"So… what's next?"
Ignoring the goofy and mischievous Luffy, Zoro turned his questioning gaze toward Red.
"What's our next move?"
"Next move?" Red's crimson eyes flashed as she instinctively looked at Helmeppo:
"Isn't it obvious?"
"We rob the marine captain and make our debut as the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Pirates don't start their journey quietly!"
"You two…" Zoro grinned at the corners of his mouth and laughed, "You're really reckless, huh!"
"Just set sail, and you're already targeting a Marine base. I wonder if there's anything you guys aren't crazy enough to try!"
"Hahaha~ thanks for the compliment!"
"But I need to correct you on one thing…"
Red put one arm around Luffy and the other on Zoro's shoulder.
"You should be saying… the three of us!"
"Yeah! The three of us!!!" Luffy raised his arm high, laughing heartily.
Looking at the sincere eyes of Red and Luffy, Zoro's expression softened slightly, though he still sighed:
"Let's hope I can last."
"I don't want to go insane this soon!"
"Luffy, our new crewmate, seems a little rude. He just called you insane."
"Huh?" Luffy blinked. "But… I kinda feel like he was talking about both you and me!?"
Thwack!
"… This isn't the time to suddenly get sharp!"
Red gave Luffy a knock on the back of his head.
"Anyway, listen to me. Find time to teach the newbie a lesson, he needs to know why you're our captain!"
And also to let Zoro know…
That it's thanks to me, his trainer, that you've become so strong!
"O-okay!" Luffy nodded innocently, rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh, right!" Red turned his gaze toward Helmeppo. "Where's Morgan's office?"
"Uh!?"
Helmeppo, who had been trying to stay invisible, jumped in surprise, then hurriedly pointed at the ceiling.
"Just… just above my room."
"Is that so? Well, that makes it simple."
Red nodded.
"Luffy, punch through the ceiling. Let's go loot Morgan's treasure!"
"Perfect, we still need a bit of startup funds."
"Steal from the rich (Morgan), feed the poor (us)!"
"Treasures!"
Hearing that word, Luffy's eyes immediately sparkled.
In his mind, "treasure" and "pirate" were synonymous!
"Leave it to me!"
As reliable as always, Luffy clenched his fist and, under the astonished gazes of Zoro and Helmeppo, swung upward!
His arm suddenly stretched out, smashing into the ceiling with terrifying force.
"His… his arm stretched!!" Zoro was once again stunned by Luffy's ability.
And the next moment-
Boom!!!
With a deafening crash, the ceiling of Helmeppo's room was smashed open.
But what Red didn't expect was…
Along with the falling rubble and dust, an orange-haired girl also came crashing down.
"Ahhh-!!!"
Bang~!
The dust from the broken ceiling quickly spread through Helmeppo's room.
Amid the thick haze, a girl's pained groans and curses rang out.
"Ah~ ouch, ouch, ouch…"
"Damn Marines! Skimping on materials too?!"
"What kind of garbage floor is this!?"
Cursing under her breath, Nami pushed herself up from the floor.
At that moment, a breeze blew through the room.
Red had opened the window near him.
As the air circulated, the dust quickly drifted outside, clearing the room.
And then
Nami saw four men standing in what should have been an empty room, all staring at her with different expressions.
A straw-hatted idiot radiating pure dumbness.
A green-haired swordsman eyeing her warily.
A sniveling coward in the corner.
And one young man with a slightly surprised look, as if he recognized her.
"Uh… um…"
Faced with these sudden strangers, Nami was momentarily stunned. She swallowed nervously and raised a trembling hand in greeting.
"H-hello there!"
"I think I wandered into the wrong room. Sorry to bother you!"
As soon as she finished, she turned and bolted for the door.
She didn't know why, when all the Marines were on the roof for Captain Morgan's statue unveiling, this room would be packed with people…
But either way, the smartest move was to run!
Years in this line of work had given Nami confidence in her quick reflexes.
However-
Just as she thought she could slip away, she heard the voice of the young man by the window.
It was Red!
"Don't let her go, Zoro!"
"Got it!"
Zoro, already near the door, stomped forward with lightning speed, beating Nami to the exit and stomping down hard.
Boom!
Even though he hadn't mastered moves like Soru, Zoro's explosive power was already at a level beyond ordinary people's understanding.
With that, Nami's escape route was completely cut off.
"W-what are you doing!? I really just went into the wrong room!"
Seeing Zoro's fierce expression, Nami let out a choked cry, turned back in panic, and put on her most delicate, vulnerable face toward Red.
She realized…
The one giving orders here was Red.
So she focused all her charm on him.
"P-please don't bully a helpless girl like me~"
In that moment, Nami's eyes shimmered, her face looked pitifully sweet, and even her voice turned soft and delicate.
With her smooth, beautiful face, most people would've likely dropped their guard.
But Red, well familiar with Nami's nature, wasn't fooled one bit.
This little fox… is really a born actress~!
Too bad, you're not quite there yet.
Amused, Red watched Nami's performance while recalling memories of the storm she would become in two years.
Who'd have thought he'd run into this little thief cat here?
It wasn't part of the plan, but now that she was here-no way she was leaving!
After a moment, Red casually called out her name:
"Nice try, Miss Nami."
Nami's heart jumped, her pupils constricting sharply: "Y-you know me!?"
Crap! Did I just run into someone I ripped off before!?
Her first thought was… she must've stolen from Red in the past.
"Sort of."
Red gave a small smile, ignoring her worries.
Honestly, he was pretty surprised to see her here.
He and Luffy had specifically adjusted their sailing schedule to avoid the whirlpool, skipped the Alvida and Koby arc, and came straight to Shells Town.
And yet, they still ran into Nami, who was here to steal the Grand Line chart from the 153rd branch.
And in such a crazy, coincidental way.
"Let's say I've heard of the 'Cat Burglar'."
Red smirked.
"Luffy, I think we just found our fourth crewmate!"
"Huh!? What?"
Luffy froze for a second, then his face lit up with excitement as he looked around, hand to his brow, searching.
"Really? Where!? Where is he!?"
"Idiot~" Red reached over, pushed Luffy's head down, and turned his gaze toward Nami with a grin.
"Our fourth crewmate, of course, is this lovely young lady!"
"Ah-!?"
But as soon as Red spoke, Luffy let out a disappointed cry:
"But… she seems kinda weak!"
With his beginner-level Observation Haki, Luffy could already sense a person's strength.
In his eyes, Nami's abilities were way below par, no match for the wild aura of Zoro.
"Weak?" Red raised his brows in mock surprise, then laughed:
"Then you're underestimating her, Luffy!"
"The girl before you is one of the most promising navigators in the world!"
"Unlike Zoro, who's destined to be the world's greatest swordsman…"
"Her navigation skills are already at the world-class level!!!"
"We just hit the jackpot!!!"
"Eh! Sugeee!!"
Hearing Red's explanation, Luffy's eyes immediately lit up, and even his gaze toward Nami turned respectful.
Zoro, standing at the door, was also surprised by Red's words.
Though they'd just met, he didn't think Red was the type to spout nonsense.
And so even his own view of Nami began to shift.
…Though hearing himself used as the comparison example felt a little weird!
Was Red implying this little girl was better than him? No way, right!?
Luffy clapped his hands together. "Alright! Red, I've decided! Let's make her our crew's navigator!!!"
"Smart choice!"
Red smiled calmly, then turned his gaze to Nami.
"So, you heard that, right, Miss Nami?"
"Hope you're ready."
"Because once our captain sets his sights on someone, there's no escaping!"