Chapter 134: Nami: How Much Did You Steal?!

East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.

The lingering glow of the setting sun spilled over the small house, dyeing the courtyard a warm orange-red.

Genzo pushed his bicycle past the gate, the small pinwheel atop his head spinning with a whirring sound; he turned his head, gazing at this empty house with a touch of nostalgia.

Bell-mère had moved away for over half a month now; he wondered if she was happy?

She should be very happy, right?

After all, that woman had laughed heartily before leaving, saying that after working hard in the tangerine grove for over a decade, she could finally go out and take a proper vacation to relax for a while.

"Sigh..."

Genzo let out a sigh and was just about to turn and leave when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

"Excuse me."

Two men dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses stood at the doorway, holding a document in their hands, their faces bearing polite yet distant smiles.

"May I ask, are you Mr. Genzo?"

Genzo paused, sizing them up: "Who are you?"

"I am a member of the World Government's CP3, ordered to investigate certain matters," the man on the left nodded slightly, "Regarding Siano."

Siano?

Just as Bell-mère had expected!

No, to be precise, this was Siano's idea from the phone call.

That kid really had foresight; the moment his bounty rose to around five hundred million Berries, he immediately had Bell-mère move away, and as for exactly where she moved, even he didn't know.

Back then, he hadn't taken it seriously.

He felt that the World Government and the Marines wouldn't stoop so low as to come to the countryside to trouble an old marine who had retired for many years.

But now...

Genzo's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure; he snorted coldly, his tone suddenly turning furious:

"That ungrateful little beast? What do you want with him?!"

"Oh?" The CP3 member on the left raised an eyebrow, "It seems you don't have a good impression of him?"

"Not just 'not good'!"

Genzo stomped his foot fiercely, cursing through gritted teeth, "That ingrate! Our village raised him for so many years, and what was the result? As soon as he came of age, he went out to sea and became a pirate, killing so many Marines who uphold justice! He has brought nothing but shame upon Cocoyasi Village!"

His voice grew louder and louder, even attracting the attention of several nearby villagers.

"Exactly! That bastard!"

"If we had known earlier, we should have driven him out of the village!"

"We could tell years ago he was no good; he stripped every single mountain on the island clean, leaving us nowhere to go for spring outings now!"

"Indeed, even when that guy was young, he caused such chaos that everyone was angry; he nearly ate Da Bai, the big white dog at the village entrance!"

The villagers gathered around one after another, loudly denouncing Siano's crimes with various voices, each filled with righteous indignation, as if they couldn't wait to strangle him with their own hands.

A large white dog also barked angrily "Woof! Woof!" twice, clearly hating Siano just as much.

The CP3 member narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the crowd.

"You really hate him, don't you?"

"Hate? Of course we hate him!"

Genzo shouted furiously, "That guy corrupted two fine young girls, Nami and Nojiko, and now even Bell-mère couldn't bear the village's cold stares and left her hometown; that bastard had better never return, otherwise I'll be the first to break his legs!"

"Right! Break his legs!"

"Make him never dare to return to the East Blue again!"

The villagers were in an uproar of indignation, with some even waving hoes, looking ready to risk their lives.

The two men in suits exchanged glances, then finally nodded: "We understand, thank you all for your cooperation."

Ten minutes later.

The two appeared on a small path in the countryside outside the village; under a coconut tree, they dialed their superior's phone.

"... We have finished gathering intelligence, Sir. Siano's adoptive mother has moved away and her whereabouts are unknown; his two younger sisters are both by Siano's side; and the villagers on the island all harbor extreme hostility toward Siano."

"In other words, there is nothing left in the entire Cocoyasi Village that we can use to threaten Siano."

"Understood, we two will prepare to return to the unit immediately."

At the same time, inside Genzo's home.

The villagers gathered in the living room, listening to Genzo's summary and review.

"Those two have already left."

Genzo's gaze swept across the entire room:

"However, we still cannot let down our guard in the future; this was only what happened on the surface, and there may be more hidden operations later."

"For instance, they might disguise themselves as ordinary merchants or passing travelers to make indirect inquiries and gather information; in short, everyone remember, as long as you are in front of outsiders, everything must still follow the original plan."

"Understood, Genzo, rest assured!"

"Hmph, still want to disguise? Those running dogs who framed Siano—the stench on them is impossible to hide no matter how hard they try!"

Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.

Outside the window, the cicadas chirped incessantly; in this midsummer season, the wind chimes under the eaves of the dojo rang continuously with a ding-dong sound in the evening breeze.

"Dinner is ready!"

A hearty voice came from the kitchen, and the children in the dojo immediately cheered with joy, putting down their bamboo swords and rushing toward the dining hall.

Zoro and Sanji, those two little rascals, charged at the very front, pushing and shoving each other to fight over who could enter the door first.

"Moss-head! Don't block the way!"

"Curly-brows! You're the one who should scram!"

The two wrestled into a tangle at the doorway, and just as their commotion grew louder—

"Hey, you two little bastards!"

Bell-mère, cigarette dangling from her lips, strode out of the kitchen, grabbed each by an ear, and said, "Both of you are half-grown lads now; must you still raise such a ruckus at mealtime like when you were small? Seems today's training quota wasn't enough, then?"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Zoro grimaced. "Auntie Bell-mère, let go, quick!"

"What are you saying, Moss-head? So rude! Who's an auntie?" Sanji tiptoed to ease the pain while fuming in their defense. "She's clearly a beautiful big sister!"

"Smooth talker!"

Bell-mère didn't fall for that; she snorted and dragged the two brats toward the front yard.

"As punishment for disrupting dinner order, the two of you, right now, immediately, scram off and do two thousand one-armed push-ups for me; only after finishing may you eat!"

"Two thousand?!" The two brats wailed in unison.

Under normal circumstances, this training load might have been nothing, but right now their stomachs were growling with hunger!

On the tatami of the main house, Teacher Teacher Gengsilang, holding a cup of hot tea, watched the scene with a beaming smile.

Originally, after both Sister Guyina and Zeff had left, those two youths had grown increasingly lawless, noisy all day long; with his gentle, unhurried nature, he truly had no way to handle them.

Yet now, ever since Lady Bell-mère arrived half a month ago, those two children had immediately become much more well-behaved.

Was it fear of the fierce-tempered Bell-mère herself...

or was it fear of that big boss who, with a single glance, could once make the two of them instantly behave?

Or perhaps both?

Teacher Teacher Gengsilang's gaze fell upon the newspaper on the table, fluttering in the breeze, and for a moment he too felt dazed.

One billion Berries...

They'd only been at sea for such a short time—barely two months, wasn't it? —and their bounty had already reached such a terrifying level.

Even for him, well-traveled as he was, among all the people he knew, only one person had a bounty higher than that figure.

If given another year or two, what achievements that child would reach, Teacher Teacher Gengsilang simply dared not imagine.

Of course, besides that...

Teacher Teacher Gengsilang gently turned the page of the newspaper, took out the second wanted poster, and quietly gazed at the black-haired girl with her hair tied in a high ponytail.

A tender smile surfaced on his face.

Following that young man, she would surely become the World's Greatest Swordsman, wouldn't she?

When she returns home someday, come and slap my face hard; let this muddled old father apologize for those words I shouldn't have spoken that night.

"Sister Guyina..."

Keep it up.

The Grand Line, Jaya Island.

This was the half of an island left behind on the surface after being severed by a towering ocean current.

And Mock Town on the island was notoriously a gathering place for outlaws; many pirates passing through would linger here for a while.

At this moment, in the afternoon, inside a certain tavern, all was clamor and noise.

Pirates gulped down rum in great mouthfuls, boasting about their respective adventures, while the air was thick with the mixed stench of alcohol and sweat.

"Hey, did you see the recent newspaper? That monster called Siano rejected the Warlord invitation, and his bounty has already risen to one billion Berries!"

"No kidding! That's big news that shocked the whole world; which pirate in the entire Grand Line doesn't know it? Do we need you to tell us?"

"Ah-Xiong's news is really outdated!"

The companions around them laughed and teased.

Some pirates sighed: "One billion Berries... Right now on this island, there are probably not a thousand but several hundred bounty criminals; I wonder if all their bounties added up would even match that one guy's."

"Definitely not!"

"Exactly! That's one billion Berries; if you ask me, even adding up all the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, their bounties wouldn't reach that high!"

"Hah? That can't be right; it should at least be over ten billion, you math Bai Chi!"

"Who are you calling Bai Chi, bastard! Aren't you an illiterate too? If someone were truly cultured, would they still become a pirate?"

The two argued back and forth, while the pirates around them also took sides; supporters of the two viewpoints each made up half.

But regardless, one thing was beyond doubt.

One billion—this number had already far exceeded the scope of their understanding.

After all, in the first half of the Grand Line, pirates with bounties over one hundred million were few and far between, and those above five hundred million were a realm only the monsters of the New World could reach!

Just then.

"Creak—"

The louvered door was pushed open, and a tall figure stepped inside.

In an instant, the tavern's clamor came to an abrupt halt.

All the pirates' gazes involuntarily focused on this man—

a black coat, pupils as sharp as a hawk's, and... that iconic black cross-shaped sword!

"The... the World's Greatest Swordsman, 'Hawk Eyes' Mihawk?!"

Someone recognized him and whispered in terror, their wine glass slipping from their hand and shattering on the floor with a "clatter."

Others who hadn't recognized him at first were likewise startled; the quicker-witted ones were already quietly pulling their companions out through the back door.

Hawk Eyes paid no heed to the commotion around him and walked straight to the bar, while behind him followed Tashigi, her face tense with unease.

"One tequila, on the rocks."

He ordered a drink for himself, then, after glancing at Tashigi, ordered for her the tavern's best-selling cherry pie.

The two chose an inconspicuous spot in the corner to sit down, and only then did Tashigi gradually calm her mind.

"Mr. Mihawk," Tashigi asked in a lowered voice, "do you truly believe that My Lord Siano and the others will come here?"

"Just trust me."

Hawkeye took a sip of wine and said indifferently, "If Siano does not arrive at this place within three days, my name shall henceforth be spoken backwards."

He was far too confident about this.

The route taken by Siano's crew had, up until now, been traceable.

From Whiskey Shanfeng, to Little Garden, and then to Alabasta; following this pattern, the next stop was undoubtedly, inevitably, Mock Town.

"Speaking of which, ever since arriving on this island, your mood has been consistently low."

Hawkeye glanced at the young girl opposite him. "It is quite strange; clearly his reputation has risen, so you should feel happy, just like last time, shouldn't you?"

"I, I am very happy for My Lord Siano, but, but..."

Tashigi, having her thoughts seen through, lowered her head somewhat dejectedly. "My Lord Siano's pace is truly too fast; this also makes me feel that I am drifting further and further away from My Lord Siano."

"..."

Hawkeye silently gazed at the young girl before him, offering no words of comfort.

In his view, Tashigi's talent in the way of the sword could only be described as passable, far removed from that sword master young girl of similar appearance who stood beside Siano.

Yet, precisely because of Tashigi's obsession and immersion in the way of the sword, as well as the state of single-minded focus she displayed while practicing sword techniques, he indeed found her very admirable.

What a pity.

Hawkeye shook his head slightly and indifferently withdrew his gaze.

If this little one had remained under his guidance, perhaps she might still have achieved something on the path of the sword.

But the agreement made back then was clear: he was only responsible for temporary instruction, and once they met Siano, he and Tashigi would part ways.

And now, Siano was about to arrive at this island.

Their fate together had thus reached its end.

Why should he worry excessively over a passerby whom he had met only by chance?

At the same time.

On board the Curtain Call.

Siano pushed open the door to the training room and walked out, rubbing his sore fists with some frustration.

"I failed to comprehend it; Conqueror's Haki coating."

He sighed with some sadness.

When sparring with Garp earlier, he had deliberately kept his wits about him, firmly memorizing the other party's method of applying Conqueror's Haki coating in his heart.

That thing had practically become a mandatory skill for everyone entering the final circle; having a rare opportunity to learn it, he naturally had to give it a try.

Alas...

"As expected, it is not that simple."

He glanced at the Poneglyph in the training room and shook his head.

Since parting ways with Garp the day before yesterday, he had been practicing bitterly, but despite trying various methods, his Conqueror's Haki still could not be applied to physical attacks.

This was within expectations.

Siano felt only a slight regret, not discouragement because of it.

After all, he had awakened Conqueror's Haki merely two months ago.

Such a top-tier combat technique; currently, only a few old timers in the entire world know how to use it; how could it be mastered so easily?

Even Luffy, under Rayleigh's careful instruction, spent two years without learning it.

As for Yamato? The reason she could wield it skillfully at a young age was entirely due to Kaido's strict, day-after-day guidance.

The road is still long; one cannot be too impatient!

Siano comforted himself thus.

However, he had not gained nothing; in fact, one could say his gains were substantial.

This time, Garp had engaged him in full-force combat, which was in no way comparable to the make-believe sparring of their days in Mount Colubo.

The old man's powerful control over Armament Haki, especially that technique of constantly compressing and increasing the intensity of emitted Armament Haki, had enlightened him greatly.

Henceforth, he would specialize in this aspect; with the aid of the Poneglyph and more practice...

He believed it would not be long before the intensity of his Armament Haki ascended another level.

"Phew..."

He stretched his back, set aside the stray thoughts in his heart, crossed the corridor, and came onto the deck.

He happened to see Nami excitedly holding a newspaper high, calling out everywhere: "Hey! Everyone! Come look, our new bounties are out!"

"A newly bought newspaper?"

Siano raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

"Big Brother!" The moment Nami saw him, her eyes instantly lit up. "Look! The front-page headlines are all about you; your bounty has already risen to one billion Berries!"

One billion?

Siano glanced at the photo on the front page and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

It seemed the World Government was truly provoked this time, angry and shamed into a rage.

This bounty, even in the New World, should rank second only to the lead commanders of the various Emperor crews—namely King, Katakuri, Marco, and Beckman.

Among the new generation, it created a direct gap, leaving them far behind.

"What about the others?" he asked casually. "Did theirs rise too? And you, shouldn't the Navy Headquarters' misunderstanding regarding Gin be cleared up by now?"

"I, I haven't looked at the back yet," Nami murmured softly. "I was waiting for Big Brother and everyone else to gather before discussing it."

"Now that everyone is here," Nojiko said with a chuckle, cuddling Nuomici, "I can read it out loud for everyone."

She stroked Nuomici's little head; only yesterday at breakfast had everyone finally noticed the little one's changes.

The originally snow-white little rice ball had actually turned pale yellow and even grown a tail; this direction of growth was far too strange.

Could it be that staying in Alabasta for so long, the scorching sun of the desert had bleached its color?

This was everyone's initial assessment, but fortunately, Nuomici remained just as cute; with an extra fluffy tail to stroke, it was even more fun to play with, and its status as the group's favorite remained unshakable.

"I know, I know, I'll look at the back... No, no, wait a moment!"

Nami suddenly gritted her teeth, tossed the newspaper to Smoker, "Smoke Ghost, you read it; I'll, I'll just listen."

"Hmm?"

Smoker instinctively caught the newspaper, looking up at her with a baffled expression.

Clearly, just a few days ago, whenever a newspaper arrived, Nami would always snatch it first to peek secretly.

Now that the new wanted posters had actually been released, she was instead acting timid and hesitant?

"You care about this far too much." He shook his head, snapping the newspaper open with a rustle.

"Who, who cares!" Nami craned her neck, stubbornly insisting.

"..." Smoker couldn't be bothered to engage, scanning the reports at the back, comparing them with the wanted posters, and clicking his tongue in admiration, "Hey, Sister Sister Guyina, your bounty has increased quite a bit, instantly creating a gap between you and the others."

"How much?" Sister Sister Guyina, who was polishing Wado Ichimonji, glanced over upon hearing this.

"Curtain-Fall Sword Hero Sister Sister Guyina of the Curtain-Fall; according to the latest intelligence, confirmed to have officially assumed the position of Vice-Captain of the Curtain-Fall Pirates, bounty raised to 200 million Berries..."

Reading to this point, Smoker grinned, "In short, aside from Boss Siano, you're the first to break through 200 million Berries; even in the first half of Paradise, this is quite rare."

Sister Sister Guyina nodded slightly, continuing to lower her head and polish her sword, leaving it unclear whether she was satisfied with this bounty or not.

"What about me?" Nojiko asked curiously.

"You're right behind Sister Sister Guyina, also one of the crew members with the largest bounty change."

Smoker pulled out the wanted poster and handed it over, "Your title has changed too; now it's Winter Fist · Nojiko, user of the Snow-Snow Fruit, bounty 130 million Berries."

It had directly doubled!

Nojiko's eyes lit up; she happily accepted the wanted poster; previously, except for Nami, she had been consistently at the bottom of the ship's rankings!

"What about me, what about me!"

Nami finally could not hold back any longer and asked impatiently.

"Next is Ah Yin; the bounty hasn't changed."

Speaking to this point, Smoker felt somewhat surprised, "In that case, Marine Headquarters must indeed know that the flames are not Ah Yin's ability; let me flip further back... Hmm, Old Man Zeff, and myself... This last one must definitely be yours; the bounty is..."

Nami held her breath.

"100 million Berries!"

"H-how much!" Her eyes widened in delighted surprise.

"Congratulations!" Smoker shrugged, pulling out this final wanted poster, "The power of the Flame-Flame Fruit finally no longer belongs to Ah Yin; eh, wait a moment!"

He suddenly halted his movements, his face filled with astonishment.

Meanwhile, the others looking at this pulled-out wanted poster were also stunned, glancing at each other in confusion, their expressions turning strange.

For on the photograph...

It was indeed Nami, correct, but only half of her head was visible at the bottom, while the main subject was a white rice-ball creature, lying atop her head, exposing a simple and endearing smile toward the camera.

On the text below, it boldly read—

【Blazing White Ball · Nuomici, Bounty 100 Million Berries!】

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PS: Since going premium, I haven't once asked for monthly tickets; tonight, after twelve o'clock, the Qidian double monthly ticket event begins, where casting a monthly ticket automatically counts as double.

Right here, I weakly request one from everyone; by the way, although I only update once daily, the word count isn't small; at times it reaches seven or eight thousand, and even at its lowest, it maintains five thousand, which actually equals two to three updates, haha.

(End of Chapter)