Late at night...
A knock sounded at the door.
Kairos Flint sat up from the bed and walked over, opening the door. Standing there was Nami.
"You've been drinking?" he asked, his tone casual but observant.
Thanks to his enhanced physical abilities, his senses were far sharper than the average person. Before Nami even said a word, the strong scent of alcohol had already given her away.
"Just a little," Nami admitted with a nod, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I have something to talk to you about."
Though she had been drinking, Kairos could tell she was still sober enough to know what she was doing.
"Come in," he said.
Nami stepped into the room. The hotel they were staying at was the best in the area, and it wasn't cheap either—30,000 Beli per night. But it was worth it: comfortable, clean, and quiet.
She sat down. Kairos followed, taking a seat across from her.
"Go ahead," he said, his voice calm and to the point.
Nami hesitated for a moment. "I need your help," she finally said, her words slightly stumbling.
It had taken a lot of courage for her to come here tonight. She'd hoped the alcohol would bolster that courage, give her the nerve to ask what had weighed on her heart for so long.
"Speak."
Kairos didn't say more than that. But in truth, he already had an idea what she was going to ask. After all, they had made 40 million Beli together—money wasn't the issue. No, there was something else. Something deeper.
The Arlong Pirates.
The tattoo on her arm. The hatred in her eyes whenever they were mentioned. It wasn't hard to guess.
"You already know about my tattoo," she began. "I want you to help me take down the Arlong Pirates. With your strength, you can do it, right?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she lowered her head, staring at the floor. The courage the wine had given her evaporated quickly.
"Alright."
Kairos's voice was steady.
Nami's head shot up. "Really?"
"Of course," he nodded.
The bond between them had grown. How could he say no to her?
Besides, his strength had reached a level comparable to a Rear Admiral. While Arlong and his crew were formidable, they were no match for him.
He had been waiting for her to ask. Offering to help without being asked could come off as patronizing. But now, with her asking him directly, it was different. She wasn't just a teammate—she was entrusting him with her pain.
"Kairos, you really are a good guy."
Nami jumped forward and hugged him tightly.
Kairos couldn't help but frown slightly. The phrase "good guy" felt like a mild insult. But then again, the feeling of her soft warmth pressed against him made it easier to forgive.
After a few seconds, Nami realized what she was doing and blushed. She pulled away quickly, taking a few steps back.
"I'm heading back to my room now."
Red-faced, she practically ran out.
Kairos watched her go and sighed. "That's it? All I get is a quick hug? So stingy."
Still, he was smiling.
He wasn't the type to take advantage of someone. But now, with a clear goal in mind, it was time to prepare for the next battle.
The Arlong Pirates would soon learn what true strength looked like.
Fishmen were known for their superior physical strength, far above that of normal humans. Defeating them might yield valuable ability crystals. Perhaps even high-tier ones.
If each of them dropped more than one, even better.
For the next three days, Kairos and Nami stayed in town, resting. Kairos always believed in recharging after a big mission, and this time was no different.
After resting, they made their way to the port, paid the fee, and set sail from Loguetown, heading toward Cocoyasi Village.
Half a day into their voyage, the sea remained calm.
But not for long.
"Kairos! Bad news—there's a pirate ship approaching!"
Nami's voice jolted Kairos from his relaxed state. He had been lounging on a recliner, drinking juice.
He sat up immediately, gripping the hilt of his Third Generation Ghost sword. "Where?"
Nami handed him the monocular.
"It's the Krieg Pirates. Five thousand men, fifty ships. Their captain is called 'Admiral Krieg.' With that many, we should turn back. We can't fight them all."
Five thousand pirates. The numbers alone were staggering. Even if they were weak, it would take forever to cut through them all.
Kairos grinned. "What are you scared of? Do you know who I am? Krieg Pirates or not, I'll slice them down. Bring us closer!"
Nami stared at him in disbelief.
"You want me to get closer to a fleet of over 5,000 pirates? Are you insane?!"
Kairos's eyes glinted with excitement. His hand rested firmly on his sword.
"Insane? No. Just ready for some action."
Nami groaned, but deep down, she knew—this was the kind of person Kairos Flint was.
And maybe, just maybe, that was exactly what they needed.