Chapter 14: Negotiations
Ryo glanced at the orange-haired girl as she muttered to herself, clearly searching for something. "Where is it?" she murmured, her brows furrowed in frustration. Ryo's smirk widened as he approached her. "What do you need? Always ready to help a damsel in distress," he said, his tone playful.
The girl hesitated, taken aback by his sudden offer of assistance. However, realizing that she could use the help in finding what she was looking for, she nodded reluctantly. "It is a map", she answered. Together, they began to search the office, rifling through drawers and cabinets in search of the elusive item.
After what felt like an eternity of searching, Ryo's hand brushed against something metallic in a drawer. Pulling it out, he revealed a small safe nestled in the corner. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he turned to the girl. "Care to do the honors?" he asked, gesturing towards the safe.
With a nod, the girl stepped forward and began to work on the combination lock. After a few tense moments, the safe clicked open, revealing its contents. Inside lay a weathered old map, its edges frayed with age but still legible.
Ryo's eyes lit up as he caught sight of the map. "Is this the one you were looking for?" he asked, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. The girl nodded, her gaze fixed on the map with a mixture of relief and anticipation.
As Ryo studied the map, his curiosity got the better of him. "So, you're a navigator?" he asked, turning to the girl. She nodded, a hint of pride in her voice as she confirmed his assumption. "That's right. I've been navigating these waters for years," she replied, her tone confident.
Ryo couldn't help but be impressed by her skill and experience. "Well, it looks like we've got ourselves a navigator," he said, a grin spreading across his face, as he looked at Yamato.
"WHAT?! No, shut up! I am not a part of your crew! I will never be a filthy pirate!" She screamed in her face and left the room. Ryo and Yamato just looked at each other in confusion.
As they left the base, The girl's expression shifted from annoyance to curiosity. She couldn't help but wonder why Ryo and Yamato seemed so lost despite being on an island. "Why don't you know where you are?" she asked, still opposed by the fact that these two where Pirates.
Ryo simply grinned in response, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, that's a secret for now," he replied cryptically, enjoying the intrigue he was causing.
Her brow furrowed in frustration. She wasn't used to being kept in the dark. However, before she could press further, Ryo and Yamato made their way to their ship, leaving her standing on the docks.
Realizing that she still needed their help to get to the next island, she quickly followed after them. "Wait!" she called out, catching up to them just as they reached the ship. "I need your help to get to the next island," her tone more pleading than demanding.
"We are lost and you know how to navigate. You can come with us, but only if you agree to think about joining our crew and be our new navigator", Ryo tried to negotiate with her.
The girl's eyes widened in surprise. She had assumed that they woukd force her to join, but it seemed they were actually nice to her. "Well, in that case, let me help you," she offered, her tone softening. "I will navigate us to the next island, I am not saying I will join your crew. I concider it. okay?"
Ryo and Yamato exchanged another glance, silently deliberating. Eventually, Ryo nodded in agreement. "Fine," he conceded. "But dont think i give up. Even if you keep decline. I want you in my crew and I find some way to convice you."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile at his stubbornness. "Fair enough," she replied. "But at least let me introduce myself. I'm Nami."
With introductions out of the way, the trio set sail towards the next island, each with their own motivations driving them forward, not knowing what awaited them on their Journey.