Chapter 118

But she was stopped by Nokigao.

After spending this period of time together.

Nami's heart became deeply conflicted.

Since Bellmei's death, she had never met anyone who treated her and Nokigao so well.

It was simply impossible for her now to betray Kohnis and Luo Bin—two bright, gentle sisters who had been so kind to her—for the sake of money.

After all, young Nami had not yet set sail, had not yet experienced the cruelty and mercilessness of the sea, and had not yet grown into the 'Witch of Cocoyasi' who would betray friends for money.

Gazing at Nami, who was weeping uncontrollably before him.

Nokigao's eyes also spilled unbidden tears; she reached out and gently embraced her: "It's alright, it's alright. You did well."

"We can earn money again later. Let this winter be as if nothing happened, alright?"

Nami, sobbing loudly, nodded fiercely in her arms, voice choked: "Next year… next spring I'll set sail to earn money! By the time I come back… I'll bring back one hundred million Berries! I will!"

Inside the house, Luo En, who had heard everything through Kenbunshoku Haki, slowly opened his eyes.

…………

In the following days, the winter snow gradually melted; some villagers went out to fish and spotted the Traveler's Ship, and rumors of the outsiders' arrival spread through the village.

A Dragon Paradise.

A human pirate from the Dragon Pirates rushed frantically to A Long.

"Outsiders have come to the village?"

A Long, a Fishman with a long, hard saw-like snout, narrowed his eyes.

"Tell me everything in detail."

After the human pirate had blurted out everything about the ship and what the villagers had seen—a man, two women, and a sea cow.

A Long said to his companions Xiao Ba and Kuroubi: "You two go to that ship and see if there's anything valuable aboard."

"Understood."

Soon, Xiao Ba and Keloobi returned to A Long's Paradise.

"Captain, we can't get in."

Xiao Ba rubbed his head.

"Huh?"

A Long frowned.

Keloobi explained: "There's a bubble-like light shield protecting the ship—we can't break through at all."

"Nonsense! How could such a thing exist?"

A Long found it unbelievable—he had never even heard of such a weapon.

"If you don't believe it, Captain, you can go see for yourself."

Xiao Ba looked at him.

A Long then went with his men to investigate.

He found that indeed, a light shield completely encased the ship—neither cannonballs nor blades could break it.

"How is this possible…"

A Long's face darkened.

Keloobi reminded him: "Captain, could this be the power of a Devil Fruit?"

"You mean someone is hiding inside the ship using a Devil Fruit ability?" A Long stared at the unbreakable vessel, narrowed his eyes, "It's not impossible."

"Chu, you stay here and watch the ship. Xiao Ba, Keloobi, take men with me to find those outsiders. I'll capture them all—I refuse to believe I can't break into this ship." Fishman A Long's eyes blazed with malice as he spoke.

That day, he led the Dragon Pirates to scour every corner of Cocoyasi Village for the outsiders.

Jian, the village constable of Cocoyasi, upon hearing the news, suddenly remembered what Nokigao had told him when she came to buy vegetables.

She had mentioned something about "guests."

Sweating coldly, Jian immediately hopped on his bicycle and sped toward the orange orchard on the village's outskirts.

When Jian arrived at the orchard, he immediately saw Nokigao pruning branches, and beside her, Luo Bin—tall, slender, dressed in a white fur coat, unmistakably an outsider.

"Nokigao!"

Jian, pushing his bicycle, shouted to Nokigao.

Nokigao looked up, saw him, and smiled: "Ah, Jian, long time no see. What's up?"

Jian, panicked, stared at her: "It's bad—A Long is searching the village for those outsiders."

Nokigao froze; Luo Bin narrowed her eyes.

"In short…"

Jian glanced at Luo Bin beside Nokigao: "You should hurry and get your guests to hide…"

Before he could finish, a voice behind him made his hair stand on end.

"Ah, found them."

108, Super Hard Iron Plate, Stunning Nami's Power

Jian and Nokigao both shuddered at the voice, turning their heads.

Xiao Ba and Keloobi from the Dragon Pirates were slowly walking toward them from the road behind Jian.

"That must be the outsider."

Xiao Ba placed one tentacle on his forehead, gazing at Luo Bin standing in the orange orchard.

Sweat beaded on Jian and Nokigao's foreheads; their limbs turned cold.

"Luo, Luo Bin-jie, you should go back first."

Nokigao stood up, turning her back to Luo Bin.

Luo Bin glanced at Nokigo, whose back was turned to her, hands and feet trembling, and said, "In the current situation, there's no way to keep it hidden, right?"

Kuroobi walked to the front of the tangerine grove and took out a Den Den Mushi:

"Captain, I found them. The outsiders are over at the tangerine grove."

Arlong's signature serrated nose appeared on the Den Den Mushi, and Arlong's cold voice rang out from it:

"The tangerine grove? So that means… our little navigator knew all along?"

Nokigo's eyes narrowed slightly.

Kuroobi glanced at Nokigo and said, "I'm afraid so."

A few cold laughs from Arlong sounded from within the Den Den Mushi: "You wait there, I'll be right over."

After the Den Den Mushi hung up.

Hatchi raised the blade in his hand and rested it against the neck of A-jian, whose hands and feet were ice-cold.

Kuroobi, meanwhile, looked at Nokigo and Luo Bin standing inside the tangerine grove: "You should still have companions, right? Tell them to come out too."

"Of course, there's also our little navigator from the Arlong Pirates…"

Cold sweat poured down Nokigo's forehead, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Just then, a hand gently rested on her shoulder.

Nokigo's body jolted; she turned her head to look, and standing beside her, half a head taller than her, Luo Bin gazed at her with a smile on her face.

"It's okay, just relax."

Looking at Luo Bin's easy, composed smile, Nokigo's taut, nervous mood inexplicably eased.

Just then, the door of the house opened.

Hearing the commotion, Konis and Nami appeared at the doorway.

The moment she spotted Hatchi and Kuroobi, Nami's pupils contracted sharply, and her body froze on the spot.

"Yo, Nami, long time no see."

Hatchi grinned at Nami.

Konis saw the blade Hatchi had at A-jian's neck, her eyes narrowing slightly as she said:

"Nami, these guys probably aren't your friends, right?"

At this moment, Nami—stiff all over, hands and feet ice-cold—stood with her mouth open, completely unable to speak.

How could this be…

Winter hasn't even passed yet, so why have they come here?!

While Nami was lost in a daze.

That blue-skinned, over-two-meter-tall fish-man Arlong, carrying a large saw-toothed blade and followed by a group of armed underlings, appeared at the front of the tangerine grove.