Just like the Marine branch in Shells Town, the 16th Marine Branch base was also built within a small town.
The Marines of this world act as the enforcers for the World Government and bodyguards for its member nations.
To avoid having a military presence directly in the capital cities, Marine branches are not permitted there.
However, fearing pirate raids and pillaging, a Marine branch is always established on a nearby island for each member nation. It's quite a contradiction.
Cocoyasi Village was also part of the kingdom's territory protected by the 16th Marine Branch.
This kingdom was called the Litesai Kingdom.
After Link left Cocoyasi Village, he didn't go to the town where the 16th Marine Branch was located to foolishly wait for Nami for three days. Instead, he went to tour the kingdom.
He also took the opportunity to decorate his new ship.
Link's small boat disappeared, replaced by a single-masted small sailboat.
This small sailboat was also created by Link using his Wood Style.
Just as Yamato could use Wood Style to create a three-bedroom, one-living-room house, Link's Wood Style could not only build houses but also ships.
Moreover, as Link's strength grew and the life force of his Wood Style became more vigorous, the ships he created would become impervious to blades and cannons, and even fire could not burn them, making them comparable to the Treasure Tree Adam of this world.
When Link was alone, it didn't matter whether he had a small boat or a large ship. He could walk on the sea with his own feet, and his Sage Body was immune to heat and cold.
When hungry, he would hunt in the sea, create a platform with Wood Style, and grill his catch on the spot with Fire Style.
When thirsty, he used Water Style to turn the moisture in the air into fresh water. His life was very carefree.
But now that he was about to have an assistant, he wouldn't have to cook anymore. Link felt it was time to have a proper ship.
Therefore, he specifically went to the Litesai Kingdom to purchase furniture, decorations, and other daily necessities that Wood Style couldn't create.
Not only that, but Link also hired experts to decorate and paint the new ship, making it very beautiful and luxurious.
After getting all this done, Link finally sailed the ship back to the island where the 16th Marine Branch was located.
In a flash, the agreed-upon three days had passed.
Carrying a piece of luggage and also rowing a small boat, Nami had arrived early.
Just as she reached the shore, Nami saw Link.
It was hard not to. The newly painted ship was simply too eye-catching.
Link happened to be sitting on the ship's rail, fishing. His incredibly handsome figure had attracted many local girls, who were watching him secretly from the shore.
Link seemed to have noticed Nami as well and waved to her.
Just as Nami rowed her small boat closer and was about to ask Link to throw down the ship's ladder, two branches, one large and one small, suddenly extended from the ship's hull. The large one wrapped around Nami, and the small one coiled around her luggage, delivering them both onto the deck.
Watching the branches retract after setting her down, Nami couldn't help but exclaim, "What a convenient ability."
"This ship is yours from now on, Navigator."
Link reeled in his fishing rod and smiled at Nami.
"No problem."
Nami rolled up her sleeves and began to prove her worth.
She skillfully weighed anchor and raised the sails, steering the sailboat away from the island.
After securing the helm, Nami took out a map and asked Link, "Captain, where are we going next?"
"To Loguetown."
Having put away his fishing rod, Link sat down on a deck chair and said with a smile, "Also, you don't have to call me Captain from now on. Just call me Link."
"Hee hee..."
Seeing how easygoing Link was, Nami's natural personality was unleashed. She said with a grin, "No problem. Then you don't have to call me 'Cat Burglar' anymore. Just call me Nami."
Link made an "OK" gesture. "It's a pleasure, Nami."
"The pleasure is all mine."
Nami picked up her backpack from the floor and asked, "Link, where is my room?"
Picking up a book he had bought in the Litesai Kingdom, Link casually replied while reading, "It's on the top floor, the room next to the one with the sign."
"Okay."
Nami replied and ran up the stairs.
A moment later, a cry of surprise came from inside the cabin.
Evidently, Nami was very satisfied with her room.
When decorating the sailboat, Link had also asked the decorators to furnish Nami's room, filling it with a girly style.
When Nami came out, her face was indeed wreathed in smiles.
Link's thoughtfulness made the young woman's favorable impression of him soar once again.
To repay Link, Nami showed none of her original feistiness from the source material, instead being incredibly gentle and considerate.
Seeing Link reading, she, having already explored the cabin, immediately squeezed a glass of juice and brought some snacks to him.
When it was noon, Nami even asked about Link's tastes and specially prepared a sumptuous lunch.
After lunch, Link had Nami play cards with him.
He had to admit, having someone to serve him was indeed much more comfortable than sailing alone.
Not only did he not have to cook, but when he was bored, he no longer had to pass the time by fishing.
During the card game, Link didn't hide anything when Nami asked him all sorts of questions.
"Eh? You're not a Devil Fruit user?"
Nami, who had thought Link was a Devil Fruit user, couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes in disbelief. "Besides Devil Fruits, are there other supernatural abilities in this world?"
"Of course. This world is vast."
Link began to educate Nami, broadening the young woman's horizons. "Besides humans, there are all sorts of races in this world. Many of them have special talents, and these talents are just as magical as Devil Fruits."
"For example, there's an island in the Grand Line called Zou. On it live animals that can stand, walk, and talk just like humans, called the Mink Tribe. During a full moon, they can transform into their Sulong form by looking at the moon, and their bodies can generate static electricity."
"For example, there's a race that is nearly extinct and has become the stuff of legends, called the Lunarian race. They can generate fire from their bodies and can survive in all kinds of natural environments."
"And then there are humans like us. Some people are born with talents like being impervious to blades and having immense strength, or even the ability to read minds and hear the Voice of All Things."
Nami's face was full of amazement. "Incredible. Is this the world of the strong?"
After saying that, Nami looked at Link with curiosity and asked, "Then what about your ability to create wood, Link?"
"It's a type of Kekkei Genkai, called Wood Style."
Link didn't explain in detail, telling a white lie. "I have a special energy inside my body. Like Wood Style, it's an innate ability with all sorts of uses. You'll find out in the future."
"I see."
The intelligent Nami immediately understood and didn't ask any more questions.
At the same time, Nami realized something. It was possible that she was also a human with a special talent.
Because her body only needed to feel the sea breeze to know the climate changes hundreds of nautical miles away.
Relying on this ability, Nami could successfully steal every time. She only needed to ride a lifeboat to easily escape the pursuit of pirates and rarely encountered bad weather at sea.
In her eight years at sea, Nami had only failed once, when she was thirteen, and was captured along with her companions.
They weren't caught at sea, but were followed to the island where she hid her treasure.
In those eight years, Nami could be said to have never been defeated at sea.