It had already been a month since Ace set sail.
East Blue — aboard a merchant vessel.
A grand party was in full swing aboard a massive merchant ship. The lavish gathering was attended by well-dressed gentlemen and elegant noblewomen, their conversations and laughter echoing above the music.
On the dance floor, couples moved gracefully to the rhythm.
But the merriment didn't last.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out, and the entire ballroom descended into chaos.
"Don't move! This ship now belongs to the Bone Blade Pirates!"
A gang of pirates stood atop the banquet tables, sneers twisted on their faces.
Outside, a pirate ship was rapidly closing in, locking its sights on the merchant vessel like a shark sensing blood.
But amid the panic, a slender figure with tangerine-colored hair darted quietly along the deck, staying in the shadows.
"Once they're all on board, I'll make my move," the girl whispered to herself.
From her hiding spot, she watched the Bone Blade pirates swarming from their ship, boarding the merchant vessel in waves.
"Now's my chance!"
With the deck of the pirate ship momentarily empty, Nami's eyes gleamed. She pulled out a grappling hook, latched it to the railing, and zipped across with practiced ease.
"All this treasure... mine."
A sly grin curled across Nami's face as she bolted toward the storage hold.
"Quite the clever little plan, missy."
A voice cut through the air. Nami froze—her back instantly drenched in cold sweat.
She snapped her head up.
Perched casually on the railing was a handsome young man in a straw sunhat, black hair tousled by the breeze, freckles dancing across his cheekbones.
He was smiling at her.
"You're not one of the Bone Blade Pirates, are you?"
Nami's eyes narrowed. Something about him felt familiar, though she couldn't quite place him.
"The little thief from Arlong's crew, right? Took me a while to track you down, Cat Burglar."
Portgas D. Ace grinned at her.
He'd been searching every island in this stretch of sea for the past month, and at last, he'd found her.
"You... you're that guy..."
Nami's pupils shrank.
She remembered now—about two weeks ago, six fish-men from Arlong's crew had gone out looting. Five were slaughtered by a single man. Only one survived to tell the tale.
That lone survivor had crawled back to Arlong Park with blood-soaked horror in his eyes. From that day on, the image of their attacker was spread across all of Arlong's territories, painted as an enemy to be destroyed at all costs.
And now... he was standing right in front of her.
"I-I was forced to join Arlong's crew! Please don't kill me!"
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she pleaded.
To her, this man was likely a sworn enemy of Arlong's—maybe even a vigilante hunting down his minions.
If he could take out five fish-men single-handedly, ending her would be nothing.
"Kill you? I've been looking all over for you. Why would I kill you now?"
Ace dropped down from the railing, smiling warmly.
"Looking... for me? Not to kill me?"
Nami eyed him warily. She didn't understand. She had never seen him before. Why was he searching for her?
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Portgas D. Ace, a pirate. My crew is in need of a navigator. What do you say—wanna join us?"
He offered the invitation with a friendly smile.
"P-Pirate?"
Nami's eyes darkened for a brief second, the shadow of hatred flickering in them. But she quickly shook her head and forced a smile.
"Y-you've got the wrong girl. I don't know anything about navigation!"
Ace chuckled.
"Funny. The fish-men from Arlong's crew all said you had rare, exceptional talent in navigation."
Everything was falling into place—Ace had laid this groundwork deliberately. Even the fish-man who survived... he'd let that one go on purpose.
Hearing that, Nami's heart sank.
"I-I'm part of Arlong's crew, you know? Arlong's not someone to mess with. If I join you, you'll be putting yourself in danger too!"
Her words came in a rush.
She wasn't worried about Ace—she'd long since come to despise pirates because of Arlong. She stole exclusively from pirates, never ordinary people.
But if this man took her away, it would mean losing the one chance to save the people of Cocoyasi Village.
Without her, they'd have no hope left.
"Oh, what a shame," Ace sighed dramatically, turning as if to leave. "Guess I'll have to find someone else then..."
As he moved, the flap of his backpack conveniently slipped open—revealing a glint of something very familiar.
"!!!"
Nami's eyes turned into beri signs on the spot.
"W-WAIT!" she shouted.
"Hm?"
Ace's smirk twitched upward just out of her view. He looked over his shoulder, feigning confusion.
"I-I'll join." Nami said loudly.
And the reason?
She'd caught a brief glimpse inside his bag—just enough to estimate that he was carrying at least 100 million berries.
If she could steal all that while he slept...
Then Cocoyasi Village would finally be free.
Ace, meanwhile, allowed himself a quiet, satisfied grin.
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TL/N:
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