Chapter 51 - catching Nami -49
While they were discussing their next destination, a sudden voice interrupted them:
"Well then, if you don't mind... would you like to visit my hometown?"
It was Nami, who had mustered her courage to invite Peter and the others.
Instantly, she was met with suspicious glares from Carina and Mikita.
"Hey, Nami! What do you mean by that?
Don't forget I saved your life! Is this how you repay me? By stealing my husband?!"
"Exactly! Who do you think you are to invite Lord Peter like that?! Believe it or not, if Master Peter gets angry... he might just sink your entire town beneath the sea!"
Nami felt ashamed for a moment, but when she remembered her village's suffering under the rule of the Fish-Men Pirates, she regained her resolve and shouted with clenched teeth:
"Please, Peter! Come with me to my village!
I'll pay you a hundred million Berries... everything I've saved up over the years!
Just... please, help me defeat the Fish-Men Pirates hiding there!"
"A hundred million Berries?!"
"Fish-Men Pirates?"
Carina and Hina spoke one after another, trying to understand the situation. But before the questions grew, Luffy, who was fixing something nearby and eavesdropping, cut in.
"Nami! You're my navigator!
How could you ask someone else for help?! I'll defeat those pirates! I'm the captain here!"
"Yeah!" Usopp shouted, "We'll take down the Fish-Men Pirates!
Nami, come back! These people are super dangerous!" (he whispered fearfully)
Their words made Nami's eyes well with heat, and her nose trembled. She was about to cry, but she held it in and gave them a grateful look:
"Thank you, Luffy, Usopp.
You've been like family to me all this time.
But that's exactly why... I don't want you to get dragged into this because of me.
So... this is goodbye."
Then she added softly:
"Even if Mr. Peter refuses to help me... I'll go back alone."
Luffy stared at her in worry. He couldn't stand seeing one of his crewmates cry.
But before he could utter his usual speech about "partnership" or "friendship," Peter interrupted:
"A hundred million Berries? Barely enough to cover the trip. We'll discuss the details on the ship."
Nami blinked in shock.
"Y-You mean... you're agreeing to help?"
He replied nonchalantly, pointing with his pinky:
"Just some Fish-Men? That's nothing."
If anyone else had said that, Nami would've screamed at them about how dangerous they were.
But Peter was the same guy who just tore a hole in the sea...
"Please... let me guide you there."
She bowed deeply to him, then turned to say farewell to her crew.
"Goodbye, Luffy, Usopp...
If we meet again at sea, it would be an honor.
And tell Zoro I really enjoyed adventuring with you all."
She ran out of the restaurant, hiding her blushing face and fighting back tears.
Luffy shouted:
"Nami!!!" Then glared at Peter with burning eyes:
"You damned wild monkey!! Give me back my navigator!!"
He lunged toward him, emotions bursting out, while Usopp screamed in panic trying to hold him back.
But Peter didn't move. He just crossed his arms and then, suddenly, smacked Luffy across the face with his tail, knocking him down onto Usopp:
"You dare call me a monkey when your own name literally has 'monkey' in it?
Listen closely... My name is Peter, Prince of the Saiyan Warriors!
I'm not someone to be messed with, you wild ape!"
He then glanced at the cowering restaurant guests nearby.
They trembled and nodded, clearly memorizing his name on the spot.
He turned back to Luffy and said coldly:
"This was Nami's decision, not yours.
Even if you begged on your knees, it wouldn't change a thing.
By the way... haven't you noticed someone missing from your crew?
The green-haired one—where is he?"
Then he turned away with Robin and the others and left.
Luffy yelled in rage:
"Nooo! Nami must've been tricked! I have to stop her!!"
But this time, he couldn't chase after them—Usopp was clinging tightly to his leg.
Just then, Johnny and Yosaku suddenly appeared, shouting:
"Bad news!! Brother Zoro is gone! We haven't seen him since the beginning!!"
"Naniiiiiiiii?!"
Everyone started looking around... and realized Zoro had been missing for a while.
Several miles away...
The Big Mom Pirates weren't as lucky as Luffy's crew.
The sudden tsunami crashed over them, and not a single one survived—including Perospero himself.
He fell into the sea and immediately lost consciousness.
The last thing he saw before blacking out... was a green shadow swimming toward him.
In that moment, he didn't know if it was real or just a hallucination.
"...Amazing... seaweed can swim..."
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