Chapter 55

"Sir, this..."

The watching Marine was clearly hesitant; the Rat sensed it naturally and spoke up:

"Breeze, if you do well this time, you'll get a share of Arlong's assets. After I get promoted, you'll be the next base chief!"

"Yes, sir!"

He hung up the phone.

The Rat recalled Gao Wen's face and his own past experiences; a nameless fire burned in his heart. After pondering for a moment, he directly picked up the pen in his hand and began to write furiously.

A few minutes later.

A report with fierce wording, along with three photos, was transmitted from the Navy's 16th Branch to the Navy Headquarters.

The Headquarters liaison looked at the printed photos and was slightly stunned.

"This knight Gao Wen, why does he look a bit familiar? Like I've seen him in some movie?"

Saying this.

He picked up Gao Wen's previous wanted poster, compared them slightly, and gradually relaxed:

"The similarity is over seventy percent, and these pirates' appearances and body types changing drastically within a year or two is common; there should be no problem, I was overthinking it."

Saying this.

The liaison nodded, carefully verified the Rat's report again, then submitted it upward for further review by a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.

Several days later.

Cocoyasi.

With the downfall of the Arlong Pirates, not only Cocoyasi Village, but also dozens of nearby villages, were liberated from their former oppression.

The name of the Gao Wen Pirates spread even further around, vaguely being called the Dragon Slayers; some villagers even spontaneously erected a statue of Gao Wen at the port.

It was just that the style...

"Why does he look more and more like that guy in the movie the longer I look?"

Xiang Keluo looked at the crude statue in the port and muttered subconsciously.

Gao Wen's mouth twitched, and he walked away quickly.

At the port.

Crates of supplies were loaded onto the ship; even though the ship's waterline had reached the critical point, Zeff could not stop more and more Cocoyasi villagers from carrying crates of supplies into the port.

"Everyone!"

"That's enough, our ship can't hold any more!"

Zeff shouted to the crowd, but only received kind laughter in return.

"You saved the entire village; we can't let our benefactors leave with such regrets!"

"That's right!"

"This is just my last bit of salted meat; oh, and some oranges and ale~"

Saying this bit by bit, the person turned his hand and pulled out three large crates, making Zeff's head spin, yet he could not refuse the increasingly enthusiastic villagers.

Looking at the sincere smiles on these people's faces, he finally understood why the companions returning from Raven Port had such expressions.

Pirates who were always hated, despised, and feared, suddenly feeling others' sincere liking and gratitude on a certain day, would bring a brand new, indescribable feeling.

In short, at this moment, not only Zeff, but everyone on the ship, also felt that everything they had done had meaning.

Gao Wen and Xiang Keluo, side by side, struggled to squeeze onto the ship amidst the villagers' crowd, yet still could not stop the people surrounding the port.

Aramaki, with his chest wrapped in bandages and having just regained the ability to move, stood at the edge of the port, quietly watching this scene.

A sea breeze blew, and the previous whirring sound of the windmill was gone.

He was originally the security officer of Cocoyasi; seeing pirates, he should have reported them to the Navy, but this time he directly threw away the Den Den Mushi.

"Really... those guys are pirates!"

But at this moment.

Gao Wen's voice entered Aramaki's ears.

"Take this!"

Aramaki subconsciously caught the flying object; looking closely, it was a Den Den Mushi. His expression stiffened:

"I won't take a pirate's thing!"

Gao Wen reminded him:

"You can contact Nami."

"Don't let it happen again!"

Aramaki's face turned red; silently, he put the Den Den Mushi into his chest.

Nojiko, standing beside him, couldn't help but curl a smile at the corner of her mouth and sighed:

"That man shouldn't make Nami cry anymore, right?"

"If he dares!"

Aramaki made an angry expression, but his gaze remained fixed on Gao Wen:

"I've inquired about their information; they once acted to protect Raven Port and saved the civilians there, and their strength is so powerful."

"Although I'm a bit unwilling to admit it, and unwilling for Nami to become a pirate, Knight Gao Wen and his crew are special; compared to Arlong, they are undoubtedly a better destination."

"After all, that child's dream is to draw all the sea charts of the whole world."

Nojiko looked at Aramaki in surprise:

"To receive such an evaluation from you is truly no small feat."

"Hmph!"

As the two were chatting idly, Nami's voice suddenly reached their ears.

"Hey! Everyone!"

Gao Wen, standing on the deck, turned his head to look.

He saw Nami, clutching a box of chart-drawing tools, sprinting toward them from afar; those drawing tools that had once brought her countless nightmares now carried her dreams.

No longer forced to draw charts for Arlong's ambition.

But fighting for her own dream, for her companions' voyage!

"I haven't even boarded the ship yet!"

"You're a bit late, kid!"

Kuro dropped his disguise, his tone sounding somewhat gloomy, but Nami didn't mind, for this time she could truly speak her own name.

No longer needing to disguise herself for her companions' lives.

Before coming, she had already bid farewell to Usopp; now her mind was clear of all distractions, with only the sea and the upcoming voyage remaining.

Bang!

Nami stepped onto the deck, exchanged greetings with everyone, then hurriedly headed for the navigator's room.

She carefully placed her belongings in the spot that had originally been empty.

The paper for drawing charts, the pens for outlining, the compass for positioning, several orange trees she had obtained from Nojiko, and the windmill she had just taken from Usopp's head...

Nami pushed open the porthole; a sea breeze blew into the room, making the windmill on the table rustle loudly.

A few minutes later.

Nami threw herself onto the bed, her nose twitching; the smell was exactly the same as when she left.

"From today on, this is my territory!"

Several passing pirates poked their heads through the doorway, all wearing distinct smiles; Nami turned her head and playfully stuck her tongue out at everyone.

Just as she was about to close the door, she remembered something; she hurriedly pushed the door open and left the room, walked a few steps onto the deck, and looked up to see Usopp and Nojiko standing in the harbor, gazing around.

"Hey!"

Nami waved to the two of them:

"Wait until I have drawn charts of all the seas in the world!"

"Then I will return!"

Usopp looked at Nami but was suddenly stunned.

"It's been a long time since I've seen such an expression on that child's face."

"Yes, since Bell-mère passed away, he hasn't smiled so happily."

The two waved to Nami; immediately, the pirate ship in the harbor slowly set sail, heading toward the distant horizon.

Nojiko withdrew his gaze and looked into the harbor.

The sea wind howled, making a pirate flag flap loudly; Arlong's head was impaled atop the pirate flag, standing out conspicuously.

Yet no villager felt this was cruel; they would only feel regret that they could not eat the flesh and blood of Arlong.

Nojiko asked:

"Will the Navy remove that flag in the harbor?"

Usopp said indifferently:

"Who cares? Will the Navy really manage this place? Or do you think... a rat would have the courage to take down that man's flag?!"

(End of this chapter)