Chapter 117: The Navigator's "Secret Weapon" Debut! The Silent Mark of Companionship
At the East Port on the outskirts of Alubarna, the waves gently lapped against the shore.
The Going Merry was anchored quietly under the cover of night, rising and falling with the waves.
Inside the cabin, in Nami's room.
Under the warm yellow light, the air was filled with a faint scent of citrus shower gel, the fresh fragrance left behind after Nami's recent bath.
Wrapped in a bath towel, she stood before the wardrobe, biting her lip with an expression that was both nervous and expectant.
After a moment of hesitation, she finally reached out and took an exquisitely packaged bag from the deepest part of the wardrobe.
It was a "secret weapon" she had secretly bought in Loguetown without telling anyone.
"Phew..."
Nami took a deep breath, unwrapped her towel, and changed into those clothes.
It was a wine-red silk lace nightgown, its form-fitting cut perfectly outlining the graceful curves of her body.
And beneath that silk was a set of highly seductive black lace lingerie, partially visible and extremely sexy.
She twirled in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection with flushed cheeks and eyes full of longing, her heart rate involuntarily accelerating.
"Will that idiot... like it?"
Click.
At that moment, the door lock clicked softly.
There was no knock; Tatsuya entered silently like an elegant black cat, locking the door behind him.
"Nami, I came to check tomorrow's nautical chart and the departure time..."
Tatsuya spoke as he turned around.
However, his voice came to an abrupt halt when he saw the orange-haired girl in the sexy nightgown looking back at him under the interweaving moonlight and lamplight.
In that instant, the air seemed to freeze.
Tatsuya's pupils contracted slightly, his gaze lingering on the wine-red silk and the fair skin.
His Adam's apple rolled up and down involuntarily as he swallowed hard.
"...Cough."
Tatsuya looked away awkwardly, yet couldn't help but look back:
"That... I came to see if you were ready."
Nami keenly caught Tatsuya's direct, aggressive gaze.
Her face instantly turned completely red, like a ripe apple.
Subconsciously, she crossed her arms to cover herself, but then thought of something and lowered them again.
"Hmph."
Nami lifted her head with a bit of tsundere pride, puffing out her chest with a hint of provocation in her eyes:
"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a beautiful woman before, Lord Vice Captain?"
"I've certainly never seen one this beautiful."
Tatsuya smiled, stepping forward with his long legs towards Nami.
As the distance between them closed, the ambiguity in the room skyrocketed, and the air seemed to become thick.
Faced with this sense of pressure, Nami's previous momentum instantly weakened.
She stepped back flustered until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed, and she sat down on the soft mattress.
Looking up at the towering Tatsuya standing before her, Nami suddenly remembered something.
She extended a finger and poked Tatsuya's chest hard, her tone thick with jealousy:
"Hey, you haven't told me yet."
"That woman... that woman named Robin, what's her deal?"
Nami pouted; that intellectual beauty and sense of mystery unique to mature women made her instinctively feel threatened:
"Saying things like 'forced her to live'... what exactly happened between you two underground?"
Tatsuya took the opportunity to grab Nami's hand that was poking his chest, holding it in his palm.
His eyes flickered for a moment, and then, without blushing or a racing heart, he employed the ultimate male skill—playing dumb.
"Who?"
Tatsuya blinked with an innocent face:
"Which big sister are you talking about? I don't know her. I only have eyes for my Navigator."
"You're lying!!" Nami fumed, trying to pull her hand back, "You clearly..."
Tatsuya didn't give her another chance to speak.
He lowered his head and accurately sealed that chattering little mouth.
"Mmm..."
Nami's eyes widened for a split second before slowly closing, her arms wrapping around Tatsuya's neck.
From the initial cautious testing and stroking to the frantic plundering after feeling her clumsy yet passionate response.
His tongue pried open her pearly teeth, driving deep to conquer and claim, absorbing all the moisture and breath from her mouth.
Nami's arms around his neck tightened more and more.
Finally, she gripped the clothes on his back tightly, wrinkling the expensive fabric.
One of Tatsuya's hands still cradled the back of her head, while the other had long since slid down to her waist.
Through the silk nightgown, he felt the incredible heat and softness, pressing her hard against himself as if trying to melt her into his body.
The accumulated tension of the journey and the relief of surviving a disaster all transformed into the most direct and passionate emotional release at this moment.
Outside the window, the sound of the waves was gentle and rhythmic.
In the moonlight, two figures overlapped and fell onto the soft bed.
Snap.
The lights in the room went out.
Only the cold moonlight spilled through the porthole onto the floor, reflecting a room full of romance and the sweet scent of oranges.
It was a passion like a desert storm and a drowning like oasis spring water.
The night was still very long.
...
The next morning.
The first rays of sunlight pierced the desert night, illuminating the palace of Alubarna.
Vivi woke from her dreams, rubbed her eyes, and walked to the table, only to find a letter and a mountain of treasure placed there.
It was the farewell letter left by the Straw Hat crew.
[Vivi, we're leaving! Use this treasure to rebuild your country! —Luffy]
"These... idiots!!"
Looking at the empty room, Vivi's tears instantly welled up.
Without even having time to change out of her pajamas, she rushed out of the room and mounted Karoo, the spot-billed duck who was already waiting at the door.
"Quick! Karoo! To the East Port!!"
"Idiots! Idiots! Idiots! Who leaves without saying goodbye like this!!"
The wind whistled in her ears, and Vivi's heart was full of panic. She was afraid she would never see those companions who had brought her miracles again.
...
East Port.
The sea breeze blew gently as the Going Merry had already set sail and was some distance from the shore.
"Quack!!"
Karoo screeched to a halt on the cliff by the shore.
Vivi jumped down, holding a megaphone for broadcasting, and looked at the pirate ship sailing further away, shouting with all her might:
"Hey!!! Everyone!!!!"
"You're too despicable!! Damn pirates!!!"
On the deck, the busy Straw Hat crew heard the voice and stopped what they were doing to look toward the shore.
Vivi wiped her tears, her voice choked but firm:
"I'm here to see you off!!"
"Even though I really want to go on an adventure... I love this country! So I can't go!"
"Even though we can't go on adventures together anymore, I will always stay here and watch you..."
Vivi took a deep breath and roared out the question hidden in her heart toward the sea:
"If we meet again one day..."
"Will you... still call me a companion?!!!!"
The sea breeze blew, carrying Vivi's voice to the going merry.
Luffy opened his mouth, about to shout "Of course".
"Don't speak! Luffy!" Nami said with tears in her eyes, covering Luffy's mouth.
Everyone looked at the sea not far away.
Marine Captain Hina's (Black Cage Hina) fleet was approaching, and countless Marines were watching the situation here.
Vivi was the princess of a nation.
If they, as pirates, responded loudly now, it would confirm the crime of Vivi's collusion with pirates and make her a wanted criminal.
To protect Vivi, they had to remain silent.
On the shore, Vivi looked at the silent going merry and those backs that didn't respond, her heart sinking bit by bit.
"That's too much... they're actually ignoring me..."
Tears burst out again as Vivi cried like a helpless child:
"Waaaah... everyone..."
Just then.
On the deck.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and even the usually cold Robin stood smiling to the side.
Tatsuya stood at the end of the line, looking at the crying little princess on the shore, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly in a gentle arc.
No one spoke.
They turned around in unison, their backs to Vivi.
Then.
Swoosh!
Everyone simultaneously raised their left arms high, clenching their fists tightly.
On those wrists fluttering in the wind, beneath those unappealing white bandages.
A large black "X" mark shone brilliantly under the sun, looking so dazzling.
No words were needed.
No promises were needed.
This mark was the best answer.
[No matter what happens, this is the proof of our companionship!]
Through her tears, Vivi saw those raised arms and that mark of their oath.
"Sob..."
The tears stopped.
Vivi wiped the tear stains from her face, and a smile more brilliant than the desert sun bloomed on her face.
She suddenly raised her own left arm, revealing the same bandaged wrist and the same "X"!
"I will also... always be watching you!!"
"Goodbye!!! You damn pirates!!!"
The sea breeze filled the sails.
The Going Merry rode the waves, carrying these pirates who had achieved a miracle toward a new adventure, sailing into the vast ocean.
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