Chapter 46: Hope (Request Follows! Tuesday PK Recommendation Slot!)

Several days later.

Most of the injured members of the Straw Hat Pirates had recovered.

With the Cat Brothers and Zanho handling things in Crow Harbor, nearby shipping routes gradually stabilized.

According to Gasha, over the past month, the number of merchant ships arriving from around the world—and even from the East Blue itself—had increased dramatically.

Crow Harbor had grown immensely wealthy, and Jasmine grinned like a little fox.

Support for the Straw Hat Pirates had also risen several notches.

Everyone’s standard of living had visibly improved; even Sam, the Cat Man, once painfully thin, had visibly gained weight.

“I wonder if this will affect combat.”

Gao Wen looked at Sam, now gradually growing fat, and Buzhi, who had grown even fatter, and sighed helplessly. The two merely chuckled and rubbed their heads with a simple, foolish expression.

Seeing this, Gao Wen gave up on scolding them and ordered:

“We’ve rested long enough. It’s time to act. Go find Keluo and Ajin.”

“Yes!”

The two responded and hurriedly pushed open Gao Wen’s door and left.

A few minutes later.

Two slender figures, one tall and one short, walked side by side into the main hall of Parra Island. Both were covered in sweat, clearly having just finished training.

Keluo hadn’t even removed the claw knives from his hands, his face marked with irritation at being interrupted:

“Gao Wen, what’s so urgent?!”

Gao Wen, mindful of Keluo’s daily contributions of experience, ignored his tone and cut straight to the point:

“You… we need to reclaim the treasure that was stolen from us.”

“Our current ship’s structure can’t handle the harsh weather of the Grand Line. To build a sturdy pirate ship, money is essential.”

Keluo nodded and asked:

“Where’s the target?”

Gao Wen took out a map of the East Blue from the table beside him, searched for a moment, then pointed to an island:

“Here!”

Ajin studied it closely, then frowned:

If I remember correctly, this island and dozens of nearby villages are all under the control of Fishman A Long.

“There are rumors in the East Blue that he’s a Fishman who came from the Grand Line. He won’t be easy to deal with.”

“Hah.”

Keluo sneered:

“In the East Blue, we have no rivals!”

Gao Wen glanced at Keluo.

A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind: an old man over seventy, terrifyingly strong.

He muttered under his breath:

“Didn’t Garp leave the East Blue after handing Luffy and the others over to Dadan?!”

“I hope I’m not mistaken.”

“What?”

Keluo asked, puzzled.

Gao Wen shook his head:

“Nothing. Unless something unexpected happens, there’s no pirate crew in the East Blue that can match us.”

Krieg can’t. A Long can’t either.

“Besides, this time our target isn’t just treasure. There’s also a navigator in Cocoyasi—one of the best in the entire world.”

“Who?”

Keluo’s eyes lit up.

The crew’s navigator had recovered from his injuries, but Keluo knew his skill level—barely adequate for East Blue navigation.

Take him to the Grand Line, and he’d be asking for death.

Moreover,

The previous incident had made him realize just how vital a skilled navigator was to a pirate crew.

Gao Wen smiled faintly:

“You’ll find out when we find him.”

“Hah. Acting mysterious.”

Keluo’s lips twitched and fell silent. Ajin had no objections to Gao Wen’s decision.

After all, his official role was combat captain; strategic decisions were typically left to the captain, first mate, and navigator.

The three finalized their plan.

They set out the next day.

A small pirate ship, loaded with enough supplies to last half a month, slowly sailed toward the open sea.

This time, Gao Wen brought only about twenty crew members, whose sole task was to maintain the ship’s normal operation.

In actual combat, too many men would be a burden rather than an advantage for Gao Wen and his two companions—better to keep the team lean.

The pirate ship sailed steadily toward Cocoyasi, gradually vanishing beyond the horizon.

…

East Blue.

!

Cocoyasi Village.

At the village’s edge.

Nami stood beneath an orange tree, staring at the buried treasure in the pit, slowly counting its value with her fingers.

The more she calculated, the brighter her eyes became, a radiant smile spreading across her face.

“Even at the East Blue’s lowest exchange rate, this treasure is worth over 100 million Berries—enough to buy back the village.”

She had once been far from her goal, but this haul with Kalina had exceeded all expectations.

Though she had endured countless dangers, even nearly dying at pirate blades several times,

Looking at the treasure before her, Nami felt every sacrifice had been worth it.

“As for the pirates who lost their treasure? Too bad. These items were mostly stolen from other islands anyway.”

Then the villagers won’t have to serve A Long anymore, won’t have to pay ten thousand Berries every month as protection money, Jian won’t have to risk his life protecting everyone, and Nokigao…

As she spoke,

Tears slid down Nami’s face, falling to the ground and soaking into the soil.

A few minutes later.

Nami wiped her tears, carefully reburying the treasure, even covering it with leaves to disguise it, then turned and left with quiet caution.

She noticed nothing of the Fishmen occasionally surfacing from the water nearby, their eyes filled with mockery.

…

Crash!

Nami burst open the door to the top floor of A Long's Amusement Park.

A Long was inside, discussing recent matters with Rat, when he saw a familiar face.

Rat glanced at Nami, then turned to A Long and said:

“Let’s settle it then. I won’t disturb you further.”

“Hmm.”

A Long nodded, ignoring Nami’s entrance, and turned to Little Eight:

“Little Eight, see our friend out.”

“Alright.”

The octopus Fishman Little Eight grinned foolishly, waved goodbye to Rat, and led him away.

Now,

A Long finally turned his attention to Nami, a sly smile curling his lips, revealing sharp shark-like teeth:

“If it isn’t our navigator? Feeling so confident—did you finally save up enough to buy back the village?”

“Of course!”

Nami stared fiercely at A Long:

“I’m buying back Cocoyasi—from you.”

“As long as you have the money, everything’s negotiable.”

A Long’s eyes flickered with amusement, then followed Nami to the edge of Cocoyasi Village.

He watched as she dug up her hidden treasure.

“All here!”

“Even at the East Blue’s lowest price, this treasure is worth over 100 million Berries!”

Saying this,

Nami slowly opened her treasure chest before everyone’s eyes.

A Long glanced at him, his expression turning cold:

“Are you mocking me?!”

(End of Chapter)