Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Little Thieving Cat, Nami!
A month had passed swiftly since Ace set out to sea...
East Blue, aboard a merchant ship.
A grand banquet was being held on this massive merchant ship. The sounds of laughter and lively conversation filled the air as finely dressed men and women mingled. On the dance floor, couples twirled and swayed to the music.
But soon, a gunshot echoed through the hall, shattering the festive atmosphere.
"Nobody move! This ship now belongs to the Bone Sword Pirates!"
A group of pirates leapt onto the banquet tables, grinning maliciously.
Outside, a pirate ship approached the merchant vessel at high speed. Amidst the chaos, a figure with bright orange hair was moving stealthily toward the deck of the merchant ship.
"When all the pirates board, that's when I'll make my move," the orange-haired girl muttered to herself, hiding in the shadows. Her sharp eyes watched as more pirates swarmed the merchant ship.
"Perfect!"
Seeing no one left aboard the pirate ship, Nami grinned. She quickly pulled out a hook, latched it onto the deck of the pirate ship, and slid across to her target.
"Now, all the treasure on this ship is mine," she thought, flashing a triumphant smile as she dashed toward the storage room.
"What a clever plan, young lady."
A voice suddenly called out from the deck, sending a shiver down Nami's spine. She froze in place.
Looking up, she saw a man with dark hair, wearing a hat, squatting casually on the railing, a smirk on his face. His handsome features were marked with a small, distinctive freckle pattern.
"Who... who are you? You're not with this pirate crew, are you?"
Nami asked, startled. There was something vaguely familiar about the man, though she couldn't quite place him.
"Ah, the little thief from Arlong's crew. Did I get that right? It wasn't easy tracking you down, you little thieving cat."
Ace smiled at Nami.
Over the past month, he had searched the surrounding seas extensively and finally found her.
"You... you're..." Nami's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place.
She remembered hearing, about half a month ago, that six members of Arlong's crew had gone out to raid but only one had returned. The other five had been killed by a single man.
The surviving fish-man had spread the word of this man throughout Arlong's territory, warning everyone that he was a dangerous enemy who would tear them apart on sight.
And now, Nami had run into that very man.
"I was forced to join Arlong's crew! Don't kill me!"
Nami's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling as she pleaded.
In her mind, this man was an enemy of Arlong's crew who specialized in hunting them down. Since he'd already taken down five of Arlong's men, killing her would be easy.
"Kill you? After all the trouble I went through to find you, why would I kill you?"
Ace chuckled as he leapt down from the railing, his smile never fading.
"You... you've been looking for me? Not to kill me?" Nami asked cautiously, still on edge.
She couldn't understand why he was after her. She had never even met this man before today.
"Let me introduce myself: I'm Portgas D. Ace, a pirate. My crew is currently in need of a navigator. How about it? Join us."
Ace grinned as he extended his invitation.
"A pirate?"
Hearing this, a flicker of hatred flashed in Nami's eyes, but she quickly concealed it, waving her hands dismissively.
"I… I don't really know anything about navigation. You've got the wrong person."
She forced a smile, trying to mask her discomfort.
"But according to Arlong's men, you have quite a talent for navigation."
Ace replied, his gaze steady. He had taken out several of Arlong's crew members over the past few weeks, all in preparation for this moment.
Even the fish-man who had survived had been deliberately allowed to return to Arlong's territory, carrying news that would lead Ace to Nami.
Hearing this, Nami's heart sank.
"Well, you know I'm part of Arlong's crew. Arlong is terrifying. If I join your pirate crew, you'll be in big trouble."
Nami continued, trying to dissuade him.
Though Nami hated Arlong and all pirates, her biggest concern wasn't Ace's safety. What weighed heavily on her mind was her village—Cocoyashi Village. If she left with this man, it would spell the end for everyone she cared about.
"You won't join my crew? That's a shame."
Ace sighed dramatically and turned to leave. As he did, he "accidentally" let his backpack fall open slightly.
"!!!"
Nami's eyes instantly widened as she caught a glimpse of the money inside—100 million beri, at least!
"Wait, wait a minute!" Nami shouted, her voice filled with sudden urgency.
"Hmm?" Ace turned back, raising an eyebrow in curiosity, though a small, hidden smirk played at the corner of his lips.
"I… I'll join!" Nami blurted out.
And why? She had already done the mental math. This man was carrying 100 million beri. If she could steal it while he slept, she could finally save her village!
Ace, on the other hand, smiled knowingly.