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As the sun set, Nami and Mina sailed on the Going Merry and landed on the remote shore of the island where Cocoyasi Village is located. The area was surrounded by cliffs, making it inaccessible to the Gyojin who were stationed there.
This place served as the base camp of the Arlong Pirates, who ruled over a dozen villages, with Cocoyasi Village being just one of them. Nami chose to land here because she was carrying a large sum of money. She wanted to avoid being discovered and robbed by the Arlong Pirates before she could gather the 100 million Berries needed to regain her village's freedom.
After docking on the Merry, Nami took her treasure and guided Mina up the steep path to a small hut in the orange grove. This hut once belonged to Bell-mère, but now it was hers and her elder sister Nojiko Nami looked at Mina and warned her, "Stay here alone. I'm leaving, but I'll make you some orange fried pork later. It's my favorite food."
Mina, delighted, replied, "It's okay, I'm hungry. Thank you, Sister Nami."
Nami smiled at her words and happily left the hut. She carried the packages to the orange orchard, where she made sure no one was around before digging up her hidden treasure. She carefully placed all the money into the package and then covered it with dirt, making sure no traces were left behind.
Afterward, she picked seven or eight large oranges from the orchard, which were perfectly ripe, and returned to the house.
She placed the oranges on the table and said with a smile, "Mina, you can eat them for now. Leave only four or five for cooking. I'm going to go buy some meat."
Mina, excited to see the oranges, immediately grabbed one and held it in her hand. "Thank you, Sister Nami."
As Nami noticed the sky getting darker, she realized she needed to get some meat. Without meat, she wouldn't be able to make orange-fried pork. So, she headed to her sister Ella Nojiko's house. Despite being a member of the Arlong Pirates, Nami wasn't going to explain herself to the villagers who looked down on her.
When Nojiko saw Nami, she maintained a calm demeanor but was visibly pleased. "It's rare for you to visit."
All the villagers were aware of the agreement between Nami and Arlong: if Nami collected 100 million Berries, she could buy back the village's freedom. Nami slowly replied, "I'm here to buy some meat."
Nojiko, without hesitation, took out a piece of meat and handed it to Nami. Nami placed some money on the table, grabbed the meat, and left. Nojiko initially didn't want to accept the money, but after some thought, she let it go. She felt deeply sorry for Nami but knew she couldn't offer much help. The days seemed endless, and the pain in her heart lingered.
Nojiko's POV
Watching Nami leave, I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness that I couldn't do more to help her. It's been ten long years since the Arlong Pirates took control of our village and the surrounding islands. Ten years since Nami and I lost our mother.
Since then, Nami has gone out to sea, stealing from pirates to gather 100 million berries in the hope of "buying" back our village.
But what she doesn't realize is that it's all a lie. She may be skilled at stealing, but she doesn't see that everything Arlong told her is a deception.
She has no idea that Arlong is in cahoots with the marines at the nearest base, and that they will most likely split the money between themselves.
*Pere pere pere*
I stopped thinking about the village and took the Den Den mushi that was connected to a white one
*Kachak*
"Hello?" I asked
"..."
"Yes, don't worry. My sister found her in the middle of the sea when she was returning to the island. They should be having dinner right now," I said, trying to ease his worries.
"..."
"You're very overprotective. Do you really think those fishmen can do anything to her? She's strong despite her age," I added.
"..."
"Yes, don't worry, she hasn't met me yet. Don't you remember? Ever since I met you, I've been busy training with Sister Nerisse and working in the intelligence department with Sister Argento," I explained, trying to reassure him that everything was under control.
"..."
"Of course, I took a break so I could keep an eye on my sister. When we leave the island, I'll reveal my identity and give her a good scolding," I said, explaining my reasons for staying close.
"See you soon, Reinhard," I finished, hanging up the call.
*Kachak*
POVEND.
Soon after, Nami returned to the hut near the orange grove and prepared a delicious meal of orange fried pork for Mina and herself. The meal included both vegetables and meat, and she also cooked a pot of rice. The fragrant orange-fried pork paired perfectly with the rice, making Mina's mouth water.
"Sister Nami, I'm going to start eating," Mina said eagerly.
"Go ahead," Nami replied, as she was hungry. The two began to eat. Mina took a piece of meat, put it in her bowl, and as soon as she tasted it, her eyes lit up. The dish was sweet, fragrant, and slightly tangy, enhancing her appetite. The combination with the rice was delicious, leaving him feeling satisfied.
"Sister Nami, you're so kind. It would be great if you could marry my father. Then I could eat your cooking every day," Mina said with a hopeful smile.
Nami smiled wryly. "This topic again?" she thought. Mina was always looking out for her father, trying to find him a woman. Nami didn't respond, knowing that the idea wasn't feasible.
After dinner, Nami calculated the treasure she had brought back. Combined with what she had saved before, she realized she was still 7 million Berries short of the 100 million. She would need to go out again, likely to rob another pirate crew. This dangerous task made her decide not to bring Mina along. After a few days of rest at home, she would leave Mina in Nojiko's care for a while.
But what worries her is that she might end up without a sister because of Mina.
Even though it's only been a few days since she met Mina, she knows that this girl won't give up and will continue to bring up the subject of marriage until she accepts.
That night, Nami boiled water and invited Mina to take a bath with her. After undressing, she soaked in the water, feeling comforted by being home after so long. It was a rare opportunity for her to relax.
Mina also undressed and entered the pool, glancing at Nami. She admired her figure, convinced that her father would like her. Over the past few days, She had observed that Sister Nami sometimes seemed happy but often appeared sad. Something was troubling her, and she was determined to help her solve it.
"Sister Nami, is something bothering you? I can help," Mina offered earnestly, despite being the youngest in her family, she was still very strong.
Nami looked at her expectantly but didn't believe he could solve her problems. She realized that this little girl was trying to bring her into his family, but she found the notion amusing and a bit frustrating. "It's okay," she said, "Let me give you a bath."
As she wiped Mina's body with a towel, Nami was reminded of the times when Bell-mère used to take care of her in the same way. She had grown up now and was doing what Bell-mère once did. Taking in a child out of kindness, she planned to take her to her brother once they were done. It was better than letting her wander the seas alone, facing the extreme and dangerous weather.
Even Nami herself might not survive such conditions, let alone a child. The seas were filled with terrifying creatures, and one wrong encounter could end in disaster.
Seeing that Nami was unwilling to talk, Mina understood that this was a painful subject for her. Since she refused to share, he didn't press further. However, he was determined to stay by her side, knowing that eventually, he would uncover the issue and help her resolve it.
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If you want to read advanced chapters and support me at the same time, you can join my p@treon. I'm going to start uploading chapters of my two stories again, and if you have doubts about joining, you can try the trial mode—it's seven days of free reading.
--------------------------------------------------
p@treon.com/TheAkashicRecords
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