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The next morning, Ruen and the others, accompanied by Kaya and Merry, arrived at the harbor.
"Everyone, this is your ship. I've named it the Going Merry."
Merry pulled back the tarp covering the ship, revealing it.
Ruen looked at the pirate ship, a vessel that brought a sense of regret to countless pirate fans on Earth, and a smile tugged at his lips.
The Going Merry was a fast sailing ship with a gaff rig on the mizzenmast, a central rudder at the stern, and a sheep's head figurehead.
The ship was equipped with four cannons: one at the bow, pointing forward, one at the stern, and two on the sides.
While it couldn't compare to larger pirate ships, compared to the rudimentary ship Ruen and his crew had before, it was at least a true pirate ship in every sense of the word.
"Hehehehe! What an awesome ship!"
The moment Luffy saw the ship, he laughed with immense joy.
This was their pirate crew's first official pirate ship.
"Finally, a proper ship. With a ship like this, we should be able to sail the Grand Line."
Nami was also very happy.
As a navigator, a good ship was like having wings on a tiger.
"Hmph."
Zoro's lips also curved into a smile upon hearing this.
Ruen had broadened his horizons, and Zoro knew his ambition could only be realized on the Grand Line.
"Ruen, why are you looking at me like that?"
Nami suddenly felt Ruen's gaze, blinked her eyes, and her pretty face flushed slightly.
"Nothing, I just think your smile right now is beautiful and much happier."
Ruen chuckled.
Before, Nami would smile, but one could clearly feel her worries.
Those were worries about her hometown, Cocoyasi Village.
But now, Nami's smile seemed much more joyful.
"..."
Nami pursed her red lips upon hearing this.
So, her smile was much happier?
Thinking back, ever since she met Ruen again, after the battle in Orange Town with the Buggy Pirates, she had indeed been very happy.
Especially Ruen's words about being able to rely on him, and later, no matter the situation, Ruen's actions of protecting her, made Nami unconsciously feel a long-lost sense of security.
Since Bellemere's death, when she became a pirate thief and went out to sea to earn that 100 million Beli, she had never felt this sense of security again.
It was as if she had found someone to rely on.
After seeing the ship, Nami also truly began to consider issues from the perspective of the ship's navigator, as if she had forgotten about being a temporary navigator.
But could these days truly last much longer?
Thinking of this, Nami bit her lip.
"No matter what you encounter, remember what I said, Nami."
Ruen gently placed his hand on Nami's shoulder, just as he had in Orange Town.
"When you encounter trouble, feel free to bother me. I am, after all, very strong."
Ruen looked at Nami and smiled.
No matter how strong Nami was, she was still just an eighteen-year-old girl.
Her hometown suffered from Arlong's violent rule, her adoptive mother Bellemere was killed in front of her,
After that, for the sake of her villagers, she could only choose to join the Arlong Pirates, drawing sea maps while going out to sea to earn 100 million Beli to buy back her hometown.
This kind of life had even started when she was ten.
Thinking of this, Ruen's eyes also held a hint of tenderness.
"Mm..."
Nami's delicate nose stung upon hearing this. Biting her red lips, she gently leaned her forehead on Ruen's hand that was on her shoulder,
Just like in Orange Town.
Kaya, watching this scene from a distance, felt a little sour and a little envious.
But then, Kaya looked at her pinky finger, where she had made a promise with Ruen, and smiled again.
She had already received enough; she couldn't be so greedy.
"Setting sail! Ruen! Nami! What are you two dawdling for over there!"
Luffy suddenly shouted.
"Luffy."
Watching Nami slip away as if escaping, Ruen smiled at Luffy.
"I need to properly set up a training plan for you. As a captain, you can't be so lax."
Ruen's smile was incredibly bright.
"Eh?!"
Luffy couldn't figure out what had happened. Ruen had been very lenient with him before.
Only Nami, who had already boarded the Merry, had a flushed face.
"Kaya, goodbye!"
Usopp shouted loudly from the ship.
"Usopp, do your best! Achieve your dream of becoming a brave warrior of the sea!"
Kaya looked at Usopp, a generous smile on her face, and waved at him.
"Oh! Just watch me!"
Usopp puffed out his chest and shouted.
"Th-that, take care, Ruen."
Her beautiful eyes shifted to Ruen. Kaya bit her red lips, looking at Ruen timidly.
Caution, this is love.
"Mm, then, we're off, Kaya."
Ruen turned his head, smiling as he bid Kaya farewell.
Ruen wasn't a fool; he naturally sensed Kaya's feelings.
But Ruen didn't plan to take Kaya on the ship. Kaya's body was too weak to sail the seas.
More importantly, Kaya's heart was not suited for the Grand Line.
Let alone the fact that Ruen currently had no Devil Fruit to restore Kaya's health, even if he did, she wouldn't be suited for the Grand Line.
Kaya's personality was not suited for combat. Going there and witnessing the cruelty of the Grand Line would be detrimental to Kaya.
In the world of One Piece, those with insufficient physical talent, even those with incurable diseases, could be compensated through Devil Fruits.
But without the mindset and capacity to become strong, or like Nami, having a firm dream, then no means would be of any avail.
Not everyone is suited to go to the Grand Line.
Furthermore, what Ruen needed to do first was to become stronger!
This was the foundation for achieving everything.
Otherwise, everything he currently held would be a moon in the mirror, a flower in the water.
If he didn't abandon some things, he would gain nothing.
This was the necessary resolve and strong mindset for a powerful individual.
Besides, this wasn't abandonment. Once Ruen stood at the pinnacle of the world, he would naturally return and take Kaya away.
And Nami, on the ship, seeing Kaya's appearance, seemed to understand something. For some reason, her heart felt a little sour.
Nami also noticed this unusual sourness and pursed her red lips.
She had initially thought her reliance on Ruen was like relying on a comrade, but this sudden feeling of sourness told her it wasn't...
"Setting sail!"
Luffy sat in his special seat, on the sheep's head figurehead, shouting loudly.
"Oh!"
Ruen and the others cooperatively raised their right hands, smiling in response.
Under Nami's command, the Merry slowly sailed away from the harbor.
Ruen looked at Kaya gazing from the shore and smiled, extending his pinky finger.
"!!!"
Kaya, seeing this, pursed her red lips and slowly extended her own pinky finger.
Remembering the promise they made in Ruen's room last night, Kaya smiled sweetly.
I'll wait for you, Ruen.
Kaya's eyes were incredibly bright.
This was her promise with Ruen.
"Have you decided!"
Onion, Pepper, and Carrot hugged each other,
with Onion speaking seriously.
"Of course! Let's go quickly, we must inherit the Captain's greatness."
Pepper looked towards Syrup Village.
"Pirates are coming!"
Onion, Pepper, and Carrot ran and shouted.
In the distance, the Going Merry slowly sailed into the distance.
Only Kaya remained on the shore, gazing, unwilling to leave for a long time.
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