Chapter 46: Hope (Please Follow for Updates! Tuesday PK Recommendation Spot!)

A few days later.

The injured members of Gao Wen's pirate crew had basically all recovered.

With the Cat Brothers and Zango handling things at Raven Port, the nearby shipping lanes gradually stabilized.

According to Gaza, over the past month, merchant ships from all over the world, as well as merchants from the East Blue itself, had increased significantly.

Raven Port was making a fortune, and Jasmine was smiling like a little fox.

Consequently, the support for Gao Wen's pirate crew had been upgraded by several tiers.

Everyone's standard of living improved visibly; even Sam the Cat, originally extremely thin, had visibly rounded out.

"I wonder if this will affect our combat abilities."

Gao Wen looked at the gradually fattening Sam and the even fatter Budge, sighed helplessly, while the two rubbed their heads with a slightly simple-minded expression.

Seeing this, Gao Wen was too lazy to scold them and gave an order:

"We've rested long enough; it's time to start acting. Go fetch Xiang Keluo and Akin."

"Yes!"

The two responded and hurriedly pushed open Gao Wen's door to leave.

A few minutes later.

Two equally thin figures, one tall and one short, walked side by side into the hall of Para Island; both had beads of sweat on them, clearly still in a state of cultivation just moments ago.

Xiang Keluo hadn't even removed the claw knives on his hands, his face wearing an expression of displeasure at being interrupted:

"Gao Wen, what's so urgent?!"

Considering the experience Xiang Keluo contributed every day, Gao Wen didn't hold it against him and went straight to the point:

"You... the treasure we had stolen before is time to be retrieved."

"After all, with the current structure of our ships, we simply cannot sail normally in the harsh weather of the Grand Line, and to build a pirate ship sturdy enough, money is indispensable."

Xiang Keluo nodded and asked:

"What is the target?"

Gao Wen took the map of the East Blue from the table beside him; after a moment of searching, he pointed his finger at an island on it:

"Here!"

After Akin looked closely, his brows furrowed:

"If I remember correctly, this place and the dozens of villages nearby all belong to the fish-man Arlong."

"There are rumors in the East Blue that the guy came from the Grand Line; he probably won't be easy to deal with."

"Heh."

Xiang Keluo sneered disdainfully:

"In the East Blue, we have no equal!"

Gao Wen looked at Xiang Keluo.

Suddenly, an image of a seventy-something-year-old old man who was ridiculously strong flashed through his mind.

He subconsciously muttered:

"I remember that in the original story, after Garp handed Luffy and the others to Dadan, he never returned to the East Blue, right?!"

"I hope I haven't forgotten."

"What?"

Xiang Keluo asked in confusion.

Gao Wen shook his head:

"Nothing. Unless something unexpected happens, there truly isn't a pirate crew in the East Blue that can match us."

"Creek can't, and Arlong can't either."

"Moreover, this time our target isn't just treasure; Cocoyasi also has a navigator who would be considered first-class even on a world scale."

"Who?"

Xiang Keluo's eyes lit up.

The navigator in the pirate crew had already recovered from his injuries, but Xiang Keluo was well aware of the other's skill level; handling navigation in the East Blue was passable.

Taking him to the Grand Line, however, would be pure suicide.

Furthermore.

The incident last time had made him realize just how important an excellent navigator was to a pirate crew.

Gao Wen smiled faintly:

"You'll know once we find her."

"Heh, acting mysterious."

Xiang Keluo's mouth twitched and he immediately said nothing more. Naturally, Akin had no objections to Gao Wen's decision.

After all, his own position was Combat Captain, and such decision-making work was usually determined by the Captain, Vice-Captain, and Navigator.

The three finalized the plan.

They set out the next day.

A small pirate ship in the harbor, carrying supplies sufficient for more than half a month, slowly sailed toward the distant sea.

This time, Gao Wen brought only a little over twenty crew members, and their sole task was to maintain the ship's normal navigation.

If actual combat broke out, too many people would be a burden rather than an aid for the current trio of Gao Wen, so it was better to keep things as streamlined as possible.

The pirate ship sailed forward toward Cocoyasi, gradually disappearing at the end of the horizon.

East Blue.

!

Cocoyasi Village.

At the village's edge.

Nami stood beneath an orange tree, gazing at the treasure buried in the earthen pit, extending a finger to calculate the value of these items bit by bit.

The more she spoke, the brighter her eyes became, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.

"Even calculating at the lowest exchange rate in the East Blue, the value of this treasure exceeds one hundred million Berries; it is enough for me to redeem the village."

Originally, she was still far short of her goal, but this time, joining forces with Carina had yielded far more than imaginable.

Although the journey had been fraught with countless hardships, and there were even several moments when Nami had nearly died beneath a pirate's blade.

But looking at the treasure before her eyes, Nami felt that everything she had sacrificed was worth it.

"As for the pirates who lost their treasure, they can only count themselves unlucky; after all, these things were mostly plundered from various islands in the first place."

"By then, the people of the village will no longer have to risk their lives for Arlong, nor pay that monthly protection fee of one hundred thousand; Gen won't have to gamble his life to protect everyone, and there's also Nojiko..."

As she spoke.

Tears slid down Nami's face, falling to the ground where they were absorbed by the soil.

A few minutes later.

Nami wiped the tears from her face, carefully reburied the treasure, and even gathered leaves to spread over the ground as camouflage before cautiously turning to leave.

She did not notice in the slightest the fish-man occasionally poking his head out from the water's surface in the distance, nor the hint of mockery in his eyes.

Bang!

The room on the top floor of Arlong Park was violently shoved open by Nami.

Arlong, who was sitting inside discussing recent matters with Nezumi, saw a familiar face appear.

Nezumi glanced at Nami, then turned his head to speak to Arlong:

"Then let's consider recent matters settled as discussed; I won't disturb you any longer."

"Mm."

Arlong nodded, ignoring Nami who had pushed her way in, and spoke to Hatchi standing nearby:

"Hatchi, go see our friend out."

"Alright."

The octopus fish-man Hatchi displayed a simple, honest smile, waved to Nezumi, and then accompanied the latter as he departed.

At this moment.

Arlong finally turned his attention to Nami, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smile as he revealed his sharp shark teeth:

"Isn't this our navigator? So spirited—have you finally scraped together enough money to redeem your village?"

"Of course!"

Nami looked at Arlong with burning eyes:

"I am going to buy back Cocoyasi from you!"

"As long as there is money, everything is negotiable."

A hint of amusement flashed in Arlong's eyes, and he immediately followed under Nami's lead to the edge of Cocoyasi Village.

He witnessed with his own eyes as Nami dug up the treasure she had hidden.

"It's all here!"

"Even calculating at the lowest selling price in the East Blue, the value of these treasures exceeds one hundred million Berries!"

Saying this.

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

Arlong swept a glance over it, but his expression instantly turned cold:

"Are you trying to play me?!"

(End of Chapter)