Nojiko: "…"
Choose?
Choose what?
What choice was there?!
If she didn't lead him to the village—
she'd die.
And once he went looking for the village on his own—
the villagers would die too.
But if she did lead him there—
his target was Nami, just like he said.
If he got what he wanted, the village likely wouldn't be harmed.
So…
She had never had a "choice" at all.
It was a false choice.
A trick.
He made it look like she had two paths,
but in reality, he only gave her one.
"I'll take you."
She let out a long, helpless sigh.
Her heart felt painfully heavy.
It was the same kind of despair she felt when Bell-mère died right in front of her and Nami all those years ago…
"You made a smart decision."
Adrian lifted his hand off her shoulder,
and the AK in his other hand vanished—
stored back in the system space.
"Please, lead the way."
He smiled at her.
Nojiko gave him a long, uneasy look.
She didn't understand how he put that weapon away.
Didn't know where he put it.
But right now, he held nothing.
If she attacked him now…
Her chances of taking him down—
Were actually not bad.
But then she glanced at the man behind Adrian—
Momochi Zabuza.
She didn't know Adrian's true strength—
but that bandaged man…
Even from a single glance earlier,
the oppressive aura he released was terrifying.
If Arlong felt like a murderer—
this man felt like a blood-soaked killer of hundreds.
Her instincts screamed:
If I strike at Adrian now, that man will kill me instantly.
So—
She crushed the idea of attacking them.
"Follow me."
Nojiko's expression was filled with irritation.
Who wouldn't be upset in a situation like this?
Who could still smile after being forced at gunpoint by a lunatic outlaw?
Anyone who did would have a screw loose.
But Adrian didn't mind her tone.
He had threatened her—
expecting politeness would be absurd.
"Zabuza, follow."
Adrian gestured.
He and Nojiko walked side by side, only a step or two apart.
Zabuza followed silently behind them.
With Zabuza around, Adrian felt completely safe.
A Warbreaker-tier powerhouse at his side?
That was equivalent to having a walking fortress as his personal bodyguard.
As for loyalty—
system-summoned subordinates retained their personalities,
but their loyalty was fixed at 100%.
Unshakable.
Before long—
with Nojiko leading the way—
they arrived… at her house.
"You brought me straight to your home. And you avoided the village paths. You don't think I'm blind, do you?"
Adrian raised a brow.
"If you're not here for money, and only for my sister,
then there's no need to enter the village."
Nojiko replied calmly.
To her, there was no reason to let the whole village get involved.
Adrian considered it—
and nodded.
"Fair enough."
His goal wasn't riches.
His goal was Nami.
And whether he entered the village only mattered to one evaluation factor—
fame.
If he kidnapped Nami and Nojiko publicly,
the entire village would know,
and the rumors would spread.
Which would boost his outlaw event rating.
But—
Since Nojiko already brought him here,
he didn't push the issue.
As long as he got Nami and Nojiko,
the event was as good as complete.
Nami alone, with her influence in the One Piece world,
would guarantee his outlaw action a high rating.
As long as she's home…
Just as he had that thought—
Creak—
Nojiko's front door opened.
And a slim, beautiful figure with short orange hair stepped out.
Nami.
She blinked when she saw Nojiko standing outside with two strangers—
one handsome young man,
and one terrifying bandaged swordsman.
"Nojiko, why are you back so suddenly?"
"And who are these two?"
She instinctively became alert.
Her years of experience surviving on the seas gave her sharp instincts—
and she could instantly tell:
The bandaged man behind them was extremely dangerous.
But he stood behind the handsome one.
Which meant—
The handsome one was the leader.
Nami's eyes narrowed slightly.
These two…
Were definitely not normal.
Translator's Thoughts:Nojiko is learning the hard way that "choices" given by an outlaw protagonist are never real choices—just the illusion of mercy wrapped around a threat. And now, after all her dread and internal despair, she's brought Adrian straight to the doorstep of the very person he came for: Nami.With Zabuza looming behind them like a walking execution order, the situation has officially crossed from "dangerous" to "catastrophic."Next chapter is where the real tension kicks in—Nami's survival instincts vs. Adrian's outlaw ambition. Buckle up!
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