Chapter 11: The Little Thief Cat and the "Voluntarily" Captured Captain
Ten thousand meters above the ground.
Luffy was held in the large bird's beak, and as he watched the land below become clearer and clearer, instead of being afraid, he beamed with joy.
"Hee hee hee, although I don't know where this is, it looks pretty lively!"
Luffy turned his head to glance at the large bird, which was still flapping its wings desperately, and grinned.
"I'll get off here! Thanks, Big Bird!"
"Gomu Gomu—"
Luffy took a deep breath, his arms suddenly stretching out, tightly coiling around the bird's neck and body like two pythons, and then he squeezed hard!
"Gah?!! (I'm gonna die!!)"
The large bird let out a shrill scream, and in its intense pain, its beak involuntarily opened.
"See ya!"
Luffy fell toward the ground like a meteor, whistling through the air.
"Waaaaa—!!"
...
Meanwhile, on the ground, on a street in Orange Town.
A young girl with short orange hair and a fine figure was running, panting for breath.
Behind her, three pirates holding large sabers and wearing clown makeup were in hot pursuit.
"Stop! Hand over the Treasure Map!"
"Damn thief! How dare you steal the Treasure Map of our Great Lord Buggy!"
The girl, Nami, gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around quickly as she searched for a way to escape.
Just then, a sudden, rapid sound of wind breaking came from overhead.
"Boom—!!"
A figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground in front of Nami, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The ground instantly cracked, as if it had been hit by a cannonball.
The three pursuing pirates were so startled that they slammed on the brakes: "Wha-what is that?!"
As the dust cleared, Luffy stood up as if nothing had happened, patted the dust off his Straw Hat, and shook his slightly dizzy head.
"Wow... that was high. What an interesting trip."
Luffy looked left and right, and finally, his gaze landed on the orange-haired girl in front of him. "Hmm? Where is this?"
Nami was stunned for a moment, then her eyes darted around, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on her face as she pointed at Luffy and shouted:
"Boss!! You're finally here! You're here to protect me, right?"
"Huh?" Luffy looked completely bewildered. "Boss? Who? I don't know you."
"I'll leave it to you then, Boss! Please take care of these three guys!"
Nami didn't give Luffy a chance to explain at all. After saying this, she greased her feet and quickly darted into a nearby alley like a nimble cat, slipping away.
"Hey! That woman is running away!"
"It's all because this Straw Hat kid is blocking the way!"
The three lackeys of the Buggy Pirates looked at Luffy angrily, brandishing the large sabers in their hands.
"To think she even has an accomplice! Since you're that woman's boss, then die!"
"I already told you I don't know her!"
Luffy looked at the three men rushing toward him and sighed with some impatience.
Facing the large sabers swinging down at him, he didn't even dodge, simply throwing out a casual punch.
"Bang!"
The pirate in front, along with his saber, was blown away, becoming embedded in the nearby wall.
"Wha-what?!" The remaining two were shocked.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!!"
Luffy's arms suddenly stretched out, his fists snapping out like bullets, accurately striking the faces of the remaining two.
"Thud!" "Thud!"
Two dull sounds rang out, and the two pirates fell to the ground unconscious, their eyes rolling back.
Nami, who was hiding on a rooftop observing in secret, covered her mouth in surprise at this scene and stopped her escape.
"So strong... to think he could... in an instant..."
She hesitated for a moment, then jumped down from the rooftop and landed in front of Luffy.
"Um... thanks for just now. Who exactly are you?"
Luffy picked up his Straw Hat from the ground and said as a matter of course, "I'm Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King."
"A pirate?!" Nami's gaze turned cold, but she quickly hid it.
"I'm Nami, a master thief who specializes in preying on pirates. Hey, seeing as your skills are pretty good, do you want to team up with me?"
"No," Luffy refused flatly. "I need to find my crewmates."
After saying that, Luffy's body suddenly went soft, and he collapsed onto the ground like a deflated ball, his stomach letting out a thunderous roar.
"Ah... I was flying for too long just now, I've used up too much energy. I'm so hungry, I can't move..."
Nami watched as this powerhouse who had just dominated the scene turned into a weakling, and she couldn't help but giggle.
"I really can't do anything with you. Since you saved me, I'll treat you to a meal."
"Really?! Is there delicious meat?!" Luffy's eyes instantly turned into searchlights.
...
A moment later, in an empty residential restaurant.
Luffy had a pile of plates in front of him and was feasting heartily, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel's.
"Is this your house?" Luffy asked indistinctly.
"No," Nami sat opposite him, resting her chin in her hands as she looked out the window.
"The people in this town have all fled to the shelters because they're afraid of 'Buggy the Clown.' This place is empty."
"Oh, then we're thieves stealing food," Luffy commented calmly while eating.
"How rude!" Nami slapped the table and corrected him, "I told you, I'm a thief who specifically steals pirate treasure! It's called robbing the rich to help the poor!"
Luffy swallowed a large piece of meat on the bone and tilted his head. "But a thief is still a thief, right?"
"Shut up!" Nami snapped, frustrated. "Regardless, I have to earn one hundred million Berries no matter what."
"One hundred million?!" Luffy's mouth hung open in surprise. "Isn't that too much? What do you need all that money for?"
Nami's eyes dimmed for a split second before she regained her cunning smile.
"That's a secret. But... as long as I have the Sea Chart for the Grand Line, one hundred million Berries will no longer be a dream."
"A Sea Chart?!"
Those three words accurately struck Luffy's nerves. He suddenly leaned in close to Nami, his eyes shining. "You can read Sea Charts? You're a Navigator?!"
"Of course, my navigation skills are top-notch," Nami said confidently.
"That's great!!"
Luffy said excitedly to Nami, "Join my pirate crew! Be my Navigator! I just happen to be missing a Navigator!"
As he spoke, Luffy complained with a look of lingering fear.
"You have no idea, my Vice Captain is a guy who only knows how to sleep and daze off."
"If we don't have a Navigator, we'll definitely starve to death at sea!"
"No!" Nami swatted Luffy's hand away, her expression turning cold. "You're a pirate, right?"
"Yeah. Hee hee hee."
"Hmph, the thing I hate most in this world is pirates!" Nami said coldly. "I only like two things: money and tangerines! Me joining a pirate crew? Don't even think about it!"
"You're not willing..." Luffy didn't force it, shaking his head and continuing to focus on the remaining food. "What a shame."
Just then, noisy footsteps and shouting came from outside.
"Hey! Haven't you found that female thief yet!"
"Where did she go? Captain Buggy is furious!"
Nami's expression changed, and her eyes turned back to Luffy, who was gorging himself.
A bold plan emerged in her mind.
"Hey, Luffy."
Nami suddenly put on a sweet smile and leaned into Luffy's ear.
"If you do me a favor, I might consider... joining you guys."
"Really?!" Luffy immediately looked up and asked in surprise.
"Of course! I want you to come with me to see that pirate Buggy," Nami said with a smile. "It's just... you'll need to be slightly inconvenienced."
As she spoke, she pulled out a thick hemp rope as if by magic.
Five minutes later.
Nami dragged the tightly bound Luffy out of the restaurant.
"Why do you have to tie me up?" Although Luffy was bound, his expression remained calm, and he was even still chewing on the meat in his mouth.
"Um... this is a special ritual..." Nami said vaguely. "You don't mind, do you?"
Luffy thought about it and felt it made sense.
"Hmm... whatever, I also really want to see that Buggy. Let's go!"
Looking at this boy who was almost excessively simple-minded, a trace of guilt flashed through Nami's heart, but it was quickly suppressed by her obsession with the one hundred million Berries.
"I'm sorry... for the sake of that Village, I have to do this."
...
Meanwhile, at the Orange Town docks.
A shabby little wooden boat finally docked.
"Whew... finally here."
Zoro jumped onto the land and stretched his body. "Where the heck is that guy Luffy?"
Tatsuya stood up and straightened his collar.
He glanced at the three pirate "laborers" who were preparing to sneak away, a smile curling on his lips.
"Bang!"
Tatsuya unceremoniously kicked one of them in the butt, knocking him to the ground.
He looked down at the three trembling pirates.
"Hey, did I say you could leave?"
"Lead the way."
Tatsuya pointed toward the giant tent in the center of town with the pirate flag hanging from it. "Take us to see your... Clown Captain."
Hearing the word "Clown," the three pirates turned green with fear and knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately.
"Great Lord!! We beg you! We told you never to say that word!!"
"If Captain Buggy hears it, we'll all be blown to ashes!!"
Tatsuya smiled dismissively, a red light flashing in his eyes for a brief moment.
"It's you, not us."
"Let's go, Zoro. Let's go see if our Captain is causing trouble for others again."