"Sugoi! Nojiko is amazing too!" Chopper's eyes sparkled with admiration. Leno could only sigh—this little guy would hype anyone up.
After cleaning up the remaining enemies, Leno was about to lift the ship into the sky to rest, when he suddenly felt something was off. He glanced around. "Where's Nami?"
"There." Kuina jerked her chin toward a nearby ship.
Leno smacked his forehead. Nojiko stayed calm—it would've been strange if Nami didn't go loot a pirate ship.
Sure enough, a few minutes later Nami returned grumbling, her face full of resentment.
"What kind of people go to sea without carrying money?!"
"Nami, you don't need to worry so much. Leno's money reserves are enormous, we're not short on cash," Nojiko said helplessly.
At that, Nami bristled. "What do you mean Leno's money?! All the money on him is mine! He's just temporarily holding it for me!"
Carmen suddenly spun in like a human top, spatula in her mouth. "I need funds to buy West Blue ingredients for new recipes!
Ohohohoho… don't waste this chance I'm giving you!"
Looking at Carmen in her "disease state," then at Nami in her fury, Leno slipped away without hesitation.
The next morning, the group decided to relax. The girls changed into swimsuits to play on the beach, while Leno sat nearby, enjoying the view.
Under a sunshade, Chopper lounged on a beach chair, rainbow sunglasses on his nose, sipping juice through a straw.
"This is great. The outside world is so nice, hehe…"
"Yeah… the outside world… so long, so thin… so big, so white… hehe…" Leno muttered, eyes fixed ahead.
Chopper blinked. 'Are we… talking about the same thing?'
Just as Leno was savoring the "outside world," Nami suddenly popped up to block his view.
"Perverted Leno, what are you staring at?!" she demanded, glaring.
Leno looked Nami up and down. "I'm looking at how flat you are."
Nami froze, then glanced down. Her face flared red. "Wha—?! Stupid Leno, I'll kill you!"
"Pfft—!" Nami's shriek nearly made Chopper choke to death, juice spraying everywhere.
"Take this! And this!" Nami pounced, tickling and clawing at him with abandon.
Nami, in her light clothing, continually squirmed on Leno's body, causing his "brother" to stir. He playfully swatted her firm butt.
Smack! "Settle down."
"…Mmh!"
Nami stiffened, then collapsed onto Leno, too embarrassed to lift her head. Leno, thinking he had hurt her, instinctively rubbed the spot.
"Mmh!" she whimpered again, cheeks crimson, body limp in his arms. 'Such a big reaction?' Leno dared not tease further—after all, she was still young… though her body was already… ahem.
He simply held her gently until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. Adjusting her head to a comfortable spot, she nestled deeper into his chest. Soon he too drifted off.
Blue skies, gentle waves, laughter in the distance—an idyllic picture of peace and warmth.
After an unknown amount of time, Leno slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the softness resting on his arm, he looked down and saw the snow-white skin revealed by the pressure—he quickly averted his gaze. 'Waking up to this? Testing my willpower the second I open my eyes!'
Glancing around, he found everyone else also asleep in a row. 'What poor vigilance… but after all those battles, let them rest a bit longer.'
Stretching lazily, he watched the sunset with a smile. 'Yeah… this beats 996 grind back on Earth. No house loans, no car loans, no endless bills, no suffocating dowries.
Here, weakness is the only sin. The strong take all—wealth, power, women. All that matters is strength. Overwhelming, unmatched strength!'
Holding Nami, he whispered as she stirred, "Awake, sleepy cat? Drooled all over me."
Sleepy-eyed, she rubbed her cheek. "No way! Stupid Leno, you're lying again!"
Leno smiled mischievously, leaned down, and kissed Nami on the forehead. "Do you want me to trick you?"
"Hmph," she let out a soft sound, wrapped her arms around Leno's waist, and rubbed her face against his chest.
When the others awoke, Leno patted her pert butt. "Alright, time to get up. We'll eat soon."
"Hmph. Idiot Leno, all you think about is eating all day," Nami mumbled, slowly getting up. She glared at Leno, then swayed her small waist as she went back to the ship.
The next day, as the Gale slowly descended, they prepared to set sail.
"Nami, course check?"
"All good. Direction confirmed."
"Excellent. Set sail!" Leno shouted at the prow, basking in the morning sun.
Las Camp Island, a mid-sized island in West Blue, housed the Marine 80th branch.
"But if there's a Navy branch here, and it's close to where we fought pirates earlier, why didn't we see any patrol ships?" Chopper asked.
"Chopper, you don't understand. Humans are complicated," Nojiko said, patting his little shoulder. "Even back in East Blue, pirates and Navy sometimes colluded to exploit civilians."
"Wha—?! T-then…?" Chopper trembled, speechless.
'If the Navy sides with pirates, what hope do ordinary people have?' he thought with despair.
The crew disembarked. Leno stored the ship, and they headed into town.
The city bustled with activity. Chopper trailed behind happily munching the cotton candy Leno had bought him, eyes darting around curiously.
"Strange… why are people staring at us like that?"
"Like predators eyeing prey," Kuina said flatly. "Our ship looks extravagant. They must assume we carry plenty of treasure."
"They've got good eyes! They can tell this ship was built thanks to my hard work!" Leno boasted.
"Idiot! Now's not the time to brag about who built it!" Nami smacked him.
At Carmen's urging, they went to the market for a massive shopping spree. Chopper cried out how amazing Leno was as he watched him "magic" large amounts of ingredients away with a wave of his hand.
As the group bought more and more supplies, the stares from the surrounding people grew more intense. After they turned a few corners, dozens of black-clothed men blocked their way.
Spotting a squad of Marines in the distance, Leno called out loudly: "Hey! Marines! Trouble here, help us out!"
The black-clad men just stood there, lips curling into mocking smirks.
The Marines not only ignored them but quickened their pace, leaving. The sneers of the gangsters grew sharper, even breaking into chuckles.
Chopper was first shocked, then furious. "How can they do that? They're supposed to be the Marines!"