Chapitre 68: Are You Ready to Work Off 100 Years of Debt, Nami?
The news of Arlong's defeat quickly spread from Cocoyasi Village to neighboring villages. Upon hearing they were finally free from the oppressive rule of the fishmen, villagers everywhere shed tears of joy. Genzo led the villagers in returning all the money Arlong had stolen back to the people in other villages. To celebrate their newfound freedom, Cocoyasi Village held a grand festival.
The gentle night descended over the village, where people gathered in small groups, singing and dancing in celebration. Sanders sat drinking with Robin, while Issho played a game in the village square, with the loser of each round required to drink.
"This is really wonderful, Captain," Robin said softly, watching the villagers revel in their joy. "You've saved so many people again."
"Burp~" Sanders replied with a hiccup, his voice slightly slurred. "What did you say, Robin?"
"Nothing," Robin chuckled and looked up at the night sky.
Sanders simply shrugged and continued drinking with the villagers. Initially, people had looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear due to his status as a pirate with a bounty of 2.4 billion Berries. But as the night wore on, their reverence turned into gratitude.
Elsewhere in the village, Nami sat cross-legged in front of Bell-mère's grave, with Genzo and Nojiko standing behind her.
"Genzo, Nojiko, do you think Bell-mère would've stopped me from becoming a pirate if she were still here?" Nami's voice broke the stillness of the night.
"A pirate?" Genzo replied sternly. "Don't be ridiculous. She would never let her precious daughter go off to be a pirate."
Nojiko smiled, "She wouldn't stop you. Even if she tried, you wouldn't listen to her anyway, right, Nami?"
Nami stuck out her tongue playfully and made a face at them. "Of course not, I'd never listen!"
Genzo, stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "I see now."
Nami's personality, he realized, was just like Bell-mère's.
"Nami, since you've made up your mind, then live your life the way you want, just like your mother did," Genzo said, patting Nojiko on the shoulder before turning to leave.
After he left, Nami looked at Nojiko. "Would you like to join me and become a pirate?"
"No, I'll stay here with Bell-mère and look after her tangerine grove," Nojiko replied, shaking her head. She glanced at Bell-mère's grave. "Besides, someone needs to take care of things here."
"Be careful out there, okay?" Nojiko reminded her, concern evident in her voice.
"I will. The Captain and Robin will look after me," Nami assured her. "Besides…"
Nami held out her right hand, looking at her palm, which now held a powerful new strength. "I can protect myself now too."
"Those are some trustworthy companions," Nojiko nodded. "With Sanders, a pirate worth 2.4 billion Berries, and your own incredible new power, I don't have to worry too much."
Later that night, Nami asked Dr. Nakao to remove the tattoo on her shoulder that symbolized Arlong's crew, replacing it with something new. Then she returned to her stash and took out all the treasure and Berries she'd saved, adding it to the 100 million Berries Sanders had given her. She intended to leave this wealth behind for the village.
The lively celebration lasted through the night, and dawn soon broke over Cocoyasi Village.
Sanders was loading the supplies the villagers had given him onto the ship. Robin and Issho were already on board, waiting.
"Isn't little Nami here yet? Could she have changed her mind?" Robin said with a smile, glancing at the crowd of villagers gathered along the shore.
Sanders feigned a stern look. "If she doesn't come, I'll drag her back myself! She can't just run off after eating my Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
Just then, a commotion arose in the crowd, and Nami emerged from behind the villagers.
Genzo, watching in surprise, shouted, "What is she doing? Is she planning to leave without saying a proper goodbye?"
"No way!" Nami called out, transforming into lightning and, before anyone could react, dashed through the crowd, leaping onto the Thunder God Ship.
"Captain, set sail now!" she urged.
Sanders laughed heartily, guiding the ship away from the coast. But then, Nami lifted her shirt, and one wallet after another fell onto the deck.
"Huh?!"
Genzo patted his pockets frantically. "My wallet's gone! Mine too!" He and the other villagers realized that Nami had swiped their wallets as she passed by.
From one wallet, Nami took out a single Berry and waved it at the villagers with a mischievous grin. "Take care, everyone!"
The villagers on shore yelled, "You little thief! Give our money back!"
Sanders and Issho burst out laughing, while Robin chuckled, covering her mouth. "Such a cheeky little cat, our Nami," she mused.
"Take care of yourself, Nami!"
"Come back anytime!"
"Sanders, you better take care of Nami, or I won't forgive you!"
Sanders raised a finger toward the sky, and a clap of thunder boomed overhead in answer. "The Thunder God Pirates set sail once more!" he declared, and with a thought, the ship began to rise from the water.
The villagers stared in amazement. "The ship—it's flying!"
Nami leaned over the railing, staring at the sea below. "Wow, this is incredible! The ship can fly!"
"From now on, Nami, you'll be the one steering the ship!" Sanders said, grinning. "The Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers this ship. Now that you've eaten it, I won't have to steer anymore."
"Huh?" Nami looked confused.
"Remember I promised you a million Berries a year in wages?" Sanders asked.
"Of course! When will I get this year's salary?" Nami's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"There won't be any!" Sanders replied.
"What? Why not?" Nami asked, stunned.
"That Rumble-Rumble Fruit was worth one billion Berries! You owe me a hundred years of work to pay it off!" Sanders laughed, and the three of them joined in, filling the ship with laughter.
"Get ready to work, Nami!"
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T/N:
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