One Piece: With Sign-in System

Chapter 105: 105: The Outsider in Cocoyasi Village



"Have you gotten up yet, Nami?"

The cheerful voice of a young girl with short blue hair and sun-kissed skin rang out from outside the room. "It's snowing heavily outside. I'm heading to the orange orchard first. You better hurry and get up!"

"Mmm~"

The faint reply came from a short orange-haired girl, who was still half-asleep with her head resting on the desk. Her voice was muffled and dreamy, barely registering what had been said.

Outside, the sound of a door closing signaled the blue-haired girl's departure.

It wasn't until much later that Nami, now twelve years old, slowly woke up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, shivering slightly as the cold air hit her.

"So cold..."

She hugged her arms around herself, trying to fend off the chill as her thin clothes offered little protection. Gazing out the window at the white landscape beyond, she muttered, "Snow? No wonder it felt so freezing."

Grabbing an old, thick coat, she wrapped herself tightly in it, finally feeling some warmth return to her body.

Nami stepped out of her room, her eyes landing on two pieces of black bread sitting on the table. After eating the cold, stale slices, she opened the door and stepped outside.

The snow had stopped, leaving the world cloaked in a thick, pristine white. The sky was clear and bright, the sunlight glinting off the snowy expanse. All around, the orange trees near the little house were blanketed in heavy snow, and the distant roads and fields were also pure white.

"What a beautiful snowy scene..."

Nami's eyes softened as she gazed at the serene view. A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips. "It'd be so nice if I could see this with Bell-mère..."

Two years had passed since that day.

Time flies so quickly...

She clenched her fists, determination slowly hardening her expression.

I need to grow up fast. I have to gather the money as soon as possible... Only then can I save the villagers and this village!

But as the thought of the daunting 100 million berries resurfaced in her mind, she couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Suddenly, there was a soft plop as a heap of snow fell from one of the orange trees, blending into the already thick layer of snow on the ground.

The sound jolted Nami's memory.

"Oh no! I can't let the snow weigh down the branches and break them!"

Remembering Nojiko's reminder, she hurried over to the orchard and began brushing the snow off the orange trees to prevent damage to their branches.

While Nami was busy with her task, Ron, Robin, Conis, and Enzo had already disembarked from The Traveler and stepped onto the snowy shores of Cocoyasi Village. The serene, snow-covered village seemed peaceful and calm, with smoke rising from scattered chimneys.

"What a quiet little village," Robin remarked, her tall figure clad in an elegant white fur coat. As she walked down the snowy path, her long legs left light footprints in the snow. She glanced at the small houses dotting the area and the distant smoke curling into the air.

"Master, are you sure there's someone with a 20 million berry bounty here?" Enzo, bundled up in a thick red coat and wearing a woolen hat, looked up at Ron with curiosity and excitement.

Ron, who had already activated his Observation Haki to scan the entire island, nodded slightly and gestured toward a tall building near the coast in the distance. "Over there."

Excitement lit up Enzo's eyes as it turned to Conis. "Can I take this one on, Conis? Please?"

Conis, her blonde hair tied back and also wearing a white fur coat matching Robin's, glanced down at Enzo and smiled. "A bounty of 20 million berries? They must be pretty strong. Are you sure you can handle it, Enzo?"

Enzo hesitated for a moment, then said earnestly, "Hmm… I'm not sure. But I really want to fight someone strong."

Its gaze shifted to Ron, who stood beside it in a sleek black hooded fur coat, a black blade strapped to his side.

"Master, do you think I can challenge and defeat that guy?"

"Probably not," Ron replied casually.

He glanced down at Enzo with a faint smile. "You haven't learned Haki yet, and your strength is not enough too. If you recklessly go up against someone like that, your chances of winning are almost zero."

"Is that so..."

Enzo's shoulders drooped in disappointment, his dejection plain to see.

Robin, standing on Ron's left, couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight of the Enzo drooping head.

Conis smiled as well. "Then, as usual, I'll take care of the strongest one. Enzo, you can handle their subordinates."

"Okay," Enzo nodded with newfound resolve, already eager for the upcoming fight.

The snow-covered paths in the fields stretched ahead.

Ron and Enzo walked at the front, with Robin and Conis trailing behind.

As they made their way through the quiet village of Cocoyasi, the few villagers they encountered cast suspicious and wary glances their way. They hurriedly avoided the group, choosing to pass by quickly, their footsteps fading into the stillness of the village.

Robin and Conis exchanged subtle glances, both noting the guarded behavior of the locals.

Robin, walking alongside Ron, observed the disappearing villagers and turned to him. "It seems like the people here aren't very welcoming to outsiders," she remarked thoughtfully.

Without pausing, Ron replied evenly, "It's likely because of the Arlong Pirates."

His calm voice carried no judgment, yet it was enough to convey the gravity of the situation. "Those outsiders imposed their cruel rule over this village. The fear and distrust they've instilled make it natural for the villagers to harbor hostility toward any newcomers."

Conis frowned slightly at this revelation. "Pirates ruling over a village... shouldn't the Marines step in to stop this?"

A faint smirk tugged at Ron's lips as he answered, "The Marines have their share of corrupt individuals too."

His response left both Robin and Conis in silent contemplation.

Meanwhile, Enzo, blissfully uninterested in the complexities of politics and power, focused solely on his punches as he practiced his martial arts while walking.

The group reached the outskirts of the village, where a vast orchard of orange trees lay blanketed in pristine snow.

Among the trees was a tanned young woman with short blue hair. Despite the chill in the air, she wore a worn and slightly thin coat. Armed with a simple tool, she diligently worked to clear the snow from the branches of the orange trees.

Sweat glistened on her forehead, a testament to her efforts. However, it was clear from the untouched trees surrounding her that she still had a long way to go.

"Why is she removing the snow from the trees?" Conis asked curiously, her golden hair catching the light as she watched the girl at work.

Robin answered before Ron could. "I imagine it's to prevent the branches from breaking under the weight of the snow."

"Ah, that makes sense," Conis said, nodding in understanding.

Ron recognized the girl. Based on her appearance and surroundings, she had to be Nojiko, the older sister of Nami, one of the Straw Hats' eventual crewmates.

He recalled her as a bold, straightforward young woman with a resilient personality. Nojiko and Nami had been relying on each other for survival, and it was clear they were still struggling to keep things together.

As Ron mused, he quietly rested his hand on the hilt of his black blade.

With a smooth, controlled motion, he drew it slightly from its sheath.

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept through the orange grove, stirring up the air with an almost magical intensity.

The snow atop the trees scattered instantly, as though a great unseen hand had brushed it all away. It drifted down like powdered sugar, leaving the branches almost completely bare.

Nojiko blinked, startled by the sudden wind. She squinted against the chill, barely able to keep her eyes open.

When the wind settled and she could see clearly again, her gaze fell on the now-pristine trees. The snow that had threatened to snap their branches had all vanished.

She stood frozen, tools in hand, her wide eyes staring in disbelief.

What just happened?

Ron silently returned his blade to its sheath, the faint click as it locked into place the only indication that he had moved at all.

Beside him, Robin watched his calm, impassive expression, her own lips curving into a smile.

It was only then that Nojiko noticed the group standing near the edge of her orchard.

Her eyes swept over their appearances—their clean, expensive coats and unfamiliar faces—and she immediately realized they weren't locals. The residents of Cocoyaii Village would never be able to afford such fine clothing.

"Travelers?" she guessed, setting her tools down as she approached cautiously. Her tone was polite but wary. "Is there something I can help you with? If you're here to buy oranges, I'm afraid we don't have any to sell during this season."

"We're not here to buy oranges."

Ron stepped forward. His calm smile was disarming yet carried an air of authority that made Nojiko pause.

"We're travelers," Ron explained. "We're planning to spend the winter on this island and are looking for a place to stay."

Nojiko blinked in surprise. "A place to stay? You'd have better luck in the village. This is just the outskirts—"

Before she could finish, Ron's next words stopped her cold.

"If you can offer us a place to stay, we'll pay 10,000 Berries per day."

Nojiko's breath caught. Ten thousand Berries per day?!!!

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