Chapter 13: Nami's Date With Ricardo! We Get a Banquet?

The streets of Puertojoya buzzed with life as Luffy, Robin, Usopp, and Kyleigh made their way back toward the harbor, chatting and laughing along the way. The market was behind them, the remnants of the chaos caused by Luffy's Gran Toro antics still fresh in the minds of the townspeople. As they neared the end of the street, a familiar figure caught their attention.

"Zoro!" Luffy called, his voice loud and full of excitement.

Zoro, looking every bit the part of a wandering swordsman, wore an unbuttoned linen shirt that billowed slightly in the breeze, revealing the familiar green bandana tied around his arm. His beige linen pants were casual, and he appeared slightly disheveled, clearly frustrated.

"What are you doing here?" Luffy asked, walking up to him with a grin.

Usopp followed, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were gonna stay with the ship?"

Zoro shrugged nonchalantly, clearly not concerned about his situation. "Jinbe, Franky, and that one castaway chick decided to move the ship to the dock in the shipwright district for repairs. They told me to go straight ahead, but I've been walking around and I still can't find it. They must've given me bad directions."

"The directions weren't bad," Usopp and Luffy chimed in unison, shaking their heads. "It's you who's bad with directions!"

Zoro grumbled under his breath, not even bothering to respond to the jibe. He'd long accepted his reputation as the group's worst navigator.

Robin raised an eyebrow, her voice calm but curious. "Is Chopper back with you? He, Sanji, and Brook all went their separate ways, right?"

Zoro scratched his head. "Beats me. Jinbe went out to try and find everyone and tell them the ship moved." His tone was less irritated now, but still tinged with frustration.

"Well, I'm sure they'll be back soon," Robin said, giving a small reassuring smile before turning toward the dock with a soft sigh. "Let's get to the ship. Hopefully, everything is as they said."

…

The Polar Tang, the ship of the Heart Pirates, was docked right next to the Thousand Sunny, an unexpected sight that immediately caught Law off guard. His jaw dropped slightly as his eyes widened at the sight of the Straw Hat Pirates' ship—the gleaming masts and vibrant flags proudly marking their presence.

"You've gotta be kidding me…" he muttered under his breath, still staring in disbelief.

Before he could process it further, a loud, "Tra-guy!" echoed through the air, and suddenly, he was tackled to the ground by none other than Luffy.

"Luffy!" Law exclaimed, his voice a mix of surprise and exasperation, as the rubber-bodied captain grinned wildly, wrapping him up in a bear hug.

"You're here too, huh?!" Luffy laughed, not loosening his grip on Law. "What are you doing on the island?"

Law groaned, struggling to push Luffy off. "I was here on business, not to get ambushed by you, Straw Hat. Get off me!"

From aboard the Polar Tang, Bepo, Jean Bart, and Penguin leaned over the railings, watching the scene unfold.

"Look, it's Straw Hat. Guess they needed supplies too," Bepo remarked with a grin.

"Wasn't expecting to run back into them already," Jean Bart added, shaking his head. "It's only been two weeks since we left Wano."

Meanwhile, from aboard the Sunny, Chopper was seen waving enthusiastically, with Josephine, Franky, and Jinbe by his side. Hilo, standing with them, cheerfully called out, "Hi, guys!" as she waved back.

…

Back aboard the Thousand Sunny, Chopper tilted his head in curiosity. "A banquet? What for?"

Robin, standing beside him with her usual calm demeanor, explained, "Their prince wanted to thank us for bringing the castaways back home."

Luffy, leaning over the edge of the deck with an exaggerated grin, called out to Law, who was still aboard the Polar Tang. "You hear that, Tra-guy? There's gonna be a huge party in two days! You all should stay!"

Law, who had been standing with his arms crossed, scoffed from the dock. "Our alliance is over, Straw Hat! We aren't just going to come party with you because you asked!"

Luffy's grin widened, unperturbed. "Why not? Come on, it'll be fun!" he urged, bouncing on his heels with enthusiasm.

Law rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small, amused smile. "You're unbelievable…"

"Come on, it'll be a blast!" Luffy continued, as if the idea of refusing was inconceivable.

Bepo, ever the eager and optimistic one, was the first to speak up in words of protest. "Come on, Captain! It'll be fun! You know how Luffy is, and it might be nice to just relax for once!" His voice carried a hopeful tone as he leaned over the railing, his large bear-like frame trying to get a good view of the scene on the Sunny.

Jean Bart and Penguin joined in, each trying to convince Law in their own way. "We've been working non-stop; this could be a good break," Jean Bart said, his deep voice carrying a level of persuasion that only a giant could muster.

"Yeah, it's not like we have anything better to do," Penguin added with a grin, "and I'm sure we could use some time off!"

Shachi chimed in from the back. "Come on, Law. We can't even fight them here. If we do, the Marines will be called upon. Why don't we just enjoy are last few days here? Then, when we're at sea, we'll get back to business."

Even Ikkaku, Clione, Uni, and Hakugan got involved, each adding their own voice to the chorus of pleads. "We can make this work, Captain!" "It'll be fun!" "What's the worst that could happen?"

Law, who had been standing with his arms crossed, had been staring at the crew's enthusiastic faces for a moment. He rubbed his temples, trying to fight the growing wave of annoyance. But as he looked at Bepo's hopeful face, something about it made him pause.

"Fine," Law finally sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "You win. But don't think I'm doing this for you," he added, directing his attention to the rest of the crew. "I'm not here to party with you all; we're just stopping by, and then we'll be on our way. Got it?"

Bepo's face lit up, and he jumped with excitement. "Yes! Thank you, Captain!" He gave a thumbs up to the rest of the Heart Pirates, who all let out cheers of triumph.

Back on the Sunny, Jinbe, who had been quietly observing the whole exchange, turned to Usopp, raising an eyebrow. "So where is everyone else? I haven't seen most of them around. You're the only one I found Chopper."

Usopp scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Well, Sanji went to go get food, but I think he got distracted by women, as usual. Brook ran off to go listen to music, and Nami…" He paused for a moment, realizing the situation. "I think she went off with that prince guy?"

Zoro, who had been leaning lazily against the rail with his usual disinterested posture, straightened up slightly at the mention of a prince. "Prince?" he asked, his voice flat, an eyebrow quirking in mild curiosity.

"Yeah, Luffy almost ran over him with that bull," Usopp explained, his tone half-amused, half-exasperated. "But the guy didn't seem to care. Now he's buying Nami new clothes and stuff as an apology, and taking her around the town."

Zoro scoffed, his eyes narrowing with a mix of amusement and irritation. "That witch... she can get another prince wrapped around her finger, even after all the chaos she causes. At this rate, she'll have a whole collection of them before we know it."

Franky, who had been standing nearby, gave a wide grin and shrugged nonchalantly. "Sounds to me like he's taking her on a date."

Luffy's face immediately dropped, as did the expressions of the rest of the crew, the Heart Pirates, Hilo, and Josephine, with the exception of Robin and Jinbe. They all turned to Franky, shocked and confused, and in unison, they exclaimed, "A date?!"

Franky gave a shrug and a half-grin, clearly unbothered by the reaction. "I mean, yeah. That's what people do on a date, right? Buy stuff, stroll around, get to know each other. Good for Nami, I guess. She's got a prince footing the bill—at least we know he can keep up with her shopping habits."

Jinbe raised an eyebrow, his expression bemused. "Why is everyone so surprised? It's normal for people your age to go on dates."

Robin, ever the voice of reason, leaned against the rail with a slight smile, her tone light. "We are in the romance capital," she said, glancing around the bustling city, "it would be unusual if one of us didn't get asked on a date."

Chopper, who had been listening intently, suddenly interjected with a confused frown. "But I thought Nami liked—"

Before he could finish, Usopp swiftly placed his hand over Chopper's mouth, shaking his head vigorously. "Shh! Don't say anything more!" he whispered, his face full of panic. "You'll make things awkward!"

Hilo and Josephine, standing nearby, exchanged knowing looks, their eyes sparkling with a hint of admiration. "Of course Prince Ricardo would be interested in her," Hilo sighed wistfully. "She's stunning. How could anyone resist?"

Josephine nodded in agreement, adding, "Only the most eligible bachelor on the island is suited to her caliber."

The crew fell silent for a moment, the weight of their words sinking in. Luffy, still processing the whole "date" situation, scratched his head, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The notion of someone else sweeping Nami off her feet was a bit strange to him, but it didn't last long before he shrugged it off, his focus shifting to food once again.

"Well, as long as Nami's happy," he mumbled, turning toward the kitchen. "I'll let her do whatever she wants."

Law raised an eyebrow, his gaze following Luffy as he sulked off toward the kitchen. He then glanced over at Robin, leaning against the rail with her usual calm demeanor. "Nico-ya?" Law asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "What's up with him? Matter of fact, you all seemed a little... off when Robo-ya said Nami-ya went on a date."

Robin sighed softly, her expression momentarily distant as she glanced toward the streets. "It's a long story," she began, her voice thoughtful. "Call it crew drama, if you will."

Law crossed his arms, clearly intrigued but not pressing further. "Drama, huh?

…

Nami strolled arm in arm with Prince Ricardo, the lively streets of Puertojoya teeming with activity. The sun bathed everything in a warm, golden hue as a light breeze rustled through her newly acquired linen dress. The halter top fit snugly, accentuating her figure, while the flowing skirt swirled gently with every step she took. The soft fabric felt cool against her skin, and the bright, airy colors of the dress made her feel like she was part of the vibrant island surroundings. She couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation for Ricardo's thoughtful gesture.

"Thank you again for buying me these clothes," Nami said with a grateful smile, her voice soft but sincere. She glanced up at him, and his dark eyes glimmered with warmth.

"You're welcome," he replied simply, his hand resting lightly on her arm as they walked. "I'm glad you like them. It's the least I could do after... well, after the bull incident." He chuckled, his voice light and smooth, causing Nami to smile in return.

"Yeah, I'm still not sure how that happened," Nami said, shaking her head with a laugh. "But I'm just glad I didn't get trampled."

Ricardo's gaze turned thoughtful as he looked at her. "You've been through a lot, haven't you? A pirate's life sounds... dangerous."

Nami shrugged nonchalantly. "It has its moments, but it's also full of freedom. I've seen places most people only dream of. There's nothing I love more than exploring the world. My dream is to map the entire globe. Traveling with Luffy has given me the chance to start on that, and I'm grateful for every step, even the dangerous ones." She looked up at him, noticing the genuine interest in his eyes. "What about you? What's it like being a prince?"

Ricardo smiled, but there was a hint of wistfulness in his expression. "It's not as exciting as you might think. I have responsibilities, duties to my people. But I do get to travel sometimes. I've always wanted to see the world beyond the palace walls. That's why I've been learning navigation myself, hoping one day I can explore as you do." His eyes softened as he looked down at her. "I'll never reach your level, though. The world knows of the brilliant orange-haired navigator whose skills are unmatched."

Nami blinked, taken aback by his unexpected compliment. A warm flush spread across her cheeks, and she quickly glanced away. "Well, it's not that impressive. I just love what I do."

Ricardo's voice grew more inquisitive as he leaned slightly closer. "So, you plan to map the entire world? That's no easy feat."

"Yeah," Nami said with a nod, her determination clear in her tone. "It's why I set out to sea. I won't stop until it's done."

Ricardo's curiosity remained piqued. "Do you ever think about what you'll do once it's finished? Settling down, perhaps?"

Nami paused, the question catching her off guard. "I suppose I do, sometimes," she said thoughtfully, "but I wouldn't give up my life on the sea for anything. It's too precious to me." She gave him a small, wistful smile. "But who knows? Maybe one day, after I've finished my map, I'll have a little house by the sea with a garden and a hammock... something simple."

Ricardo's eyes sparkled with interest. "A garden, huh? What kind of flowers would you grow?"

Nami laughed softly, her cheeks still warm from the conversation. "Well, I'm not the best gardener, but I'd love to have tangerine trees. I grew up on a tangerine farm back in the East Blue. Those trees remind me of home—they bring me peace."

Ricardo's face lit up. "I love tangerines, too."

Their conversation flowed easily, the connection between them deepening with each exchange. As they continued to stroll through the bustling market, Nami's eyes caught a glimpse of something that made her stop in her tracks.

In the window of a nearby shop was a stunning red ballgown, sleek and form-fitting, with delicate embroidery that shimmered in the light. The moment she saw it, she couldn't tear her gaze away. It was so elegant, so beautiful, and for a brief moment, she imagined herself wearing it. The thought made her heart flutter with a strange excitement.

Ricardo noticed her sudden stillness and followed her gaze. "Do you like what you see?" he asked with a teasing smile, clearly amused by her rapt attention.

Nami blinked, suddenly aware of how entranced she had become. She shifted awkwardly, trying to play it cool. "I mean, it's pretty," she said, but her voice lacked conviction. "But I don't need anything like that. I'm a pirate after all. We don't exactly go to a lot of fancy parties."

Ricardo wasn't so easily deterred. He stepped closer, his voice soft but persuasive. "There's no harm in looking, Nami. You deserve to feel beautiful, whether it's for a party or just for yourself." He raised an eyebrow playfully. "How about you try it on? What's the worst that could happen?"

Nami hesitated, glancing back at the dress. The idea of wearing something so extravagant felt completely out of place for a pirate like her. But at the same time, the thought of indulging in something beautiful, just for the sake of it, seemed almost... freeing. For a long time, she's had to save money for the ship or other emergencies. Sure, she did indulge on clothes quite frequently, but nothing like this.

Ricardo's expression softened as he spoke gently, "You deserve to treat yourself, even if it's just for a moment. You've earned it."

Caught between her usual practicality and the allure of the moment, Nami felt a strange pull. After a brief pause, she let out a small sigh and nodded. "Alright, I'll try it on. But just to see, okay?"

Ricardo's grin widened, his eyes lighting up. "That's the spirit."

As they walked into the shop, Nami couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Nami stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking in the image of herself in the red ballgown. The sleek fabric hugged her curves just right, the delicate embroidery catching the light in soft, shimmery patterns. It felt like a different side of herself she rarely got to see—elegant, graceful, almost regal. She couldn't help but smile at her reflection, the warmth of the dress making her feel special in a way she hadn't anticipated.

She ran a hand down the smooth fabric, admiring how it swirled with her every movement. "It's… not so bad, right?" she murmured softly to herself, but the soft voice of the shopkeeper interrupted her thoughts.

"Well, come on out, dear! The rest of us want to see it too!"

Nami hesitated for a moment, still feeling a little unsure, but then stepped out into the shop's front area. As soon as she emerged, the women working in the store, along with Ricardo, all stopped what they were doing to stare at her. Their eyes widened, and a few gasped in awe.

The shopkeeper was the first to speak, her voice filled with admiration. "Oh my goodness, you look absolutely stunning!"

Another woman chimed in, "That dress was made for you! It's like it was custom tailored for you!"

Ricardo's gaze softened as he took her in. He smiled, clearly impressed, but his words had a certain warmth, a hint of admiration. "You look incredible," he said, his voice low and sincere.

Nami blinked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under their gaze. She placed a hand on her hip, trying to look casual, but her heart was racing. She raised an eyebrow, half-playful, half-embarrassed, and glanced over at the shopkeeper and the others before looking at Ricardo. "What? Is it too much?" she asked, her tone teasing but uncertain.

The shopkeeper chuckled, "No such thing as too much, dear. That dress was made for you."

Ricardo nodded in agreement, his eyes still admiring her. "It's perfect. You look stunning, Nami." He paused, his smile turning more playful, and he stepped closer, his tone lowering a little. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you've just turned into the most captivating woman in Puertojoya."

Nami's face flushed at his words, and she quickly turned away, her cheeks burning. "I—uh—I'm not sure about all that," she muttered, feeling her heart thud faster. She didn't know how to handle all this attention. It was too much, too fast.

Ricardo, ever the charmer, leaned in slightly, his voice a little more teasing. "I'm just stating the truth, Nami. You wear it well. But—" he paused, looking her up and down with a soft smile "—if you don't want to take it, then I suppose I'll have to. A beautiful woman deserves to have a beautiful dress. And you, Nami, deserve to feel as stunning as you truly are."

She raised both brows in protest. "What? No, that's not necessary!" she exclaimed, looking up at him, half-mortified, half-amused. "I'm a pirate, remember? I'm not about to walk around in a fancy gown."

Ricardo chuckled softly, clearly unfazed. "I know you're a pirate. But even pirates deserve to treat themselves, don't they?" He gave her a knowing smile. "Besides, this isn't just any dress. It's the perfect one for someone as exceptional as you."

Nami felt her heart skip a beat at his words. She had never been one to indulge in luxuries, but something about the way he spoke to her—so assured, so confident—made it hard to resist. She hesitated, looking back at the dress in the mirror. It was beautiful, and maybe… just maybe, it would be nice to have something like this, something just for her.

Before she could speak, Ricardo gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "Let me do this for you, Nami. You've earned it. It's just a dress, but I want you to have it." His smile was warm, his tone both gentle and persuasive. "You deserve to feel special, too. Besides, you can wear it to the banquet."

Nami swallowed, torn between her usual practicality and the temptation of something this extravagant. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze, feeling a flutter in her chest. Finally, she sighed, the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips. "Alright, fine," she said, her tone reluctant but soft. "But only because you won't let it go."

Ricardo's smile widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm glad we're in agreement." He winked at her, clearly satisfied with her decision.

…

Sanji, Brook, and Randolph made their way back to the Thousand Sunny, the lively streets of Puertojoya still buzzing around them. Brook, in his usual cheery demeanor, was strumming a funky-looking guitar, humming a lively tune. His eyes were bright as he gushed, "Ah, Amourhythm is truly magnificent! I'm so grateful to the musician who gave me this guitar! It's unlike anything I've ever played before! I can already feel the rhythm of the island in my fingers!" He strummed a particularly flashy chord, drawing attention from a few passersby.

Sanji, however, didn't share the same enthusiasm. His shoulders slumped, a defeated look on his face. "I thought this was Romance Island… so why did all the women ignore me?" He kicked a stone in frustration.

Randolph sighed, shaking his head. "You were being far too forward. You can't just charm people with one glance, especially not here. This island has its own pace. You need to be patient."

Sanji grumbled under his breath, "I'm a chef, not a damn monk. How am I supposed to wait for women to fall for me?"

Meanwhile, aboard the Sunny, Franky spotted them approaching the ship. "Look! Guess Sanji and Brook decided to finally make their way back," he called out, giving a thumbs-up.

"Welcome back!" Robin's voice carried from the dock of the Polar Tang, smiling brightly as she waved to them. She was talking to Law, who stood nearby, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.

"Robin-chwan!" Sanji rushed up to the ship, his eyes immediately landing on her as he leapt aboard. "I've been thinking about you all day! How are you, sweetheart?"

Law looked at him with a raised brow, his tone a bit sarcastic. "Blackleg-ya, long time no see."

Sanji's eyes narrowed as he glared at him. "You, what are you doing here on our ship?" His voice had the usual fire and aggression Sanji reserved for those he didn't particularly get along with.

Law rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Look around. You're on my ship, idiot."

From across them aboard the Sunny, Luffy's voice rang out, his usual grin lighting up his face. "Hey Brook! Hey Randy! Hey Sanji!"

Sanji blinked, clearly confused. "Luffy! What the hell are they doing here?" He looked at his crew, waiting for an explanation.

Luffy shrugged, his smile widening. "I dunno, but guess what? They're gonna party with us at the banquet!"

"Banquet?" Sanji looked like he'd just heard a strange new word. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Just then, Kyleigh, who had been standing nearby, walked over to Randolph with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Prince Ricardo is throwing a banquet in honor of our return. How wonderful is that, darling?" she said, linking her arm through Randolph's with a playful grin.

Brook, ever the music enthusiast, immediately chimed in. "A banquet? Will there be more music?" His eyes lit up at the thought of more rhythm and tunes, clearly intrigued by the prospect.

Sanji, now feeling more out of place than ever, scanned the area as if searching for an answer. "Hey, where the hell is Nami?"

Hilo and Josephine, standing off to the side, sighed in unison, their expressions tinged with mild exasperation. "It seems Prince Ricardo has taken a liking to her," Hilo remarked, gently shaking her head.

"Yeah," Josephine added, "they're apparently on a date."

Sanji's face twisted in confusion and irritation. "A date? What the hell?" he muttered, clearly thrown off by the news.

Zoro groaned in the background, rolling his eyes. "With that prince guy who's throwing us this party. Do you even listen?" he grumbled, clearly annoyed by Sanji's lack of attention.

Sanji and Zoro were at it again, voices rising in the middle of the deck. "You idiot!" Sanji shouted, his face flushed in irritation. "I can't believe you're still hanging around here while Nami's off with some prince!"

Zoro shot him an exasperated look, arms crossed. "Oh please, as if I care. It's none of my business who Nami spends time with."

"I bet you're just jealous!" Sanji retorted, hands on his hips. "You don't get it! Nami's a woman! Not just some pirate crewmate!"

Usopp, sitting off to the side with Chopper, sighed heavily. "If we act like this at the banquet, they're calling the Marines on us for sure."

Chopper nodded in agreement, his little brow furrowed. "I don't think we should be fighting now, guys."

Just then, a voice called out from below, breaking the tension. "HEY GUYS!"

Everyone turned their heads to see Nami standing at the edge of the ship, her arm still interlinked with Ricardo's, who was holding all her shopping bags. Sanji's face lit up immediately. "Nami-swan!"

Brook, who had been strumming his guitar, paused and squinted down below. "Is that Prince Ricardo? He's quite dashing!"

Josephine and Hilo, who had been standing nearby, both replied in unison, almost as if on cue, "Of course he is! Our Ricardo is the most handsome man in the entire world!"

"Hey, Nami!" Franky called from the ship, waving with both arms.

Ricardo, still holding Nami's shopping bags, looked up, his tone playful. "Don't tell me, you all were just planning on spending the night on your ship?" he asked, as if it were a surprising idea.

Nami shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean, yeah. We don't have the money to spend on a hotel. It's easier and more money-efficient this way. The Sunny is quite comfortable for a ship. It's not an issue."

Ricardo nodded, his arm brushing against hers as they walked toward the ship. He seemed to be glued to her side, and the crew couldn't help but notice.

Once aboard the ship, Nami introduced him to the crew. "Everyone, this is Prince Ricardo," she said with a small smile, gesturing to the man at her side. "Ricardo, this is my crew."

Ricardo smiled warmly, bowing slightly to each of them. "It's an honor to meet all of you," he said, his gaze lingering on Nami for a moment before returning to the crew. He seemed to recognize some familiar faces. "Ah, Hilo, Josephine," he said with a grin. "I'm glad to see you both made it out of the Devil's Diamond as well."

The two women smiled back, clearly pleased to see him. "We wouldn't have made it out without them, Prince," Hilo said.

The entire time, Ricardo remained very close to Nami, his hand occasionally brushing against hers, his body language signaling that he was clearly very comfortable in her presence.

Usopp leaned toward Luffy, his voice a whisper. "Man, he must really be into her. He can't seem to get away from her."

Luffy pouted, crossing his arms over his chest, watching the pair.

Ricardo, still smiling and clearly enjoying himself, turned to address the crew. "I'd like to invite all of you to stay at the castle with us," he said. "It would be a pleasure to host you."

Luffy raised his hand excitedly. "Only if Tra-guy and his crew can come too!"

"Tra-guy?" Ricardo repeated, tilting his head in confusion.

Luffy pointed over at Law and Robin, who were standing with the Heart Pirates. "Yeah, him!" he said enthusiastically.

Ricardo's eyes widened slightly as he recognized the man. "Ah, Trafalgar Law," he said with a small chuckle. "I thought you all would be out of town by now."

Penguin, standing off to the side, shrugged casually. "We were, but Straw Hat invited us to your little party."

Ikkaku smirked, crossing her arms. "We hope you don't mind, Your Highness."

Ricardo let out a hearty laugh. "Of course not! After all, a friend of Nami's is a friend of mine." He glanced at her with a warm, affectionate smile, making the crew exchange looks of suspicion.

Usopp leaned closer to Luffy, whispering low enough so only he could hear. "Wow, this guy must be in love or something. She's got him wrapped around her finger."

Luffy's pout deepened, his eyes locked on Nami and Ricardo, still too close for his liking. "I don't like it. I don't want him on our crew," he muttered, barely able to conceal his frustration.

Usopp grinned knowingly. "Luffy, it's not our crew he wants in, it's Nami, if you catch my drift."

Sanji, who had overheard, swiftly elbowed Usopp in the gut. "Ouch! What was that for?!" Usopp yelped, clutching his stomach.

"Don't talk about Nami like that!" Sanji snapped, glaring at him, his voice sharp.

Ricardo turned to Nami, his expression soft and expectant. "So, is it okay if we stay at the castle? I want to make sure you're comfortable."

Nami smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up. "I mean, the Sunny's nice and all, but I'll take a castle over the ship any day!" she said with a playful grin.

Ricardo chuckled, clearly pleased with her response. "Very well," he said. "If you'll all follow me, I'll introduce you to the castle staff and get you all situated in your rooms. After that, how about dinner?"

The crew exchanged excited glances, eager for the chance to relax in a more luxurious setting. Even the Heart Pirates seemed to brighten at the prospect.

Luffy bounced on his heels, his usual enthusiasm returning. "Food?! Yes, let's go!" he said, pumping a fist in the air.

Franky cracked his knuckles. "This is gonna be awesome!"

Usopp sighed, shaking his head with a smile. "I can already imagine the feast."

Ricardo motioned for everyone to follow him, leading them down the pathway toward the grand castle. As they walked, the crew marveled at the elegant architecture surrounding them—high stone walls, vast gardens, and fountains that sparkled in the afternoon sun. It was a world away from their usual life aboard the ship.

Nami walked beside Ricardo, still holding onto one of the shopping bags he had carried for her. And although Luffy couldn't be more excited about dinner, he frowned, unable to shake the weird feeling he got from watching Nami be so close to this random man.