Adam opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything.
He understood Nami’s hesitation.
He sighed, watching Nami disappear in the direction of the village, his heart filled with helplessness.
“It seems activating the system won’t be that simple!
I can only wait and see.” Adam looked toward Cocoyasi Village, knowing he still needed to wait.
Or, he needed a catalyst that would make Nami set her mind.
Nami returned to her small hut in Cocoyasi Village.
She locked the door behind her and slowly slid down to sit on the floor with her back against it.
The glow of those three items in the cabin seemed to still be flickering before her eyes.
But the condition Adam proposed was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the fire of hope that had just been ignited within her.
“Mortgaging freedom…” Nami buried her face in her knees and closed her eyes in pain.
“But that power…” Nami clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
If she could master lightning, she could immediately defeat Arlong and liberate the village!
No more waiting, no more stealing, no more forcing a smile for Arlong!
The temptation was too great, so great that it made her heart tremble.
Two thoughts warred fiercely in her mind, leaving her distraught.
She didn’t even respond when Nojiko knocked on the door to call her for dinner.
Over the next two days.
Nami appeared somewhat absent-minded.
She went to the tangerine orchard but just stared blankly at the fruit.
She took out her hidden treasure to count it; eighty-three million Berries had once been her entire hope.
At this moment, it seemed so pale, because it couldn’t even buy that core power.
She would also unconsciously walk to the seaside.
She gazed from afar at that anchored auction ship, which looked like a mirage, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Adam saw Nami’s struggle, but he knew he couldn’t rush things.
The night grew deep, and only the whispers of waves caressing the shore remained on the sea’s surface.
Inside Nami’s hut.
The orange-haired girl suddenly sat up from her bed, a flash of determination in her eyes.
Two full days of torment and weighing options had finally led her to be completely consumed by that irresistible thought.
‘Steal!’ Since she couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to mortgage herself.
Then the only way was to rely on her best master-thief skills.
To get those three treasures without anyone noticing!
She changed into tight-fitting dark clothes and tied up her orange hair.
Like the most agile wild cat, she slipped silently into the sea.
She swam toward the auction ship that crouched like a giant beast under the Moonlight.
Her movements were light and practiced, barely creating any splashes.
However, just as her fingers touched the slippery hull of the ship.
Inside the cabin, Adam, lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.
A complex smile curled at the corner of Adam’s mouth.
Sure enough, Nami ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of that power.
She chose the method she was most familiar with.
“System, monitor her actions.
Unless she enters my private area, there’s no need to intervene.” Adam issued the command to the system in his mind.
Then, an invisible light screen unfolded before Adam’s eyes.
It clearly showed Nami’s wraith-like silhouette.
She kept her body low, using the shadows to hide herself perfectly.
Her eyes scanned the darkness alertly as she crept step by step toward the auction hall.
“Her professionalism is truly beyond reproach.” Adam marveled inwardly, but at the same time, he felt a twinge of pity for Nami.
If he had power now, it would be just an Arlong Pirate Crew; how hard would it be to help her eliminate them!
Nami’s heart was racing as she successfully reached the entrance of the auction hall.
She slipped inside; the spacious hall looked exceptionally empty and silent under the Moonlight.
Her gaze was instantly drawn to the three displays in the center of the hall that were still emitting soft pillars of light!
The treasures were still there!
A surge of immense joy and excitement rushed to her head.
She suppressed her excitement and crept toward the first display.
The scroll containing the power of thunder was within reach.
“It’s mine!” Nami’s eyes sparkled with a light of absolute determination.
She reached out her hand, which was trembling slightly with excitement, and quickly grabbed for the scroll within the light pillar!
However, in the next instant.
Her smile froze on her face.
Her palm did not touch the scroll.
Instead, it was firmly blocked by an invisible force field that seemed soft yet was incredibly tough!
No matter how much force she applied, the pillar of light remained unmoved, and her fingers couldn’t penetrate it in the slightest.
“How can this be!” Nami didn’t believe it and tried the other two light pillars, but the result was exactly the same.
The spiritual power potion and the Aether Meditation Method were also firmly protected.
Excitement instantly turned into anxiety.
She began to circle the light pillars, observing closely and trying to find a breakthrough, but found nothing.
The light pillars were seamless, without a single flaw.
She pulled out the simple tools she carried with her.
Fine wires, a small crowbar; she tried prying, piercing, and even using her body to ram the light pillars.
All her efforts were like throwing a stone into the ocean.
The layer of light didn’t even show a ripple.
Nami was panting with exhaustion, fine beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead.
She slapped the light pillars in despair.
Looking at the treasures inside that were within reach and could change her fate, yet felt like they were across an insurmountable chasm.
A deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her.
She finally realized that Adam dared to let her board the ship for a tour so confidently…
And didn’t even set up extra protection after she left, because he had absolute confidence!
The defense of these light pillars was something she simply couldn’t understand, let alone break through.
Dejection, grievance, and the frustration of a failed plan all surged into her heart.
She slumped onto the cold floor, leaning against the display, her orange head drooping powerlessly.
The path of theft was also completely blocked off.
The Moonlight shone through the porthole, stretching her shadow very long, making her look exceptionally lonely and forlorn.
After sitting there blankly for a long time, Nami finally stood up slowly.
She took one last look at the three unattainable treasures, her eyes complex, finally turning into a barely audible sigh.
She left the auction hall silently, just as she had come.
Returning the way she came, she slipped into the sea and swam toward the shore.
From beginning to end, Adam never showed himself.
He silently watched through the light screen as Nami went from being full of hope to trying her hardest…
To her final despairing surrender, watching her leave dejectedly.
“This is for the best,” Adam whispered to himself.
“Letting her fully understand that conventional means won’t work might help her see reality faster and make a choice.” He knew that after this failed theft attempt…
Nami would either completely give up on the auction items and continue her original long and painful money-saving plan…
Or, she would have to truly start seriously considering the ‘contract mortgage’ proposal he offered.
And the catalyst that could push her to make up her mind might not be far off.
Arlong’s shadow wouldn’t give her much time to hesitate.
Sure enough, on the afternoon of the third day.
The catalyst arrived in a brutal fashion.
Several Fishman pirates swaggered in from the other end of the village.
The leader was Chew.
A Fishman with protruding lips who specialized in spitting water bullets to attack.
They were sent by Arlong for a routine ‘inspection’ and to collect ‘tribute.’ When the villagers saw the Fishmen, the color drained from their faces, and fear spread like a plague.
People hid in their homes, yet were forced to open their doors to face this group of deadly omens.
“Where’s this month’s money?” “Hurry up and hand it over!” Chew impatiently banged on an old farmer’s door.
The old farmer walked out tremblingly, his face written with despair and pleading.
“Lord…
Lord Chew, wasn’t the money just paid a few days ago!” “A few days ago was a few days ago, today is today!” “Stop the nonsense!” A Fishman next to Chew shoved the old farmer aside and roared fiercely: “No money?
Then use something else as collateral!” “Or, do you want to taste the flavor of Fishman Karate?” Similar scenes were playing out all over the village.
The Fishmen roughly searched house by house.
Shouts, cries, and the sound of things being smashed intertwined.
Some villagers tried to argue, only to be met with kicks and punches.
The Fishmen’s strength, far exceeding that of ordinary humans, easily knocked adult men to the ground, leaving them groaning in pain.
Nami hid behind a large tree near the tangerine orchard, covering her mouth tightly, her nails digging into her palms until blood seeped out.
She watched her familiar fellow villagers being bullied.
She saw their faces twisted in fear and pain.
Listening to their helpless wails, her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
Just then, Chew seemed dissatisfied with the slow progress.
He took a deep breath and aimed at the landmark large tree in the center of the village square.
“Water Cannon!” A high-pressure water bullet shot out, instantly blasting a hole through the thick trunk.
The tree shook violently, and leaves rustled down.
“Listen up!” Chew shouted arrogantly, “We’ll give you one last half-day!” “If you haven’t gathered this month’s tribute by evening, don’t blame us!” The Fishmen left behind their threats and swaggered away.
Leaving behind a village in a mess and the sounds of despairing cries.