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"You knew all this already, didn't you, Bai Ye?"
After listening to Nami's story, Zoro turned straight to Bai Ye.
Nami was curious too. From Bai Ye's expression earlier, it seemed like he already knew who she really was.
"I had a feeling," Bai Ye said with a shrug, not really confirming or denying it. "You don't actually think I can see the future, do you?"
Of course, it did seem like he could, but he didn't say that out loud.
Instead, he flipped his wrist and pulled out a wanted poster, then calmly explained:
"When we were in Shells Town, I got my hands on all the high-bounty posters in the East Blue. Naturally, Arlong's was among them."
"So, when I met Nami and saw the tattoo on her shoulder—same one as the Arlong Pirates—I figured it out pretty quick."
At that, Usopp couldn't help asking:
"Yeah, but how did you know she was forced to join them?"
Bai Ye shrugged again and kept talking:
"The Arlong Pirates are made up entirely of fish-men. And according to my intel, they absolutely hate humans."
"So why would they ever let a human girl be one of them?"
Even someone slow on the uptake would get it by now.
They couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect—
Just what kind of life had Nami been living all these years?
A hundred million Berries!
"She was just a kid, and she had to carry the burden of saving an entire village..."
Bai Ye gently ruffled Nami's hair and said softly:
"Seriously... I don't know how you managed to get through it all by yourself."
"You've really been through hell, Nami."
The moment he said those words, Nami couldn't hold it in any longer.
Only she knew the pain of being misunderstood by her village, the constant humiliation from Arlong and his crew, and the relentless pressure of trying to save up 100 million Berries.
Her nerves had been stretched thin for years.
"Waaaahhhhh~!"
Nami threw herself into Bai Ye's arms, burying her face in his neck and sobbing loudly.
So that's all it took...Just one person who cared.
"BASTARD, BAI YE!!!"
Sanji's furious shout rang out. "How dare you make the beautiful Miss Nami cry?! I won't forgive you!"
He glared at Bai Ye like he wanted to kill him.
Then, switching moods in a heartbeat, he rushed to Nami's side and said in a gentle voice:
"Nami-san, don't worry. We'll help you. I swear it."
"Not so fast,"
Bai Ye suddenly interrupted. "I said it before, didn't I? This has to be everyone's decision."
"Or rather—"
He looked around the crew, then added,
"This is something only our captain can decide."
In the original story, the whole crew was always loyal to Luffy, deeply connected to him.
But it wasn't until Water 7 that Zoro finally said:
"No matter how much of an idiot he is, he's still our captain."
And that right there—that's how a real pirate crew, or any adventure crew, should work.
You can goof around all you want normally...But when it comes to making the big calls?
The captain has to be the one to decide.
With that, Bai Ye turned to Luffy and gave him a little reminder:
"Technically speaking, Nami's only our hired navigator right now."
Then he asked—
"So, Captain… what's your decision?"
As soon as those words came out, Nami couldn't help but lift her head, nervously staring at Luffy.
Sanji quietly lit a cigarette on the side.
Usopp was doing his best to stop himself from shaking.
Zoro stared at Luffy with a blank expression.
After a long silence, Luffy stood up, holding onto his straw hat.
"I don't care what happened to Nami in the past."
He slowly let the words out.
Sanji tensed up a bit, and a hint of despair flashed through Nami's eyes.
So it's no good after all…?
But then Luffy continued:
"All I know is—Nami's someone I've chosen as a crewmate. And I just want her to be my navigator."
He turned to look at her, clenched his fist, and said seriously,
"Nami!!! I'm gonna beat the crap outta Arlong! Then you're getting on my ship!!"
The whole vibe on the ship shifted in an instant.
"There's gotta be at least one swordsman among those fish-men that I can warm up on."
Zoro crossed his arms and said coolly.
"What a waste they're humanoid… if they weren't, I might've tried cooking them."
Sanji lit another cigarette and added casually.
"Nami, I… I, the Great Usopp, will come help too!"
Even though he was shaking with fear, Usopp still patted his chest and promised Nami.
"Guys…"
Nami's eyes filled with tears again.
Just then, a gentle voice came from Bai Ye:
"Told you, didn't I? You're a crewmate we all recognize."
"You're not alone anymore, Nami~"
Nami turned to look at Bai Ye, then looked at Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and Zoro.
Finally, she broke into a tearful smile and said happily:
"Yeah!!"
So… I was never really alone after all.
After that decision was made, everyone huddled together to start discussing a plan.
Though, when it came to making plans…
Some people clearly didn't care.
Luffy: "I just need to punch Arlong into the sky, right?"
Zoro: "We just cut them all down. Problem solved."
Seeing the totally serious and innocent looks on their faces, Sanji turned to Bai Ye and said,
"Man, it must be rough sailing with guys like these."
At that, the corner of Bai Ye's mouth twitched a little.
Thankfully, Nami stepped in just in time.
Whack!
Whack!
Two love-powered punches later, Zoro and Luffy were clutching their heads, sulking in their chairs and shooting pitiful looks at Bai Ye.
Bai Ye: …
Why are you looking at me like that? Nami hit you, not me!
Ignoring the two goofballs, Bai Ye turned to Nami and asked,
"By the way, do you really believe in that 100 million berries deal, Nami?"
Nami didn't even hesitate before answering.
"I used to believe it when I was a kid. But after spending so long around different pirate crews, I figured it out—Arlong and his crew were never going to let me go."
Her voice grew low.
"They need me to draw maps for them. That's how they keep control over their so-called kingdom."
"Even if they do find someone else who can replace me one day… they'll probably just kill me."
Trusting scumbags to keep their word is like trusting Luffy not to eat meat.
"Mm,"
Bai Ye nodded and said meaningfully,
"You're actually pretty smart. Way smarter than a certain green-haired sword freak with three swords."
Zoro: ???
Why don't you just say my name out loud next time?
Thankfully, Bai Ye knew when to stop. Before Zoro could blow up, he changed the subject:
"Since that's the case, what do you think Arlong's gonna do when you finally save up 100 million berries?"
Bai Ye had officially dropped the act—it was time to activate his "future sight" cheat again.
"You know, the reason pirates are so hard to catch is because they always hit and run, moving from one place to another."
"Only the Emperors in the New World have real territory to call their own."
Bai Ye spoke confidently:
"But in this area, where the Navy has a really tight grip, how did Arlong manage to become the king of dozens of villages?"
At that moment, Zoro was the first to catch on.
"The Navy, huh?"
After what he'd been through in Shells Town, Zoro had come to understand the Navy a lot better.
And it didn't take long for him to realize—if pirates could get away with whatever they wanted around here, who else could be behind it but the Navy?
"Exactly."
Bai Ye nodded, then turned to Nami with a smirk:
"So, wanna help us put on a little show?"
"....."