Chapter 47

“How is this possible? Are you going back on your word?!”

Nami burned with rage, yet instinctively looked down at her treasure chest.

It was empty.

“This can’t be!”

“I just checked it—right here!”

Nami’s face went blank, then flooded with panic.

The chest should have held treasure worth over one hundred million Berries—years of relentless effort, countless near-death escapes, all gathered to amass that sum.

With that money, she could have bought back her village from A Long , sparing everyone their suffering.

But now.

Everything was gone.

“Nami~”

A Long seized Nami’s hair, yanking her up; watching her writhe in agony, he felt immense satisfaction.

Once, long ago.

On Fish-Man Island, humans had done the same to his people—ignoring their screams and tears, dragging them away to be sold across the world.

Either as lab specimens, or slaves in sunless caves, or even with limbs severed, turned into… exhibits for human amusement.

Perfect works of art!

A Long sighed inwardly, then leaned close to Nami’s ear and whispered:

“I’ll spare you this time. But if you dare try again, the price to redeem your village will double.”

“It was you!”

Nami clenched her lips, glaring at A Long with fury:

“You stole my treasure!”

“Are you out of your mind?!”

A Long sneered:

“I’ve been right beside you the whole time—just met with the rat. When did I have time to steal from you?”

“Think harder. Who else could it be?”

Nami froze, then gritted her teeth, forcing out a name she refused to believe:

“Kali Na!”

“It was her!”

A Long ’s grin widened; he lightly patted Nami’s cheek and said:

“I’ll give you half a month. If you don’t find it, the next price to redeem your village will be…”

A Long extended two fingers.

“Two hundred million Berries!”

“That’s impossible!”

Nami gasped, raising her voice instinctively—only to see A Long ’s third finger extend:

“Change of plan. If you don’t recover the money within half a month, the price for Cocoa Village triples.”

“Three hundred million Berries!”

“I…”

“Four—!”

“I’ll get it back!”

Nami clenched her lips, ignoring the pain in her scalp, and answered without hesitation.

She didn’t know how much more A Long would demand—but did she have a choice?

This was never a fair deal.

But as long as she couldn’t bear to watch the people of Cocoa Village die, she had no choice.

“Shark hahahaha~”

A Long let out his signature cruel laugh, then hurled Nami into the dirt pit and turned away slowly.

Minutes later, as A Long faded into the distance, heart-wrenching sobs rose from the orange grove.

“A Long !”

“A Long !”

“A Long !”

…

Nokogao rushed over, but froze the moment she saw Nami’s figure; even without knowing what happened, she felt Nami’s despair.

Half an hour later.

Nami staggered out of the pit, teeth clenched.

Nokogao said nothing—only pulled Nami into her arms, gritting her teeth: “Nami~”

“If you’re tired, run away. You’ve only lost a bunch of people who hated you.”

“We…”

“Aren’t worth it.”

Nami said nothing, only held Nokogao tightly.

Nokogao patted her back, her body trembling faintly—she felt the dampness against her chest.

“Cry.”

“It’ll help.”

…

The next day.

When Nokogao woke, Nami was gone. On the bedside lay a letter, drawn with a smiling face and an orange.

!

“I’ll recover those treasures—even if it means breaking ties with my best friend.”

Nokogao stared at the words, unable to breathe.

Slowly, she tucked the letter away, stepped outside, and walked to the village constable’s patrol hall. She knocked.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

…

Seconds later.

A thin, middle-aged man with a windmill on his head and a face scarred by blades opened the door.

He was Jian, the village constable of Cocoa Village.

But since A Long ’s arrival and the Marines’ collusion with the A Long Pirates, the position had become a joke.

Yet this man never gave up—even at the cost of his life—he protected the villagers, the two daughters he cherished like his own.

“Jian, Nami hasn’t given up. I don’t know what happened to her, but it seems she lost everything overnight…”

“Even if she meets A Long ’s demand, do you really think he’ll hand over Cocoa Village?”

Jian shook his head:

“Impossible. How much trust can you place in a pirate’s word?”

“I’ll find out what happened.”

“Be careful.”

Nokogao nodded, but couldn’t help asking:

“I don’t understand—everyone knows what Nami’s trying to do, yet they still insult her. I even saw children cursing her.”

Jian halted.

“Nokogao, every kindness we show her only deepens her bond with this village.”

“If one day she’s truly broken and wants to leave, how will she bear the guilt?”

With that,

Jian walked away quickly, leaving Nokogao standing frozen at the door.

…

At the same time.

On the top floor of A Long ’s Leyuan , a pile of dirt-stained treasure lay on A Long ’s desk.

He picked up a handkerchief and carefully wiped each item clean.

With every piece he set down, Nami’s expression from last night flashed in his mind—pleasure welled up inside him:

“Nami~”

“My navigator. My doll.”

“When you finally realize this was all a lie—that you’ll never buy back your village—what will your face look like?”

“Will it be like my people’s? Will you make me feel pity?”

“But why do humans never feel that way?”

Crash!

A Long crushed the gemstone in his hand, his face twisted into a grotesque mask:

“Humans without feeling are the lowest, most inferior creatures in this world!”

At that moment, a knock came at the door. A Long’s expression remained blank as he spoke:

“Enter!”

Kelo Biou pushed open the door and said:

“A Long, the rat has sent word to watch out for a pirate crew recently active in the East Blue.”

“Who?”

“The Gao Wen Pirates. Their captain, Gao Wen, has a bounty of eighty-five million Berries — a sum not insignificant even in the Grand Line.”

“Shark hahahahaha~”

(End of Chapter)