Chapter 11 Nami's Plan
The sky was clear and blue.
Waves rippled and carried the ship on its journey across the sea.
Everything was so quiet and peaceful.
Suddenly.
"What the hell, Zoro!"
"Didn't I tell you you're not allowed to touch the rudder?!"
On the deck of the pirate ship, V, who had just stepped out of the cabin, felt as if the sky had fallen.
He quickly walked to the bow of the ship and checked the direction using the newly developed Beidou positioning system (East China Sea version).
Then he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, it only veered 180 degrees, at least it didn't deviate from the planned route."
As he spoke, he shooed Zoro away from the ship's wheel like he was chasing a puppy.
Upon hearing V's mutterings, Zoro awkwardly scratched his cheek, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
"Um... Luffy went to the bathroom, and I was a little worried since there was no one to helm the ship, so..."
"Then I really thank you."
V turned the boat around while sighing helplessly.
Fortunately, this is not the Grand Line, and the seas are relatively calm.
It's just that we'll arrive at our destination a little later than expected.
The people of Shells were surprisingly enthusiastic. After learning that they had defeated Colonel Monka, they insisted on holding a celebration banquet for them.
As everyone knows, Luffy's resistance to banquets is negative.
As a result, they had to delay for half a day, and after handing Coby over to the Navy in Shells Town, they hurriedly set off.
...
...
Orange Town, East China Sea Organ Islands.
On the neat streets, colorful buildings are scattered in an orderly fashion, their rooftops gleaming in the sunlight.
As an important port city where shipping routes converge in this sea area, this place should be bustling with merchant ships and prosperous.
However, all of that vanished a month ago.
"Come on! Let's welcome Nami to the team!"
"Let's throw a lavish banquet—!!!!"
"oh--!!!"
On the rooftop of a building in the center of Orange Town, in front of what is read as the Buggy Pirates' temporary base, which is actually a large circus.
Red-Nosed Bucky spreads his arms wide and lets out a comical, maniacal laugh.
Before him stood a lively girl with short orange hair.
Seeing the pirates cheering all around, the orange-haired girl breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew~ Luckily, these guys aren't very smart."
Nami, the Little Cat Thief, is from the East Blue.
He lives in Cocoyasi Village, Konom Islands, and is a notorious thief in the East China Sea!
However, even the best can make mistakes.
She never imagined that she would be caught in an unlocked treasure room and be surrounded by a group of pirates.
Fortunately, she had a bright idea and lied that she had come to join Buggy's pirate crew because she admired him.
After a brilliant speech of flattery, Bucky the Clown was completely charmed and couldn't be happier.
"Once they're all drunk, I'll take the opportunity to steal all the treasure here!"
Nami was silently plotting in her heart, but on the surface she showed an innocent and harmless smile.
With the pirates' skillful preparations, a grand banquet was quickly held.
The pirates raised their glasses, laughing and shouting, taking turns showcasing their talents.
But just as the banquet was halfway through, a pirate suddenly ran over in a panic:
"Reporting, reporting, Captain!"
"A ship has arrived at the port. Judging from the pattern on the sails, it looks like the Alvida Pirates!"
"Alvida?"
Bucky slammed his glass on the table with a bang, splashing wine everywhere.
"That fat woman with a bounty of 5 million Berries?"
How did she end up here?
"Boss." Chief of Staff Cabaji, who was standing next to Bucky, leaned over and said, "I heard that she was recently put on a bounty by the Navy and she's been incredibly arrogant."
"Could she be trying to challenge you to increase her bounty?"
"Challenge me?! Hahahaha!"
Bucky was taken aback at first, then laughed exaggeratedly, as if he had heard the funniest joke.
"I am Bucky the Clown, with a bounty of 15 million Berries and the power of the devil!"
"You think a mere Alvida dares to challenge me?"
Even so, a hint of wariness still flashed in his eyes, hidden beneath heavy makeup.
After all, double-crossing among pirates is all too common.
"Go! Bring my cannons over and aim them at their ships!"
"If anything unusual is detected, open fire immediately!"
"Yes, Captain Bucky!!!"
The pirate who delivered the order immediately ran down.
Meanwhile, Nami, lurking in a corner of the banquet, spotted an opportunity with her sharp eyes.
If conflict breaks out outside, the chaos will be the perfect opportunity for her to abscond with the money.
"Ideally, we'd both be severely injured, then I could take advantage of the chaos to seize the treasures of both pirate crews..." She clenched her fists, secretly delighted.
A few minutes later, the boat docked.
Luffy took the lead and jumped off the ship, stretching out his rubber arms to grab the wooden stakes on the dock, launching himself ashore.
"Wuhu~! We're finally ashore again!"
Luffy shouted excitedly at the top of his lungs.
It was as if every landing was an unprecedented adventure for him.
"Is it really okay not to leave someone to watch the boat?"
Zoro, who disembarked from the ship with V, asked a question.
"Don't worry, don't worry."
V waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry, this is now the territory of the Buggy Pirates."
"Ordinary petty thieves wouldn't dare to cause trouble here."
"no..."
Zoro, who felt he was becoming more and more like a normal person since joining the Straw Hat crew, looked embarrassed.
Does maintaining public order depend on a pirate crew?
Listen to this! Is this something a human being could say?
The three of them strolled into the deserted Orange Town as if taking a walk.
Despite already knowing the situation from V, Luffy and Zoro couldn't help but be amazed by the sight of the entire town deserted.
"The Buggy Pirates are really mean; they actually kicked people out of their homes."
"There's nothing we can do about it, that's just how pirates are."
Zoro murmured in agreement with Luffy.
Come to think of it, they're pirates now too.
"Alright, stop being so sentimental."
"The sooner we take care of the Buggy Pirates, the sooner the residents here can return."
V urged impatiently.
He was really looking forward to seeing what kind of cybernetic body a Devil Fruit user could create!
...
...
at the same time.
"Lord Buggy, that doesn't look like Alvida's pirate ship."
"Only three men disembarked from the boat."
A pirate, holding up binoculars, reported to Buggy.
"let me see!"
Bucky snatched the binoculars and pointed them toward the town.
Suddenly, the figures of the Straw Hat crew appeared in the arc-shaped frame.
"Um?"
Bucky suddenly let out a soft moan, and his expression became strange.
"That straw hat? Was it just my imagination?"
He blinked, looked at the camera again, and confirmed it several times.
"There's no mistake, it really is the same straw hat as Shanks'!"
In an instant, long-forgotten memories flooded into Bucky's mind like a tidal wave.
That was a scene he never wanted to recall in his life.
His comical face was instantly covered with a mask of pain.
After a moment, Bucky, having regained his composure, gave the order:
"Bomb them to death!"
He no longer wanted to find out why the Alvida Pirates were here.
Since they've given him such a bad impression, then they should all die!
"you!"
Buggy casually pointed, but it happened to point to Nami in the corner.
"Go and light the fuse of that cannon—now!"
"ah?"
Nami's heart tightened, and the forced smile on her face almost crumbled:
"I...I'm not very good at operating cannons..."
"Enough with the nonsense!"
Buggy waved impatiently, and Cabaji next to him shoved a red-hot torch into Nami's hand.
"You just order whatever we tell you to! Or are you saying—you weren't really interested in joining us at all?"
The surrounding air suddenly froze.
Nami stood up, holding the torch.
"Okay, okay... I'll go right away..."
Her voice trembled, and she feigned timidity as she staggered toward the cannon.
Bucky then gave a satisfied hum, raised his glass again, seemingly preparing to celebrate the death of the person who wore the same straw hat as Shanks.
But just when all the pirates thought she was going to do as she was told—
"I would never associate with you pirates, you idiots!!!"
Suddenly, Nami stuck out her tongue and made a face at Buggy.
The next second, the torch in her hand was thrown high into the air and landed on a pile of debris where shells were piled up.
"What are you doing!?"
The group of pirates suddenly tensed up.
"Quickly, put out the fire!"
"If this shell gets set on fire, we're all doomed!!!"
The pirates panicked instantly.
They couldn't care less about Nami for the moment.
Like a frightened kitten, she ducked into the gaps in the crowd and rushed towards the narrow alley behind the building without looking back.
"You idiots!"
Nami's lips curled slightly, her gaze shifting as she quickly confirmed the direction.
She couldn't count on the Buggy Pirates' treasure anymore.
But it doesn't matter.
Anyway, there's more than one pirate crew here.
She just saved these guys' lives, so it's perfectly normal for her to ask them for some interest, right?
Fortunately, she could also take their boat and leave the island.
Plans are in place! Perfect!
End of this chapter...