NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21 - Your Captain is Strong!
Chapter 21: Your Captain is Strong!
“Welcome aboard, Miss Navigator.” Ace extended his hand towards Nami, his signature grin in place. “Just call me Nami,” she replied, shaking his hand briefly. You already know my name from those Fish-Men, don’t you?”
Ace chuckled. “Fair enough.” Nami let go and stepped onto the deck, scanning the area with curiosity. “So, where’s our ship, Captain?” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Something felt off.
Ace casually pointed to the side of the pirate ship. Floating just below was a small, wooden raft.
“That’s my ship.”
“…That?!”
Nami’s jaw dropped. She stared in disbelief at the flimsy raft, which looked like it could barely hold two people.
“What about our crew?” A horrible feeling crept up her spine. “This is it.” Ace pointed at her, then at himself, still grinning.
“…Just the two of us?!” Nami’s voice rose sharply “For now. I just set out to sea, so I still need to find more crew members.” Ace shrugged, completely unbothered. Nami took a deep breath, trying to process the situation. But then, an idea struck her.
If it’s just the two of us… my chances of stealing his money just got even better! Her frustration vanished as quickly as it came, and she smiled to herself.
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“HAHAHA! This was a great haul!” A loud chorus of laughter erupted from the merchant ship. Nami’s expression darkened. She turned her gaze to the upper deck—where pirates were kicking merchants, beating sailors, and grabbing treasures. Their cruel laughter echoed through the air. “Not good…” Her fingers clenched into fists. A look of pure disgust crossed her face.
“You hate pirates, don’t you?” Ace’s calm voice sent a shiver down her spine. She turned slightly—Ace was watching her with a knowing smile. “W-What are you talking about, Captain? I was part of Arlong’s crew, remember?” She forced a laugh, but her body was tense.
Ace glanced up at the pirates, who had now spotted them. They began shouting curses, weapons drawn, charging forward. Ace sighed, shaking his head, “I’m not like those scumbag pirates.” His golden eyes gleamed. “And I hate them just as much as you do.”
“Eh?!” Nami’s eyes widened in surprise. “This guy… hates pirates too?”
“They belong at the bottom of the ocean.” Before Nami could process his words, Ace grabbed her. With a single leap, he jumped from the pirate ship—landing smoothly on his raft.
“W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
Nami screamed, clutching onto him in terror. Ace gently set her down at the front of the raft. As she looked back, her eyes widened further— His feet ignited with flames. The wooden raft began gliding forward, propelled by fire. Within moments, they were floating safely at a distance, about thirty meters away from the pirate ship.
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“You little brat!” The Bone-Blade Pirates scrambled back onto their ship, furious. “You think you can run?! We’ll tear you to pieces!” Their captain—a large man wielding a massive cleaver made of bone—sneered.
“Fools! They’re sitting ducks! FIRE THE CANNONS!”
Creak! Creak!
Pirates loaded the cannons, their faces twisted with malice. Their ship’s massive guns turned towards the small raft.
“Hey! We need to run!” Nami’s face paled. She grabbed Ace’s sleeve, panic setting in.
“FIRE!”
BOOM! BOOM!
Two cannonballs hurtled towards them, causing Nami’s heart to stop. This is the end! Her mind flashed with memories— The faces of Cocoyasi Village filled her thoughts. I failed… I never got to free them…
“Fire Fist!”
A roaring blaze erupted from Ace’s fist. A wave of heat engulfed the air, and the cannonballs disintegrated instantly. The fire continued forward, forming a colossal flaming dragon. Its scorching breath swallowed the pirate ship whole.
“AAAHHHH!”
Screams filled the air— the ship burst into flames, the intense heat warping the air. Within seconds, everything was reduced to charred remains.
Ace exhaled, lowering his smoking hand. Tipping his hat slightly, he turned to face Nami. A smirk played on his lips. “Nami…” He gestured towards the burning wreckage, now sinking beneath the waves. “Your captain is quite strong, don’t you think?”
Nami sat there, stunned, eyes locked onto the smouldering ruins. The flames reflected in her wide eyes, the scene burning itself into her mind.
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“Thank you! Thank you for saving us!”
Back on the merchant ship, the captain and merchants bowed deeply to Ace and Nami. Though much of the stolen treasure had been lost in the flames, a significant portion remained untouched. Nami fidgeted awkwardly. She wasn’t used to seeing a pirate being thanked. This feels… weird.
“By the way—what are your names?” The merchant captain looked at Ace with genuine gratitude. “I’m Ace. A pirate.” He grinned and gestured at Nami. “And this is Nami—my navigator.”
“…!”
“…!!”
“…!!!”
The entire crew froze. Then— They screamed in horror, “D-Don’t kill us! You can take all the money!” The rich merchants huddled together, trembling in fear. After witnessing Ace’s destructive power, they instantly assumed the worst. They thought Ace would kill them all.
Nami stared blankly at the scene. We’re pirates… but we’re being thanked…?
Ace simply laughed, waving his hand. “We’re not like those trash pirates.” Then—he patted his stomach. “But I am hungry. Mind giving us a meal?”
“…Eh?” The merchant captain blinked in shock. “Pirates… with manners…?”
“You really don’t want money?”
The merchant hesitated.
“Hmm…”
Ace glanced around—then walked towards a young girl in the crowd.
He’s going to take money after all. A flicker of disappointment crossed Nami’s face.
Ace knelt in front of the child. Then, with a gentle smile, he picked up a single coin from her pocket.
“Can I take this?” He grinned warmly. “We’ll call it a thank-you gift.” The little girl beamed. “Yes! Big brother, thank you for saving us!” She laughed happily as Ace lifted her. The merchant captain relaxed. “Let’s give them a proper farewell feast!”
“Feast?” Ace’s eyes lit up. “Now that’s more like it!”
“Are they really pirates?” Nami watched Ace laugh among the villagers, an odd look in her eyes. For the first time, she began to wonder…
Could a pirate… be different?