Nami’s face instantly flushed crimson, and the gold coins in her hand fell to the ground with a ‘clatter’.
She stood with hands on her hips, glaring huffily at Kaguya.
“Are…
are you joking!”
Kaguya unhurriedly picked up a gold coin, flipping it nimbly between his fingertips.
“What, too little?
How about another thirty percent?”
“Who wants your filthy money!”
Nami turned to leave, but Kaguya grabbed her by the wrist.
She was surprised to find that this man’s grip strength was astonishing.
“Don’t be in such a hurry.”
Kaguya’s voice suddenly dropped low.
“I haven’t finished stating my conditions yet.”
“I won’t agree to any conditions!”
Nami struggled forcefully, trying to break free from Kaguya’s restraint.
“I can help you deal with Arlong.”
Kaguya’s words struck Nami’s heart like a bolt of lightning.
She abruptly stopped her struggling; her pupils constricted sharply, and her lips trembled slightly.
“How…
how do you know about Arlong?”
Nami’s voice carried a hint of a tremor, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.
Under the light, wariness and hope intertwined in her eyes.
Kaguya released her wrist and slowly straightened his cuffs.
“How could I not know about the famous Fishman Pirate Crew in the East Blue?”
He looked up at Nami, his gaze sharp as a blade.
“Moreover, I also know what that tattoo represents.”
Nami’s breathing became rapid, her chest heaving violently.
She instinctively covered the tattoo on her arm, as if doing so could hide that past she couldn’t bear to recall.
“What makes you think you can deal with Arlong?”
She asked, biting her lip, her voice carrying a hint of stubbornness.
“He’s a monster that even the Marine can’t do anything about.”
Kaguya let out a light chuckle.
“Based on the fact that I can defeat Buggy.”
The battle between Kaguya and the Buggy Pirates from just now flickered through Nami’s mind.
Although Kaguya had sustained some injuries, he had indeed defeated the Buggy Pirates.
Nami’s gaze gradually became complicated; she looked down at the treasures scattered all over the floor, then looked up at Kaguya’s face, which wore a faint, mocking smile.
Moonlight spilled through the gaps in the warehouse, casting mottled shadows between the two.
“Can you…
really defeat Arlong?”
Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the tattoo on her arm.
That mark, symbolizing shame, seemed to be burning faintly at this moment.
Kaguya bent down to pick up a gold coin and flipped it gently with his finger.
The gold coin traced a shining arc in the air before landing steadily back in his hand.
“That depends on your sincerity.”
He spoke with pointed meaning, his gaze roaming over Nami.
Nami’s breath hitched, and a blush rose to her cheeks. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
She naturally understood the implication in Kaguya’s words, but what she cared about more was that promise—the hope of being able to rescue Cocoyasi Village.
She bit her lower lip, a battle raging within her.
“I…
I need to think about it.”
She finally said, her voice trembling slightly.
Kaguya waved his hand.
“Of course you can.”
Kaguya casually tossed the gold coin into the air and caught it steadily again.
“However, my patience is limited.”
Nami clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She thought of the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, thought of Belle-Mere’s smile, and thought of those days of being oppressed by Arlong.
If…
if this man really could…
“Fine!”
She looked up abruptly, her eyes shining with a resolute light.
“I agree!
But you must guarantee that you will make Arlong disappear completely!”
A playful smile curled at the corner of Kaguya’s mouth as he slowly approached Nami.
He reached out and gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.
“Deal.”
Kaguya’s voice was low and magnetic.
Under Nami’s gaze, Kaguya slowly leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
Nami’s body trembled slightly, her eyelashes fluttering as they lowered, her heart pounding like a drum.
Nami instinctively wanted to push him away, but hesitated the moment her hands touched Kaguya’s chest.
The warm sensation from her lips made her forget to breathe for a moment.
Kaguya’s kiss wasn’t rough, yet it carried an undeniable force that left her nowhere to escape.
When Kaguya finally released her, Nami’s cheeks were already as red as a ripe apple.
She took a panicked step back, wiped her lips with the back of her hand, her eyes showing both annoyance and a trace of undetectable palpitation.
“Tastes like oranges, not bad, very sweet.”
Pack up the loot, we’re going home.”
Kaguya began packing the treasure into wooden chests while Nami watched the man before her with a complex expression.
Clearly, when she was bandaging his wounds earlier, he had been so gentle, yet in the blink of an eye, he had made such an excessive demand.
Nami watched Kaguya pack all the treasure into the chests, having no intention of helping at all.
Kaguya found a thick rope from somewhere, tied all the treasure chests together, hoisted them up, and prepared to leave.
“Hey, we agreed just now, you’re giving me half!”
Nami hurriedly chased after him, the sea breeze brushing through her short orange hair, her eyes flashing with stubborn light under the Moonlight.
“Don’t worry, I certainly won’t go back on what I promised you.”
Could you even take it with you if I gave it to you now?
You still need me to carry it for you.”
“Hmph~”
Nami was momentarily speechless and could only let out a light huff.
“Is this your home?”
“No, it’s just a temporary residence.”
Go take a bath.”
Nami stood in the center of the courtyard, Moonlight spilling over her slender figure.
She looked around; although this simple courtyard was dilapidated, it was unexpectedly tidy.
A few wild flowers in the corner swayed gently in the night breeze, emitting a faint fragrance.
“The bathroom is over there.”
Kaguya pointed to a small room in the corner and casually placed the wooden chests full of treasure under the eaves, making a dull thud.
Nami stood in place hesitantly, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.
She suddenly realized that she was about to lose something precious.
But thinking of the matter with Arlong, she gritted her teeth again and stepped towards the bathroom.
Warm water washed over Nami’s body; she closed her eyes, that sudden kiss from just now replaying constantly in her mind.
That unfamiliar sensation made her heart race, yet it also brought an indescribably complex emotion.
She scrubbed the tattoo on her arm forcefully, as if doing so could wash away that painful memory.
“Hey, you didn’t fall asleep in there, did you?”
Kaguya’s voice suddenly came from outside the door, startling Nami so much she nearly slipped.
“I’ll be out in a second!”
She hurriedly responded and quickly dried her body.
When she walked out of the bathroom, she found that Kaguya had already changed into clean clothes and was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, wiping his sword.
Under the Moonlight, the blade gleamed with an eerie, ghostly light.
“Go wait for me in the room.”
Kaguya sheathed onikiri, stood up, and entered the bathroom.
Nami stood in the courtyard, the night breeze lightly brushing her semi-dry hair.
She looked towards the bathroom, listening to the sound of water coming from inside, her heart rate accelerating unconsciously.
Fingers tightly clutching the lapel of her bathrobe, she took a deep breath and turned to walk into the house.
A dim oil lamp was lit inside, its flickering light reflecting the simple furnishings.
A wooden bed, a table, and a few wooden chests piled in the corner.
Nami walked to the bedside and sat down, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the coarse texture of the bedsheets.
She thought of Belle-Mere’s final words, thought of the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, and a wave of bitterness surged in her heart.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Nami’s body instantly tensed up.
She heard footsteps approaching from afar, finally stopping in front of the door.
The door was gently pushed open, and Kaguya walked in, water droplets still clinging to the tips of his hair.
He casually draped a towel over his shoulder, his gaze falling on Nami.
“Nervous?”
The corners of Kaguya’s mouth turned up slightly as he slowly approached.
Nami turned her face away, feigning composure.
“Who…
who’s nervous!”
Kaguya let out a light chuckle and sat down beside her.
The bed frame sagged slightly under his weight, and Nami’s heart sank along with it.
She could feel the warmth emanating from beside her, mixed with the faint scent of soap.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be very gentle.”
Kaguya slowly laid Nami down on the bed and gradually removed the bathrobe from the young girl.
Accompanied by a soft moan, a young girl completed her transformation tonight.