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The night grew deeper, turning the vast ocean into a mirror of ink. On the calm sea, the small boat with its sails furled swayed gently with the ripples. The Sea Beast that Satori had kicked to death floated behind them, bobbing at the end of a thick rope to ensure tomorrow's breakfast wouldn't drift away.
Satori sat by the flickering bonfire, occasionally turning his head to look at Nami. She was sitting at the bow, silhouetted against the moonlight, gazing silently at the stars. After an unknown amount of time, Satori stood up and cautiously walked behind her.
"Um, Nami," he probed carefully, "can I ask why you need to earn 100 million Berries?"
After several seconds of heavy silence, Nami's voice came faintly, "Because I have something I absolutely must accomplish. And to accomplish it, I must have that money."
Satori blinked. "What is it?"
"That's my secret," Nami replied, never turning her head.
Satori scratched his face, puzzled by the concept of a secret. He tried another angle. "If you want to earn that much, why can't you use other methods instead of stealing?"
"Heh, do you think 100 million Berries is that easy to earn? Do you even know how much that is?" Nami's tone was sharp and mocking.
Satori truly didn't know. He had no concept of money; only a few days ago, he had tried to buy a giant roasted meat leg with a single coin meant for candy. He tilted his head. "I don't know. Is it a lot?"
Nami's mouth twitched. She realized he was genuinely ignorant. Her mood calmed, and she began to explain with a weary patience. "100 million Berries is an amount countless people can't earn in their entire lives. In my hometown, the combined money of everyone in the village doesn't even amount to 10 million. If I relied on legitimate work, I would never reach it. Only by taking shortcuts—stealing treasure from pirates—do I have a chance."
Satori scratched his face, finally grasping the gravity of her situation. Thanks to Tsuru's math lessons back at Marineford, he understood the difference between 10 million and 100 million now. He pondered for a while, chin in hand. "Is there really no other way?"
"Besides taking shortcuts, there's no way to accumulate wealth quickly in a place like this," Nami said, finally turning to look at him. "Unless... you become a Bounty Hunter."
"As long as you capture those wanted pirates and hand them over to the Marines, you can get a considerable bounty. But I don't have that kind of strength. I can only choose to be a thief." A hint of loneliness flickered in her eyes. She had been forced into this life when she was only ten years old. What other choice did a child have?
But Satori's face brightened with a characteristic grin. "So there is a way! Nami, how about I help you catch pirates for the bounty money?"
The scene shifted to the following day in a bustling town. Shouts, footsteps, and the bubbling of pots filled the air.
"Hey, Nami, do you really not need my help?" Satori asked, sitting on a small chair at a sweet stall and dangling his feet.
"No need. I'll figure out the money myself. Worry about yourself instead," Nami replied firmly. She had rejected his proposal the night before. Even if he was strong, she couldn't bring herself to let a child she'd known for only two days risk his life against vicious, armed pirates. However, she was touched by his offer. She decided that for the next few days, she would focus entirely on helping him find the World Martial Arts Tournament.
She paid the stall owner for a serving of tangyuan and looked at Satori. "Eat slowly. When you're done, wait for me here. I'm going to ask around about your tournament."
The owner placed a steaming bowl of white, glutinous balls in front of Satori. "Fresh out of the pot and very hot, little one! Eat slowly!"
Satori poked one of the white balls with a spoon. He had never seen this dessert before. He scooped one up and popped it directly into his mouth, biting down hard.
"Hiss—so hot, so hot, so hot!!!"
He spat the tangyuan out immediately. It oozed a thick, black sesame liquid. His tongue hung out like a dog's as he frantically fanned his mouth.
"Hahaha! Little one, you can't swallow it whole!" a nearby diner laughed, demonstrating how to nibble the edge first. Satori imitated him, carefully taking a small bite. The sweet, chewy texture and the rich sesame filling flooded his taste buds. His eyes lit up. "Just like Nami said, it's delicious!"
While Satori was enjoying his treat, Nami was walking into a noisy bar. She threw two Berries onto the counter. "Boss, a beer."
She gulped down half the glass before asking, "Hey, have you ever heard of the World Martial Arts Tournament?"
The boss paused. "What's that? Never heard of it."
Nami sighed, finished her drink, and left. She moved on to the next place, determined to find a lead. Meanwhile, back at the sweet stall, Satori was finishing his bowl when a group of rough-looking lawbreakers rounded the corner, their eyes scanning the crowd with ill intent.