The skies were clear, and the sea sparkled like glass.
A small pirate ship cruised gently across the calm ocean waves.
At the helm, Reno—currently serving as the ship's temporary deckhand—was trying very hard not to lose his patience under Nami's nonstop barking.
"Reno, you idiot! Steer a little more to the left!"
"Too far—now back to the right!"
"Are you brain-dead?! It's basic navigation!"
"…"
Nami's mouth was like a machine gun, firing off complaints nonstop. Reno's face twitched as he gripped the wheel.
This was revenge.
It had to be revenge.
Especially the way she always glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before letting loose again.
So what if last night's session went from four hours to five?
So what if he'd unlocked a few new "techniques"?
Did she really have to get back at him like this?
"How much longer until we reach the Goa Kingdom?" Reno grumbled, clearly annoyed.
He was the captain, and yet here he was, steering the ship himself and still getting scolded for it.
"About half a day more," Nami replied with a bright smile.
She was lounging in a bikini on a deck chair, sipping fruit juice and sunbathing like a queen who had reclaimed her throne.
Her voluptuous curves caught Reno's eye. With the sun beating down and the heat rising, his mind started to wander...
A second later—he drew his sword.
Nami jolted upright in alarm, cautiously asking, "W-what are you doing? I'm your navigator, remember?!"
Without a word, Reno plunged the blade into the ship's wheel, locking it in place.
Nami breathed a sigh of relief—
Until she shook her head and said, "That's useless. The moment the wind shifts, the ship will drift."
"Then I'll fix it again," Reno said with a mischievous grin as he walked toward her.
Uh oh.
"Reno, you bastard! Wasn't last night enough?!" Nami stomped her foot and growled, "You're not getting your way again!"
She glared at him, then turned and bolted toward the cabin.
"Trying to run?" Reno chuckled. "Shave!"
With a flash of movement, he vanished and reappeared beside her, his arm wrapping firmly around her slim waist.
"You big jerk!" Nami puffed out her cheeks in protest.
Oh gods… would someone please come save her?!
But Reno ignored her complaints and carried her into the cabin.
…
…
Goa Kingdom – Foosha Village
Inside Makino's bar, the gentle scent of fruit and alcohol lingered in the air.
"I wonder how Luffy's doing… I'm a little worried," Makino said softly, resting her chin on her hands.
She'd watched Luffy grow up and knew full well how reckless the boy could be.
"Hahaha! Come on, Makino! You don't need to worry about that rascal," Dadan laughed heartily, slamming back a mug of rum.
"If anything really goes wrong, Ace won't stand by and do nothing."
"Not to mention that old man Garp."
The others around the table nodded in agreement.
"Hahaha! Luffy's the grandson of Marine Hero Garp. What could go wrong? He's probably out there having the time of his life."
Their laughter and confident remarks eased Makino's nerves, if only a little.
They did have a point.
His grandfather was the legendary Vice Admiral Garp.
His sworn brother, Ace, was a commander in the Whitebeard Pirates.
And one of the Four Emperors—Shanks—was his childhood mentor.
With that kind of backing, Luffy should be more than safe.
If they knew that Luffy's father was the Revolutionary Army's supreme commander, Dragon… and that Sabo wasn't dead, but had become the second-in-command of the Revolutionaries…
They'd probably fall off their chairs.
With a family tree like that, Luffy wasn't on an adventure—he was enjoying a second-generation power fantasy.
While the bar was still filled with laughter and chatter about Luffy, the front door creaked open.
Two figures stepped inside.
Makino looked over at Reno and Nami with her usual gentle smile.
"Welcome. Is there anything I can get you?" she asked kindly.
Reno smiled back, lips curling into a polite arc. "I heard the brewer who runs this place is quite talented. Thought I'd drop in and have a taste."
Nami glanced sideways at him.
So fake.
Go ahead and act innocent.
She was certain now—Makino was his next target.
He'd come all this way just to collect another beautiful woman for his crew. Reno obviously had some kind of... fetish.
In her mind, Nami was already slapping a label on him.
Makino's face flushed slightly at the compliment. "Oh, you flatter me."
She handed each of them a glass of her finest brew with a warm, gracious smile.
"Hahaha! Come on, Makino, don't be so modest," Dadan blurted, sloshing her drink. "Your booze is famous all over these parts!"
"You've got good taste, kid."
Reno took a sip while surveying the others in the bar. After a moment, he set the glass down with a smile.
"It's excellent. I really like it."
He meant it.
The praise Makino received wasn't exaggerated—it was genuinely good.
"I'm glad to hear that," Makino replied, her smile as soft and elegant as always.
And then—
"By the way~"
Here it comes.
Nami sighed internally. She'd been waiting for this.
Reno casually continued, "My pirate crew is in need of a brewer. I think you'd be perfect for the role."
"Hmm?!"
Makino and the rest of the bar fell into stunned silence at the sudden offer.
After a few moments, Makino smiled apologetically and shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I don't have any intention of going out to sea. I'm happy running my bar here in Foosha Village."
Her tone was warm, but firm.
Reno didn't seem surprised.
That was the expected answer, after all.
But that was fine.
There's always a way to change someone's mind.
People only grow when they're under pressure.
"I overheard you all talking about Luffy earlier," Reno said casually.
"As it happens, I know him too."