[Arlong Paradise]
The likes of Salt Grill and the others, who had been severely taught a lesson by Jotaro, still had not come here to report.
The Arlong Pirates were still preparing a welcome party for Nami.
"Hey, Nami, where do you want to go at this time? In order to welcome your return, the companions have been busy right up until now."
One of Arlong's cadres, the cartilaginous fishman, Kuroobi.
Seeing that Nami wanted to leave before the party began, he shouted somewhat unhappily.
Nami turned her head, snorted, and said, "Companions? Don't make me laugh, we're only in a temporary alliance relationship."
"The only reason I joined you is to earn one hundred million, and then buy the entire Cocoyasi Village from your hands!"
The corner of her mouth revealed a mocking smile.
"That day is already not far away."
Arlong watched Nami's departing back, his expression dark to the point of being frightening.
"Have you investigated clearly?"
Another cadre, the kissing-mouth fishman, Chew, stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest, and reported, "Same as always, she hid the money she earned from going out to sea under the chrysanthemum garden outside her house."
He paused for a moment, then reminded, "Arlong, Nami doesn't seem to be joking. From the traces of recently disturbed soil nearby, it seems she indeed gained quite a harvest this time, and I'm afraid she's not far from one hundred million."
The octopus fishman, Hachi, upon hearing this, said somewhat sadly, "If that's the case, then Nami will soon leave us? She is an indispensable companion to us."
Arlong bared his sharp teeth and said in a gloomy tone, "Hachi is right, Nami is a woman indispensable to building our 'Arlong Empire'. We absolutely cannot let her leave."
Chew said, "But you've already promised her…"
Arlong's expression grew even darker. "Of course, any promise related to money, I will keep even if I die."
"Boss! That guy who looks like a mouse has come!"
Hearing the report from his underlings, Arlong raised his head, and indeed saw Captain Nezumi riding on a raft slowly sailing this way.
"Sha-ha-ha-ha-ha." Arlong threw his head back in loud laughter. "What wind blew you here? I recall it hasn't yet reached the day of our transaction."
He did not fear the navy.
But the East Blue navy's numbers were still large.
Coming to harass him every so often was also annoying to him.
So, in order to conveniently carry out his own plans, he had many secret transactions with high-ranking navy officers.
Nezumi was one of them.
Nezumi's face was piled with a flattering smile, rubbing his hands together as he said,
"Arlong, I have a deal here, I wonder if you're interested?"
"Oh?" Arlong raised an eyebrow, showing a look of wanting to hear the details.
"I want you to help me kill someone. Price… twenty-five million Berries." Nezumi said this very reluctantly.
Although he did not like Arlong, he had to admit the other was shrewd. He didn't dare lower the price at all, in fact, afraid he might refuse, he instead raised the price.
Arlong did not immediately agree. After being silent for a while, he asked, "What person?"
Nezumi grinned and said, "A pirate, bounty amount twenty million Berries. Although the bounty is the same as yours, compared to a noble fishman, he is merely a lowly human."
"Sha-ha-ha-ha-ha, not bad, I like those words. The Captain is as perceptive as ever!"
"To kill just a lower-species creature and get twenty-five million Berries, there's even such a thing? I agree!"
Arlong laughed heartily, mouth unable to close from ear to ear, agreeing very readily.
Nezumi could not hide his joy, "Then I'll be relying on you, Arlong. Ha-ha-ha…"
Arlong stopped his laughter and said, "Captain, tell me this person's location."
On his way here, Nezumi had discovered his own warship by the shore.
Although the warship's appearance had changed somewhat, he recognized it as the one Jotaro had stolen from him!
Therefore, he was certain Jotaro was on this island.
"This really is convenient." Arlong narrowed his eyes, he hadn't expected that the person to be killed was already on his island.
He didn't rush to deal with the target, but instead looked at Nezumi with a sly smile and said, "I also have a deal here, I wonder if the Captain is willing to help me?"
———
Jotaro followed Nojiko back to her home. While she was rummaging for a map, he aimlessly looked around near the bookshelf.
The bookshelf was full of books, but none were about planes or ships, which were his favorite. However, books from another world had a kind of inexplicable appeal in themselves.
He casually took one down from the shelf.
Nojiko glanced sideways slightly, and upon seeing the familiar cover, she said with nostalgia, "This is my sister's favorite book… it was given to her by our mother…"
Jotaro didn't say any extra words.
He keenly sensed the sadness between Nojiko's brows.
There was only her in the house, he guessed her family was probably no longer around.
At this time, saying anything would only add to the sorrow.
Also, he was not the type good at comforting others, so he could only pretend to be indifferent, calmly turning the pages.
He moved very lightly, carefully.
The thick cover was turned to the side, revealing the book's contents.
It was a book about nautical charts.
Jotaro originally had no interest in such books, but considering his current and future situation, he forced himself to read on patiently.
In an instant, his pupils shrank, and his brows furrowed.
'Nami? Wait a minute!'
He suddenly remembered that Cocoyasi Village was on Nami's sailing route, so this was very likely Nami's destination.
He had to confirm whether this Nami was the one he was looking for.
He looked at Nojiko and asked, "Woman, is your sister with orange hair, and looks pretty clever?"
Nojiko was somewhat surprised.
"How do you know? Everyone who has seen little Nami says she's very clever."
If she weren't clever, she wouldn't have been able to steal his ship from under Jotaro's nose without him knowing.
In order to be one hundred percent certain, Jotaro directly pulled a pen from the side and found a piece of yellowed scrap paper.
"Star Platinum!"
In less than a second, Nami's portrait leaped onto the paper.
Without a doubt, if Jotaro had an interest in drawing, he might have become a manga artist.
"Nami!"
The figure on the paper was depicted in fine detail, every frown and smile lifelike.
Nojiko's eyes widened, as if seeing the real person!
Her reaction had already confirmed Jotaro's guess.
Nojiko asked, "You've seen my sister?"
"Yeah." Jotaro did not hide it, and told her about his encounter with Nami in Orange Town.
"So that's how it is…"
Nojiko's expression dimmed. Thinking of Nami always doing such dangerous things for them, she felt boundless heartache.
She covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.
"She was originally just a lively, cheerful girl, yet for the sake of this village, she took on things she shouldn't have had to bear…"
Jotaro silently stood to the side, listening to the story that had happened in Cocoyasi Village eight years ago.
This wooden house was the residence of a mother and two daughters. Although they had no blood relation, they depended on each other for survival.
Life, though poor, had been happy.
But all that beauty was completely destroyed after the fishmen arrived.
Their mother also died at the hands of the fishmen.
The brim of Jotaro's hat hid his face, no one knew what he was feeling at that moment.
"After you find her, what will you do to her?" Nojiko lifted her delicate face, beautiful eyes still misty with tears. "Although this request is a bit excessive, after all she treated you like that… I still hope you can forgive her."
"Yare yare…" Jotaro's light green eyes flickered slightly. "Originally, I planned to give her a beating, but now I've changed my mind."
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