"What... what?" Nami's face twisted in shock. "The identities of those guys... it's too strange! Why are these people even pirates? No... why do they all behave like orphans?"
Just moments ago, Shin had explained to Nami the true backgrounds of Luffy and the others.
Luffy, of course, was the grandson of a Marine hero and the son of the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
Zoro, once thought to have no notable lineage, turned out to be a descendant of Shimotsuki Ryuma.
Usopp's father, Yasopp, was a key figure in the Red-Haired Pirates. Although his bounty hadn't been revealed yet, it was likely no less than 500 million berries.
As for Sanji, who had joined later, Nami wasn't familiar with him at all. She didn't even know he was part of the crew yet, so Shin skipped mentioning him.
Even so, the revelations left Nami utterly dizzy, questioning everything she knew about her crewmates.
"Well... even if you ask me that, I can't give you a clear answer. Maybe it's just that people who yearn for freedom want their children to have the greatest freedom too?" Shin suggested.
"No, I think those fathers just didn't want to take responsibility." Nami shot back with pinpoint accuracy.
"So, even if I hadn't killed the Arlong Pirates for you, your crewmates would have done it when they arrived," Shin smirked. "Even if you don't have confidence in them, at least have confidence in their backgrounds."
Leaving Nami dumbfounded, Shin turned and walked away, his wicked smile lingering in the moonlight.
"Something feels off." Shin tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I remember Nami returning home, and then Luffy and the others catching up shortly after..."
He had been waiting in Cocoyasi Village for four days now, growing increasingly puzzled. However, his memory of the exact timeline was hazy, so he didn't dwell on it too much.
Nami, however, was clearly showing signs of anxiety. Dark circles hung under her eyes, the result of sleepless nights filled with restless thoughts.
After all... what if Luffy and the others felt betrayed? What if they were so disappointed in her that they decided not to come for her? What if they found another navigator and sailed away without her?
That regret would haunt her forever.
As the days passed, Nami even considered taking the Going Merry out to find them. But in the vast ocean, that was a near-impossible task. Worse, she risked missing them entirely.
Fortunately, on the evening of the fourth day, a battered ship finally approached Conomi Island, carrying a familiar crew.
"This should be Arlong's territory. Is Nami here?" Luffy stretched his neck, peering toward the island.
"I see it! The Going Merry is docked there!" Usopp, with his long nose twitching in excitement, pointed toward the shore. "That pirate thief really is here!"
"Nami is our crewmate and our navigator!" Luffy said with absolute certainty, eyes full of conviction.
"Fine, whatever you say." Usopp sighed, shaking his head.
"Of course! Miss Nami must have suffered so much! We have to get her back!" Sanji declared, his heart-shaped eyes sparkling with infatuation.
The rest of the crew, already accustomed to Sanji's antics, ignored him. Even Luffy, typically clueless about such things, simply picked his nose indifferently.
Zoro, who would normally argue with Sanji, was instead slumped on the deck, wrapped in heavy bandages. He stared up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.
As the crew spotted the Going Merry, Nami—who had been doing ship maintenance—also caught sight of them.
At first, a wave of joy washed over her. Then, an awkward expression settled on her face. She had no idea how to face them now.
Even though she barely peeked over the railing, the Straw Hat crew immediately spotted her.
"Ah! Miss Nami, I see her!" Sanji practically swooned in excitement.
"Hurry, speed up!"
But before Sanji could make a move, Luffy reacted faster.
With a flick of his arm, his rubber limbs stretched out and grabbed the Going Merry's railing.
In a flash, Luffy launched himself across the water and landed on deck.
"Nami, I'm here to get you!"
"So, Nami, you were trying to buy back Cocoyasi Village from Arlong?" Luffy tilted his head.
"Yes, that was the plan," Nami sighed. "But when I returned, I found that the entire Arlong Pirates had already been wiped out."
"Wait a minute!" Usopp, the only one in the crew with normal common sense, raised an eyebrow. "There's no proof, right? If you were actually part of the Arlong Pirates and originally meant to trick us, maybe you saw no way out after they were defeated and decided to switch sides."
"Bastard! How dare you accuse Miss Nami of that?!" Sanji roared, his face contorted with rage as he lunged at Usopp.
"I'm just pointing out a possibility!" Usopp yelped as Sanji chased him around the deck. Luffy, however, extended a hand to stop them.
"Don't worry. I believe in Nami!" Luffy grinned, his infectious, goofy smile shining through.
Nami's breath hitched. She wiped the moisture from her eyes and nodded. "Captain... Then, please take care of me from now on."
Usopp didn't say another word. On a pirate ship, the captain's decision was final. Besides, deep down, Usopp was inclined to believe Nami had her reasons.
"Alright! To celebrate Nami rejoining us, let's have a banquet!" Luffy shouted excitedly.
Nami beamed. "Well... I still have close to 100 million berries saved up. We can throw a huge feast this time."
However, as she glanced at the crew's tattered boat and at Zoro, who was still gravely injured, she frowned.
"Wait... It looks like you guys have been through a lot since I left. What exactly happened?"
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Now available - Chapter 331: Contacting Superman