Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

Any factor that could threaten Nami's sense of security and the harmony of the team must be eliminated.

Kai, regardless of the truth, has now been firmly labeled as a "threat" and a "black sheep".

Standing to the side, Sanji watched Nami cry her heart out, his heart filled with concern and affection for his goddess, but also with a hint of barely perceptible guilt and remorse.

He knew that he was the one who started it all, but things had gotten to this point and were completely out of his control.

He glanced at the silent Kai, his expression complex.

He may have considered telling the truth for a moment, or at least clarifying that what he saw was not so "conclusive," but seeing Nami so heartbroken, and thinking about the consequences he might face if he confessed (Nami's anger and the collapse of his image in the team), that little bit of conscience was quickly overwhelmed by the instinct for self-preservation and his "protectiveness" (actually possessiveness) towards Nami.

He ultimately chose to remain silent, did not change his story, and tacitly accepted his previous "testimony," allowing the situation to develop in the direction most unfavorable to Kai.

Nami's tears became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

It washes away all doubts, arguments, and possible rational thinking, leaving only the most primal emotional judgments and protective instincts.

Luffy clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He looked at Nami, who was sobbing uncontrollably in front of him, and the heartache and anger he felt almost burst out of his chest.

Then, he abruptly turned his head and looked at Kai, who was bowing his head in silence, with a cold, emotionless gaze.

In his eyes, Kai's image was now completely fixed—a despicable person who violated his partner's privacy, a shameless person who deceived everyone with lies and performances afterward, and a stubborn person who was unrepentant and showed no remorse.

Such a fellow must never remain on his ship again; the sacred word "comrade" must never be tarnished.

He took a deep breath, as if to gather all the anger in his chest, and then, in a tone unprecedented in its authority, carrying the finality of a captain, he announced, word by word:

"Kai!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it resounded like thunder in the silent courtyard, each word carrying undeniable weight.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the final verdict.

Luffy's gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing Kai; his voice was cold and resolute:

You have done something unforgivable!

"You have deceived all of us!"

"From this moment on, you are no longer our partner!"

"You are expelled from the Straw Hat Pirates!"

These words, like the gavel of a judge, fell heavily, echoing through the silent courtyard.

Every word was like a cold knife, piercing deeply into Kai's heart, completely and ruthlessly severing him from the group he once considered his home.

He was expelled from the Straw Hat Pirates!

This verdict was almost the harshest punishment for the Straw Hat crew, who valued their comrades above all else.

It signifies a complete break, a total collapse of trust, and that from now on, Kai will have nothing to do with them anymore.

After Luffy's unequivocal pronouncement, the atmosphere in the courtyard seemed to relax instantly.

The oppressive silence was broken, replaced by a slightly awkward calm after the dust had settled.

For most of the crew, this outcome seemed like a given, or even something they expected.

Nami's safety was "guaranteed," the "cancer" in the team was eliminated, and the "problem" seemed to be solved.

They wore expressions of relief, as if they had just undergone a difficult but necessary "operation".

Zoro had no objection to this, and even thought that Luffy did the right thing.

In his view, both spying and lying to his partners were unforgivable acts, and being expelled was an inevitable result.

He merely glanced at Kai coldly and then ignored him, as if Kai had become an insignificant stranger.

Usopp and Chopper's reactions were slightly more complicated.

Although Usopp's face showed a sense of relief after "solving the problem," there was an indescribable sadness and disappointment hidden deep in his eyes.

After all, Kai was once a partner who fought alongside them, and Kai's abilities had indeed helped everyone a lot.

However, he trusted Luffy's judgment more and felt more sorry for Nami who was crying, so he ultimately accepted the result and silently lowered his head.

Chopper's little face was filled with sadness and reluctance.

It looked at Luffy, then at Nami, and then at Kai, who was bowing his head in silence, as if he had lost all his vitality. Its nose couldn't help but feel a little sore.

It still felt that something was wrong, but it didn't know what to do and dared not question Luffy's decision.

It could only bury that sympathy and doubt deep in its heart.

Robin's expression remained as enigmatic as ever.

She stood there quietly, her gaze lingering on Kai for a moment, her eyes seemingly containing a complex mix of emotions—inquiry, sympathy, and perhaps even a hint of helplessness.

But in the end, she gently looked away without saying a word.

Faced with the collective will and the captain's decision, individual doubts and judgments seemed so insignificant that she chose not to interfere.

Chapter 17 His Back View!!

Sanji visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and even a hint of barely perceptible ease appeared on his face.

The trouble was finally resolved, and the blame was successfully shifted onto Kai. Not only was he not exposed, but he might even gain favor for "speaking out for justice" and protecting Miss Nami.

The slight sense of guilt he felt was quickly replaced by a feeling of relief and a sense of luck.

No one spoke up for Kai anymore.

No one raised any further questions.

The collective will, the moment the captain made his decision, was like a surging torrent, instantly drowning out any possible dissenting voices and individual doubts.

Under the banner of "protecting partners" and "maintaining team harmony," personal truths and grievances seem so insignificant and trivial.

Kai became a complete victim of this collective will.

The captain's decision is final, and the expulsion order cannot be changed.

The Straw Hat Pirates are known for their swift and decisive actions; once they make a decision, they don't hesitate or drag things out.

After a brief silence, everyone began to quietly prepare to leave the hot spring inn and the Whispering Town where the unpleasant incident had occurred.

The atmosphere was cold and awkward.

No one spoke to Kai anymore; even glancing at him seemed superfluous.

He was like a transparent person, an existence that had been erased from the team's memory, silently excluded from all preparations.

The busy figures of his former companions, the sounds of packing luggage, and the whispers discussing the next leg of their journey were like invisible knives, severing Kai's last connection with this world.

As is customary, those who are expelled are required to return all public property belonging to the team.

Someone (possibly Usopp or Zoro, who are relatively more "business-like") came over and asked Kai to hand over some things with a blank expression—perhaps some navigation tools that had been assigned to him for safekeeping, perhaps some daily necessities that were uniformly distributed on the ship, or even an old piece of clothing with a straw hat and skull logo printed on it.

Kai offered no resistance and uttered no words.

He silently and mechanically retrieved those items from his meager belongings and handed them over.

His movements were slow, and his fingers turned white from the force he was applying.

Every time you hand over something, it's like peeling away a part of yourself, stripping away those marks that once symbolized belonging and bonds.

His face was expressionless, his empty eyes staring straight ahead. No one knew what he was thinking, perhaps not even himself.

It was a despair that bordered on numbness.

The group packed their things and began to leave the courtyard one by one, heading towards the port.

As they passed by Kai, they deliberately kept their distance, either keeping their heads down and remaining silent or looking away, as if he carried some kind of plague.

Just as everyone was about to leave, a small figure hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran back.

It is Joe 89, Barnes 396. (IV) (IV) 60

It ran up to Kai and, taking advantage of the others' inattention, quickly stuffed a small cloth bag into Kai's hand.

Kai could sense that the cloth bag contained several rolls of bandages and some small bottles that smelled of herbs; they were probably basic wound medicine and painkillers.

"Kai..." Chopper looked up at Kai, his big eyes filled with reluctance and worry. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he quickly whispered, "...Take care!"

Having said that, it dared not linger any longer, as if afraid of being discovered by others. It immediately turned around, took short strides, and quickly chased after the main group, its small figure appearing somewhat flustered.

This was the only small, insignificant warmth Kai received from his former partner after this ordeal.

But this glimmer of warmth seems so insignificant, even somewhat ironic, in the face of the immense coldness and despair of this moment.

It couldn't melt the pain and sense of betrayal that had frozen solid in Kai's heart. Instead, it was like a tiny needle that pierced his numb shell, making him feel the pain even more clearly.

Kai silently gripped the small medicine packet in her hand, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

He remained standing there, motionless, his face expressionless, like a lifeless stone sculpture.

After everyone left, the courtyard returned to its tranquility, leaving only Kai standing there all alone.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows that fell upon him, but brought no warmth whatsoever.

After an unknown amount of time, Kai slowly moved his stiff body.

He didn't bother to pick up his meager personal belongings; instead, he turned around and walked slowly and heavily toward the harbor.

His silhouette against the empty courtyard appeared utterly desolate and lonely.