Chapter 158: Two Unexpectedly Encountered Maidens

Water 7, Port.

Because Sabo and his companions had made a sudden decision to change their course toward the New World and had not prepared a permanent log pose pointing to the Sabaody Archipelago in advance, they were forced to follow the route to Water 7. They made a brief stop there to allow the log pose to record the magnetic field required for the next island.

At this moment, their ship was moored at the bustling harbor of this metropolis of water.

Gazing out at the picturesque scenery of Water 7 and feeling the lively, bustling atmosphere of the crowded docks, Koala could not help but suggest to Sabo:

"Sabo?"

"Why don't we go take a stroll in the city? I've never been to Water 7 before..."

"This..."

Sabo's heart was filled with anticipation for reuniting with Ace, and he instinctively rejected Koala's request:

"Let's not bother."

"The magnetic field of this island records very quickly. In less than half a day, we'll be able to set sail again."

Koala's smile gradually faded, and an expression of mingled sorrow and disappointment quickly settled upon her pouting lips.

Hajrudin—no, Hack the fish-man—understood the situation. He let out a deep sigh and said:

"Sabo, you're still grieving over your family, aren't you?"

"Since we're already here..."

"Why don't you just go into the city with Koala and clear your head?"

"I..."

Sabo looked somewhat awkward.

Yet if he were to say out loud that he felt no grief whatsoever even though his entire family had perished... it would somehow sound rather strange.

"Very well, I'll go."

Sabo had no choice but to nod in agreement, steeling himself.

Koala's face instantly blossomed into a smile once more. Without a second thought, she grabbed Sabo's hand, eager to disembark and explore the city.

Hack instinctively took a step forward, intending to follow along with Koala and Sabo.

Then, Hack caught a subtle, rather resentful glance from Koala, accompanied by a slightly puffed-up pout.

"Haha..."

Hack abruptly stopped in his tracks, scratching his head with an awkward laugh:

"I suddenly remembered that the ship still needs a thorough inspection. I'll stay behind and find a couple of shipwrights to take a look."

Koala shot Hack a grateful look, then dragged the companion by her side further toward the bustling urban district.

As they walked, Koala tried to console Sabo, who was wearing a forced smile:

"Sabo, don't be too sad."

"Even though your family is gone, you still have me... we are here with you!"

"Uh..."

Sabo could only continue to offer a dry, forced smile and nod.

A satisfied smile bloomed on Koala's face, and she said to Sabo:

"Look on the bright side..."

"Today, I'll keep you company and show you around the city properly!"

................................................

One hour later.

"Who on earth is keeping whom company here..."

Watching Koala's lively figure ahead of her, so happy she had completely lost herself, Sabo covered his face and let out a helpless sigh.

"Hahaha!"

"This city is simply amazing!"

Koala was steering a "Bull," a unique mode of transport exclusive to Water 7, racing wildly through the city's bustling canals.

The Bull was a bizarre creature resembling the Loch Ness Monster, roughly the size of a single-person boat, serving as the aquatic public transportation within the waterways of Water 7.

Every building in the city of Water 7 was connected by an extremely intricate network of canals, and these waterways featured multi-tiered structures with distinct elevation differences, making navigation impossible for ordinary ships.

Naturally, creatures like Bulls—which possessed exceptional swimming ability, incredible carrying capacity, and a docile temperament—became indispensable transport for the residents of Water 7, as well as one of the city's most distinctive sights.

Having arrived here for the first time, Koala was completely intoxicated by the novel experience of riding a Bull while taking in the urban scenery along the canals. Unbeknownst to herself, she urged the creature beneath her to swim even faster.

"Sabo!"

Koala's silvery laughter echoed across the bustling waterway: "Hurry up and catch up!"

"Wait! You're going way too fast!"

Sabo had no choice but to ride another Bull, trailing closely behind the over-excited Koala in frustration.

However, the waterways of Water 7 were exceedingly complex, and the canals were choked with dense crowds of people. No matter how hard Sabo tried, the distance between them kept growing.

In the end, Koala's figure completely vanished into the surging sea of people, impossible to find.

Gradually, Koala, caught up in the thrill of her ride, began to realize something was amiss.

It was too late, however. Amidst her wild, uninhibited racing, she had turned down an unknown canal.

Moreover, the current in this narrow waterway was clearly far more turbulent and swift...

"Ah—!"

With a startled cry, Koala realized she had accidentally blundered into a steep, downward-sloping navigation lane leading straight to the lower tier of the city.

The current rushed headlong down the steep incline, and no matter how hard Koala tried, she could not stop the Bull beneath her from being swept along with the rushing water.

Seeing her speed increase drastically and finding herself further and further away from Sabo, Koala grew somewhat anxious.

Biting her lower lip and narrowing her eyes, she let go of the Bull's reins, steadied her center of gravity, and smoothly rose to her feet atop the speeding creature.

In the next instant, she leaped into the air from the saddle, swinging her palm toward the water's surface:

"Fish-Man Karate: Shark Tile True Punch!"

Ever since she was a child, Koala had studied the martial arts of Fish-Man Karate under Hack, eventually earning renown within the Revolutionary Army as a human "Fish-Man Karate Instructor-in-Training."

With this single punch, the current below was instantly stirred by the force of the wind, erupting into a towering wall of water in a split second.

Leveraging the recoil of her punch, Koala successfully arrested her downward momentum. Executing a few flawless 360-degree spins in mid-air, she finally landed steadily back on solid ground just ahead of the fountain-like white spray.

Her movements were light, graceful, and full of aesthetic appeal.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the surrounding onlookers generously showered the unfamiliar young girl with enthusiastic applause.

Feeling somewhat shy under the gaze of the gathered crowd, Koala turned to leave...

Only to encounter an utterly gloomy expression.

It belonged to a teenage girl with orange hair, around Koala's age:

She wore an exquisite sun hat, a luxurious pure white short dress, and an expensive necklace draped around her delicate white neck as an ornament.

Disregarding the windmill-and-tangerine tattoo on her arm, her attire made her look like a wealthy young lady out for a stroll.

Of course, her expression at that moment had nothing whatsoever to do with a lady.

After all, having half a cup of river-water-diluted tea splashed all over oneself while leisurely sipping tea outside a roadside shop would likely destroy anyone's composure, let alone the fact that this girl was no aristocratic lady to begin with.

"Hold it right there!"

She slammed the teacup—already half-filled with splashed water—down onto the table and glared fiercely at Koala:

"You soak people's clothes and just expect to run off? Not a chance!"

....................................................

Five minutes later.

"Haha..."

"So what if you just got one of my outfits wet?"

Nami waved her hand with a smile, speaking to Koala who sat across from her:

"You don't need to keep apologizing to me, Koala!"

Nami invited her further:

"Why don't you stay and chat with me for a while?"

The two girls of similar age had collided over a minor unpleasantness, yet because both possessed a peculiar, natural affinity for others, they had turned from foes to friends after exchanging only a few words.

Not only did Nami drop the matter of holding Koala responsible, but she also warmly persuaded Koala to sit down and keep her company for tea and conversation.

"But..."

Koala rose from her seat, looking somewhat troubled as she said:

"My friend was chasing after me just moments ago, and I have no idea where he is right now."

Nami, however, directly reached out and gently guided Koala back down into her seat, advising her:

"The geography of this city is far too complex. If you rashly set off to look for him now, you might just end up getting further and further apart."

"It's better to just sit right here and wait for him to find you. Your chances of bumping into each other are much higher that way."

"True."

Koala nodded, gracefully accepting the suggestion and remaining seated across from the kind-hearted stranger she had just met.

Nami waved over a waiter to order a lavish spread of expensive tea pastries, warmly asking Koala what she would like to drink.

Koala, a thrifty soldier of the Revolutionary Army, took one glance at the prices on the menu, turned pale, and hastily declined with a wave of her hand:

"There's no need, Miss Nami."

"I'll just have some plain water."

Faced with Nami's bourgeois demeanor—fully corrupted by a life of abundance—Koala inevitably felt somewhat reserved.

Nami cast a discreet, thoughtful glance at Koala's simple and plain attire, then considerately refrained from asking further questions.

Unobtrusively, she ordered an expensive black tea for Koala that completely defied the standard wage scale of the Revolutionary Army, and with a smile, she steered the conversation elsewhere:

"That 'friend' you were in such a rush to find..."

"You two must be very close, aren't you?"

"Eh?"

Koala had not expected Nami to bring this up so abruptly.

Despite not knowing Nami well at all, she still wore the shy expression of someone whose innermost thoughts had been seen through by an old acquaintance, stuttering as she replied:

"W-We're just simple friends..."

"Haha..."

Seeing the rosy blush blooming across Koala's cheeks, Nami amusedly teased:

"I was just asking casually, and you've gone and written your entire story all over your face!"

"Ordinary friends don't travel long distances just to accompany you through an unfamiliar city."

Koala's face grew even redder, and she stubbornly insisted:

"I-It's not him accompanying me; I'm the one accompanying him to clear his head."

"He hasn't been in a very good mood lately..."

As she spoke, Koala's mood suddenly plummeted once more, a faint trace of worry welling up in her eyes.

Sensing the hidden subtext in Koala's words, Nami grew curious and pressed further:

"What is it? Did something bad happen?"

"Yes."

Koala no longer tried to conceal anything in front of Nami, remarking with a heartache-filled sigh:

"He lost his memories when he was a child, and had no idea who his family was."

"But just as he finally recovered his memories, his entire family was murdered by a wicked person."

"What?!"

Nami's expression turned grave, empathy surging within her for this tragic tale: "Such a thing actually happened?"

Koala's expression grew increasingly sorrowful as she sighed softly:

"Not only that, but that wicked person is exceptionally powerful."

"To avoid being a burden to anyone else, he forces a smile and refuses to seek revenge for his family..."

"That is going too far!"

Nami slammed her hand onto the table, standing up with righteous indignation as she declared to Koala:

"Koala, don't worry!"

"Leave this kind of thing to me. I have a friend who loves nothing more than meddling in injustices like this!"

Nami tightly grasped Koala's hand, speaking with absolute confidence:

"He will definitely make that scoundrel pay for his crimes!"