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The Strongest Frost Loli (153)
🕑 Added 2024-11-07 17:00:03 +0000 UTCChapter 153 - Nami’s Pain
They reached their destination.
A large building, with “Arlong Park” written on it, stood before them. “Let’s go!” Luffy said, eager to enter, but Yosaku stopped him.
“Wait, Luffy! We need to meet up with Zoro and the others! That’s our top priority!”
“Isn’t he in that building? That swordsman seemed like a hothead.”
“Well, he’s injured, so… I doubt he’d be reckless enough to attack alone.”
They sailed past Arlong Park and docked at a pier near a village. They could see the Going Merry in the distance, but it was better to meet up with Zoro near the village, Yosaku had decided.
Jinbe also didn’t head straight for Arlong Park. He wanted to gather information about Arlong's activities. He entered the village with Luffy and the others.
“So, you’re pirates.”
“Yeah, we just started.”
“I see… So, you don’t have bounties yet. Well, it’s not a big deal if I let a few pirates go.”
Luffy and Jinbe had become friends during their journey. If Luffy had a bounty, Jinbe might have been forced to arrest him. But fortunately, or unfortunately, he didn’t have one yet.
Besides, they didn’t seem like the type to harm civilians. So, Jinbe decided to turn a blind eye. He disliked pirates, but he didn’t think they were bad people.
And his target, Arlong, was nearby. He didn’t have time to deal with other matters.
Sanji and Yosaku were discussing their next move when Luffy saw a familiar figure in the village.
It was a familiar back – and when the figure turned, revealing a long nose, he knew who it was.
“Hey, isn’t that Usopp?! Usopp!!”
“Hmm? Oh, Luffy!! You’re here! I was just– What?! Why are you with a Fish-Man?!”
Usopp, startled, his eyes bulging, stared at Jinbe.
He was intimidated by Jinbe’s size, which was almost twice Luffy’s. And he had nearly been killed by Arlong and his men. He was wary of Fish-men.
“You’re Luffy’s friend?”
“Y-yeah!! I’m the brave warrior of the sea who commands eight thousand men! Captain Usopp!!!”
Usopp, trying to appear brave, boasted.
Jinbe didn't react. He simply asked, “Can you tell me about this village – this island?”
Usopp, deflated, stared at Jinbe.
“Tell you…? You’re not Arlong’s friend, are you?”
“I’m sworn brothers with Arlong, but we’re on different paths now… I’ve heard some disturbing rumors about him, so I came here to check them out.”
“I see…”
“Where’s Zoro?”
“Zoro? That octopus guy took him to… Cocoyasi Village –”
Luffy, looking around, asked this. Usopp told him that Zoro had defeated the Fish-men at Arlong Park, and that the octopus Fish-man had said, “Zoro’s looking for Arlong.”
Usopp’s face paled.
“We have to hurry! Zoro might be attacking Arlong Park alone!”
“Really? Then let’s go!”
“You’re eager to fight too?!”
Usopp was hoping to avoid a fight, but they had to find Zoro first.
He started running, and Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku followed. Jinbe, confused, ran after them.
“…It seems Arlong’s been up to no good.”
The villagers, watching Jinbe, seemed afraid and angry.
It seemed Arlong had been causing trouble.
But he couldn’t do anything without knowing the details. He decided to follow Luffy and hear the story. He continued running.
As they were running from Cocoyasi Village towards Arlong Park, they saw a figure approaching.
“Hey, it’s Zoro.”
“Zoro! You’re safe! You changed your mind about attacking Arlong Park!”
“Luffy! You’re here! …Why are you with Usopp? Did you come from Arlong Park?”
They were talking about different things.
Zoro thought Luffy and his crew had come from Arlong Park, and Luffy and his crew thought Zoro had changed his mind about attacking Arlong Park.
They looked at each other, confused, and Johnny, Yosaku's bounty hunter partner, emerged from the nearby forest.
“Usopp! You’re alive! I thought Nami had killed you…!”
“Johnny! You’re safe too! Why was Zoro coming from Arlong Park?”
“Good to see you too, brother! Zoro got lost trying to take a shortcut. He was heading in the wrong direction.”
Johnny had seen Zoro getting lost, so there was no mistake.
“He got lost?” Usopp was relieved.
He might have died if he had attacked Arlong Park alone. Especially now that he was injured.
“He got lost?”
“Whew, good thing he’s okay.”
“Who’s okay?!”
“You are.”
They were all relieved that everyone was safe.
Their next question was about Jinbe.
“Why are you with a Fish-Man?”
“Hmm… It just happened.”
“It just happened?”
“He said he has business with Arlong, but he wanted to learn about the situation first…”
No one knew the details of Jinbe’s situation.
It seemed to be related to Arlong, but it was unclear if it was related to them.
Jinbe said, “Don’t worry about me. Focus on your own business,” but they couldn't do anything until they found Nami.
Luffy turned to Johnny.
“Is Nami at Arlong Park?”
“She was, until… Usopp got stabbed and thrown into the sea… I don’t know what happened after that…”
“Usopp, you got stabbed by Nami?!”
“I’m not stabbed! Can’t you see?!”
He was perfectly fine. Johnny, who had seen Nami stabbing Usopp, was confused. But Usopp quickly explained.
Nami had shielded him.
If she hadn’t, he would have been killed by Arlong.
“So, Nami saved Usopp?”
“Yeah, she must have a reason for being with Arlong.”
“I see…”
Luffy’s reaction was unclear. He didn't seem to understand the situation.
They sat down on the side of the road, and a familiar woman with orange hair appeared.
It was Nami.
She held a staff in her hand, a threatening look on her face. She was wearing a black glove on one hand.
She glared at Jinbe, assuming he was with Arlong, then looked away.
She didn't even have the time to think about why he was with Luffy and his crew.
“Nami!”
“…Unbelievable. You followed me all the way here? Fine, I’ll give you your ship and treasure back. Just leave this island.”
“What are you talking about? You’re my nakama! I came to get you back!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not your nakama… Don’t make me laugh. It was just a silly misunderstanding.”
Nami spat out the words. Luffy simply stared at her in confusion.
Sanji and Zoro were arguing behind him, but Luffy ignored them.
“I joined you because of your treasure. You’re worthless without it. Now go away, you’re annoying.”
Nami had stolen their treasure and run away. There was no denying that. Everyone looked at Luffy, wondering what he would do.
“It’s fine. I don’t care about the treasure. My nakama are more important.”
“I’m not your nakama! I told you, go away! You’re an eyesore!!”
“Brother, what are we going to do…?”
“Yeah! We should find another navigator! She’s like a witch!”
Nami glared at Johnny, who had called her a witch.
“Did you call me a witch? Stop that. Arlong hates that word. It’s not my fault if he gets angry at me because of you.”
Nami, irritated, said this.
Usopp and Jinbe, observing her closely, realized she was hiding something.
She was involved in this island’s affairs.
They exchanged glances, wondering what to do, and Luffy suddenly fell backwards.
“Luffy?!”
“What’s wrong?!”
“Sleepy.”
“Sleepy?!”
Zoro and Sanji, thinking he was about to attack, were stunned.
“I’m not leaving. And I don’t care what’s happening on this island. I’m sleepy."
Nami, furious that he had said such a thing in the middle of the road, lashed out.
“Do whatever you want! Just die!”
She stormed off towards Cocoyasi Village.
Zoro and Sanji, sighing, sat down at the base of a nearby tree.
Usopp and Jinbe also moved to the side of the road, watching Luffy, who was sleeping in the middle of the road.
Johnny and Yosaku, looking lost, whispered to each other.
“What are we going to do? Our captain’s… indisposed. We can run away if you’re afraid of Arlong.”
“R-really?”
“There seems to be a lot going on… Yeah, I don’t want to be killed by Arlong either."
“Then, brother, it’s been nice knowing you."
“Yeah, good luck."
They headed towards Cocoyasi Village.
The remaining four couldn’t move. They couldn't leave their captain, sleeping in the middle of the road, even if they wanted to attack Arlong Park or learn about the situation on the island.
And they were a newly formed crew. They didn’t have much to talk about.
Jinbe, leaning against a tree, watched Luffy sleeping and chuckled.
“…Your captain’s a remarkable man.”
“…I never thought I’d hear that from a Warlord.”
“Only someone remarkable could sleep in this situation. He’s got guts."
“He better be, or I’ll replace him.”
“You say that, even though you got beaten up by “Hawk-Eyes”?”
“What?!”
Zoro, scowling, glared at Sanji, who had made a sarcastic remark.
Before Zoro could retort, Jinbe, sensing trouble, interrupted them.
He had heard something disturbing.
“Wait, did you say “Hawk-Eyes”? You fought him, and lived?!”
“Yeah, I lost, though… It’s not something I brag about.”
“No, it’s something to be proud of. Very few swordsmen survive a fight against him…”
“You’re a Warlord too. Aren’t you just as strong?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mihawk is exceptionally strong, even among the Warlords… You’re lucky to be alive.”
He wasn’t called the “World’s Strongest Swordsman” for nothing.
Jinbe’s words confirmed his strength, and Zoro grinned.
“Ha! He’s a worthy opponent, then! I wouldn't have it any other way!”
“You’re still determined to defeat him, even after losing… You’re a remarkable man as well."
Jinbe, shaking his head, sighed.
He knew how strong Mihawk was. His duel with Shanks was legendary.
But Jinbe thought Zoro could become a great swordsman. He had the spirit.
Not many could learn from their defeats.
***
They continued chatting, and Nojiko, Nami’s sister, appeared.
She was a woman with blue hair and tattoos. While she didn't look like Nami, they were sisters, raised by the same person.
“I don’t know why you’re with a Fish-Man, but… Please don’t get involved in this island’s affairs. I’ll explain everything. Just leave once you’ve heard the story.”
Luffy, uninterested, wandered off, saying he was going for a walk. Zoro, claiming he would listen to the story, immediately fell asleep.
The remaining three listened to Nojiko’s story.
The past couldn’t be changed.
It was a pointless story, but… It was related to Nami, whom Luffy wanted to be his nakama. And Jinbe, who had come to the island for a different reason, should know about it.
