On a hill at the outskirts of Cocoyasi Village, surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air, stood a quiet and peaceful resting place—Bellemere's grave.
Three figures stood silently before it: Nami, Nojiko, and Genzo.
"Mother..."
Nami held a bouquet of flowers in her hands, her beautiful eyes fixed on the tombstone. A serene smile graced her lips as she spoke softly, "Nojiko and I... are leaving."
"You heard right. We're setting sail—to see the vastness of this world and to experience countless adventures."
"You always told us, as women, we must remain strong, to have faith and passion for life."
"And now, we've done it. We're filled with hope and excitement for the future."
"Once our journey is over, Nojiko and I will return home. Then, we'll come back here and tell you all about our adventures."
Nami's delicate brows curved gently as she smiled sweetly, placing the bouquet of flowers before the grave. Then, she stood up and stepped aside, waiting for Nojiko.
Back at the estate, Nami had tried to persuade Nojiko to leave with her and set sail together. However, Nojiko had refused, wanting to stay in Cocoyasi Village to take care of Bellemere's grave.
But Reiju and the others had also urged Nojiko to leave, saying that she and Nami would have each other for company. Bakara, in particular, had spoken up—and her words carried weight, as if blessed by fate itself.
So, in the end, what could Nojiko do? She had no choice but to board the ship and set sail with them.
"Mother… Nami is right. We've both grown strong, filled with hope for life."
Nojiko also held a bouquet of flowers, her gaze fixed on Bellemere's name engraved on the tombstone. A gentle smile graced her beautiful face.
Now that the fish-men had been wiped out, the villagers could finally live happy lives. Everything was getting better.
"Mother… in just a few years, Nami and I will return from our adventures. When we do, we'll come here every day and tell you all about our stories."
"I'm sure you'll love hearing them."
"Mother… goodbye. We're leaving now. Please watch over us from above and bless us with happiness and health."
After speaking, she knelt down and gently placed the flowers before the grave.
Genzo watched them with his usual stern expression, speaking solemnly, "You two… if things don't work out out there, come back immediately."
"Don't stubbornly endure hardships just because you don't want to admit defeat."
"And… if you have time, come back and visit your mother. She always loved having you by her side."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Go on now. Don't keep our benefactors waiting too long."
Nami rolled her eyes at Genzo, exasperated by this father-like figure.
Despite his strict demeanor, Genzo was a man with a warm heart, always looking out for them.
"Alright, alright! We're going now. Take care of yourself too!"
Nami turned around, waving at Genzo as she walked away.
Nojiko bowed slightly to Genzo, smiling gently. "We're leaving. Please take care of yourself."
With that, she hurried after Nami.
Genzo stood motionless, watching their retreating figures. His stern face softened slightly.
"Bellemere… these two girls are setting sail. They've grown up. It's time for them to experience the world."
He turned to Bellemere's photo, smiling faintly.
"From now on, you won't be lonely."
"Because I'll be here with you—every day, talking to you."
"Do you think they'll be happy? I'm sure they will."
A cool breeze rustled the leaves, the grass swaying gently. The flowers on the grave trembled slightly, as if answering.
Yes… they will be happy.
On the Chris Pirates' Ship
By now, the ship had already left the coastal waters, heading into the deep sea.
"Damn it! Every time, it's just women joining. Can't we get at least one guy?!"
Burgess flexed his arm, his fist coated in Busoshoku Haki, veins bulging in frustration.
Doc Q, leaning against his horse, chuckled weakly. "What can we do? The captain loves women too much. The moment he sees a beauty, he can't resist adding her to the crew."
Pearl sneered. "The captain only cares about training. He has no interest in women. Stop talking nonsense."
"Judging by his face, the captain isn't the type to be swayed by lust. That's undeniable!"
Laffitte twirled his cane gracefully. "The captain appreciates beauty. It's a fact."
"Every day, all we see are you ugly brutes. A little eye candy makes life more enjoyable."
Nami glanced at the man in the distance, blinking her big eyes playfully. "Captain Chris, this is my sister. She wants to join us too."
"Is that okay?"
At this point, the ship had already set sail. Only now was she asking Chris for permission—a clear case of asking for forgiveness rather than permission!
After all, the women had already agreed. Surely Chris wouldn't oppose their decision.
"Captain Chris, hello. My name is Nojiko. I look forward to working with you."
Nojiko stood gracefully, bowing respectfully, her tone sincere.
Chris didn't turn around, continuing to polish his greatsword as he replied indifferently, "Fine."
Reiju smiled warmly. "Chris is just like that. He doesn't care much about other things."
"Don't mistake his lack of words for indifference. He's actually very welcoming."
Bakara took a drag from her cigarette. "His way of welcoming is… unique. You'll get used to it."
Kalifa's eyes sparkled as she giggled. "Nojiko, I was the same way at first. But I learned that this is just Chris' personality."
Nami laughed. "When I first boarded, I didn't understand his responses either. I even got into an argument with him!"
"So, the fact that he said even two words is already a lot."
Nojiko nodded gently, smiling. "It's fine. I'll get used to it."
With that, the women began chatting animatedly, laughing as they recounted the events of the fish-men battle.
Three Days Later
Somewhere in the East Blue
BEEP—BEEP—
"Enemy attack! The directional bird has been destroyed! Enemy attack!"
An urgent alarm blared from the observation deck.
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T/N:
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