Cocoa Village, Nishimura Coast.
The beach was packed with villagers from Cocoyasi Village, all dressed in clean, tidy clothes, bidding farewell to Kai and his group.
"Nami left a hundred million Berries behind!" Nojiko said to Genzo, her voice filled with helplessness.
"What? That was all her hard-earned... That idiot, we owe her another favor..." Genzo also said, feeling helpless.
He knew Nami's temper; no one could change her mind once she'd made a decision.
Just then, Nami sprinted towards the coast. Luffy, Kai, and the others smiled as they saw her.
"Luffy, set sail!" Nami shouted as she ran.
"Huh? But the villagers are still—" Luffy scratched his head, his words cut short as Nami dashed into the crowd.
"Nami!" Nojiko exclaimed.
Nami leaped gracefully onto the deck of the Going Merry as she neared the shore.
With her back to the villagers, she pulled out numerous wallets from her clothes, stood on the deck, and loudly declared:
"Everyone, take care!"
The villagers were momentarily stunned, but quickly reacted, shouting curses.
"My wallet's gone!"
"Nami, you thief..."
The Going Merry's sails slowly rose. The villagers stood on the shore, waving goodbye as Nami and her companions departed.
On the deck, Nami turned to look at the gradually receding village.
She touched her new tattoo on her arm, etched with a windmill and oranges, an indelible mark of her hometown.
Kai stood beside her and said softly, "Don't worry, Nami. We'll sail together to a wider world."
Nami nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Yes, there are so many oceans waiting for me to explore, and so many maps waiting for me to draw."
The ship cut through the waves, gradually sailing towards the horizon.
Sunlight spilled onto the sea, like a golden avenue leading to dreams.
Nami closed her eyes, feeling the direction of the wind, the villagers' blessings and Nojiko's laughter still seeming to echo in her ears.
Kai leaned against the ship's rail, gazing deeply ahead, then turned his head to Nami, his tone calm yet with a hint of inquiry:
"Nami, where is the nearest Marine base to Cocoyasi Village?"
Nami was focused on adjusting the course. She paused slightly at his question, looked up at the distant horizon, and then replied, "It's Marine Branch 16."
Her voice carried a clear hint of distaste, "However... that's not a good place at all.
The colonel of Branch 16 is Colonel Nezumi, a corrupt fellow.
He's closely connected to Arlong. Arlong has been running rampant in the East Blue precisely because this guy provided him protection."
Kai frowned slightly, his gaze growing colder.
He straightened up, gently patting the ship's rail: "If that's the case, then we'll make a trip to Branch 16."
"What for?" Nami turned back, looking slightly puzzled.
Kai smiled faintly, a hint of playfulness in his eyes: "We've accumulated quite a few pirate heads along the way. We need to exchange them for bounties to buy weapons and supplies.
Besides, I also want to meet this so-called 'protector'."
Nami nodded. Although she was surprised by Kai's decision,
the thought of seeing Colonel Nezumi's ugly face get what he deserved filled her with a sense of anticipation.
The sea gradually grew calm, and the morning glow spread across the water.
Nami skillfully steered the helm, Luffy sat at the bow gnawing on a large piece of meat, and Zoro leaned against the mast, eyes closed in rest.
Sanji stood at the galley door, leisurely smoking, while Usopp wiped his slingshot.
"Branch 16 is straight ahead," Nami said, her voice clear and bright, pointing towards a gradually clearer island in the distance.
Kai's gaze was sharp as he looked at the approaching cluster of buildings, a cold smile playing on his lips.
As soon as the Going Merry neared the port, the sentries of Branch 16 spotted their ship.
The Going Merry, flying a pirate flag, was particularly conspicuous in the sunlight, immediately alerting the Marine branch.
"Pirate ship approaching! Immediately enter combat readiness!" the sentry shouted.
Inside the base, alarm bells quickly blared. Marine soldiers rapidly assembled, and cannons began to adjust their aim, locking onto the Going Merry.
"They're attacking directly?" Nami frowned, a bit annoyed, "How rude!"
"It's fine, leave this to me," Kai said with a calm smile, his eyes like electricity, his feet firmly planted on the deck.
He stared intently at Branch 16 ahead, and the air around him seemed to grow heavy.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Several cannonballs flew directly towards the Going Merry, carrying a fierce momentum.
Just as the cannonballs were about to hit, Kai's eyes suddenly sharpened.
An invisible wave of air violently spread out, and Conqueror's Haki swept towards Branch 16!
The air seemed to solidify for a moment, then all the cannonballs exploded in mid-air, failing to get even an inch closer to the ship.
At the same time, the Marine soldiers on the port of Branch 16 collapsed one after another, their weapons clattering to the ground, leaving the scene in silence.
"Done," Kai clapped his hands, his gaze calm, as if everything that had just happened was a trivial matter.
The Going Merry slowly docked. Kai was the first to step off the ship, followed closely by Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji.
Zoro carried a bag full of pirate heads, his expression composed and natural, as if he were returning home.
"This place feels creepy," Usopp muttered, looking around.
"Yeah," Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, looking up at the deserted camp, "Those guys just now, they all got scared stiff."
Kai smiled faintly, his eyes sharp: "Let's go in and meet Colonel Nezumi."
Walking through the cluttered corridor, the group finally arrived at the door of the branch's command room.
Kai kicked open the door and led everyone straight in.
The few officers inside the command room were terrified, their faces pale. Kai calmly glanced at them, and Zoro tossed the bag onto the floor.
The bag's opening gaped, revealing blood-stained heads inside.
"These people are the wanted criminals you've put bounties on," Kai's voice was deep, yet his words were firm and resounding, "Not a single Berry that's due should be withheld."
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