up, her face pale as she argued: "Of course! Arlong is a pirate, but he values money and contracts! He's kept his word for eight years..."
"No." Viktor cut her off, his eyes as deep as an abyss. "For a greedy beast, nothing is more important than a 'money tree.'"
He stood up and walked toward Nami, looming over her. "You have world-class talent for cartography. To Arlong, who wants to rule the East Blue and even the Grand Line, you are the most vital tool in his possession."
"If I were Arlong... I would never let you go, much less let you buy the village. Instead, at the very moment you were about to reach your goal—at the peak of your hope—I would reach out and crush that hope with my own hands.
I would make you feel such total despair that you'd have no choice but to keep drawing maps for me for the rest of your life."
"That is what a greedy Fishman pirate would do."
Thud.
The tangerine in Nami's hand fell to the floor, rolling to Viktor's feet. Those words were like a poisoned needle, stabbing into the softest, most fearful corner of her heart.
Hadn't she felt that same fear deep down? But for eight years, that promise had been the only thing keeping her alive. She didn't dare to doubt it.
"No... it won't happen..." Nami stood up, her eyes filled with panic. "Arlong wouldn't do that... the money... my money is still there! I have to go check!"
She sounded like she was trying to convince Viktor, but she was really trying to convince herself. Nami burst through the door, clinging to that last shred of hope, racing toward the spot deep in the tangerine grove where she had buried her 100 million Berries.
Viktor watched her frantic departure but didn't stop her. He bent down, picked up the tangerine from the floor, peeled a segment, and popped it into his mouth.
"Hmm. It really is quite sweet."
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