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Chapter 36: Nami's Determination
At the table, Usopp, who had been watching Luffy "bully" Sanji with great interest, turned his head and nudged Ganyu beside him with his elbow, asking in a low voice:
"Ganyu, do you think Luffy will succeed?"
Ganyu picked up a complimentary drink (from Sanji) from the table, took a small sip, and said, "It should be possible, but I think it's more likely he'll be beaten down rather than succeed."
"Well... looking at the current situation, that's indeed very likely."
Usopp nodded deeply in agreement. Putting himself in Sanji's shoes, if he were pestered by Luffy like this all morning, he probably couldn't help but take action either.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel curious, so he leaned closer and asked, "Ganyu, is this how you and Zoro got 'pestered' onto his ship too?"
"Not me, but Zoro really hated him back then." Ganyu said with a nostalgic smile, remembering how Zoro had been driven to the brink of collapse by his antics.
Hearing this, Usopp couldn't help but clap his hands happily. "Looks like Zoro had his own hard time, hahaha!"
Just then.
A figure flashed behind Usopp like a whirlwind. A resentful gaze practically burned two holes in his back, sending a shiver down Usopp's spine.
"You d*mn long-nosed bastard!" Sanji suppressed his anger, his voice filled with rage. "Who gave you permission to speak to Miss Ganyu from so close!"
Usopp knew who it was the moment he heard the voice. He turned around helplessly, only to be met by Sanji's eyes, which were filled with jealousy, envy, and hatred.
"Aren't you working? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to deliver a meal to Miss Ganyu."
Sanji picked up a lunch box and placed it respectfully on the table next to Ganyu, his tone instantly softening.
"Miss Ganyu, this is something I specially prepared for you, filled with all my love..."
"Stop!"
Ganyu decisively raised her hand, stopping him from continuing his creepy speech, and explained calmly, "I've already said it's not for me. Another crewmate on our ship needs it."
"Who? Which bastard dares to enjoy the special meal I prepared for Miss Ganyu?!" Sanji was instantly dumbstruck, his face falling immediately, looking as if he was about to challenge the person to a duel.
"Nami."
Ganyu nonchalantly said the name, then picked up the lunch box and decisively turned to leave.
Sanji was left frozen in place.
His lips moved slightly, and Usopp, who was closest to him, vaguely heard him mutter intermittently to himself:
"Nami... Nami... Miss Nami?"
Suddenly.
It was as if Sanji had been injected with a new soul. He abruptly turned, grabbed Usopp's shoulders tightly, and shook him violently. "You have a beautiful girl named Nami on your ship?"
"Yes... there is indeed such a person..." Usopp, dizzy from the shaking, answered with difficulty, then asked in surprise, "Wait, how do you know she's beautiful?"
"That's not important! What's important is that you actually have two angels on your ship!"
Sanji was completely lost in his own fantasy, his eyes turning into hearts, and pink bubbles seemed to float around him. He froze on the spot, as if petrified.
At this moment, Luffy, who had been harassing Sanji all morning, happened to walk over. He saw this scene and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know either, it just suddenly became like this." Usopp shrugged.
"Hmph..."
Luffy never wasted time on things he couldn't understand. He walked up to Sanji and shouted in his signature energetic voice, "Sanji, join us!"
However.
This time, just as Luffy's voice fell, Sanji abruptly snapped back to reality. He gripped Luffy's shoulders tightly, his eyes burning with rage. "Tell me! How did you get Miss Ganyu and Miss Nami on your ship?!"
"Just like I'm inviting you, of course." Luffy said matter-of-factly.
It was true. Back then, whether it was Ganyu or Nami, he had only invited them once, and they had joined.
...
On the other side.
Ganyu returned to the Going Merry with her lunch box.
The moment I stepped on deck, I saw Zoro covered in sweat.
She didn't want to disturb them, so she walked straight towards the stairs leading to the women's quarters.
However, Zoro called out to stop her, his gaze sweeping over the bento box in her hand.
"Where's Nami? Why has she been in her room all day without coming out?"
Ganyu paused, shook the lunch box in her hand, and said in a natural tone, "She's not feeling well and is resting. I brought her something to eat."
Hearing this, Zoro stared at her for a moment, then said suspiciously, "Really... I feel like you're hiding something from us?"
Those words were spoken.
Ganyu's expression faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered, adjusted her posture, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Why would I hide anything from you... You should just focus on your training, lest you end up being unable to defeat even a small knife!"
After speaking, Ganyu quickened her pace and hurried down the stairs.
Zoro watched her slightly hasty retreat and pursed his lips helplessly.
Did she really think he was a fool?
Forget it, if she doesn't want to talk, let her be. Anyway, it's probably nothing major.
"One thousand more swings... Hah, you think you can beat me with a small knife? Are you kidding me?"
...
Ganyu gently unlocked the door with the key.
The moment she pushed the door open and stepped inside, she saw a figure rushing towards her!
Ganyu, seemingly caught off guard, was tackled to the ground, the lunch box slipping from her hand and rolling to the side.
An orange-haired girl straddled her waist and abdomen, her hands tightly gripping Ganyu's wrists. Her short orange hair was somewhat disheveled, and she was breathing heavily.
"Nami, I brought you something to eat." Ganyu blinked, looking at the orange-haired girl above her, her tone still calm.
"Why... Why are you stopping me!" Nami lowered her head, her hair falling and brushing against Ganyu's cheeks, making her feel a little itchy.
Her eyes were red and her face was stained with tears, clear evidence that she had been crying alone earlier. Her voice was filled with suppressed sobs.
"Because you can't possibly succeed on your own," Ganyu replied, her eyes devoid of emotion.
"What makes you so sure!"
Nami retorted emotionally, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I already have the treasure from the ship, I've gathered the 100 million Berries! As long as I give the money to Arlong, he'll agree to let Cocoa Village go!"
Then.
She forced her eyes open, looking almost pleadingly at Ganyu, who was pinned beneath her. "Please, Ganyu..."
She knew better than anyone that the only reason she could temporarily overpower Ganyu, who possessed inhuman strength, was because the other party had no intention of harming her.
If she couldn't convince Ganyu, she would never be able to leave alone with the money and the ship.
Ganyu didn't speak, but began to slowly exert her strength.
Using the power of her waist, abdomen, and arms, she easily reversed their positions.
In the blink of an eye, Ganyu was on top of Nami, gently pressing her down onto the floor.
Ganyu released one hand, gently caressing her cheek.
"Nami, you've met quite a few pirates on our journey, from Buggy to Kuro. Do you think any of them would keep their promises?"
"But you haven't even met Arlong, how can you be sure of his character... waaah..."
Nami tried to argue, but her voice grew smaller and smaller, until it finally turned into a suppressed sob.
Because she knew very well in her heart that even she herself didn't believe Arlong would keep his promise.
Nami's body trembled, her voice barely audible.
"What should I do...?"
"It's simple."
Ganyu helped Nami sit up, then picked up the lunch box that had rolled to the side, opened the lid, and pushed it in front of Nami.
Inside was an exquisite and fragrant dish, with a slightly comical heart shape drawn in sauce next to it.
"Let's eat the meal made by that perverted cook, which is said to be cooked with 'true love'."
Ganyu's voice was tinged with mockery at first, then became incredibly serious and passionate. "And then, wait for us to take back Cocoa Village from Arlong together!"
Hearing this, Nami abruptly raised her head, staring at Ganyu in disbelief.
She had never imagined that Ganyu would offer to help her so selflessly.
"I don't deserve your help. I had ulterior motives from the beginning; I just wanted to use you to make money, and then steal all your money..."
Nami lowered her head, her face filled with guilt.
"That's enough. You should save those apologies for the captain."
Ganyu raised her hand to cover her mouth, then pointed to the lunch box below her and smiled. "I told you, I just came to bring you food."
Nami stared blankly at Ganyu, then lowered her head to look at the bento box in front of her. When she saw the large heart-shaped pattern, she burst into tears and smiled.
"Who did this? It's so disgusting."