章節 64: Chapter 64: Nami: I Want to Join Your Crew, Kuke: Wait Until You Grow Up
Guina returned looking a bit dejected. "Gion, you're just too strong. I couldn't handle those pirates, but you took them out in one move."
Gion gently patted her head.
"How strong are you really, Gion? I'm so curious to see what you're like at full power. And I wonder just how strong Captain Kuke is," Guina said thoughtfully.
She remembered something Gion had mentioned before.
That their captain was even stronger.
But Guina couldn't imagine what "stronger" really meant.
Could it be strong enough to destroy several pirate ships with a single strike? That didn't seem possible—no one could do that.
...
...
"You all..." Bell-mère looked curiously at Kuke and his crew.
The villagers, while grateful, were also terrified.
Terrified of their power.
"Take back your own wealth. We have no interest in it. Even though we're pirates, we don't plunder," Belo Betty assured the villagers.
The villagers were startled.
"Pirates?"
They quickly ran back into their homes in fear.
"Aren't you scared?" Kuke asked, noticing that Bell-mère hadn't retreated like the others.
"I just know that you helped us. I believe you're not bad people," Bell-mère said confidently, looking Kuke straight in the eyes.
She trusted her judgment.
"If you'd like, come to my home as guests. On behalf of the village, I'd like to thank you," Bell-mère offered.
Kuke nodded.
He was here for a reason.
The reason was Nami.
He wanted to see if young Nami already had the skills to navigate the seas and if she could help his crew conquer the Grand Line.
The Sun and Moon Pirates still lacked a proper navigator.
They needed one now more than ever.
Especially if they wanted to reach Sky Island, where navigation skills were crucial.
"Kuke, I'll be gone for a little while," Gion said, glancing at Kuke.
She had sensed that the pirates who had arrived on this island were suspicious, likely in collusion with the local Marine branch on the neighboring island.
Even though she wasn't part of the Marines anymore, Gion's sense of justice still made her despise corrupt Marines.
"Go ahead."
With a burst of energy, Gion unfurled her phoenix wings and shot into the sky.
Kuke and his group followed Bell-mère back to her house.
When they entered, two adorable little girls peeked shyly but curiously at them.
One of them, the orange-haired girl, Nami, quietly walked up to Kuke and asked, "Are you guests from the sea? Can you tell me stories about it?"
She was clearly fascinated by the outside world.
"Nami, don't be rude to our guests," Bell-mère gently scolded.
Nami stuck her tongue out playfully.
"Do you want to know about the sea?" Kuke crouched down, looking at young Nami with interest.
Nami eagerly nodded.
Before long, her excited voice filled the room. "What? An island that floats in the sky? And one under the sea? Even an island built on the back of a giant elephant? The sea is so amazing!"
Nami was completely captivated by the wonders of the ocean.
Her eyes sparkled with awe.
Excited, Nami invited Kuke to her room to show off her collection of maps—though they were only of this island.
"Not bad," Kuke said, admiring Nami's work.
Although there were many mistakes in the maps, it was impressive for a girl her age.
Unfortunately...
At her current age, Nami's skills wouldn't be useful yet. She needed years of experience and learning before she could properly navigate the unpredictable Grand Line.
"Really? My dream is to map the entire world," Nami said, her enthusiasm growing now that she had been praised.
Feeling acknowledged, Nami grew even closer to Kuke.
Even during dinner, she sat right next to him.
Gion returned as well, quietly nodding to Kuke to signal that she had taken care of the problem.
After dinner, Nami, who had been talking non-stop, suddenly grew quiet.
"Are you leaving?" Nami asked, her voice full of sadness.
"Of course."
Nami's lip trembled.
"Nami..." Bell-mère and Nojiko looked worriedly at her.
Bell-mère seemed to come to a decision.
She gently patted Nami on the back, giving her the courage she needed.
"Can I go with you? I want to map the entire world. If I join you, I know I can achieve my dream," Nami said with determination.
Hancock and the others weren't surprised.
Another kid asking to join the crew.
But this time, would Kuke say yes?
They watched Kuke curiously.
Kuke stared at Nami, deep in thought.
In the original story, Nami wasn't physically strong, but her top-tier navigation skills and her ability to handle various tools made her an invaluable asset.
Giving her a place on the crew wouldn't be a waste.
But she was still too young.
Koala and Guina were already ten years old, and they could mostly take care of themselves.
Koala had just turned ten a few days ago.
But Nami was a few years younger than them.
She was too young.
Taking her away from her home at such a young age wouldn't make her happy.
"Wait until you grow up," Kuke finally said, deciding to refuse her for now.
"If, when you're older, your dream hasn't changed, then come find me at sea."
Nami wasn't disappointed by the rejection.
She had been torn herself.
She didn't want to leave her foster mother, her sister, her village, or her home.
"Okay."
Nami held out her tiny hand.
Kuke shook her hand.
"Time to go!"
Kuke turned and left, the others following behind him.
A new journey was about to begin.
And just at that moment...
The crew's achievement points surpassed two hundred thousand.
Everyone on the crew gained a once-a-month revival ability.
*****************
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 95+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票