Chapter 24: Chapter 24: One Hundred Million.
"That's the situation.
Do we help Princess Vivi reclaim her kingdom and confront Crocodile and Baroque Works? Let's vote by show of hands!"
Shirogai stretched lazily, cracked his neck, then spoke:
"I'll go first. I've decided—I'll help Vivi defeat Baroque Works and Crocodile, that Shichibukai. If you'd rather stay out of it, I'll fight under my own name and not involve the crew."
Zoro smirked, tapping his sword's hilt:
"Baroque Works, huh? That criminal syndicate must have skilled swordsmen. I wouldn't miss this for anything!"
Luffy pumped his fist in the air:
"Haha, count me in! We'll take down Crocodile and help Vivi!"
Nami frowned, rubbing her temples:
"Luffy, think carefully. We just entered the Grand Line. Making an enemy of a Shichibukai—someone the World Government formally empowers—is no small matter."
Luffy tilted his head in confusion:
"It means We're gonna be famous?"
"Idiot!" Nami smacked him, then glared at Shirogai.
"Shirogai, you're our Vice Captain now. You can't just do this solo. What about me and Usopp? We're just ordinary people!"
Shirogai met her gaze calmly, smiling:
"Running won't teach us anything. In the pirate world, if you choose to fight, you fight boldly. Do you want to be a crew known for fleeing, or for making enemies quake at your name?"
Nami clenched her jaw:
"I get it, but we've barely begun! Why start with such a tough challenge? We're up against a Shichibukai!"
Shirogai nodded toward Luffy:
"He's just one Shichibukai. Our captain's aim is to be Pirate King—facing someone like him is normal."
Luffy bobbed his head energetically:
"Right! We'll win! Nami, trust your crew!"
Nami groaned, pulling at her hair:
"I've had enough of you idiots!"
Sanji calmly lit a cigarette:
"If Baroque Works has thousands of members, making them our enemy could endanger Nami."
Nami softened slightly:
"Thanks, Sanji."
But Sanji's gaze drifted to Vivi, his face lighting up:
"But to save Princess Vivi's country, what's a little danger? Nami san, don't worry—I'll protect you and Vivi. Anyone threatens you, they'll have to step over me."
Nami stomped Sanji's feet into his face:
"I want to step on you instead!"
Under Vivi's surprise, Nami ground her foot in, then announced to the crew:
"Do what you want—I refuse, but Usopp?"
Usopp sheepishly raised his hand:
"I… actually, I want to help Vivi."
"Usopp!" Nami's face turned bright red, but then she turned to Vivi:
"Vivi, you're a Princess, right? If you pay me one billion Berries, we'll help reclaim your kingdom."
Vivi looked down, apologetic:
"I'm sorry… our treasury is empty after drought and civil war. We can't afford that."
"A country can't pay one billion? Are we working for free?"
Vivi looked up, voice soft:
"I... have five hundred thousand Berries of my own."
Touched, Nami stroked Vivi's hair:
"Forget the reward. We'll help you reclaim your country."
"I…" Vivi shook her head, choking back tears:
"Sir Crocodile is extremely dangerous…"
"Vivi!" Nami cut in, hugging her:
"Have you seen Shirogai's power? Don't worry."
Nami turned to Shirogai, eyes fierce:
"Right, Shirogai?"
Shirogai chuckled:
"Yes, Nami's right—."
Nami smiled, then turned to comfort Vivi:
"We may be six, but the other five are monsters too! Usopp seems timid but is powerful when it counts—he once fought a Fish-Man alone."
Usopp puffed out his chest, then deflated:
"Hey, stop—it makes me sound weak!"
Nami glowed as she introduced Luffy:
"Luffy is our Captain. He's beaten Arlong, Krieg, Kuro, and Morgan—he's got a bounty of thirty million Berries!"
Vivi gasped:
"Thirty million? Defeating Krieg and Morgan is impressive."
Luffy scratched his head, clueless:
"Heh, old Krieg? What's he up to now?"
Nami picked Zoro next:
"Pirate Hunter Zoro—Three-Sword Style. He's insanely strong."
Vivi recalled:
"Baroque Works once tried recruiting you."
Zoro collapsed back into his chair:
"Yeah, but I refused—I don't take orders from them."
Nami pointed at Sanji:
"Sanji, our powerful chef."
Sanji twisted, lovestruck:
"Princess, I'll kick that Shichibukai's butt!"
Finally, Nami turned to Shirogai:
"And Vice Captain Shirogai, the strongest on the ship—he took down Marine Captain Smoker in Loguetown and has a one hundred million Berries bounty."
Vivi's eyes went wide:
"One hundred million? That tops even Crocodile's old bounty of eighty-one million before he became a Warlord!"
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