One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 66: Nami's Struggles

It was late afternoon. Goku stood on the deck of the Going Merry, watching the horizon. A light smile played on his lips as the events of the previous night replayed in his mind. His tail wagged from side to side as he gazed out at the endless sea.

His tail had returned, and with it, the possibility of pursuing levels of strength this universe couldn't even begin to fathom. He was extremely satisfied with himself. Miss All Sunday was supposed to contact him with details anytime in the next few days. He had done enough to convince her. Even now, he was sure she was thinking of him.

Some might ask why he let her go in the first place, but he was tired of playing second fiddle to those pulling the strings. He needed information, and this was the quickest method he could think of on short notice. Perhaps he could just fly to Alabasta and take care of this Crocodile character directly, but the Grand Line was too chaotic and unpredictable. He could have followed Miss All Sunday's ki signature to track her to the end, but, for some reason, he didn't even consider doing that. Why? Even he didn't know. Perhaps it was because he couldn't fight Crocodile at his current level, or maybe the idea had simply slipped his mind. Maybe he needed to take the long road to gather all the pieces for some hidden plot he was beginning to suspect was unfolding behind the scenes.

"Hey, Goku," a soft voice suddenly interrupted his inner monologue. His smile widened into a full grin as he turned to see her bright orange hair sway in the wind. Her perfect heart-shaped face and tight-fitting blue top that highlighted her ample figure made her presence unforgettable.

"Vivi wanted to gather the crew in the kitchen," she said. "She said she has something to say about Alabasta and all that."

Goku almost burst into laughter at how disinterested she sounded. Her tone was utterly bored. He walked up to her, stretching out his arm to grab her left hand. His other hand reached for her waist as he pulled her closer.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her face twist into an expression of boredom.

"I've just been thinking about last night," she reluctantly answered. He could see she wasn't being entirely honest.

"Speak your mind, Nami," he softly urged her. His hand slid slightly up her side, while the other let go of her hand and rested on her waist.

"I-I have," she hesitated, stopping completely as if caught in deeper thought. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath to gather her strength, then opened her eyes to look straight at him. "How many girls will you have?" she asked bluntly.

The question hung In the air. It was the last thing Goku expected her to say. He thought she might bring up Alabasta or maybe mention her period being late. Perhaps she was thinking about his transformation into a Great Ape back in Whiskey Peak. A few possibilities crossed his mind, but he never imagined she would fixate on this. He recalled their first conversation about this topic—the first time they slept together. He had told her she wouldn't be the only one, but she would be the main one. He knew himself well enough not to lie; he wasn't built for monogamy.

His gaze didn't falter, though. His arms remained wrapped around her waist as he looked into her tangerine-colored eyes.

"We… we talked about this, Nami," he said, his voice almost pleading. "If you're worried about Vivi, she's nothing but a physical attraction. What I feel for you is far more than just physical." His tone shifted to firm and reassuring.

Almost instantly, her face flushed with a deep blush, and a slight smile formed on her lips. Relief washed over him as he leaned in. Their lips met, and they shared a passionate kiss under the blazing afternoon sun.

"Ahem!" A loud, obnoxious voice interrupted their moment. Like a pair of teenagers caught making out in a school hallway, they pulled apart.

The voice's owner turned out to be Usopp. Seeing their questioning and slightly annoyed faces, he quickly explained his intrusion.

"We're waiting for you, Captain," he began. "Vivi is ready to tell us her story."

"Right…" Nami muttered, suddenly remembering why she had come to find Goku.

"We were just coming…" Goku said nervously, as if caught by his parents.

Seeing the flustered look on Goku's face, Usopp barely suppressed the urge to burst into laughter.

A few minutes later, the group gathered in the kitchen. Sitting around the long wooden table were Captain Monkey D. Goku, First Mate Roronoa Zoro, Navigator Nami, Sniper Usopp, Cook Vinsmoke Sanji, and Helmsman Gin. Joining them was Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Alabasta Kingdom.

As they ate the lunch prepared by Sanji, Vivi recounted the events that had transpired, leading to her encounter with the crew.

Alabasta had once been a relatively peaceful and prosperous kingdom. Although the kingdom experienced occasional droughts, its people lived happy lives. Things changed when a harsh, enduring drought struck much of the kingdom—except for Alubarna, the capital. The people called this rain "the miracle of the king." However, things weren't as they seemed. Suspicious events began to occur, leading to the discovery of a substance called Dance Powder.

The miracle powder could artificially form rain clouds, bringing rain to parched lands. Unfortunately, it had a downside: it turned premature rain clouds into storm clouds, starving neighboring regions of natural rain. For this reason, the World Government banned its use. An incident occurred where apparent royal soldiers were caught transporting Dance Powder for the king. This sparked a series of events that caused the people to lose faith in their ruler. Suspicious of sabotage, the king tasked his daughter and sole heir, Vivi, with uncovering the truth. This led to her discovery of the organization known as Baroque Works. Everything done to weaken and divide the kingdom was revealed to be their doing.

After hearing Vivi's story, silence filled the kitchen. No one spoke. The magnitude of the situation they were now involved in weighed heavily on them.

"So, what's your goal once you return to Alabasta?" Goku asked after swallowing a large piece of meat.

"There's currently a rebellion involving some three hundred thousand rebels. A civil war is about to break out, and it can only be stopped by the truth," she replied firmly, without hesitation. "I know the rebel leader, and I know my father. I'll share everything I know with them. Myself and I-Igaram…" Her voice faltered as she remembered him—the loyal royal servant killed by Miss All Sunday. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to overflow.

Everyone was at a loss for how to respond as Vivi began to sniffle, her head slumping. They all turned to Nami, silently urging her, as the only other woman, to intervene.

Nami sighed, surrendering to their expectant gazes. She stood, walked around the table, and gently held Vivi close, hugging her from the side. Vivi's tears finally flowed freely, the memories of her loyal servant too fresh and painful.

Seeing Vivi's emotional reaction, Zoro turned his attention to Goku. Their eyes met, and Zoro gave him a slight nod before tilting his head toward the exit. Immediately understanding, Goku stood, grabbing a massive plate piled with meat on his way out. Zoro followed suit, taking a large goblet of sake with him.

[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers! Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]