Hikaru gently swirled the orange juice in his hand, leaned back against the cushion, and enjoyed Mikita's attentive service.
Hearing his words, Nojiko paused what she was doing and said softly,
"Nami set out for the Totto Islands more than ten days ago. She should have been there for a few days by now."
The Totto Islands?
Hikaru was familiar with the place. He had once heard Robin explain the island layout of the East Blue while chatting with her.
The Totto Islands were located northeast of Cocoyasi Village.
The Kingdom of Corgis was also there—a nation that once fought against Germa 66. It was during this war that Sanji was freed by Reiju.
"So, there's no telling when Nami will return to Cocoyasi Village. If I go looking for her now, I might end up empty-handed. After all, who knows when or from which direction she'll return?"
"That's true..." Nojiko responded hesitantly.
Hikaru thought for a moment before making a decision. He placed a Den Den Mushi on the table.
"Porche, Hina, Marianne—you three will stay here to protect Nojiko. If there's any news about Nami, inform me immediately."
"Vivi, Mikita, and Robin will come with me to the Totto Islands to find her."
"Yes, Lord God!"
Everyone either nodded or answered in agreement.
Hina had fully submitted to him. At this point, she was capable of using both Armament and Observation Haki. The East Blue was weak and peaceful—she was practically invincible here.
Besides, with Porche and Marianne—two skilled fighters with hypnotic abilities—staying behind, Hikaru had full confidence in their ability to handle any situation.
Another reason for this arrangement was to separate Mikita from Marianne, limiting their ability to support each other. Hikaru saw this as an opportunity to bring Mikita further under his control.
Totto Islands – Palavros Island
This was the territory of the treasure hunter, Lord Savage.
Deep within a dense forest, the "Cat Burglar" Nami and the "Phantom Thief" Carina were fleeing in a hurry.
"Carina, if we keep running like this, they'll catch us for sure!"
Nami felt a wave of despair. She and Carina were both rivals and occasional partners.
They had come to Palavros Island together to steal from the treasure hunter's vault but were caught in the act.
Fortunately, they reacted quickly and managed to escape into the forest. However, Savage and his men had lived here for years—they knew every tree and path. How long could the two of them really last?
"Nami... I never thought I'd meet my end like this after all these years," Carina sighed lightly, though she didn't slow her pace.
"Don't be ridiculous! You're only two years older than me! And we will escape!"
Nami snapped back in frustration, but before she could say more, her foot caught on a vine, and she tumbled hard to the ground.
"Nami!" Carina exclaimed, immediately stopping to help her up.
"Hurry! They're over here!"
"There they are!"
The shouts of pursuers grew closer, their voices echoing through the trees. Nami and Carina's faces turned grim.
"Come on!"
Carina pulled Nami to her feet and quickly moved forward, using the thick foliage to hide their movements.
"I'm sorry, Carina... I'm just slowing you down. Go on without me!"
Nami knew they wouldn't be able to keep running at this pace, and she didn't want to drag Carina down with her.
"What nonsense are you talking about?! I, Phantom Thief Carina, would never abandon a comrade!"
"That's... really touching~"
Just then, a burly man with red hair and an afro stepped forward—Lord Savage.
"I have to say, you two are quite bold. Stealing from me once wasn't enough? You actually came back to rob my vault again? Reckless fools who don't know when to quit!"
In his hand, he held a long, heavy iron chain. As he pulled it taut, the sharp clinking of metal echoed through the air.
"Now, now, let's not be hasty… We can talk this out. We won't run," Carina said with an awkward smile, shielding Nami behind her.
"Not running? Ha! I don't think you can run anymore!"
A group of dark-skinned, primitive-looking warriors emerged from the shadows, surrounding them. Seeing his men arrive, Savage grinned sinisterly. Without another word, he swung the iron chain toward the two women, intending to teach them a lesson first.
[God's Judgment – White Thunder!]
At that critical moment, a massive pillar of lightning suddenly descended from the sky, striking with terrifying force.
Nami instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for the impact of the chain—but the pain never came.
Cautiously, she opened her eyes and gasped. Everything around her and Carina was completely white. Carina clutched her tightly, trembling as she looked around in horror.
"W-What just happened!?" Nami exclaimed, still unable to process the situation.
Before she could get an answer, the blinding light vanished, and with it—Savage and his men were gone. In their place were massive craters and towering stone pillars, remnants of the devastating attack.
What… just happened?
There was no way to escape. The pits were too deep to jump over, and falling would mean certain death. Their only option seemed to be sliding down the rock columns and somehow climbing back up the surrounding earth walls.
Carina finally regained her composure, her back drenched in cold sweat. She muttered solemnly,
"It was lightning…"
"Huh? Lightning!?"
Nami blinked in disbelief.
"Well, well~ Two little lost lambs. I hope I didn't scare you~"
A flickering blue light appeared before them, and out of thin air, Hikaru materialized—legs crossed, gazing at them with amusement.
The truth was, he had been watching Nami for a while. He hadn't intervened immediately because he wanted to enjoy seeing her in distress, running for her life. When the moment was right, he stepped in—playing the hero saving the damsel in distress.
Nami was the first to react, quickly piecing things together. He was the one who had wiped out Savage and his men in an instant.
"No way! Big Brother, did you come to save us? Thank you so much!"
She put on a playful smile, her eyes filled with feigned gratitude. Beside her, Carina joined in, her voice sweet and endearing,
"Big Brother, you're so strong, handsome, and kind-hearted~ Can you help us get out of here? There are giant pits all around… We're just two helpless girls~"
Hikaru met their smiles with one of his own.
He could see right through them. The so-called gratitude in their eyes was fake. Their bodies trembled slightly—not from excitement, but from fear. They were so terrified they probably didn't even realize it themselves.
"Oh? You're already asking for favors right after I saved you? That's not very polite~"
Nami let out a small sigh of relief—at least he wasn't planning to kill them. Summoning her courage, she tried acting a little coquettish.
"Then… Big Brother, how can we convince you to take us out of here? If it's about treasure…"
A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. She loved money more than anything, but parting with it was painful. However, unlike her, Carina wasn't quite as obsessed with wealth.
Character Notes:
Nami – A smart, lively, and extremely talented navigator. A "Cat Burglar" who loves money more than anything. Clever and resourceful. (F~J)
Carina – As beautiful as a violet flower, with a sweet singing voice and a quick mind. A master thief, intelligence gatherer, and the elusive "Phantom Thief Little Fox." Playful and charming.
---------------
Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: patreon.com/Veni_V