From the 173 million, Allen had used 4 on Nami and Kaya, 2 on the Skill: Hiken, and 76 on his own level, leaving 91 million still available.
Seeing the results of recklessly increasing his Skills, it was better to level them cautiously.
"If that's the case, I think level three is appropriate for now..."
[For all of them?]
"Yeah..."
Lenalee proceeded to level up all the Skills in an instant, and as expected Allen didn't feel any changes, but when he looked at the floating parchment he was able to confirm it.
Fire Logia Skills:
Hiken Level 3
Firefly Level 1 > 3
Higan Level 1 > 3
Monkey D. Garp Skills:
Fist of Love: Level 1 > 3
Noro Paramecia Skills:
Noro Beam: Level 1 > 3
Rokushiki Skills:
Shigan: Level 1 > 3
Tekkai: Level 1 > 3
Soru: Level 1 > 3
Tremor Paramecia Skills:
Gura Gura: 1 > 3
[The silver Skill uses silver coins, just reminding you...]
"I know... there goes another 34 million," Allen said with empty eyes, feeling like he was gambling at a casino and losing everything.
The amount of wealth he would need in the future was absurd. He would need billions just to reach the level of the strongest people in the world, not even counting all the millions he would need for Skills, the ship, the Haki he still didn't even know about, and of course his crew. He had no intention of becoming strong alone.
Allen sighed. "At this rate, I'm gonna have to look for the One Piece even if I don't care about becoming Pirate King..."
Nami and Kaya laughed. Searching for the One Piece not for fame, not for adventure, not for the title, but simply because you're broke was probably the biggest joke in the world.
"Alright girls, this is enough for now... We'll use the remaining 54 when the time comes."
With those coins, Allen could upgrade the ship if needed or repair it. He also needed to have money available to level up the girls every week, and of course for emergencies.
"I agree. At least in the East Blue, it's almost impossible to get a treasure like this again," Nami said seriously.
It took Arlong and Nezumi years—many years—of robbing people to raise that money.
Kaya showed a sad expression, but Nami soon smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry Kaya, I'm fine now, thanks to you guys... for not abandoning me."
Life at sea was cruel. Ninety-nine percent of pirates were capable of abandoning their companions to save themselves. That was simply how things worked. No matter how long someone had been part of a crew, when their life was in danger loyalty became secondary, and Nami had been blessed to find companions who didn't act that way.
"Don't worry, I'll do it every time you need me," Allen said with a faint smile. "I won't let our Nami get bullied."
Nami blushed and nodded.
"I see you guys are having fun~"
Everyone turned to see Nojiko climbing onto the ship. She carried a sack of tangerines on her back.
"You can't leave without trying our best harvest," the blue-haired girl said with a smile.
"Nojiko..."
Nami's voice began to tremble. She knew that once they left, it would take years before she saw her sister again, and in the worst-case scenario... this could be a final goodbye.
"Don't make that face, little sister," Nojiko said gently with a soft smile. "You have a dream to fulfill, don't you? Besides, are you really going to let Kaya steal our hero away from you?"
"N-no, I-I..." Kaya blushed and started waving her hands around, but before she could deny it, she glanced at Allen and her words got stuck.
"You've got nothing to be embarrassed about. It's only natural for women to fall for me. Just do me a favor and don't try to kidnap me, I've already experienced that too many times."
The girls froze at Allen's narcissistic declaration, but soon burst into laughter. Allen's ability to turn a melancholic atmosphere into something cheerful was terrifying.
Allen smiled as he watched the three girls, but then remembered something and interrupted them.
"By the way, Nami, we're staying three more days, so take your time saying goodbye to your village."
"Huh? Why?"
None of the girls understood Allen's intentions. Now that he had made an enemy of the Marines, staying here seemed foolish.
Allen stopped smiling.
"I want to test my new strength before heading to Loguetown and, of course, the Grand Line."
Allen had realized how lacking his real combat experience was during the battle against Arlong's pirates. He had been thinking about that fight and realized he could've done better. His movements, his decisions, his fighting style... everything had huge room for improvement, but he hadn't noticed because of his lack of experience.
"I see. If that's your decision, then I support you, Captain," Nami said while giving him a thumbs-up.
"Me too!" Kaya shouted with sparkling eyes. Little by little, she was becoming more and more of an Allen fan, starting to admire everything he did.
Allen worried that Kaya might take that admiration too far, but at the same time, being admired by such a beautiful girl felt good, so he let it slide, hoping he wouldn't regret it later.
Nojiko, who had stayed quietly on the side, watched with envy as the three of them shared an incredibly close bond of trust and perhaps something more.
'You really got lucky, little sister. But you deserve it after everything you've been through.'
Nojiko turned around, about to leave. Realizing it, Allen called out to her.
"By the way, Nojiko, where would you like your cabin to be?"
"Huh?" Nojiko looked at Allen in surprise and confusion.
"You're going to increase the size of the ship?" Kaya asked curiously.
"Well, upgrading it to the level of a brig is complicated, but turning the Black Pearl into a large caravel is possible."
"Are you sure? Managing a ship over twenty meters long with only four people is difficult."
"It doesn't matter. I plan to improve the sails for remote control."
"How convenient, but it kinda sounds like the ship's possessed by a ghost~" Nami joked.
Kaya turned pale and instinctively grabbed Allen's sleeve. "Don't say that!"
Allen patted her head. "Don't worry, all the upgrades come from Lenalee. She might be a cursed chest, but she won't hurt us."
[Who are you calling a cursed chest?! Huh?!]
"Hey!" Nojiko shouted, interrupting them. She frowned, looking angry, but deep down she was nervous and anxious. "I never agreed to this!"
Nami looked at her sister, then exchanged glances with Allen, telling him to speak.
Allen stepped forward until he stood in front of her. The girl was beautiful, strong, and brave. She had a light tan from the sun and calluses on her hands from working in the fields.
"Nojiko, I know you think you're not suited for life at sea. But I've been watching you, and I know part of you wants to come with us, doesn't it?"
"I..." Nojiko stepped back.
Allen felt the same thing he had sensed from Kaya. Both of them had lived yearning for freedom, but unlike Nami, both Nojiko and Kaya seemed destined to remain trapped in their hometowns, only able to wave goodbye with a smile to those leaving them behind.
Allen leaned his face closer to Nojiko's, making her blush.
"Don't lie. Deep down, you've always wanted to live like Nami, haven't you?"
"I..." Nojiko backed away until she touched the railing. "I don't have a dream like Nami, or a goal like you... I'll just stay here, take care of Bell-mère's farm and... ouch!"
Allen interrupted her by flicking her forehead with his finger.
"Dummy, since when do you need a dream to live a good life?!"
"..." Nojiko widened her eyes.
Allen pointed at her chest. "Dreams are important, that's true. But people can still be happy without them. Don't you want to leave this place and go on an adventure? Maybe it'll last a few years, maybe your whole life, but what matters is that you did it... And who knows, maybe you'll find your dream someday..."
"...!"
Nojiko was mesmerized by Allen's sly smile.
She opened her mouth, but realized she couldn't refuse anymore. She knew she should say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Fine. If you can't decide for yourself, then I'll give you an absolute reason to accept." Allen smiled proudly, then lowered his tone with an expression of sorrow and a touch of despair. "As you can see, my crew doesn't have a chef... or at least a cook. Nami only makes black matter, Kaya's a high-class lady who's never cooked, Lenalee doesn't have a body, and I'm the captain, so I can't take that role! Please don't force me to recruit a man at the Baratie, I don't want to be traumatized!"
Just the thought of having to go through the same thing he experienced when leveling up Kaya and Nami—but with a man—sent a chill down Allen's spine. But at the same time, he knew he needed a cook unless he wanted to live off stale bread and water forever.
Nojiko stared at him in disbelief. This young man with an ego the size of the Red Line was begging her to join him so he wouldn't have to recruit a man as the cook. What nonsense!
"Hahaha!" Unable to hold it in any longer, Nojiko burst into laughter. "Fine, you don't have to beg. Count me in, Captain!"
Allen's eyes lit up.
"Welcome aboard, Nojiko!"
Nojiko nodded and shook Allen's hand.
"By the way, I need to head back. I have to find someone to take care of the farm while we're gone, and I should also tell Genzo, or he'll have a panic attack if I disappear~"
"Do you need help with your father?"
"No, that would only make it worse. Besides, you've got more important things to do, Captain~" Nojiko teased.
Allen didn't understand what she meant, but suddenly a cold hand landed on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw two girls and a chest wrapped in a dark aura silently staring at him.
"Hey, girls, I hope you understand that was only to convince Nojiko..."
"We know..." Nami said with a smile that wasn't really a smile. "Sorry for cooking like garbage."
"I'm sorry for being so bad at cooking too," Kaya said with a cute but dark smile.
"Sorry for not having a body..."
The three "girls" slowly approached Allen.
"Wait, we can solve this peacefully, there's no need for violence..."
"Come on, don't do this!"
"No, not the face!"
Somehow, the man who declared himself the future King of the World was now begging for his life at the mercy of his own crew.
....
(Three days later)
Nami looked at the horizon worriedly. Three days had passed since Allen set sail, leaving her with Nojiko to sort out their affairs.
That guy said he wanted to properly learn how to navigate, so he told Nami that he would handle sailing during those three days while also practicing with his new strength by attacking ships.
At first, things were fine. On the first day, Allen informed her through the Den Den Mushi that he had easily defeated three pirate ships, captured their captains, and turned them in for their bounties.
On the second day, Allen robbed a merchant ship. With his new strength, it was very easy, and according to his report, he found nearly two million worth of treasure.
Nami felt proud of her captain. This guy really knew how to make her happy.
However, on the third day, communication stopped. Something must have happened, or at least that was what Nami thought as she worried about Allen and Kaya.
"Nami, you should sleep..." said Nojiko as she approached.
Nami had spent the whole night staring at the sea, waiting for Allen to return.
"But..." Despite being a strong girl, Nami looked like she was about to break from worry.
Nojiko sighed. She had underestimated how important her crewmates had become to her, especially that eccentric captain.
Nojiko decided to be firm.
"Nami, you should trust Allen more. He's practically invincible in the East Blue, you know that."
As a member of the crew, Nojiko had earned the right to learn about Lenalee, and of course about how Allen strengthened himself and his current power.
Nami knew her sister was right. A pirate with a thirty-million bounty was already considered one of the strongest in the East Blue. One worth a hundred million was complete insanity. Even so, she still felt worried. Their journey had barely begun, and something like this had already happened.
Nojiko sighed. Even if Allen was someone who seemed to live on impulse, at least during these past few days he had proven himself reliable.
"Nami, you'll see. They'll come back any minute now, and you'll feel really silly for worrying... ah."
As if it were a prediction or a spell, a jet-black ship appeared on the horizon.
"No way... with perfect timing?!" exclaimed Nojiko.
Nami was surprised and relieved, but at the same time annoyed. She needed to interrogate Allen to find out why he hadn't contacted her.
The Black Pearl advanced at full speed until it reached the coast, then a small boat was lowered from the ship to disembark.
....
Nami raised a finger, pointing at Allen with disbelief and anger. "Allen... who is she?!"
Behind Allen stood a girl smiling as she curiously looked at the sisters.
She was a very beautiful girl, with plenty of curves like the most beautiful women in the world. Her large eyes were a hypnotic violet color, carrying a gaze that made you want to get along with her.
The girl wore a white dress with a red-and-white jacket over it that, strangely enough, didn't seem to make her hot.
However, her most distinctive feature was her hair. Styled into two buns that resembled ears on top of her head, it had an exotic two-tone color. One side was white and the other red, perfectly split down the middle.
Allen smiled, crossing his arms with a sly look.
"Glad you noticed. This girl's name is Uta, and she's now part of the crew."
"Huh?!" both Nami and Nojiko exclaimed.
This guy disappeared for three days, came back with a cute girl, and now suddenly says she's part of the crew.
Kaya knew this was hard to accept, so she scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
"Come on, girls, welcome her," Allen said strangely happy.
Playing along with Allen, Uta shrugged. "Hi, I'm Uta. Nice to meet you. As you can see, Allen kidnapped me, and I'm not really sure, but I think I'm a pirate now... or maybe he proposed to me, I'm not sure anymore~"
Nami stumbled, then forced a stiff smile before grabbing Allen by the hand and dragging him somewhere else to talk.
"What were you thinking?!" Nami whispered angrily while shaking Allen by the collar. "And what was that marriage proposal thing supposed to mean?!"
Allen laughed. "Ignore her sense of humor. Uta is our musician, and she's strong too, I guarantee it."
Nami looked at Allen suspiciously. Honestly, she didn't mind Allen recruiting more people. Their crew was so small she wasn't even sure it qualified as one. But for some reason, the bastard only recruited cute girls, which was extremely suspicious to her.
Nami observed Uta. She was introducing herself to Nojiko while Kaya tried to explain how they had met her.
"Explain," Nami demanded like a jealous girlfriend.
"Well..."
Allen had gotten lost at sea, and not only that, in the middle of a storm he lost the Den Den Mushi after it fell overboard, which was why he couldn't contact Nami.
After the storm passed, they arrived at an island called Elegia. It was practically abandoned except for two people, and one of them was Uta, who was singing inside the ruins of a chapel.
Allen was enchanted by her voice and recruited her.
"Just like that?!" Nami was incredulous. What kind of girl would accept the invitation of some suspicious stranger who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?!
"Maybe because I'm handsome and charming?" Allen said with a smile that made Nami want to punch him.
"..."
Allen coughed, realizing Nami was nearing her limit.
"Well, that and Uta agreed to join the crew on the condition that I kick her father's ass. He's a pirate who abandoned her."
Nami widened her eyes. Now it made sense why Uta accepted, but was that really her wish?
Allen shrugged.
"Well, she has a second wish too, but she asked me to keep it secret for now. As for kicking her dad's ass, how hard could that be?"
Somewhere in the Grand Line, a red-haired man sneezed.
Nami looked at Allen suspiciously. Everything made sense, but she still wasn't satisfied. This guy only recruited cute girls, which was very suspicious. Was he trying to build a harem or something?
Nami felt a wave of jealousy while looking at Uta. She was a very beautiful girl. Allen definitely had hidden intentions even if he acted like a saint.
Seeing Nami's suspicion, Allen shook his head and put on a hurt expression. "Nami, up until now I've been a gentleman with you and Kaya. Are you really going to doubt me?"
Nami was surprised and remembered that despite the embarrassing situation during the level-up process, Allen truly hadn't crossed the line even though she practically acted in such a seductive way.
"Sorry," Nami said, reluctantly accepting.
Allen's attitude immediately changed, his hurt expression disappearing as he turned to Uta with a thumbs up.
"Uta, Nami accepted you!"
Uta also gave a thumbs up, her eyes sparkling conspiratorially. It seemed Allen had recruited another girl just as weird as him this time.
Nami, meanwhile, stumbled.
That son of a bitch had tricked her.
"Allen!"
"Yes, I'm Allen."
The shameless bastard smiled. It was too late to complain now, and besides, he was the captain, so Nami could only accept that this shameless guy got his way again.
"Hehe, Allen, your crew is fun~" Uta laughed while covering her mouth.
....
At last, the moment arrived.
On the shore of Cocoyasi Village, all the villagers bid farewell to Nami and Nojiko with smiles and tears. Those two sisters had been pillars of this place for a very long time.
In Nami's case, despite all the misunderstandings, in the end, everything she did was for them.
As for Genzo, he sent the sisters off with affection.
"You bastard! How dare you kidnap my daughters?!" Genzo shouted while crawling on the ground tied up like a worm, something Allen had obviously done.
Because the man refused to let Nojiko leave with Allen.
"He's such a great father," Allen said, moved by Genzo's love for his daughters while completely ignoring the fact that the man looked ready to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
"See you later, father!" Allen shouted, making Nojiko and Nami feel embarrassed.
As for Genzo, he started crying tears of blood.
Meanwhile, Kaya didn't know what expression to make, while Uta was on the ground laughing hysterically.
[I can already imagine what your farewell from your homeland was like...]
Allen had a natural talent, almost a miraculous gift, for making people angry.
The Black Pearl slowly sailed away until it disappeared beyond the horizon.
Their destination: Loguetown, the Town of the Beginning and the End, the last stop before the Grand Line. However, Allen had no idea what awaited him there.
....
"Sorry, Genzo-san," said a man while untying the ropes.
"Just untie me already." Genzo stood up and watched the ship sail away. "I'm not against Nami and Nojiko choosing to follow that young man, but as their father, I can't help worrying."
A middle-aged woman smiled. "That young man is very strong. They'll be fine."
Genzo sighed and pulled a wanted poster from his clothes.
"I know, but with strength comes fame, and with fame comes everyone's attention... I just hope their journey doesn't become too complicated."
The moment everyone saw the poster, they were stunned. It showed an image of Allen standing with Nami in his arms while tossing a gold coin onto Arlong's corpse.
— Allen Walker "White Hair"
— Wanted: Dead or Alive
Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries
"ONE HUNDRED MILLION?!"
It was insane. An initial bounty of one hundred million shattered every record. What kind of monster did they think Allen was?!
"No..." Genzo growled worriedly. He could see the truth behind this move.
Giving Allen such a massive bounty meant that someone in the Marines and/or the World Government wanted him dead before he even entered the Grand Line.
Allen and his crew would have been in grave danger!
At this moment, everyone believed Allen didn't actually have the strength of a hundred million berry pirate based on his feats. After all, Arlong and Kuro were only twenty million berry pirates, and neither Nezumi nor Morgan was a captain who had earned their rank through strength.
Killing Allen Walker was easy money!
Every bounty hunter, pirate, and Marine in the East Blue, and maybe even several pirates from the Grand Line, would see him as a walking mountain of free gold waiting wherever he went.
"Keep your promise and protect those girls... or I'll haunt you even in death"
....
Allen sneezed while standing on top of the Black Pearl's figurehead.
"Someone must be missing me. Probably some beauty," Allen said smugly.
[Are you sure they're not cursing you?]
"Nonsense, I'm charming!"
[Sure -_-]
====
A/N: Welcome, Ado... I mean, Uta 🍷🗿
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