One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

"Huff! Huff!"

"Hey, Captain! Are you seriously going to let a weak girl like me row this boat alone?!"

Nami yelled angrily at Ace, who was fast asleep.

The banquet on the merchant ship had gone on for quite some time before a Marine vessel spotted something unusual. The captain and the sailors quickly helped Ace and Nami leave, providing them with a lifeboat, along with some food, fresh water, and beer. 

This gesture left Nami, who had always hated pirates because of Arlong, feeling a bit conflicted.

"Huh?"

Ace woke up at Nami's shouting, scratching his nose lazily.

"Come on, Nami, you're the navigator, and you didn't want to ride my sailboard anyway."

Ace chuckled, still half-asleep.

"Yeah, I'm a navigator, but I'm not the helmsman!"

Nami grumbled through clenched teeth.

This captain is so unreliable. 

As for Ace's windsurfing board, it was barely big enough for one person to sleep on.

Nami's ship had sunk into the sea, destroyed alongside the pirate ship by Ace's Fire Fist.

"Captain, I've got a question."

Nami turned to Ace, her expression serious.

"Go ahead."

Ace replied, tearing into a piece of bread as he spoke.

"Where did all your money come from?"

Nami hesitated before finally asking. She knew it might make Ace suspicious, but what he said and happened on the merchant ship had been bothering her. If he wasn't stealing from ordinary people, where did all that money come from?

"Oh, this? It's all ill-gotten gains."

Ace opened his backpack, pulling out various treasures.

"Some of it was stolen from pirates, some from criminals, and some from nobles who abused slaves."

"...."

Nami bit her lip as she listened to Ace explain.

Nothing from regular people?

Although she still held onto her preconceptions about pirates, Nami found herself believing Ace. After what had happened on the merchant ship, it didn't seem like he was lying. And really, why would someone as powerful as Ace need to deceive her?

But still… should she try to steal from him?

Nami was conflicted. Until now, she'd only ever targeted the wealth of villainous pirates.

With a deep sigh, she looked at Ace.

"So, Captain, where are we headed next?"

She asked, hoping to think things over carefully. After all, she had never met a pirate like him before.

"Next? We'll be looking for more crewmates. I still need a doctor for the ship."

Ace smiled, ignoring any mention of Arlong.

"A doctor?"

Nami repeated, slightly puzzled.

——

Syrup Village!

With Nami as his navigator, they soon arrived at their next destination after several days of smooth sailing.

"Nami, it's great having you as my navigator~"

Ace grinned, clearly in a good mood from the easy journey.

"I-I'm not as good as you say."

Nami blushed a little, pleased by Ace's praise.

Her dream was to sail the world and draw a map of it, so having her abilities as a navigator recognized filled her with pride.

"But how do you know there's a doctor in this village?"

Nami asked curiously as Ace tied up the boat and hopped ashore.

"Just a hunch, like how I knew you were meant to be my navigator."

Ace gave her a gentle smile.

"Stop saying weird things like that."

Nami stammered, caught off guard.

"Alright, come on. I think our doctor might be in trouble."

Ace's Observation Haki spread out as he spoke slowly.

---

In Syrup Village, inside a grand villa, a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and a pale, sickly complexion lay half-propped up on her bed, looking frail and in pain.

Creak.

The door opened, and a man in a suit with glasses entered.

Kaya looked up at the sound, recognizing her butler, Klahadore.

Little did Kaya know, her trusted butler was actually Kuro, the notorious captain of the Black Cat Pirates.

"Miss Kaya, the funeral arrangements have been completed."

Klahadore adjusted his glasses with the palm of his hand as he spoke.

"Thank you, Klahadore. I'd like to be alone for a while."

Kaya coughed weakly, her voice filled with exhaustion.

"Miss Kaya, please have something to eat."

Klahadore wheeled in a food cart, but Kaya raised her voice in frustration.

"I said I want to be alone!"

Kaya closed her eyes, her tone sharp.

"Very well, I'll leave you be."

Klahadore replied without a hint of emotion. He was used to Kaya's temper—she had been sick and confined to her room since childhood, and her frustrations often boiled over.

With a butler's salute, Klahadore slowly exited the room. From an angle Kaya couldn't see, a cruel gleam flashed behind his glasses.

Klahadore, or rather Kuro, had already murdered Kaya's parents. His plan was simple—gain the absolute trust of Kaya and the villagers, then eliminate Kaya and claim her vast fortune. He had no fear of the Marines.

Click!

As the door closed behind him, Kaya gazed out the window, her eyes filled with sorrow over her parents' deaths and uncertainty about her future.

Clatter!

Suddenly, the window opened without a sound.

Whoosh!

Two figures appeared at the windowsill.

"Miss, it looks like you're in trouble. Do you need some help?"

Ace smiled warmly at Kaya, standing by the window.

Nami, standing next to him, couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled by the situation.