The Going Merry floated in the middle of the sea.
The flag flown on the ship was a rather ordinary pirate flag: within a square border, a skull sat atop two crossed bones.
Below the mast bearing that flag, a small plot held three tangerine trees, and Usopp reached for an orange hanging from one of them.
"Wow, I've never seen a tangerine that plump..."
"Don't touch it, Usopp!"
Kuwaa-ehk!!!
Nami charged at Usopp and swung her foot, knocking him in the side and sending him sprawling onto the deck.
"I told you not to mess with the tangerine trees!"
"Ugh... It looked so ripe, and my hand just..."
"Who said nobody could eat them! I'll check to see if they're perfectly ripe, so until then, hands off!"
"Sorry... I won't touch them again."
"Nami, I'm glad you seem to have recovered~!"
Sanji said this as he looked at the fallen Usopp and Nami, while Luffy watched the scene from the front of the deck alongside Zoro.
"Sanji's right. After we left Syrup Village, she was spacing out a lot, so I was worried. But she seems fine now."
"Luffy, by the way, how did you make the fire we used to burn the papers during our fight yesterday?"
"Your ability was to control Haki or something, right?"
"Ah, that? I learned it when I was in a really cold place long ago."
"It was freezing, so I was rubbing my hands and going 'hoo-hoo,' and my Haki turned red. That's when I figured it out."
"...So if it's cold later, you'll be able to make ice too?"
"I couldn't, and making fire takes about ten times more effort than using the same amount of Haki normally."
"It's horribly inefficient, so I'll only use it when I need to light a fire; otherwise, I don't bother."
"But did Nami really seem low-energy to you? Considering how she looked when we left the village, I didn't think so."
"Ah, that...?"
Hearing Zoro, Luffy recalled the moment they left Syrup Village.
*****
As the Going Merry weighed anchor and began to leave the village, townspeople gathered at the harbor.
The townspeople raised their hands, calling out "Take care!" to Nami aboard the ship. At that moment, Genzo turned to Nojiko and Prinprin and spoke.
"After saving up 100 million berries with such effort, she's just leaving it all behind... Maybe we should've tossed a ten-million-berry sack aboard the ship?"
"But if you try to force it on her, she'll just throw it back down, sir. She said to use the money to help the villages that paid tribute to Arlong."
"Since Nami's been traveling with Fish-Men, she's probably stopped by other villages, too, so she's seen firsthand what they've suffered."
"She said using the 100 million to help us and those people would put her mind at ease."
"Right. That's all we can do for Nami right now."
"Our lieutenant pledged to help, too. Right, Lieutenant?"
"Of course, Nojiko."
"The amount of loot we found in the ruins is far less than what the Fish-Man pirates likely stole over those eight years."
"They probably hid the rest somewhere else, so when the soldiers arrive, we'll search every corner we can."
"Yesterday, Nami marked where the money was hidden, made a map, and gave it to me."
"Having that will make the search a lot easier."
"That's great news! Do you have it with you right now?!"
"Yes, in my pocket here... Huh, my wallet is...?"
"Did you lose your wallet? I lost mine while coming over here, too."
"Oh? M-me too..."
When Nojiko and Prinprin spoke, Genzo began rummaging through his pockets, as did every other villager around him.
At that moment, Nami opened the sack she was holding and called out toward the harbor,
"Everyone~!"
"...!"
And spilling out of the sack onto the ground were dozens of wallets.
"Be right back~!!!"
"You little brat!!!"
With the villagers' shouts ringing out, Nami headed toward the sea.
The townspeople watched her go, sighed, and then cracked smiles tinged with exasperation.
"Wait, why'd you steal my money? I'm in the Navy! There was no money in my wallet to begin with!"
As Prinprin spoke, Nojiko locked eyes with Genzo at his side, then watched the ship sail off.
"Be happy, Nami."
*****
"That was such a Nami-esque farewell."
"Luffy, I'm not going to let you betray me twice."
"Okay, Zoro. As expected, our vice-captain is the best."
'Money seized by the Navy from criminal pirates is treated as stolen goods and held by the government.'
'If you can identify the original owners of the stolen property, the general rule is to return assets up to that amount... but that hardly ever happens.'
'Still, Prinprin is someone trustworthy, so he'll handle it properly. If he even recovers the money Arlong hid, the outcome will be better than the original.'
'I feel a bit relieved.'
Just as Luffy thought that, Nami—who had been lecturing Usopp for a while—approached him.
"Luffy, judging by the wind, we'll be at the next island soon."
"That's good. Where is it?"
"It's Loguetown."
"Ah..."
"I hope there's a place where I can buy a new sword..."
"It's a big city, Zoro. There's at least one shop that sells swords."
"Have you been there, Usopp?"
Usopp answered on Nami's behalf to Zoro's question.
"Yeah, I've been there, and Loguetown is so famous it's called the Town of Beginnings and Ends."
"It's where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was born and where he was executed—hence the Town of Beginning and End."
"A town where the Pirate King died... Does that interest you, Luffy?"
The moment Zoro spoke, everyone's eyes except Luffy's turned to him.
They were curious to see how their captain, who aimed to become the Pirate King, would react.
"Well... I guess so."
But there was no real excitement in Luffy's voice.
He spoke while staring at the bow of the ship, though his gaze was fixed on the deck floor.
A hush fell over the crew at Luffy's unexpected reaction.
"I see it. Loguetown."
Breaking the silence, Luffy spoke as he gazed at the island, a tiny dot on the horizon.
'My mind feels dizzy... I was feeling okay just a moment ago.'
*****
The Straw Hat Pirates moored at the harbor and reached the entrance to the streets of Loguetown.
The broad streets were paved, flanked on both sides by two- to three-story stone buildings.
Crowds bustled along the road, and Luffy's gaze among the newcomers drifted toward the plaza at its center.
There stood a wooden scaffold, about the height of a two-story building.
'The Town of Beginning and End... the place where the era of Great Pirates truly began with Roger's death.'
'Everyone here probably thinks of the Pirate King first... but I don't.'
"It's been a while since I've been here, too."
"By the way, when did you come to Loguetown, Usopp?"
"Nami, I learned everything here—how to build houses, ships, do math, and work with machines."
"Oh, you mean that place you visited when you were a kid, taking a boat from Syrup Village..."
"That's this place."
"I'm going to go say hello to the people who taught me those skills—it's been a while—and if I have time, I'll find some cloth for our flag."
"Cloth?"
"How long are we going to use the crudely drawn skull flag I made? You can't really see it, but the corner's already torn slightly."
"We need our own pirate flag drawn on sturdy cloth, right, Luffy?"
"Usopp's right. Let's each take some time to rest and then go buy whatever we need for our roles."
"Then I'll go get some provisions."
"Sounds good, Sanji. I'll get the meat from the sea, so this time, pick up some spices and vegetables."
"I have to go buy a sword. Give me plenty of money; I want to get something good."
"Start by checking out the cheaper stuff at the sword shop, Zoro. If you don't find anything, you can splurge on a pricier one."
"So you're telling me to save money? Fine, got it."
"I want to buy some clothes... is that okay, Luffy?"
"As long as it's not too expensive, sure. You're in charge of the crew's finances, so make sure to distribute the funds well for everyone else."
"Then let's all meet back here before evening..."
"L-Luffy, wait...!"
As he said this and began to step away, Nami, her face flushed, grabbed his wrist.
"It would be great if someone could help make sure the clothes I pick suit me, so if you're not too busy, could you come with me..."
"I have somewhere I need to be too, Nami."
"O-okay, I'll wait for you...!"
"Usopp, you said you know this place well, right?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah... that's right."
"Then check out where the others need to go ahead of time and make sure, since something could happen if we split up."
"Okay, see you all back here later."
"Luffy, but you should at least tell me where you're going..."
Luffy left for the alley beside them before Usopp could finish his sentence.
'Luffy...'
Nami watched the alley he headed down, her expression filled with worry.
*****
"You're certain this information is accurate?"
"Yeah. My men verified it."
A tavern in one of the alleys.
The only light inside the narrow alleyway tavern came from a single window, casting a sliver of sunlight across the cramped interior.
The sunbeam illuminated the center of a table where two men sat facing each other,
"You asked me to watch for three people: a man with a straw hat, a green-haired man carrying three swords, and a beautiful orange-haired woman."
"Word is five people disembarked from the ship that just arrived, and one of them was the straw-hat guy."
"And the woman who got off wasn't just pretty—she was stunning. So, are you looking for just a pretty orange-haired woman or a truly stunning one?"
"...Was there a greenhead?"
"He got off with the other two, but he only had one sword with him."
"That's enough. They're the ones I'm looking for."
"Who the hell messed with you to make you search like this with fire in your eyes?"
"I'm talking about Buggy the Clown, the big shot with a 15 million berry bounty."
As he said this, the sunlight fell on the middle of the table, revealing the face of a man with a red nose the size of a clenched fist.
The man was none other than Buggy himself, who had vanished at sea during the storm that struck Orange Town. He placed two small sacks on the table.
"The one on the left is the money I promised."
"What's in the one on the right?"
"I'll give it to you as a reward if you help me. It's way more than what's in the left bag."
"...I refuse."
The man reached for the left sack and tucked it inside his coat.
"It's a shame... For someone who supposedly controls all the surrounding islands, I didn't expect you to be such a coward."
"That's why I'm refusing. Lately, rumors about the guy you're searching for are everywhere."
"Clik, Arlong... and you, all got smashed by that guy, didn't you?"
"...!"
At those words, multiple hands holding pistols shot out from the shadows behind Buggy.
At the same time, pistols emerged behind Buggy's opponent from the shadows, weapons leveled at each other in tense silence.
"That's enough."
With Buggy raising his right hand, the guns pointed at him retreated back into the shadows.
Simultaneously, the pistols behind his opponent also lowered, and immediately after, Buggy tucked the right-hand sack into his coat and stood up.
"My offer stands until things get started, so think it over."
"There's no benefit to causing a big fuss here; the Marines stationed in this area are strong."
"Why have you chosen to settle in a place with someone like that?"
"That guy can be reasoned with, but he'll show no mercy if you cross the line, so keep that in mind."
"...Understood."
With that, Buggy exited the tavern and stepped into the alley, followed by more than ten men.
One of the men walking immediately behind Buggy was peculiar: most of his face and head—except for his eyes—was wrapped in bandages.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat over those bandages and clad in a coat, he spoke to Buggy's back,
"Buggy, aren't you spending too much money?"
"You've been using the money the guys hid without anyone knowing, and now you're throwing cash at the local mafia, too..."
"I don't care."
He recalled Luffy's words from Orange Town, when he looked at him with pity:
"They say Shanks was an apprentice on Roger's crew, but now he's a major pirate on the Grand Line. We're from the same crew—does it make sense there's such a difference between us?"
"He took everything from me—my treasure, my crew, my ship, and even my pride that day."
"If I don't get proper revenge on that guy, I won't just lose face, I'll be buried under the sea with nothing to my name!"
"So by killing that guy and earning the glory and infamy that comes with it, the pirate called Buggy will be reborn!"
"…I'm helping you because I want to get proper revenge on that guy too. I only asked those questions to make sure our plan goes smoothly."
"Don't worry, partner. It'll all work out."
With that, Buggy turned his head and spoke.
"You won't regret choosing me."
He replied to the man behind him with a cold smile tinged with anger.
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