Nami never imagined that the man she had targeted this time would turn out to be an 800-million-Berry pirate.
Thinking about how Arlong, who ruled over Cocoyashi Village, was only worth 20 million Berries made her forehead break out in a cold sweat.
"Really, Genrou? You really have Devil Fruits in that box?"
Luffy tilted his head, curiously eyeing the box Nami was still sitting on.
"That's right."
Genrou nodded. He placed his hand around Nami's waist, gently lifting the box out from beneath her and opened it right in front of both her and Luffy.
Inside, the neat stacks of glittering Berry bills made Nami's eyes glow gold, momentarily pushing back the terror she felt after learning about Genrou's bounty.
"This box has a hidden compartment. Inside are Devil Fruits I took from a World Government ship."
"One's a Paramecia-type, the Awa Awa no Mi (Bubble-Bubble Fruit). The other is a Zoan-type, the Ushi Ushi no Mi: Giraffe Model."
"Oh, and Luffy—I never told you this before, but I used to work for the World Government. I left because I couldn't stand the Celestial Dragons anymore."
"I happened to pick up these two fruits when I left."
As Genrou opened the hidden layer in the box, he explained casually.
Luffy sat up and peered inside, instantly spotting the two bizarre-looking fruits.
"Awesome! They look just like the Gomu Gomu no Mi I ate!"
"Genrou, you've got two Devil Fruits here—are you a Devil Fruit user too?"
Luffy asked curiously.
"Nope. These are too plain. I'd rather not lose the joy of swimming for something that ordinary."
Genrou shook his head and turned toward Nami, who was visibly more excited the longer she stared at the fruits. He smiled teasingly.
"By the way, when I worked for the Government, I came across some… interesting intel."
"There's an island in the East Blue that's been taken over by a pirate crew made up of fish-men called the Arlong Pirates."
"And among those fish-men, there's a human girl."
"She seems to have struck a deal with the Arlong Pirates and has been thieving around the seas ever since."
"Tell me, Miss Nami, am I right?"
At those words, Nami instantly stepped back in shock.
Even the stacks of Berry notes couldn't hold her attention anymore.
Genrou's words were clear, detailed—and he even called her by name.
She was left speechless, unsure how to refute it.
What she didn't know was that while Genrou had indeed worked within the World Government, all this information about the Arlong Pirates didn't come from intel—it came from him having read the One Piece manga before he crossed over.
"Don't worry, Miss Nami."
"Just because I have an 800 million Berry bounty doesn't mean I'm a bad person."
"I'm not here to harm you. In fact, I can help."
Genrou waved her over, motioning for her to sit beside him.
Nami frowned slightly. She was hesitant, but when she considered the absurd bounty Genrou had, and the strange powers Luffy possessed…
She decided to sit beside him without making a fuss.
"Miss Nami, I know you're an excellent navigator."
"My guess is the Arlong Pirates kept you around because they valued your navigation skills."
"As for your traveling and stealing around the seas, I bet they gave you a price—told you to buy back your village with Berries, didn't they?"
Genrou chuckled, ignoring Nami's wide-eyed stare as he continued:
"No need to be so surprised. I gathered lots of intel through my previous job."
"Based on that intel and what I've seen, it was easy to piece things together."
"I'll be straight with you—even if you do get enough Berries and go to the Arlong Pirates, you won't get what you want."
"They're never going to let you go if you're that valuable to them."
"And I've learned that the Arlong Pirates are colluding with a certain Marine—Captain Nezumi."
"A pirate crew in league with a Marine. Do you really think you can escape from the Arlong Pirates' grasp?"
At that moment, Genrou slapped away Luffy's hand that was reaching toward the Devil Fruits and shut the box.
Out of sight, out of mind—Luffy promptly returned to his food.
But every now and then, his eyes glanced toward Nami, clearly mulling something over.
"You… you're saying all this to make what point?"
"What kind of cooperation are you suggesting?"
At that moment, Nami collapsed into her seat like a deflated balloon.
The fact that Genrou could speak in such detail about the Arlong Pirates made it clear he knew far more than she ever expected.
Trying to hide her identity now might even backfire.
She realized it might be better to just be honest and figure out what Genrou wanted.
"It's simple. We'll help you deal with the Arlong Pirates."
"And in return—you join our pirate crew and become our navigator."
Genrou held up one finger and smiled.
…
(End of Chapter)
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