"But my big brother Arlong's bounty is the highest in the East Blue! Taking care of you would be nothing at all!" Nami said, exasperated.
"Hmph. Give me three more months, and I'll take his head myself," Lister said with confidence.
The Swift‑Swift Fruit had tremendous potential. Before, he'd only gotten familiar with it—there'd been no time to develop its power. Now the immediate threats were gone. With a bit more time to train, he was confident he could take Arlong's head.
"Keep bragging. Your strength isn't even greater than mine. You didn't even know whether I was knocked out or not. You're a total rookie—what right do you have to talk like that?" Nami mocked without mercy.
Lister's face flushed. So that's why she woke up so fast—she hadn't been knocked out at all.
"I was just sparing a beauty. Otherwise you'd have died miserably like Blood Hammer Henry and the madman Andrei," Lister argued.
Nami curled her lip but didn't refute it. Henry and Andrei had indeed died at Lister's hands.
"What will it take for you to let me go?"
"I never planned to let you go. From now on, you're my woman. In this lifetime, I won't ever let you go," Lister said with a smile.
"I'm not joking. I'm a cadre of the Arlong Pirates, the little sister Big Brother Arlong values. I have the Arlong Pirates' mark on me—see for yourself if you don't believe me."
She raised her arm, revealing the tattoo of the Arlong Pirates' flag. She hadn't joined willingly; she'd been forced. She should hate it, yet sometimes she had no choice but to brandish that banner.
Nami trembled and stared at Lister in shock. "How do you know so much?"
"Let's make a bet, Nami. Don't think I'm that weak, and don't imagine Arlong is invincible. I don't do things I'm not sure of. If I dare to bet with you, it's because I have some certainty," Lister said, shaking his head.
Her expression flickered, but she still didn't accept. No matter how much Lister belittled him, Arlong was a mountain in her heart—hard to move.
Seeing this, Lister added, "I've heard you and Arlong have an agreement."
About that, not even her sister or the villagers knew. She thought he didn't know. In truth, she'd been worrying over it all along—she just never dared face it, kept forcing herself not to think about it, and kept saving money like her life depended on it.
After a long struggle, Nami said weakly, "It's my only chance."
"Now I'm putting another chance in front of you. Why not seize it?" Lister said, voice low.
"Do you really have the confidence to behead Arlong?"
"Of course."
"Fine. I accept your bet," Nami said through gritted teeth.
"No—I have a condition as well."