Chapter 32

(Mis)alliance

Nami pushed her plate aside to examine the charts she had brought, trying to concentrate amidst the din. Around her, the rest of the crew chattered and ate noisily, as did the rest of the patrons seated in this cheap inn in the middle of a dynamic island with a temperate climate.

It had only been a few hours since they had disembarked after exhausting days at sea and everyone had welcomed the idea of spending some time on the mainland.

The weather wasn't disastrous but the second part of the Grand Line made the ocean even more unpredictable than the first and despite all her efforts, the navigator was still struggling to stay the course and guarantee a safe enough journey for the Sunny. They had encountered a huge reef in the middle of the sea hidden by immense eddies and despite having tacked the ship at full speed, the hull had been damaged. Franky had of course rushed to seal the breaches, but he hadn't been able to fill the multitude of fragments that had pierced the wood over most of the ship. Water had flooded the hold and although Usopp and Zoro had helped in any way they could, there hadn't been enough wood for the repairs. Nami had then watched in horror as the cyborg ripped off his own arm to retrieve pieces of it in order to hold together the planks the sniper had found in his workshop.

Franky had moved almost as quickly as usual despite his condition and if the crew had applauded him, impressed and appreciative, the young woman had felt responsible for him coming to this end. Yet the shipwright had finished his repairs with his usual victorious pose and even now he was dining happily with his crewmates, ignoring the gaping hole in place of his left arm which he had yet to take care of. There has been no criticism or remark towards the navigator.

Everyone knew that each of them was doing their best in these harsh conditions but Nami couldn't help biting her lip when she heard her friend chatting with Usopp about a new prototype weapon for his next arm. Indeed, the cyborg wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to improve himself further and usually, the redhead would have approved of his initiative or she wouldn't have paid attention to it. But this ordinary incident in normal times had only added to her list of fears since they had been sailing in the New World: the navigator didn't feel in complete control of this ocean. She spent her time hoping not to encounter too much inconvenience or to manage somehow instead of being able to adapt thanks to her experience and knowledge.

That's why tonight, she was the only one not to participate in the overall fun because she intended to study even more the charts that she recovered following their journey. She wanted to foresee as much as possible what awaited them.

"These mackerel toasts are delicious," The little reindeer was feasting on his chair, looking happy.

"Good thing we disembarked; I was so hungry!" His captain added greedily, shoving three more loaves of bread into his mouth.

"We need to stock up more next time," Zoro approved while he was drinking from his mug.

"There was plenty but most of the stock got wet when we hit this reef," Usopp reminded them.

"We mustn't forget to buy wood," Franky said, his bottle of cola in hand.

"This island seems adequately well-stocked so that we can find all the necessary equipment," Brook noted while glancing out the window in the direction of the shops.

"We'll still have to be careful. We are on the territory of Edward Newgate, also called Whitebeard," Robin remarked.

At these words, her friends turned to her, curious. "The stronger man in the world?" Franky inquired, interested.

"His crew is huge," Usopp shuddered, glancing anxiously around him, "Maybe they're watching us right now to assassinate us as soon as our backs are turned…"

"We are indeed observed but I don't think it's Whitebeard's crew," The archaeologist answered quietly.

"What?!" The sniper's observations turned into distraught looks and he was soon joined by Chopper whose eyes widened in search of the spies.

"Calm down, there aren't many of them," The swordsman muttered, taking another sip of his drink.

"Did you see them too, Zoro?" The little reindeer asked admiringly. His friend nodded, then showed a fairly ordinary man near the door and then another leaning on the counter on the opposite side of the tavern.

"What do you think they want?" Brook asked. The fencer shrugged. "Maybe they recognized us and they wanna pocket the bounties?"

"Two men against all of us?" Franky wondered. "Sounds like a bad plan to me…"

"They probably want my charts, that kind of thing is worth a fortune around here," Nami chimed in, still focused.

"Your charts?" Usopp repeated, surprised. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I know they're precious but to go after an entire crew to retrieve them…"

"In case you haven't noticed, navigation is crucial for survival," The redhead reminded him sharply. "Without charts, no one can sail in the New World so if I were them, I think I'll take the risk too. I doubt they'll attack though. They'll probably wait for a moment of inattention to steal them."

The little reindeer looked at the man at the counter in surprise and the latter suddenly turned away. The doctor swallowed. "I don't feel at ease…"

"We're on the territory of the Four Emperors now," Robin approved, "Every step we take can be our last."

"Thank you for your natural optimism," Usopp sighed at her side.

"This Whitebeard man is considered to be the closest to finding the One Piece," The musician added dreamily.

"He may be the closest but I'll find it first!" Luffy interrupted him with confidence despite his mouth full.

"Meanwhile, we better find a more solid plan than just run into the midst without thinking," Nami grumbled.

"That's what we say every time but it's never what we do," Franky pointed out to her with amusement, glancing at the captain who continued to gorge himself happily.

The navigator sighed. "I know, but I'm serious this time. I can barely find my bearings on this sea and we're already fighting for our survival without even fighting against enemies! If we end up face to face with an Emperor, we won't last long…"

"That's how you become better," Zoro said while finishing his mug. "When fighting against someone stronger than you."

Nami rolled her eyes. "When fighting against stronger than you but within reason, idiot. If the difference in power is too great, you'll die, period."

"The Four Emperors' level is outstanding," Brook approved, "A strategy and even an alliance with other crews will surely be necessary to defeat them."

"That'd be super exciting!" Franky got enthused.

"With whom do you wanna form an alliance in this context?" Usopp wondered. "Most of them are bloodthirsty pirates who have the same objective as us, they won't help…"

"It's true that it seems unlikely," Chopper noted.

"What are you talking about?" Luffy chimed in, finally wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "We've already made an alliance!"

Around the table, his friends stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Who are you talking about, Luffy?" The sniper asked him.

"About Tra-guy, of course! Did you forget or what?" Their captain replied, frowning.

At these words, his crew sighed heavily. "Luffy, it wasn't an alliance," The redhead got annoyed, "I thought I already told you!"

"It is, he helped us and next time, it's our turn! That's an alliance!"

Robin chuckled in front of the sulky face of the straw hat boy. "I think if explained in this way, our captain isn't entirely wrong," She was amused.

"It wasn't an alliance, it was blackmail," Franky reminded him.

"Yes, Usopp was dying; we had no choice," Chopper added gloomily.

"Maybe if we establish more precise rules next time, we could consider offering him a fairer deal," Brook suggested.

"Let's wait to know what he'll ask for in return," Zoro chimed in. "We'll see then."

As everyone nodded, Nami looked worriedly at her charts. "Either way, to seal an alliance, we need to have something attractive to offer and for the moment, we don't… If I managed to better understand this ocean at least…"

"You should ask Miss Betty." The crew turned to the waiter who had just addressed the young woman while clearing their table.

"Who's Miss Betty?" The redhead asked.

"The island's mayor's daughter. She's quite prideful but her knowledge of navigation is incredible for her young age and it's thanks to her abilities that Whitebeard placed our island under his protection," He replied. "I hear she's discovered a revolutionary way to sail around the Grand Line."

"And you think she'd be willing to share this information?" Robin inquired.

"Maybe. If she finds you interesting enough, she will."

"Interesting enough?" Franky repeated, skeptical. "Depends on the criteria I guess…"

"We have to try!" Nami decided immediately, looking for her captain's approval. "The rest of our adventure depends on it!" The straw hat boy nodded, and his navigator finally smiled. "Perfect. I'll go pay the bill and let's go!"

Everyone got to their feet with enthusiasm and Nami headed for the counter, determined. She didn't see the movement of the two previous men who crept noiselessly towards the unattended table. Unfortunately for them, a hand that had sprung from a wall strangled one of them while the other collapsed on the floor after a sword blow on the chest. Robin and Zoro then shared a satisfied look before following the rest of their friends who were happily exiting the tavern, Nami's charts safely in her hand.

"That's your plan for navigating in the New World? You won't get far!" Miss Betty flipped her long blonde hair and Nami bit her lip in annoyance.

In a large room of the richly decorated town hall, the crew had been introduced to a fifteen-year-old girl who had critically examined them all as they entered. They had expressed their request and, as expected, she had replied that she would only give her information if the crew seemed worthy of knowledge of navigation. Nami had then advanced with determination towards the desk to be tested while her friends had stayed behind.

It had been almost twenty minutes since the redhead had been answering her questions and although the young girl was indeed particularly disdainful, the navigator had quickly noticed that her knowledge wasn't usurped. Her requests and explanations were each time showcasing strong maritime skills. Nami had therefore decided to put her own sharp tongue aside for the sake of the rest of their trip. After all, it was her role as navigator to lead the crew to their destination.

She had shown Miss Betty all her charts and her method for calculating trajectories based on the Log-Pose, and if the young girl had seemed interested at first, she had then bluntly dismissed her arguments with a wave of her hand.

"You can't rely on reef maps alone to sail, it's stupid! You're forgetting the currents and the magnetic fields of the islands!" She said to Nami while rolling her eyes. "How do you expect to find your way otherwise?"

"I use astronomical points when dead reckoning isn't possible," Nami replied.

"And how do you manage with the Grand Line weather?" The blonde sneered, "It's almost unpredictable!"

"By using the ocean currents, sometimes I manage to save time and guarantee the route," The redhead insisted.

"Sometimes isn't enough in the New World. You'll lead your crew to death in this way!"

Nami gritted her teeth, feeling anger boiling in her veins. She knew she had a heavy responsibility. She didn't need an insolent kid pointing out her inadequacies in such a contemptuous way. "If you know so much, why don't you tell me how to do it?" She finally snarled.

"I only help those who are worth it and you, you're not that good," The young girl replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Getting up from her soft seat, Miss Betty wanted to put an end to their conversation and Nami was about to tell her what she was really thinking when the hand of her captain pressed her shoulder to stop her.

"Wait, tell us what we can do. We really need to know."

Nami stared at the straw hat boy, shocked that he stooped to beg this arrogant wench, but the girl smiled, charmed at the attention. "What's in it for me?" She asked, facing him.

"What do you want?"

Miss Betty pretended to think for a few moments. "I don't need much; I'm already showered with gifts being Whitebeard's official navigator…"

"The official navigator?" Usopp wondered. "But you're not even on a ship!"

"How do you think his fleet crisscrosses the New World? All his navigators have learned to sail thanks to me, of course!" She answered sharply.

"And he shares this kind of knowledge?" Franky inquired, wary.

"He's no cheap pirate, and he lets me consider who might be worthy opponents," She said while staring at him in disgust in front of his half-destroyed arm. The cyborg rolled his eyes and Miss Betty played with one of his blonde locks, all her malice suddenly gone. "Actually, there's one thing I'd like to have and I'm ready to give you the secret of my navigation if you allow me to obtain it."

"I thought it was a matter of legitimacy?" Robin pointed out.

Miss Betty sighed heavily. "Well, usually, it's my motto. But you guys look so clumsy I'm willing to make an exception…"

"We don't need your pity," Zoro growled.

The girl ignored him. "Take me to Fish-Man Island, I'll tell you how to navigate down there," She asked the captain.

"What for?" Chopper wanted to know, curious.

"I want to meet the mermaids and if possible, bring one here," She answered.

"Are you some kind of slaver?" Franky asked suspiciously, "I heard that mermaid traffic is highly sought after on Sabaody…"

"No, you idiot! Mermaids are the best swimmers in the ocean and their knowledge of the seabed is almost limitless! With a mermaid as an ally and the state of my current knowledge, I'll be the best navigator in the world without a shadow of a doubt, it's as simple as that!"

"Why don't you go by yourself?" Zoro asked her, frowning.

"Because Fish-Man Island is in Big Mom's territory, you dumb oaf! How do you expect me to go there when they know I'm helping Whitebeard, huh?"

"Fucking brat," The swordsman muttered.

"Fish-Man Island is in the other direction," Luffy pointed out to her with a grimace, "I don't wanna go all the way in the opposite direction…"

"Suit yourself. I hope you remember my proposal when your ship sinks in the middle of the Grand Line."

At these words, the young girl turned away again, clearly annoyed, and the door of the town hall slammed behind her. A few seconds later, men came to ask them to leave and the crew understood that the conversation was definitely over.

Once again on the square, the friends watched the tumult of the street for a few moments. "What a temper!" Brook finally noted with amusement.

"She's one hell of a cheeky girl," Franky grumbled.

"She's not nice at all!" Chopper complained.

"I hope she gets a good and proper beating," Usopp muttered in turn.

"I'm ready to kick her ass right now," The fencer growled, drawing one of his swords.

"One day or another, she'll inevitably suffer the consequences of her attitude," Robin tempered.

The captain remained silent and Nami turned to him, visibly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Luffy. I'll find another solution, I promise…"

"I trust you."

The redhead didn't add anything but she saw that the straw hat boy's gaze remained fixed on the large building behind them. Maybe he was thinking about meeting this girl's demand or he regretted that his navigator hadn't passed her test. Either way, Nami was feeling guilty once again…

On the deck of the Sunny, only Franky's hammer blows echoed against the hull this late afternoon. Indeed, the studious atmosphere wasn't disturbed by Luffy's playful shouts, Usopp's bluster or Chopper's admiring remarks, the three of them silently sitting around a creation of the sniper. From time to time, a few violin notes could be heard, but they didn't disturb Robin's reading or Zoro's nap. This weirdly calm atmosphere had ended up disconcerting the navigator, who was still looking into her charts. She then got up to stretch her legs by going to get fruit juice in the galley.

In the two days since they had visited Miss Betty, she hadn't found a solution to her problem. She still didn't understand how the trajectories were organized on this ocean and although she tried to turn the problem around, no logical explanation seemed to work. She wasn't about to guarantee a safe way for her friends then and it was slowly starting to undermine her.

She was going back to the library when the Den-Den Mushi rang and like all her crewmates, she hastened to the galley. It couldn't be Sanji since the special Den-Den Mushi was in the cyborg's workshop and the fact that it went off was as unusual as it was curious.

Arriving in the room, she found that Luffy had already picked up with a big smile on his face. "This is Luffy, the future Pirate King, who is this?"

Around him, his crew sighed. They had abandoned the idea of making their captain understand the need to remain discreet by now.

"Oh, Tra-guy, is that you?!"

Immediately, the atmosphere changed in the galley, noticing the characteristic little hat on the head of their device.

"You want us to help you like we promised last time? No problem, I'm listening!"

The pirates gathered anxiously around their captain to try to follow the conversation based on the expressions of the straw hat boy because they couldn't hear his interlocutor. However, Luffy's face betrayed nothing except his usual good mood.

"It's a deal, she can be there in two days if you ain't far away!"

His crewmate's eyes widened further, burning with curiosity, but the captain ignored them. He was even about to hang up, his eternal smile on his lips, when he suddenly gripped the handset with concern.

"Oh, Tra-guy, I almost forgot!" His friends frowned seeing his serious face and they held their breath. "When Nami finds your treasure, we'll have to party to celebrate our alliance!"

The straw hat boy then stared in disbelief at the Den-Den Mushi that was now sleeping again because his interlocutor hadn't deigned to answer him and his navigator grabbed him by the collar of his vest, furious. "You're completely crazy, you promised I was gonna find him a treasure?! You could have asked me!" She was indignant. "I spend all my time trying to find a reliable route, I've got better things to do!"

"Don't worry, we'll party afterwards!"

I love the way Luffy often sees things differently from his crew or the people he meets. He's so unique!