C25 Little Thieving Cat Nami

Nami, the cunning little cat burglar, tragically lost her parents to pirates at a very young age. She and her adoptive sister, Nojiko, were taken in by an exceptional female navy officer, Bellemere, who raised them as her own daughters. Together, they led a blissful life as a family of three.

She once had a happy home, but that was shattered by the Evil Dragon Pirate Group. They disrupted the peace of her family and the entire village.

The Evil Dragon Pirate Group seized Cocoa West Village, where Nami lived, intending to establish their Evil Dragon Empire and dominate the entire East Sea. Arlong, the leader of the Evil Dragon Pirate Group, murdered her adoptive mother and forced every villager to pay a monthly tribute for their lives.

Her once joyful existence was shattered.

Arlong later recognized Nami's talent for cartography and, using the villagers' lives as leverage, coerced her into working for him. He struck a deal with her: if she could amass one hundred million Belles, she could buy back the village and her own freedom.

Thus, amidst the villagers' scorn, Nami embarked on a years-long thieving spree. Her reputation as the little cat burglar grew far and wide, her skills in thievery nearly unmatched in the East Sea, with only the sly fox, Carlyna, as a worthy rival.

If only she could collect one hundred million Belles, she could rescue everyone!

Absolutely! She had to believe it was possible to save them all!

Nami knew Arlong was formidable, having conspired with the local navy authorities. The navy that attempted to subdue them had their ships sunk and perished at sea.

Fishmen were significantly stronger than humans, and in the East Sea, it was rare to find humans of exceptional strength. Against Arlong, they stood no chance.

This realization filled Nami with despair, leaving her no choice but to abide by the rules Arlong had set, as it was the only path available to her.

She was aware that the likelihood of being deceived was high, yet this sliver of hope was all she had to cling to.

She couldn't surrender, not when even the faintest glimmer of hope remained. She was determined to try.

Slapping her cheeks to bolster her spirit, she encouraged herself, "Keep it up, Nami. Just 23 million more Belles to go, and you can gather the full 100 million to buy everyone's freedom from Arlong."

Though she was of high school age by Earth's standards, Nami was remarkably well-developed, likely due to the superior nutrition of her world. Dressed in the attire of a merchant ship's attendant, she served aboard a vessel whose owner was surely quite wealthy.

As she pondered her next move, Nami glided along with the dining cart to the ship's most luxurious rooms. Having boarded under the cover of night, she wasn't sure which room belonged to the boss, but she was certain that anyone staying in these quarters would be wealthy.

She tapped lightly on the door, and a gentle voice inquired, "Who's there?"

"The ship's kitchen has sent up some supper. Sir, would you care for some?" Nami asked with courtesy.

"Supper? I'm actually quite hungry. Thank you for bringing it," came the reply. Footsteps approached, and the door swung open to reveal a young man with bronze skin and long, ink-black hair cascading down his back. His handsome features softened in the dim cabin light.

"No trouble at all. Please, come in." Rodney's eyes briefly met Nami's as he welcomed her inside.

Something about this woman didn't sit right with him.

Rodney mused over his journey. The ship would be passing by Kaya Village, and taking on a mission en route seemed like a good opportunity. He hadn't expected to encounter any notable Pirates, but instead, he had stumbled upon a petty thief.

Nami wheeled the cart inside, her eyes quickly scanning the room before settling on the pouch by Rodney's bed. She turned with a smile and asked, "Sir, which dish would you prefer?"

The kitchen's offerings were decent, boasting a full palette of colors, aromas, and flavors, complemented by a side of red wine.

Unbeknownst to Rodney, Nami had laced the wine and food with a sedative, planning to swipe his valuables once he succumbed.

"Thank you," Rodney said as he settled down to his meal. It wasn't quite on par with the dishes Sanji and his crew whipped up, but then again, not everyone could compete with the chefs of the Bharathi at sea.

He devoured his meal and downed the bottle of wine like a man parched.

Yawning, he said, "Could you close the door on your way out? I'm beat."

"Of course, sir." Nami replied with a smile, pushing the cart out and gently closing the door behind her.

She lingered, ear pressed to the door, listening intently. Soon enough, the steady breathing of deep slumber filled the room, signaling that her plan could proceed.

With a chuckle, he effortlessly pushed open the door. In the dark, he used the moonlight streaming through the porthole to navigate the room's obstacles and made his way to Rodney's bedside.

His pale hand reached for the pouch resting on the bed.

He lifted it with ease. Huh? It felt like something was tugging at the bag.

Sensing this odd sensation, Nami immediately sensed trouble. She was about to release her grip when a dagger-like object shot from the shadows, slicing the air with a fierce gust that grazed her beautiful cheek.

This...

A trap?

That was close!

But I, Nami the clever cat burglar, am not so easily fooled.

Nami swelled with pride, thinking she had outsmarted the trap, but to her surprise, several more kunai, this time with steel wires attached to their ends, flew out from the shadows. The wires quickly formed a net, ensnaring Nami and leaving her in a rather compromising position on the floor.

"What is this? It's so tight," Nami murmured, struggling with all her might only to find the steel wire unyielding, growing tighter and making it hard to breathe. What was happening?

"Oh? Looks like you've sprung my trap, Miss Thief," Rodney said, smiling as he sat up in bed, showing no signs of having been asleep.

"You didn't get caught?" Nami inquired.

"Of course not. I often use such drugs myself, so naturally, I carry the antidote," Rodney chuckled. "And let me tell you, it's best to mix such drugs into strong liquor. When it's in food or wine, the taste is quite noticeable."

Nami was speechless.

She had encountered a true connoisseur, much to her misfortune.

With a woeful look, she pleaded, "I'm sorry, sir. This is my first offense. I had to do it to make ends meet. Please, I beg you to let me go. I have a family to support, and if the captain finds out, I'll lose my job."

Rodney stowed the now redundant wire back into his pouch and said, "Miss Thief, do you really think I'd fall for your tall tales?" He leaned in and took a whiff, the scent enveloping him. "This aroma, it's the scent of lies! You're lying!"

Nami, "..."

Can you really smell a lie? What kind of nose do you have? And since when can lies be sniffed out? Are you pulling my leg with some kind of international joke?

"Hmph, don't believe me? I didn't lick it... Cough, cough. Regardless, you're lying! Miss Thief, you're clearly a repeat offender! I won't be letting you off the hook."

The White Fang gleamed with a chilling light, aiming straight for Nami's eyes. She could see her own terrified reflection on the blade of the White Fang.

Is this the end for me?

No, I refuse to die here!

Absolutely not! If I die, who will save everyone else?

I must save them all!

To preserve her cherished memories, to rescue the villagers who were like family to her, she had to survive, no matter what hardships she faced!

"Please, I'm begging you, spare me! I can't die yet!" Nami cried out.

"Oh? Give me one good reason!" Rodney said, unfazed. He was unaware that the woman before him was Nami, thinking she was just a beautiful female pirate.

"I need to save everyone in the village! Please! I can't die yet!"

"Hmm? Another lie? Miss, I enjoy deceiving people, particularly the clever ones, but I don't take kindly to being deceived. So, Miss..." He drew the White Fang.

In desperation, Nami yelled, "Wait! Please, I'm begging you! Spare me! I can lead you to a treasure, one hidden by a pirate group!"

Rodney's hand hesitated. Ah, treasure... that's quite the temptation!

"Fine, you've convinced me, Miss Thief. I'm still interested in the treasure. Good, what's your name?"

"Nami."

"What? Your name, say it again!"

"Nami. Is there a problem?"

And that's when the real trouble began.