Cocoyashi Village, On a Mountain Nearby
On the outskirts of Cocoyashi Village, atop a peaceful mountain, sits a solitary grave surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air—a tranquil resting place.
This is the final resting place of Bellemere.
At this moment, three people are quietly standing in front of the grave—Nami, Nojiko, and Genzo.
"Mother…"
Nami held a bouquet of fresh flowers in her hands. Her beautiful eyes fixed on the tombstone, a happy smile appearing on her lovely face. She spoke with a heartfelt chuckle, "Nojiko and I are leaving."
"You heard right, we're setting out to sea—to see the vast world, to go on countless adventures."
"Didn't you always say that as women, we must stay strong and always be full of hope and passion for life?"
"Well, we've done it. We're full of hope now, filled with excitement for the future."
"Once our journey ends, Nojiko and I will return home and come here again to tell you all about our adventures."
"Hehe~" Nami smiled sweetly as she gently placed the bouquet in front of the grave, then stood up and stepped aside to wait for Nojiko.
Back at the mansion, Nami had tried to persuade Nojiko to come along with her to sea. Nojiko originally refused, wanting to stay behind and tend to Bellemere's grave.
But after some persuasion from Reiju and the others, and with the final push from Baccarat—whose words seemed to carry luck and magic—Nojiko eventually agreed to join them.
So what could Nojiko do? She had no choice but to obediently board the ship.
"Mother, Nami is right. We've grown stronger, and we're full of hope now." Nojiko, also holding flowers, gazed solemnly at Bellemere's grave. Her stunning face carried a gratified smile.
"Now that the fishmen are gone, the villagers can live happy, peaceful lives. Everything is getting better, so you don't have to worry anymore."
"Mother, in a few years, Nami and I will finish our journey and return. When we do, we'll visit you often and tell you all about our stories."
"I believe you'll love hearing them."
"Goodbye, Mother. We're leaving now. Please watch over us from the heavens and bless us with happiness and health."
After finishing her words, she slowly knelt down and gently placed the flowers at the grave.
Genzo watched the two girls silently, still wearing his usual stern expression. Then he spoke solemnly: "You two, if you can't handle life out there, just come back."
"Don't push yourselves too hard. If you're ever feeling down, just come home."
"And if you have time, come visit your mother. She loved having you around."
With a wave of his hand, he added impatiently, "Go on now. Don't keep your benefactors waiting too long."
Nami rolled her eyes at Genzo, clearly exasperated by this father-like figure.
Despite his stern demeanor, Genzo was a man who was cold outside but warm inside—he cared deeply for the two girls, treating them like his own daughters.
"Alright, alright. We're leaving. You take care of yourself too!"
Nami turned around, took a few steps forward, and waved goodbye without looking back.
Nojiko gave Genzo a polite bow and smiled gently, "We're off now. Please take good care of yourself." Then she quickly ran to catch up with Nami.
Genzo stood there quietly, watching their backs as they walked away. His stern face finally relaxed into a rare soft smile.
"Bellemere, those two girls are heading out to sea. They've grown up. It's time for them to face the world."
Turning to Bellemere's photo, he spoke gently, "From now on, you won't be lonely."
"Because I'll be here with you, talking to you, keeping you company."
"Do you think they'll be happy? I believe they will be."
A soft breeze rustled the trees and grass, making the flowers tremble slightly—almost as if in response to his question.
Yes, they will be very happy…
Aboard the Chris
Meanwhile, the large ship named Chris had already left the coast, heading into the open sea.
"Damn it! Why is it always women joining? Can't we get someone with a damn pair?!"
Burgess waved his fists while training his Armament Haki, cursing loudly.
Doc Q, lounging on a chair with a creepy grin, said, "Can't be helped. The captain just loves beautiful women. Can't resist them—every single one ends up on the ship."
Gin sneered, "Captain only cares about training. He's not into women. Stop making stuff up."
"From his face alone, it's obvious he's not into that stuff. No doubt about it."
Hawkins was playing with his cards, his voice deep and eerie.
Laffitte spun his cane and politely said, "It's not a bad thing to have beautiful women aboard."
"Staring at you guys every day is so boring. At least some eye candy makes life more bearable."
In the Training Room
Nami looked at the man in front of her, blinking her large eyes and smiling sweetly.
"Captain Chris, this is my sister. She wants to join us too. Is that okay?"
The ship had already set sail, so asking now was a bit late—but since all the women agreed, Chris likely wouldn't object.
"Captain Chris, hello. I'm Nojiko. I'll be in your care from now on."
Nojiko stood tall and graceful, bowing politely to Chris, her voice sincere.
Chris didn't turn around, continuing to swing his giant blade as he replied simply, "Okay."
Reiju smiled gently at Nojiko, "That's just how Chris is. He doesn't care about anything else—just training."
"So don't mind his lack of words. He's actually welcoming you."
Betty took a drag of her cigarette and added, "His way of welcoming people is a bit… unique. You'll get used to it."
Karina's eyes sparkled as she laughed, "Nojiko, I was confused when I first came aboard too. But I realized that's just his nature."
"Same here," Nami giggled. "Back then, I couldn't even tell if he agreed or not."
"So don't be fooled by just two words. It actually means a lot."
Nojiko nodded softly and smiled, "It's okay. I'll get used to it."
Soon after, the women began chatting again about the fishmen incident, laughing happily…
Three Days Later, Somewhere in the East Blue
"Report…"
"We're under attack! The weather vane was destroyed! We're under attack…"
From the lookout post came the urgent sound of alarms.
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T/N:
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