One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22 - [22] : Nami Joins! Trait Equipping Complete!

~ Next Bonus Chapter at 400 Powerstones~

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"Here. You guys need this, right? The Grand Line map," Nami said, handing the sea map to Luffy after the battle was completely over.

"Eh? You're giving it to me?" Luffy looked at Nami, pleasantly surprised.

"Well, we kind of teamed up, didn't we? And I couldn't have gotten the Buggy Pirates' treasure without you guys," Nami replied, smiling as she looked at the two large sacks of treasure beside her.

If converted to Beri, this treasure was worth a full 10 million.

This was her biggest haul ever.

After all, without Rowen and the others, Nami wouldn't have dared to single-handedly infiltrate the base of a major pirate with a 15 million Beri bounty.

"But even though we sort of cooperated, this treasure is all mine!" Nami quickly hugged the sacks tightly, her expression turning wary again after her moment of happiness.

"Shishishi! With this, we can go to the Grand Line, right, Rowen?" Luffy, completely uninterested in the treasure, excitedly held up the Grand Line map and called out to Rowen.

"That's right. But we still need a proper pirate ship. And a navigator," Rowen replied after carefully examining the map.

With only Navigation (White), Rowen struggled even to understand this map properly, let alone navigate the Grand Line.

"The Grand Line, huh?" A fierce grin spread across Zoro's face.

After Rowen had opened his eyes to the possibilities—Zoro was now eager to head to the Grand Line and pursue his ambition.

"Navigator? Isn't she right here? Shishishi!" Luffy pointed at Nami, grinning.

Nami had been staring blankly at the three of them.

She'd never met pirates who were so completely indifferent to such a large amount of treasure before.

These guys... their eyes held no greed, only dreams.

Pirates who set sail purely for their dreams... do people like that really exist in this world?

Just as Nami was pondering this, she heard Luffy's words and immediately retorted.

"Hey! I told you I won't join a pirate crew!"

But then, Nami's eyes darted around thoughtfully, and she smiled again.

"However... teaming up with you guys does seem pretty profitable. Maybe we could continue working together."

"Shishishi! Then it's decided! Nami's our navigator!" Luffy yelled excitedly.

"Temporary navigator," Nami corrected.

"Welcome aboard, Nami," Rowen said, extending his hand to her with a smile.

Just like when he had invited her to dance on the luxury liner.

"..." Seeing this gesture, Nami clearly remembered her first meeting with Rowen, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

She had assumed they'd never meet again on this vast sea, that Rowen's "until we meet again" was just a casual platitude.

Yet, not only had it come true today, but she had somehow become the temporary navigator on his ship.

"Mm," Nami nodded, taking Rowen's hand, her lips pressed together thoughtfully.

"Y-You guys... defeated Buggy the Clown?!" Just then, a shocked voice interrupted them.

Rowen and the others turned to see an old man—white-haired, frail-looking but wearing homemade armor, strangely dressed—staring at them in disbelief.

"Yeah, we beat Buggy's crew. Who are you, old man?" Luffy readily admitted, then looked at the old man curiously.

"I am Boodle, the mayor of this Orange Town. Who are you? You don't look like Marines," Boodle introduced himself, then asked, his face still showing traces of shock.

The Buggy Pirates... defeated by these kids?

"Their town was taken over by the Buggy Pirates; they must hate pirates! Definitely don't tell them who you are!" Nami whispered urgently.

"I'm Luffy! I'm a pirate!" Luffy announced straightforwardly.

Thump! Nami nearly face-planted.

"Hahahaha!" Zoro slapped his thigh, roaring with laughter.

Rowen chuckled at the scene as well.

Classic Luffy.

"P-Pirates..." Mayor Boodle's face twitched.

"Ah, I'm starving! Old man, can you treat us to a meal?" Luffy patted his stomach.

Using Devil Fruit powers consumed a lot of stamina.

"We should definitely celebrate properly," Rowen agreed, still elated from acquiring the Born of the Sea (Apex Gold) Trait.