one piece world.
The sky was swallowed by thick dark clouds, and the once calm sea became restless.
The strong wind howled, and the sails flapped loudly.
Lightning, like a sharp blade, tore through the darkness, its dazzling light streaking across the sky.
Waves surged, and giant swells crashed against the ship one after another, creating a deafening roar.
The Going Merry was like a lonely leaf, tossing and turning in the violent waves.
Lin Ning and his group had already left the Sea Restaurant and were once again heading towards the Grand Line.
The three who had been training on the deck had to stop due to the severe weather.
Lin Ning stood at the bow, feeling the oppressive force of the storm, but suddenly noticed Nami by the helm, looking unusually quiet.
Her hands gripped the rudder tightly, her knuckles white, and her eyes held an unconcealable struggle and pain.
"Nami, what's wrong?" Lin Ning approached, his gaze fixed intently on Nami.
Lin Ning had actually noticed Nami was troubled for a while, but she seemed to have some reservations and wouldn't speak up.
Regarding Nami's unspoken difficulties, Lin Ning never pressed her as long as she didn't bring it up herself.
But seeing the increasingly unconcealable struggle in Nami's eyes, Lin Ning finally asked.
Nami's body trembled, and she forced a strained smile, but it couldn't hide the confusion and sorrow in her eyes.
She was silent for a moment, then finally let go of the rudder, her voice trembling as she said:
"Lin Ning, there are some things I've wanted to say but didn't know how... But now... perhaps it's time to tell you all."
Beneath the roaring thunder, Nami knelt on the deck, her head bowed, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Everyone gathered around, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji's eyes filled with worry, while Lin Ning quietly waited for her to confide.
"My hometown is Cocoyasi Village," Nami's voice choked, her raised face streaked with tears.
"It's no longer a village; it's hell... Ever since the Arlong Pirates took over, they've brutally oppressed the villagers.
Everyone lives in fear. My mother, Belle-mère..." Nami's voice trembled even more intensely.
"To protect my sister and me, she was willing to sacrifice her life... And I, I couldn't do anything, I could only become Arlong's pawn."
As she spoke, she pounded the deck hard, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
"For years, I've been saving money, just to buy back the village's freedom! But Arlong... they would never keep their promise!"
The old Nami still held onto hope, a glimmer of hope that Arlong would keep his word.
But Nami also knew that it was just her comforting herself, giving herself an excuse that she could save the village.
It was just an unrealistic fantasy, but it was enough to make Nami put in all her effort.
Nami's voice echoed in the strong wind as she covered her face with her hands, sobbing in pain.
"I hate them! I hate my own powerlessness! Please... help me defeat Arlong, save Cocoyasi Village, please help me!"
Nami knelt on the ground, tearfully pleading with Lin Ning, Luffy, Zoro, and the others.
Nami's past was filled with a mix of pain and hope.
She grew up in a place called Cocoyasi Village, living with her adoptive mother Belle-mère and older sister Nojiko.
However, this seemingly peaceful small fishing village had its course of Nami's life changed by a pirate attack.
Belle-mère, originally a Marine soldier, found Nami and Nojiko, who were helpless, during a battle.
She adopted them, becoming their mother. Although life was poor, Belle-mère always protected this family with love and strength.
However, the arrival of the Arlong Pirates shattered everything.
Arlong, a cruel fish-man from the Grand Line, invaded Cocoyasi Village with his subordinates.
And forcibly collected exorbitant "head taxes" from the villagers. Belle-mère was unable to pay for all three of them, but she firmly declared that Nami and Nojiko were her family.
This maternal love touched everyone but also enraged Arlong.
He killed Belle-mère in front of Nami and Nojiko, making Nami witness the departure of her most important loved one.
After Belle-mère's death, Arlong recognized Nami's excellent navigation talent and forced her to draw navigation charts for him.
At the same time, he offered to ransom the village for 100 million Berries.
To protect the villagers, Nami had no choice but to cooperate with Arlong.
She outwardly became a member of the Arlong Pirates, but in reality, she bore the heavy burden of loneliness and pain, secretly working desperately to accumulate the ransom money.
During this process, Nami endured external misunderstandings and accusations from the villagers.
Although she was seen as a traitor in the villagers' eyes, in reality, she always deeply loved her village and family.
To earn the ransom, she took countless risks, even stealing, but all of this was to fulfill the promise she made with Belle-mère to protect their home... Rolling thunder came from the sky, as if nature was roaring.
The strong wind, carrying rain, swept across the sea, and icy raindrops, like arrows, lashed down, creating splashes of water on the deck.
Everyone on the deck was drenched by the rain. Under the lightning, Lin Ning looked at Nami kneeling on the ground, and an inexplicable surge of emotion rose in his heart.
He slowly crouched down, placed his hand on Nami's shoulder, and his gaze was firm:
"Nami, you are our ship's navigator, and our nakama (companion). You should have told us sooner!"
Luffy, abandoning his usual carefree and lively demeanor, became more serious than ever before.
He took off his straw hat and placed it on Nami's head.
The heavy rain drenched Luffy's hair. Amidst the lightning and thunder, Luffy raised his arms and roared at the sky with all his might.
"Of course!"
A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Luffy's furious roar at the heavens.
Zoro stood by, his Wado Ichimonji subtly trembling, a domineering and cold profile on his face:
"Arlong Pirates, my sword is already thirsty!"
Sanji didn't speak, looking at the girl kneeling on the ground, his face filled with anger and pity, vowing to avenge Nami.
"Going Merry, change course! Target, Arlong Pirates!"
Luffy's loud shout drowned out the rolling thunder.
"Ooh!!!" Everyone responded in unison.
"Everyone..."
Nami, kneeling on the ground, saw their reactions and was choked with sobs.
The storm gradually weakened, and the thunder slowly dissipated.
The dark clouds in the sky began to thin, revealing tiny gaps, and warm sunlight poured down through the cracks, sprinkling onto the undulating sea.
The previously gloomy seawater gradually regained its clarity, and the sunlight danced on the crests of the waves.
The sails swelled in the gentle breeze, and the Going Merry steadily and swiftly sailed towards the Arlong Pirates.
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