[U.T] Ch 16: Orange Town

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Orange Town

This little town famous for its oranges had now become the base of operations for the Buggy Pirates.

"Finally got it!"

Hugging a sea chart, a slim figure darted through the streets. It was Nami, running for her life after stealing the Grand Line chart from the Buggy Pirates.

Behind her, a group of pirates were in hot pursuit.

"Ahhh! Help!"

Up in the sky, a large bird was flying while carrying Luffy.

"Captain Buggy! There's something unidentified flying over the harbor!"

In a tent perched high within the town, a man with a big red nose opened his eyes.

"Shoot it down."

Buggy's voice was cold.

BOOM!

A cannonball blasted through the air and hit the bird dead-on. Luffy tumbled out and began plummeting straight down—landing between Nami and the chasing pirates.

"W-What just happened?" Nami stared at the dust cloud rising from the crater.

"Whew, saved. That was a fun ride." Luffy climbed out of the hole, adjusting his straw hat.

"You... you are...?"

Nami looked at him, and something clicked. 

This was the straw hat kid who was with Luen when she escaped.

She glanced around but didn't see Luen anywhere.

"Oh! It's you!!"

Luffy finally noticed her too, and his face lit up in recognition.

So he did remember her?

But before Nami could say anything, Luffy tilted his head, face full of question marks. "Who are you again?"

"..."

Nami's face twitched. Seriously? If you don't remember me, then why were you so shocked when you saw me?!

"Boss, it's me! I know Luen!"

Seeing the confused Buggy Pirates, Nami quickly put on a smile and waved.

"Ohhh, you're that thief."

Now Luffy remembered. "Right! Luen did talk about a thief."

"Yep! Boss, you came to rescue me, right? Take care of those guys!"

Nami wasn't about to worry about how Luffy described her. She pointed to the Buggy Pirates chasing her and bolted.

"Hey! If you're that woman's boss, then we'll catch you and force her to hand over the chart!"

The pirates turned their focus to Luffy.

"Man, I'm hungry..."

Luffy clutched his stomach, clearly not in top shape.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

One pirate snapped and punched Luffy's hat off.

"Don't touch my treasure!"

Luffy's arm stretched out, snatched his hat back, and his eyes turned deadly.

Big mistake. The pirates had pissed him off.

---

"You're strong!"

Nami watched from a rooftop, her eyes lighting up. "I'm a thief who steals from pirates. Name's Nami. Want to team up?"

Now that she'd seen Luffy's strength, Nami—who initially only wanted the sea chart—was eyeing the Buggy Pirates' treasure.

"No thanks. I'm not teaming up with you."

Luffy turned away.

"Aww, come on. I'll buy you food."

"Really?!"

Luffy perked up immediately.

— — —

"Yum!"

Inside a house, Luffy stuffed a burger into his mouth, smiling ear to ear.

"You live alone in a place this big?"

"Nah, I'm not from this town. The townspeople all fled because of Buggy."

"So... you broke in?"

Luffy always spoke his mind.

"How rude! I'm a professional thief. Don't lump me in with common burglars."

"Still a thief, though."

"For some reason, I need to save up 100 million Berries. So with this Grand Line chart, I can do it." Nami looked dead serious.

"A chart? Are you a navigator?"

Luffy's eyes lit up.

"Way better than your average navigator," Nami said with confidence.

"Then join my crew as navigator!"

Luffy remembered Luen saying he'd need a skilled navigator to make it through the Grand Line.

"NO WAY! You're a pirate?!"

"Hmph! I hate pirates!"

Nami's mood shifted. Memories of Luen came flooding back. She had thought he was just another thief like her... but he was a pirate too?

"I see..."

Luffy didn't push the topic and just kept eating.

Nami also dropped the idea of teaming up and got ready to leave, but as she looked out the window and saw Buggy's men still outside, her eyes narrowed. She looked at Luffy.

"Alright, if you agree to one thing, I'll consider it." She smiled.

"Really?! I'll do anything!" 

"Come with me to meet Buggy." Nami pulled out a rope and tied Luffy up.

"Why are you tying me?!"

"Is there a problem?" She grinned.

Nami wasn't cruel, but she had no qualms about tricking pirates. Her plan was simple: trade Luffy and the chart for Buggy's trust, then steal it all back later.

"Oh!"

"Doesn't matter. I kinda wanted to meet that Buggy anyway."

Luffy didn't mind.

---

Meanwhile, Buggy was fuming.

"Captain Buggy!"

A pirate ran in shouting.

"What?!" Buggy was in a bad mood. 

"That thief came back!"

Buggy turned and saw Nami dragging in a tied-up straw hat kid.

"That's really her! The one who stole the chart!"

One pirate pointed.

WHAM!

Nami shoved Luffy to the ground.

"I caught the thief. Here's the chart, Captain Buggy."

She held it up.

"Thanks... but what made you change your mind?"

Buggy took the chart, eyeing her with a twisted smile.

"My boss and I had a falling out. I'm done with him. Please let me join your crew." Nami smiled sweetly.

This was her strategy.

She couldn't run, so she'd infiltrate and wait for another chance.

Buggy burst out laughing.

"Can't stand that guy, huh? You're funny. Alright, you're in!" He laughed heartily.

Nami's eyes curved in a smile. Infiltration complete. Pirates really are easy to fool.

Soon after, Luffy was locked in a cage.

"Why am I in a cage?!" he shouted.

Nobody answered.

"I'm in a good mood today. What's your name, girl?"

"Nami."

"Great! Let's throw her a welcome party! Let's go wild!"

"YEAH!!"

The party began. Food and booze filled the Buggy Pirates' base. This was how pirates celebrated.

"Eat up! It's your welcome party!"

"Thanks!" Nami smiled.

While enjoying the party, she was already scheming: how to steal the chart again... and maybe even Buggy's treasure. He was infamous for hoarding gold.

"I feel awesome! Fire up a special Buggy Ball!"

Buggy, a few drinks in, laughed heartily.

"What're you doing?"

Nami watched in confusion as a cannon was wheeled out and loaded.

"Watch closely! This is the power of the Buggy Ball!"

"FIRE!"

Buggy's smile turned savage.

BOOM!!!

The explosion ripped through the town, blowing it clean through. Buildings collapsed in a fiery blaze.

---

"What the hell was that?!"

Zoro had just docked, stunned by the blast.

"T-That was our Captain's signature move! The Buggy Ball!"

The pirates captured by Zoro and Luen were sweating.

"Buggy Ball, huh?"

Zoro repeated the name.

"Come on. Luffy's probably over there. He's always causing trouble."

Luen smirked, staring at the source of the explosion.

---

"Wasn't that spectacular? With the Buggy Ball and my Devil Fruit powers, I'll rule the Grand Line! Right, Nami?!"

Buggy laughed.

"Y-Yeah, Captain Buggy."

Nami forced a smile. Luckily, the town had been evacuated, or that could've been a massacre.

"Hey! I'm the one who's gonna rule the Grand Line! I'll be King of the Pirates!"

Luffy shouted from his cage.

"WHAT?!"

Buggy's face twisted in rage. "Hah! No wonder you dumped this idiot, Nami."

"Right? He's too naive. I couldn't follow someone like that." She played along.

"Fine! I'll reward you with a Buggy Ball! Blow up your old boss!"

Buggy grinned cruelly.

"Show me your loyalty, Nami. This is your real welcome."

Click!

Another Buggy Ball was loaded, aimed at Luffy.

"FIRE! FIRE!" The pirates chanted.

Nami held a matchbox—but her hands trembled.

She knew if she didn't fire, Buggy would kill her.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Why are your hands shaking?"

Luffy suddenly spoke, startling her.

"You challenged pirates without being ready?"

Even caged and targeted, Luffy showed no fear.

"'Ready'?! You mean killing people without remorse?! Is that pirate resolve?!"

Nami shouted back, memories haunting her.

"No. It means being ready to risk your own life." Luffy gave her a calm, sincere smile.

"Hehehe! Then let me do it."

A pirate stepped forward with a match.

WHACK!

Nami struck him down with her staff.

"Nami! What are you doing?!" Buggy snarled.

"I'm sorry!"

Nami bowed in apology.

Buggy's teeth turned into fangs. "You think an apology fixes this?!"

"What the heck? You wanna save me now?!"

Luffy blinked.

"Don't be stupid! It was a spur-of-the-moment thing!"

"I just... don't want to be like pirates. Cruel and heartless."

Nami stood her ground, staff in hand, surrounded.

"So it was just impulse, huh..."

Luffy looked a little disappointed. He thought she might want to join his crew.

"Pirates stole the life of the person I cared about most. I'd never join them!"

She finally let it out.

"I see."

Luffy understood now. No wonder she refused the moment she learned he was a pirate.

Fssshhh!

The fuse was lit.

"AHH! The fuse is burning!"

Luffy panicked. Rubber body or not, he couldn't survive a blast like that.

"This joke's gone on long enough! Kill her, now!" Buggy's eyes blazed red.

"DIE, you brat!"

Several pirates lunged at Nami, eager to impress Buggy.

Nami dodged and sprinted toward the cannon.

"Ahhh!"

"Water! Where's water?!"

Luffy looked around desperately.

"Damn it! There's no time!"

Nami gritted her teeth and grabbed the fuse with her bare hands.

"AHHH!"

The searing pain from touching the flaming fuse made her cry out in agony.

"You—!"

Luffy stared at her in shock.

But in Nami's hands, the fuse finally… slowly… fizzled out.

But the danger wasn't over. Behind her, one of Buggy's crew came charging in with a weapon, aiming straight at her.

Nami's eyes widened in despair. She shut her eyes tightly.

Bang!

"What a bunch of cowards. Ganging up on a helpless girl—really impressive."

A mocking voice cut through the chaos.

"Zoro!" Luffy lit up with joy as he saw Zoro step in, casually cutting down Buggy's lackeys with his sword.

"Well well, long time no see, Miss thief."

That familiar teasing laugh drifted over.

Nami turned toward the sound—and saw the figure who once danced with her on that merchant ship slowly walking over.

"Luen! I can't believe you guys actually found this place!"Luffy shouted excitedly.

Nami was a little speechless.

She never expected to run into him again in this vast ocean.

And definitely not like this.

"Check traits."Luen didn't waste any time catching up. His eyes locked onto Buggy.

Vmm!

A dazzling golden light pulsed.

Buggy… definitely hiding something big.

Luen's eyes sparkled with interest.

.

.

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