On the vast sea, a figure was running barefoot on the water, chasing a ship. This person was none other than Albert. After two days of training, Albert had quickly mastered the art of water-walking and could now move across the turbulent waves as if they were flat ground. It seems Albert is quite clever.
Two days is a short time. Although Albert shared his techniques for climbing trees and walking on water with Nami, her limited experience in internal energy cultivation and imprecise control meant she hadn't even learned to climb trees yet. As for the 'Shave' technique that Albert taught her, she had only just begun to practice it and couldn't yet use it effectively. It seems she will have to rely on future training.
Bang... Bang...
Albert activated the Moon Step several times and flew back to the ship. At that moment, Nami was complaining to the News Coo: "How did the price go up again? Isn't it a bit expensive? It's already 100 Berries, and if it goes up again, I won't buy it anymore."
The News Coo rubbed the back of its head, feeling wronged. After Nami paid, it immediately flew away, not wanting to linger for a second longer.
"Nami, you're nitpicking over such a small amount of money," Albert said, looking at her incredulously.
"Of course! If I buy it every day, it adds up to a lot. I don't want to become a penniless adventurer," Nami explained, casting a disdainful glance at Albert, the poor guy.
"Sorry, Nami, becoming a penniless adventurer is my fault," Albert said, kneeling on the ground and speaking in a dim and disheartened manner.
"Alright, since you're back, go make some food."
Nami walked to the sun chair, lay down, and opened the newspaper.
"Okay, I'll go right now!"
...
"Hmm hmm..."
"Albert!"
Just as Albert was humming a cheerful tune while cooking, Nami suddenly exclaimed.
Albert quickly ran out and asked, "Nami, what's wrong? Is there an enemy?"
At that moment, Nami was holding a flyer, trembling as she handed it to Albert. "Albert, look, you... you're wanted."
"Hmm?" Upon hearing the word 'wanted,' Albert quickly took the flyer and examined it closely. The wanted poster featured his photo, and below it read: Pirate—Sword-master Albert, with a bounty of 100 million Berries.
"What the heck is this? How did I become a pirate?"
Nami slammed the table and pointed at Albert angrily. "I'm telling you to look at the wanted poster, not to worry about whether you're a pirate! Hey! You're wanted now!"
Albert patted Nami's shoulder to comfort her. "Alright, alright, being wanted is no big deal. But it says I'm a pirate on it. The World Government is really despicable. I'm just an ordinary adventurer, so how did I become a pirate? That's awful. Next time, I have to make the Navy correct it."
Nami felt that her future was bleak and muttered to herself, "It's over; my future is all dark. Where is my future? Why did I find such an unreliable husband? Oh heavens, why are you punishing me..."
"Come on, Nami, don't lose confidence. My strength is really strong!" Albert continued to comfort her nonchalantly.
"What do you know? 100 million Berries! That's 100 million! You'll be hunted by countless people from now on!" Nami shouted at Albert.
Albert, slightly shaken and a bit deafened, quickly advised, "Okay, okay, aren't you aware of my strength? Besides, how much have you improved in your training these past few days? Don't you know yourself? Do you think I don't have the power to protect myself? Although my bounty is 100 million now, in the second half of the Grand Line, that's just ordinary."
"Is that so?" Nami asked doubtfully.
Albert nodded seriously, assuring Nami that what he said was true. Only then did Nami feel relieved.
"Not worried now?"
"Um."
"Then let's head towards the Grand Line!"
...
Loguetown.
"Hurry up, hurry up and load the ship; we still have to go to the Grand Line later!"
"Get them for me!"
"Yes, Smoker Colonel!"
"Ah! It's the Navy, get them for me!"
"Ah... What is this? How can there be smoke!"
"Ah~ It's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, run!"
...
"Take these pirates to the prison." After easily suppressing the pirates, Smoker lit two cigars and ordered his subordinates.
"Yes! Smoker Colonel!"
Dozens of Marines handcuffed the pirates and escorted them to the prison while Smoker continued to patrol Loguetown.
"Ah! What is that? How is that ship towing so many people behind it?"
Smoker looked at the approaching ship and coldly ordered the Marine soldier beside him, "Go check it out."
"Yes!" The soldier immediately ran to see what was going on.
"Hey! What are you guys doing? How did you kidnap so many people?"
Albert stopped the ship and pointed to the people piled up like a small mountain on the boat behind him. "Oh, you're talking about those people? Those are pirates."
"Oh, since they're pirates, then hand them over to us."
"Wait." Nami stopped them.
At that moment, Smoker also walked over and said coldly, "Woman, are you trying to harbor pirates?"
Nami scoffed, "Harbor? I wouldn't harbor pirates. But these pirates were caught by us, so if you want them, you have to pay the bounty first."
"Bounty hunters?" Smoker chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll pay the bounty."
"No." Nami refused. "Pay first; I don't trust you Marines."
"I wouldn't covet such a small amount of money."
"Hmph, I've seen the darkness of you Marines before."
Smoker didn't argue with Nami and had someone bring the bounty money to hand it to her. Only then did Nami hand over the pirates to the Marines.
Those pirates were truly unlucky. They thought robbing a small ship wouldn't involve any big shots, but they ended up kicking an iron plate. Not only did they fail to rob anything, but they were also robbed themselves. Even their ship was damaged in the fight, and now they were captured, without food, and even sold by them for money. Their value was squeezed to the extreme.
After receiving the money, Nami was in a great mood and pulled Albert to go shopping.
Albert accompanied Nami as she strolled through several streets, buying many clothes, of which Nami's purchases accounted for more than half. Watching Nami, who had become a shopping maniac, Albert couldn't help but sigh, realizing that Nami, who seemed to love money as if it were her life, actually had such a generous side.
Of course, after Albert asked her about this, Nami answered firmly, "Buying things is for personal enjoyment. Loving money is to better enjoy life. What's the conflict?"
At that point, Albert was defeated.
Holding a pile of clothes that seemed excessive, Albert told Nami he would first put the clothes on the ship and then left. Ah, shopping with women is truly terrifying.
After putting the items back on the ship, Albert noticed the Going Merry from the Straw Hat crew at the port and muttered to himself, "I didn't expect that I and they would be in Loguetown on the same day. Now it's going to be trouble."
Later, Albert didn't dwell on it, went to the market to buy some food supplies, put them on the ship, and then wandered off to find Nami.
Using Observation Haki, Albert soon located Nami nearby.
Just as he was about to approach her, he was suddenly bumped into by someone emerging from an alley.
Turning to see who had bumped him, Albert saw Bartolomeo, with green combed hair, a nose ring, and wearing a purple coat.
"Did you bump into me?" Albert asked calmly.
"Hmm? What? Got a problem? Who told you to block my way?" Bartolomeo replied arrogantly.
Albert smiled softly at Bartolomeo, wearing a "gentle" smile. "Haha, it's okay, since you bumped into me."
While speaking, Albert's figure flickered, suddenly appearing in front of Bartolomeo and delivering a hook punch to his stomach.
Puff...retch...
Bartolomeo was struck like a ripe prawn, curling up and lying on the ground.
Albert squatted down, looking at Bartolomeo coldly. "Kid, this is a lesson for you. If you want to be a bad guy, go fight those who are even worse. Pretending to be tough among ordinary people is very low-level!"
After saying that, Albert stood up and ignored him, walking straight away.
Ah, in just a moment, Nami was nowhere to be found.
The fallen Bartolomeo looked up in the direction Albert had left, his eyes full of admiration.
...
Albert originally planned to find Nami using Observation Haki, but after considering Nami's shopping frenzy, he shivered and immediately dismissed the idea, secretly feeling lucky: "Fortunately, Bartolomeo bumped into me just now, or I would have been caught in another terrifying shopping spree. Speaking of which, I shouldn't have hit him just now. But whatever, if I see him again, I won't hit him."
Albert happily walked at a leisurely pace, humming a tune and starting his shopping trip freely.
As he wandered, Albert arrived at the execution platform of the Pirate King. He took a few glances, and just as he was about to leave, he saw Luffy, this fool, walking over.
"Hi, Albert, you're here too? Watching the Pirate King's execution platform?"