At the lively banquet, Luffy and Usopp were standing on the table, fooling around.
Usopp had stuck a pair of chopsticks into his nostrils, holding a dustpan as he danced some ridiculous jig, making Kaya laugh until her shoulders shook.
"This captain really has no dignity," Nami sighed helplessly. "Anyway, where are we heading next?"
"You're not going to use that trick again, are you?" Zoro asked, glancing at Reiner.
He still remembered how Reiner had told Luffy to randomly point at a map, and that was how they'd ended up at Syrup Village.
"…That trick?"
"Ahem, no need for that this time. I already have an idea," Reiner said, yawning under Nami's curious stare. "Don't you think our crew is still missing a very important member?"
"You mean… that?"
"Yeah. Without that position, it won't work," Zoro and Nami said, rubbing their chins.
"So you all think so too?"
Luffy leaned over with a grin, looking at everyone. "Then it's decided! Let's go find a musician!"
"It's a cook. A cook!"
"Your brain's useless—might as well donate it," Nami snapped.
"If it's a cook we're talking about…"
Reiner raised his head and said, "Then we should go to the sea restaurant Baratie."
"But that's close to the Grand Line. Before that, I was thinking of making a stop at the Conomi Islands—to find Arlong."
"Conomi Islands?"
"Where's that?"
"Arlong!!!"
Unlike the others' confusion, Nami let out a startled cry.
She hadn't expected that name to come from Reiner's mouth.
Arlong. Those two syllables were a nightmare to her, dredging up fear and hatred every time.
She could never forget that day, when Bell-mère, her foster mother, was killed by Arlong before her very eyes, just for protecting her and Nojiko.
"Nami, what's wrong? Do you know this Arlong?"
Luffy noticed her pale face and asked.
Nami stayed silent, her expression dark. The cheerful atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Reiner was the first to break it.
"Arlong was once a member of a certain Fishman pirate crew on the Grand Line."
He explained slowly to the others how Arlong had come to the East Blue, ruling the Conomi Islands with cruel tyranny.
"Sounds like a real bastard," Luffy said bluntly. "Reiner, Nami—do you two know him?"
Nami shot Reiner a sharp look, wondering why he wanted to go after Arlong. Could it be that he had dealings with him?
"What are you thinking?" Reiner noticed her suspicious gaze and explained, "You forgot my ability already? I just want his body. That's all."
"Ohhh, I see."
Luffy grinned widely. "Then it's simple—we'll just beat Arlong up and let Reiner collect a new monster!"
"It's undead, not monsters!" Reiner corrected.
"Wait, hold on!" Nami said anxiously. "Do you even understand how strong Arlong is? He's—"
But she stopped herself. His strength was burned into her memory too deeply.
So many Marines had tried to capture him over the years—yet none had even reached him before their ships were dragged to the depths.
Just hearing them casually talk about fighting him made her break out in cold sweat.
But then—
Nami looked up at them.
Luffy. Zoro. Reiner and his undead.
They had crushed Captain Kuro—worth 16 million berries—like it was nothing.
If it's them… could they actually defeat Arlong?
If so… then the people of Cocoyasi Village might finally be free from his suffocating rule.
No. Impossible.
If they failed, Arlong would slaughter them all without hesitation.
Her heart was torn. For years, she had clung to her bargain with Arlong—if she could save up 100 million berries, she could buy back her village.
But 100 million… after all these years, it was still an impossible dream.
"Nami, what's going on with you?"
"You've been acting strange since earlier," Zoro asked, confused. The others, except for Reiner, were still in the dark about her connection to Arlong.
"…I know him."
Nami finally decided to tell the truth.
Through gritted teeth, she revealed her past to them.
Years ago, Arlong had come to the East Blue, and with overwhelming power, he had seized the Conomi Islands. Every village had to pay him tribute just to survive. Her home, Cocoyasi Village, was one of them.
"So that's why you became a thief, huh?"
Zoro pieced it together after hearing about her deal with Arlong.
Luffy, however, was furious. "That bastard! I've decided—our next stop is to take him down!"
"Wait, didn't you hear what I said? Arlong is—"
"You don't need to convince us, Nami."
Reiner cut her off. "No matter what, you're already our navigator."
"When one of our own gets pushed around, if we don't fight back—"
"—What kind of pirates would we be?"
He stood, looking down at Nami.
"Luffy doesn't like him. I want his template. And you suffered under him."
"Any one of those reasons is enough to fight. That's the pirate way."
Nami covered her mouth, overwhelmed.
She had been alone for so long, surviving only on herself.
Never once had she imagined, after Bell-mère's death, that she could rely on anyone again.
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
"…Thank you."
"Uwaahhh! So touching!"
Usopp bawled, tears streaming down his face. "One day, I'll go out to sea too—and become a pirate like you all!"
"What do you mean by 'one day'? You're coming with us."
"Eh?" Usopp froze.
"I already invited you, didn't I?" Luffy said.
"Eh?! Wait, you were serious? I thought you were joking!"
"Nope. Dead serious."
Luffy flashed his toothy grin. "I like you."
Usopp blinked at them in confusion.
"What are you spacing out for?"
Reiner lit another cigarette and teased him. "Go pack your things. We're setting sail after dinner. Miss the ship and there's no second chance."
"W-wait up!"
Usopp scrambled out the door in a panic.
Reiner cast a sly look at Kaya. "Sorry for stealing your little boyfriend. You don't mind, do you?"
"N-no… not at all."
Her face flushed red as she stammered, "I've always known Usopp would go to sea someday."
Even so, there was still a trace of sadness in her eyes.
After dinner, Kaya and Merry led them to the harbor.
Usopp was already waiting, and beside him was a single-masted sailing ship.
At the bow was a white sheep's head. A massive mast rose from the deck, while at the stern a triangular sail was rigged above a two-story cabin.
"This ship may look a bit old-fashioned, but I designed it myself," Merry said proudly.
"It's a fast sailing ship. I've named it—the Going Merry."
While Merry and Nami were still giving introductions, the others couldn't wait any longer and had already rushed aboard.
"Shishishishi! This is amazing!"
Luffy sprawled across the sheep's head at the bow, hugging it with all four limbs. He threw back his head and laughed.
From now on, this is my throne!