Sailing at Sea: The Breath of the Day at the Start

Page 120

Robin simultaneously amplified his abilities; the arms that had grown from Arlong's body exerted force, causing his body to twist backward with a cracking sound of bones breaking, inflicting excruciating pain and causing his eyes to bloodshot. Especially under the attack of the arm that was choking him, making it impossible for him to breathe, Arlong's consciousness began to gradually blur.

"Oh, damn it..."

Connie, with her blonde hair flying, raised her hand as she walked to Robin's side.

In an instant.

The speed of the iron spikes increased again, and more than a dozen iron spikes spun rapidly around Hachi and Croobi like black light, and bloody wounds soon appeared on the two of them.

Several iron spikes pierced through Croobi's limbs and pinned Octopus Hachi's tentacles to the ground one by one, rendering both of them completely unable to move.

The rest of the Arlong Pirates members were almost all wiped out by Conis wielding her iron spikes.

It was easier than she and Robin had anticipated.

After doing all that, Conis turned to look at the shocked Nami and Nojiko, and asked them with a smile, "Wouldn't it be better to kill these despicable guys?"

Nami and Nojiko stared at her in a daze, at Hachi and Croobi lying in a pool of blood at her feet. Not far away, Arlong lay there, his body twisted, his eyes rolled back, blood gushing from his mouth, already unconscious.

That powerful and ferocious Arlong Pirates that rule this village... they actually...!

They were all wiped out just like that?!

After witnessing all of this from a short distance away and being utterly shocked, Ah Jian came to his senses and realized it was all real. Overwhelmed with excitement and joy, he lowered his head and wiped away tears of happiness.

"Belmel...did you see that?"

Upon hearing the name uttered by him, Nami and Nojiko trembled, and tears uncontrollably streamed down their faces.

I recall the image and voice of my gentle yet strong foster mother, Bellemere.

The thought that she died at this guy's hands...

The thought that I would never see her again...

With tears streaming down her face, Nami clenched her fists and glared at Arlong lying on the ground with hatred.

"I will avenge Bellemere!"

She rushed to the unconscious Ah Long, bent down, grabbed a bloodstained iron spike from the ground, and raised it with trembling hands.

"Nami..."

Nochiko had a chance to say anything.

Without the slightest hesitation, Nami thrust the iron spike in her hand.

The sharp iron spikes pierced Arlong's tough skin and neck, and blood, as red as a human's, gushed out, splattering Nami's face.

Covered in blood, she seemed to have lost all her strength all at once, and shakily collapsed into the pool of blood, the iron spike in her hand falling to the ground with a clatter.

"Nami..."

When Nojiko, with tears streaming down his face, walked to her side and gently hugged her, Nami finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears, as if she wanted to vent all the sadness and hatred she had felt over the years.

Connie and Robin looked at the women lying in a pool of blood and smiled at each other.

Ron, who was lying on the roof enjoying the sunlight, also opened his eyes slightly and glanced at the short orange-haired girl crying loudly below.

"What a crybaby..."

…………

After Arlong's death, the Arlong Pirates immediately fell apart, and the surviving members were gathered together by the ecstatic villagers of Cocoyasi and driven off the island.

Nojiko and Nami prepared an extremely lavish meal for Ron and the others. Although it was only a fraction of the help they had given them, it was the most sincere expression of gratitude the two women could offer.

At the banquet, Nami felt ashamed and apologized for her previous thoughts of deceiving and betraying them.

Robin and Connie naturally didn't take it to heart, but Nami's strength in shouldering the burden of the villagers and the village impressed Robin and Connie.

After the banquet, Nokiko was to return the room rental fee.

But Ron rejected him.

That night.

While Ron was still soaking in the wooden tub, Nami's voice came from outside the door.

"Thank you so much this time."

"You should thank those girls, no need to thank me, I didn't do anything."

Ron closed his eyes, enjoying the moment.

"But you are their captain. If you don't let Connie and the others take action, they probably won't either."

Nami leaned against the doorway and spoke softly.

"Don't overthink it. I'm just too lazy to care about those guys. Let them do whatever they want."

Ron said casually.

"Is it……"

A smile flickered in Nami's eyes as she lowered her head.

Just as Robin said, she is clearly a gentle person, but she insists on acting as if it has nothing to do with her.

If she really didn't want to help, she wouldn't have explained things to her at that time.

"If you're the captain, are you even more capable than Connie and the others?"

"What do you think?"

"do not know."

Nami sat down by the wall near the door, hugging her knees, and said, "I used to think Arlong was incredibly strong, that no one could beat him, but now I think Conis and Robin are even stronger, stronger than them... I can't imagine what that's like. Are there many guys on the sea as strong as you?"

"There are quite a few, and some are even more impressive."

"Is it……"

A longing gleamed in Nami's eyes, "I wonder if, when I set sail as a navigator in the future, I'll be able to meet companions as strong and kind as you all..."

Ron did not answer her.

After a moment of silence, the two were separated.

Nami asked, "I overheard your conversation with Robin earlier. Are you planning to leave early?"

Ron hummed in agreement.

He really hates trouble, especially trouble that comes with gratitude.

After a few seconds of silence, Nami asked:

When are you planning to leave?

"tomorrow."

"So fast?"

Nami was somewhat surprised.

Ron, who was leaning against the bathtub, opened his eyes:

"If you also want to go out to sea, you can come with us."

Upon hearing his words, Nami's eyes widened slightly, her bright eyes filled with excitement, surprise, and astonishment.

I almost blurted out "I do".

But after calming down a bit, she still shook her head.

"Although I really want to be your companion and go to sea with you, I guess... never mind."

"why?"

A 12-year-old girl with short orange hair sat by the wall near the door, hugging her knees, and said softly:

"Companions should help each other. But right now, I can't help at all. Even if I get on your ship, I'll only be the one being helped... I don't want that."

Ron, inside the bathtub, chuckled softly upon hearing this.

"That's a good level of awareness. With that kind of awareness, you're sure to meet the most suitable companions in the future."

Upon hearing his words, Nami smiled, her bright eyes filled with anticipation.

"That would be wonderful."

"At that time, I will be able to sail the sea with my companions and meet you all again on the free and vast ocean."

"By then, I will definitely have grown into a navigator that will impress you, Sister Robin, and Sister Conis!"

It seems to be because they know they will be leaving tomorrow.

In these final moments, Nami shared many of her innermost thoughts with Ron, some of which she had never even told Nojiko.

For some reason, she felt that she could speak freely in front of this mysterious boy who was only two years older than her but as mature as an adult.

………………

the next day.

early morning.

Ron, Robin, Connie, and Seven left the house without alerting Nojiko.