One Piece: Starting with Coercion and Enticement of Nami

Seeing Nami's disbelieving look, Thoth had no choice but to reach into his pocket and take out the half-pack of hard candy that was already soaked in water.

Take out a sticky candy from inside and put it in front of her mouth.

Nami's eyes twitched, but she stubbornly reached out and took it, stuffing it into her mouth. The sweet and slightly salty taste flooded her taste buds.

Now, with a dark expression, she stood up, kicked Toth in the shin, and held out her hand with a forced smile:

"I'm wasting your time. Give me back the sword so I can sell it for money? Or let me chip away at the sapphire."

Toth slapped her hand away and said irritably:

"This sword is mine. I don't want any of the treasures you stole this time. Just take care of my food, clothing, and shelter from now on."

Nami's expression changed instantly, revealing a smile that gradually grew brighter and brighter:

"Deal. No backing out allowed."

"Hehehe! This time I've made a fortune, at least ten million. If I could carry the rest, I could have earned at least thirty million Berries."

Facing the cool sea breeze, Thoth glanced at the large treasure package in the cabin, and seeing Nami's excited expression, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he familiarized himself with the longsword in his hand.

After Nami's initial excitement subsided, she looked at Thoth, who seemed about to speak again but hesitated. Noticing her gaze, Thoth was puzzled:

"Is there anything else?"

"Um," Nami bit her lip, "how about I give you 20% of this treasure?"

"Huh?" Thoth's eyes widened slightly. "You greedy person are actually willing to share the treasure you've already got with me?"

Nami's eyes twitched. The disguise on her face had been washed off, and her fair face was now flushed.

Her chest heaved heavily. After several breaths, Nami pursed her lips and whispered:

"Since we've partnered up and agreed on the distribution of the spoils beforehand, we can't just do whatever we want when it comes to sharing the profits."

We agreed on a 50/50 split, but in my opinion, that sword only accounts for 30%.

I've seen far too many gangs fight to the death because of unequal distribution of spoils.

I can't beat you in a fight, so if I gain too much of an advantage, I'm worried it will cause a rift between us.

These words were straightforward and reasonable. Thoth raised an eyebrow, looking at her, who was clear-headed and not blinded by the huge treasure.

"Moreover, since we've partnered up, we can contribute a share of the costs related to food, clothing, housing, and transportation."

I believe that in a relationship, it's sometimes better to be clear about things. Too much ambiguity can easily damage the relationship.

Upon hearing this, Thoth chuckled softly:

“Okay, that’s fine. We’ll go with your idea, but I’ll leave my money with you for now. You can make an account and record it for me.”

"Huh?" Nami was surprised, then couldn't help but ask, "We've only met twice, and you trust me that much?"

“I think I’ve already said that,” Thoth said calmly, looking at her. “I live alone now.”

Since I've decided to partner with you to venture out into this vast ocean, I will give you my basic trust.

As for money, enough is enough for me. And in my opinion, a partner I can entrust my life to is far more valuable than any meaningless treasure.

Nami's mouth opened slightly upon hearing this, she blinked, then lowered her head and muttered to herself:

"A true partner? And a partner who's willing to let me manage the money."

Feelings of peace and unease arise simultaneously.

"Nami, you just said you can't beat me? I can see that you are very coordinated and agile, and have good potential."

Thoth suddenly said:

"So, would you like to learn some swordsmanship or hand-to-hand combat?"

She suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with surprise, but quickly, Nami shook her head with a blank expression:

“I don’t have that much time and energy to waste. I need to raise enough Pele as soon as possible.”

Seeing the strong sense of depression emanating from her petite and slender body, Thoth leaned down and reached out to ruffle her orange hair as she sat on the deck hugging her legs.

Nami raised her head, raised her left arm to push Thoth's hand away, and looked at Thoth helplessly, but then her eyes froze slightly.

She saw Thoth's expression harden, and just as she was feeling somewhat bewildered, Thoth's calm words came through:

"Nami, I still don't understand why you need so much money. Even a treasure worth tens of millions of Berries can't make you relax at all."

I guess it's not because someone in your family is seriously ill and needs some exorbitant medical expenses, right?

So, there must be someone or something threatening you, right?

Panic flashed in Nami's eyes.

Thoth's eyes flashed as he looked at the strange, dark blue tattoo that had been visible on the cuff of her upper arm after she had raised it. He suddenly reached out and pulled up the cuff... Nami reacted almost reflexively, but at that moment, Thoth also saw the complete tattoo design on her upper arm.

"You... you saw everything?"

Nami's voice trembled, then she glared fiercely at Thoth, "You bastard."

"The Evil Dragon Pirates? A bunch of scum who split off from the infamous Sun Pirates, a fish-man pirate from the Grand Line."

Thoth said calmly, “They are said to be a group of extreme racists and extremely hostile to humans. They came to the East China Sea about four years ago.”

It also caused enormous chaos.

"So Nami, they've been threatening you all along!"

017. The Past!

"100,000 Berries for adults, 50,000 Berries for children... Considering this is a surprise attack, we'll only kill those who can't afford it!! This will be the same every month!"

Once her secret was discovered, there was little point in hiding it anymore, so Nami simply gave up and went all out.

"The sudden arrival of those fishmen and the cruel orders they gave completely shattered the peaceful life of our village."

“Our family is very poor. Apart from seasonal oranges and my adoptive mother’s occasional hunting, we have no other source of income. It is already very difficult for my adoptive mother to raise the two of us children on her own. All our savings combined are just over 100,000 Berries.”

"And those monsters from the Great Lineage are beings that our entire village could not defeat even if we gave our lives to fight them."

“All the ships that could go out to sea were destroyed when they arrived. The naval warships that came were easily sunk and destroyed. The only way to survive was to pay the exorbitant price to buy our lives. In order for us to live, our foster mother, Belle, was shot alive in front of us by our leader, Aaron.”

"Then they discovered my nautical surveying and charting abilities, they captured me, and finally, I made a deal with Aaron."

The only thing I can do alone is to buy our village for 100 million Berries, but at the same time, I will give them work and survey and map them.

I joined them, becoming the most despised scoundrel and lackey in the village.

Nami, her expression gloomy, looked at Thoth with a cold smile:

"Ah Long and his gang are monsters you can't defeat, and Ah Long's strength is incredibly powerful."

They won't allow me to cooperate with outsiders. If they find out, you'll have no chance of survival on this high seas.

I was originally planning to quietly part ways with you on the next island, but since you've already found out, I'll just be frank and say it directly.

While there's still plenty of time, grab your sword and your share of treasure, and I'll drop you off on the nearest island. As for the partnership, let's just pretend it never happened!

From this day forward, we will go our separate ways. Neither of us should intrude into the other's life.

"Then, like a mule, you continued your precarious life of theft and thievery."

Until one day, when you encounter something you can't defeat again, and die in some unknown, hidden corner? Until you rot and become infested with maggots.

Tot looked at her calmly and said.

Nami remained silent, then suddenly erupted, her eyes filled with despair, and grabbed Thoth's collar, shouting angrily:

"What does this have to do with you? I choose my own life, I decide whether I live or die. What right do you have to interfere with my fate?"

"Just like you said, whether I live or die is up to me."

Thoth's gaze was calm. "Let's make a promise!"

Nami stared coldly at Thoth.

Thoth continued, "I don't think Arlong and the others will let you go, even if you've saved up that hundred million Berries."

They saw your talent for measurement and mapping, so until you help them achieve what they want...

As the weaker party, you have no power to resist them.

And everything you care about is under their control; they have too many ways to force you to keep giving in.

I even suspect that even if you help them achieve what they want, it wouldn't be surprising if they ultimately chose to kill you in order to possess it all for themselves.

After all, they are your mother's killers. Letting a genius enemy go free—I think anyone would feel uneasy about that, right?

Or perhaps, I'll sever your hands and feet, gouge out your eyes, and then set you free.

The cold words struck her heart.

Nami's eyes trembled, and her face turned deathly pale as she loosened Thoth's collar and slumped onto the boat. In the past, she simply didn't want to think about things too deeply, not that she couldn't think of them; she just had no other choice.

They were just deliberately keeping the fantasy alive.

As a belief that supports oneself.

But now, the man before her, with his cruel words, shattered her illusions, leaving her with a profound and suffocating despair.

Thoth just looked at her without a trace of pity in his eyes, because this was the cruel world.

Nami is like that, and so am I, but fortunately, I have the power to choose my future.

After a long while, Nami, her face deathly pale, raised her head, her blank gaze gradually focusing on Thoth:

"What agreement?"

Look at that bewildered look, like someone drowning and grabbing at a straw.

Thoth sighed, "I thought you'd be devastated by this!"

Nami pursed her lips, her eyes vacant for a moment, then she spoke as if lost in reminiscence:

"Bermere once said that as long as you struggle to live, many happy things will continue to happen!!"

As long as I'm alive, I will never give up. Only by living can there be more possibilities.

Looking at this kind-hearted girl who was struggling to survive like a weed, Tote smiled helplessly. There is no love without a reason in this world, but who made him fall for her?

Do you have a dream?

Thoth asked, and Nami's eyes lit up. She nodded and said, "I want to draw all the sea charts and maps of the world, and eventually create a world map."

Thoth laughed and said, "I want my footprints to cover every corner of this world. To travel freely on this vast sea and meet all sorts of interesting people."

This is my choice, or you could say my dream.

To do this, I need immense strength that cannot be hindered by anyone, so I will become stronger, stronger than anyone else.

"Your dream is truly outrageous!"

Nami couldn't help but scratch.

"Nami, be my companion! My partner."

Thoth seemed oblivious to her barbed words, and calmly said, "Our dreams complement each other. If I want to travel the world, I can't do without a great navigator."

And if you want to draw a world map, you also need the support of powerful companions.

For the sake of my dream, Ah Long is my stumbling block, so he has a way to die... In a year, within a year, I will wipe them all out.

"And when you are free, would you like to go out to sea with me?"

Thoth extended his hand to her. Nami stared blankly at Thoth. He didn't say that he was going to defeat Arlong for her sake, but rather that Arlong had become a roadblock on their shared dream, an obstacle that they had to overcome. Arlong... was a pest.

Ah Long was no longer just her enemy, but an enemy of both of them.

They can truly be companions.

"I have no right to stop you from realizing your dreams."

Nami stared intently at Thoth, a glimmer of light gradually appearing in her eyes:

“I absolutely do not want to be exploited to death like you said, Toth. Do you still stand by what you just said?”

"Was I being a bit too talkative today? Be more specific." Thoth looked at her speechlessly.

Nami rolled her eyes at Thoth, placed her delicate white hand in his palm, and gradually smiled brightly:

"Thoth, teach me how to fight. I, Nami, cannot just accept my fate like this. Since he won't give me a way out, then I will fight my way out with my own hands."