He's in One Piece, but he's also part of the Phantom Troupe.

Chapter 31 The Compass of Fate

As soon as she entered, Nami wrapped her jade-like arms around Kuroro's neck.

Kuroro wrapped his arm around her waist and responded passionately:

"Honey, you're so charming!"

"I can't wait to tell you the stories of the sea!"

"A long night is best paired with red wine~ Let's keep drinking, and then.....until dawn."

Nami spun around and skillfully took two wine glasses from the wine cabinet, filling them with red wine.

Then, taking advantage of Kuroro's inattention, he secretly poured the packet of white powder into Kuroro's wine glass and shook it.

Then he handed the cup of ginseng wine to Kuroro.

"How about we drink a toast together?" Kuroro suggested.

"Okay~"

Their arms were intertwined in an ambiguous manner, and they raised their glasses in a gesture of exchanging toasts, their smiles fake.

Nami was completely unaware that, in the instant her arms intertwined, a black and white compass pattern flashed across her wrist.

"By the way, I still don't know your name, young man~" Nami asked with a charming smile.

"Kuroro".

"Charming Mr. Kuroro, may you have sweet dreams tonight~"

Sweet dreams~

Nami picked up her wine glass, her eyes fixed on Kuroro as she slowly downed the red wine in one gulp, a smug look on her face.

Hehe, no matter how outstanding a man is, he can't resist my charm~

Those watches and earrings look quite valuable; I'm one step closer to collecting 1 million Berries!

Alas, what a pity.

If it weren't for the pressures of life, I'd really like to have something happen with a handsome guy like that!

Nami glanced at Kuroro's near-perfect appearance with a hint of regret, then a meaningful smile appeared on her lips:

"It's getting late, time to rest~"

"Yes, it's time to rest." Kuroro smiled at her.

Hmm... that's strange, why are my eyelids getting heavier and heavier...?

What's the alcohol content of this liquor?

The world was plunged into darkness...

...........

"My head hurts so much!"

Nami woke up from her deep sleep and looked around. She was still in the same room, but the man named Chrollo had disappeared.

"What happened?"

"I was clearly handing him the drugged wine, so how did I end up passing out myself..."

Nami tapped her throbbing head.

Upon waking, Nami instinctively reached for the pocket on her inside where she kept her money.

The next second, a piercing scream that seemed to shatter the hotel roof came from inside:

"Where's my money?!"

Nami's face showed a look of astonishment.

"I'm a thief, and my money is gone?!"

As she recalled what had happened the night before, she gradually came to her senses.

"Damn it! That man must have stolen it last night!"

Then, looking down at her perfectly intact clothes, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, thank goodness, it was just money they stole, not people."

"Wait a minute... I'm such a beautiful woman lying right in front of him, and he just took the money and didn't do anything else. Doesn't that prove I'm not attractive enough?!"

"Damn it—"

Nami grew angrier the more she thought about it, her chest heaving. All the money she had painstakingly saved had vanished overnight! Her charm had been completely ignored!

"That damned Kuroro! That damned Kuroro!"

"Don't let me see you again—"

Immediately afterwards, a series of ping-pong table-smashing sounds came from inside the room as Nami angrily vented her frustration!

"Damn it! Which bastard is smashing up my hotel?!"

"Sini Mase—"

Nami immediately woke up and made a hasty escape.

She walked down the street, aimlessly kicking the stones under her feet, recalling what Kuroro had said to her the night before.

"Hey~ isn't that Nami~" A mischievous laugh brought Nami back to reality.

She looked up and saw a blond merman with thick lips. A flash of resentment and fear crossed her eyes, followed by a forced smile.

"Heh...hehe, isn't this Brother Qiu? What a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Horo horo ho—" The mermaid chirped, circling Nami once, her eyes full of mockery.

"It's no coincidence. Brother Long sent me to check on how your nautical chart collection is going. Did you find it? That chart of the Grand Line hidden in Orange Town?"

Chu squinted, his eyes filled with a sinister glint as he scrutinized Nami.

"Not yet...not yet."

"Don't try anything funny!" The contempt in Chiu's eyes grew even more pronounced.

"Brother A-Long said that if you escape, everyone in Cocoyasi Village will be wiped out!"

"How...how could this be...I was just about to go back and report to Brother A-Long." Nami's smile grew increasingly bitter.

"That's good~"

"Now let's go back with me to report to Brother Long! Oh, and it's time to pay the village's protection fee again this month!"

Chiu's eyes glanced almost imperceptibly towards Nami's pocket.

"I wonder if your village has collected all the money yet~"

Nami followed silently behind him like a walking corpse.

"Splash—"

Before I knew it, a light rain began to fall from the sky.

Nami tilted her head back, her face covered with what looked like rain or tears, staring blankly at the sky. The nascent flame of hope in her eyes gradually died out, leaving only emptiness.

The dream is shattered...

Yes, how could someone like me possibly have the chance to set foot on that vast ocean called the pursuit of dreams?

Someone like me... deserves only to live like a dark rat in this muddy, stinking ditch...

"Oh my God—"

"If there truly are gods... why is this ocean teeming with demons?"

"Someone...save me..."

A pirate ship bearing the flag of the Megalodon quietly sailed away from Orange Island.

Unbeknownst to anyone, shortly after the pirate ship sailed away, an enormous cruise ship, shaped like a black whale, quietly set sail and slowly followed behind it.

One of Chrollo's 23 Nen abilities:

【Fate's Echoes Compass (Trait-based)】

[Activation Conditions: The caster and the target must have their arms in a cross shape for more than 5 seconds. The caster can then attach a portion of their energy to the target, leaving a Fate Echo Compass mark on the target's wrist.]

[Effect: By using the compass mark, the caster can accurately sense the direction and location of the target, and even perceive the target's current mood and state, and issue commands accordingly. It is an excellent ability for locating teammates or enemies.]

Because of the Black Whale's enormous size, hanging directly behind a pirate ship would definitely make it noticeable.

With this ability, Chrollo can sense Nami's direction and catch up with her no matter how far away she is.

The pirate ship will bring the Black Whale to Cocoyasi Village.

Despair has occurred, but the seeds of hope have been sown.

If Kuroro helps her get rid of the Arlong Pirates who have been bothering her, then Nami will be willing to go to sea with him.

"After drinking the nuptial wine, you're now one of my people~"

Kuroro's lips unconsciously curled upwards as he sensed Nami's feelings at that moment:

"Gods... there aren't any, but there is one thief."

........