Desperate Tears, Reinforcements Arrive

"Hahaha, you bunch of scoundrels!"

"Don't you guys drink water every day? How come you're all passed out after drinking alcohol?"

Watching Nami, who had 'gotten a bit too drunk' after taking down several Fish-Men, a cadre named 'Jiu' frowned.

"Arlong, should I teach her a lesson?"

"No need,"

However, Arlong, lounging in his chair, merely waved his hand lazily.

"I hope she can still laugh this happily later."

"Hey, Arlong!"

Even Nami, with her astonishing tolerance for alcohol, was a little tipsy after taking down several Fish-Men in a row.

She tottered over with her wine bottle to the boss here: Arlong himself. She looked at the enemy she wished she could devour, but had to hide her hatred deep within her heart.

"Arlong, do your words count for anything?"

"Hahahaha~~"

"Of course, when I, Arlong, speak, it's absolute truth!"

"I know what you want to say, Nami. 100 Million Berries, and I'll 'sell' Cocoyasi Village to you."

"Money is a good thing, money is the most reliable thing~~ I've never doubted it. If there's anything more reliable than money, it's only my fellow countrymen!"

"Ooooh ooooh ooooh!!!"

"Captain Arlong!"

"Long live Arlong—"

Amidst the cheers of the Fish-Men, Nami turned and walked away, her parting words echoing.

"Don't forget your promise."

Ah~~~

Walking on the road home, Nami tilted her head back to look at the sky.

It was just an ordinary sky, but today it felt exceptionally clear: blue sky, white clouds, and—

"Once I buy Cocoyasi Village, I'll come find you guys..."

"If you don't mind..."

"No, I still owe you money! Even if you mind, I'll still set sail with you, I can just work to pay off the debt~~"

"Without me, you'd definitely sail your ship into a whirlpool, wouldn't you..."

With the girl's cheerful steps, it was as if the clouds in the sky transformed into a Straw Hat, then into three sabers, then into a stern face...

However:

?

Marines!

"Hey, what are you guys doing surrounding my house?"

If there was anything Nami hated the most, it was the Fish-Man Arlong. If there was anything that ranked second on her 'hate list', it would be the Marines!

If it weren't for these useless individuals, how could her hometown have been ruled by Arlong's Fish-Man Pirates for eight whole years?

"Squeak squeak squeak, I am Captain Mouse from Marine Branch 16."

The man who arrived truly lived up to his name, with shifty eyes, a sharp mouth, and a scrawny face – just like his name suggested!

"That criminal named Nami... is that you?"

???

"What do you mean? Criminal—"

Facing a group of Marines armed with guns, Nami sneered.

"Ah, that's right. I am a pirate, and a cadre of the Arlong Pirates. I am indeed a criminal,"

The girl crossed her arms, revealing the Arlong Pirates tattoo on her shoulder to the Marines.

"Hey, Marine trash."

"If you touch me, Arlong won't let you go. — You understand that, right?"

It was truly ironic that in this corner of the East Blue, the Marines had come to fear pirates.

"Squeak squeak squeak, pirates... no, no, no, I haven't received any such intelligence."

However, Captain Mouse opposite her merely gave an evil smile.

"I'm here today simply because I received intelligence about a 'thief' here."

"I heard you stole a lot of treasure from pirates. Since they're pirates, I won't make things difficult for you. However:"

"Stolen goods, that ill-gotten gains… should rightfully be kept in custody by us, the Marines!"

"What did you say?"

In an instant, Nami was completely stunned.

"I said, all the money you stole belongs to 'us'!"

"Search!"

At Captain Mouse's command, numerous Marines immediately ransacked every chest and cabinet, digging three feet deep! More brutal than pirates, more… brazen than pirates.

"…A thief?"

"Did you do anything when Arlong was killing people?"

"Did you do anything when Arlong enslaved over twenty villages and towns in this area?"

"And now you're here to deal with me, a thief? Do you know that money—"

"That money is what Nami used to buy our village from Arlong!"

Among the villagers watching from the sidelines, a police officer covered in scars stepped forward. His words made Nami freeze.

"Mr. Ken…"

"Nami, we all know. The whole village knows how much hardship you endured outside to free us from Arlong's control… And now!"

The scarred police officer turned and glared angrily at the so-called 'Marines'.

"Do you still think you have the right to take this money?!"

Even so:

"Squeak, squeak, what Arlong? What pirates? I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Or are you all thieves in this village? Do you want to be shot dead by us, the righteous Marines, on the spot?!"

"Captain, we didn't find anything in the house…"

"Then search the vicinity! That's 100 Million Berries, not a single grain of rice."

!!??

100 Million Berries—

In an instant, Nami understood everything.

"Are you Arlong's men?"

"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak… Don't slander me, what Arlong? I don't know him at all… Hehehehe~~"

However, the other party's smug expression had already revealed everything.

"Damn it, you guys!"

"To think you'd become pirate lackeys, you…"

"How dare you slander the Marines!"

Facing the indignant villagers, Captain Mouse simply snapped his fingers.

"Fire."

Bang, bang, bang, bang—!!

"You… How could you…"

Seeing the villagers fall to the ground, injured, Nami was completely dumbfounded.

"Squeak, squeak, someone only asked me not to harm his 'Navigator', but he didn't say anything about the lives of others."

The man called Captain Mouse bent down and whispered in Nami's ear.

"You'd better be sensible, or I won't hesitate to slaughter this entire village!"

Arlong!

Do you really want me to hand Cocoyasi Village over to you like this—

Arlong!!

Fine, bring 100 Million Berries, and I'll let that village go and also return your freedom. —

Arlong!!!

No matter how long it takes, no matter what means you use, 100 Million Berries, I will absolutely keep my promise—

Bang!

"ARLONG!!!"

Nami violently pushed open the gates of Arlong Park, staring intently at the tall Fish-Man lying on the chair! The one who killed her adoptive mother, enslaved her village, and now wanted to take away her…

"Ha, isn't this our 'Navigator'—"

Slap!

Nami, furious, grabbed Arlong by the collar and demanded through gritted teeth:

"Did you call those Marines?!"

"Didn't you say you'd keep your promise? Didn't you say as long as I gathered 100 Million Berries—"

However:

Slap!

A giant hand grabbed Nami by the throat, lifting her into the air.

"What Marines?"

"When did I break my promise? Tell me—"

Lying on a chair, Arlong, holding Nami high with one hand, bared his fangs!

"Oh my, could it be that the money you saved was 'confiscated' by the Marines?"

"That's truly unlucky,"

The Fish-Man named Arlong laughed hypocritically, his laughter particularly wild.

"But a promise is a promise. As long as you don't put the 100 Million Berries in front of me, I can't give you Cocoyasi Village..."

"Despicable, shameless!!"

"Hahahaha~~~ Say whatever you want. Or rather—"

"You've finally decided to abandon those villagers and escape alone?"

Slap,

Nami slapped Arlong's arm away and turned, running out of Arlong Park. Behind her, the Fish-Men erupted in laughter!

"Arlong, your scheme is truly vicious."

"But if Nami really abandons the people of that village and runs away..."

"Hahahaha~~"

"She won't. For the sake of that village, she'll continue to save up 100 Million Berries again! Then we'll harvest her one more time..."

"Hahahahahahahaha~~~"

"Roman, there's a Marine warship over there!"

Facing the evasive Usopp, Roman shook his head indifferently.

"Don't mind them. I can feel that my bandages haven't moved in a long time."

As the merchant ship slowly docked, Roman, Usopp, Joseph, Johnny, and even Zoro disembarked. —Which meant Hawk Eyes definitely held back; otherwise, Zoro wouldn't have been able to get out of bed and move around so soon!

"This way—"

Following the sensation of the paper bandages, Roman and the others arrived at:

"What happened here?"

The ground was a mess, riddled with holes everywhere; many people had gunshot wounds. At the location where Roman sensed the 'bandages', the door and windows of a house were shattered, as if ravaged by a storm.

"You are..."

A woman with light blue hair, clutching a wound on her waist, walked over. Upon seeing Roman and his group, her eyes flickered.

"We're looking for someone named Nami..."

"You're Roman, aren't you?"

However, the blue-haired woman on the opposite side immediately identified Roman. It wasn't because he was particularly handsome—it was mainly because the long-nosed Usopp and the Three-Sword Style Zoro behind him were too recognizable.

"Ah... I am,"

"If you're here to collect money from Nami, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

The blue-haired woman pointed to the surrounding mess.

"The Marines just took all the money."

Marines... taking money...

Those two words didn't seem to fit. However:

"The money isn't important; the person is."

Roman waved his hand.

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

Fake...

It's all fake...

Like zombies, Nami returned to the village. As soon as she reached the entrance, she collapsed to the ground in despair!

"Arlong!"

She suddenly pulled out a dagger and fiercely stabbed her shoulder!

Pfft

There was a mark tattooed there, representing her as a member of the Arlong Pirates. Now, it looked more like a brand of a 'slave'!

"Arlong!!"

Clang

With a sound of metal scraping, a hand grasped the dagger in the girl's hand.

"Roman?"

Nami turned her head, and a familiar face met her eyes.

"What are you doing here? If you want money..."

"Luffy said he just wants you to be our Navigator and asked me to bring you back."

"...And you?"

Facing the girl whose tears were continuously streaming down her face, Roman answered without hesitation.

"I only kill."

"You guys..."

"Alright, you don't need to say any more."

"I've learned everything I need to know from your sister."

Pieces of paper bandages flew from Roman's palm, wrapping around Nami's shoulder.

"We can talk after I'm done killing."

PS: Thanks to the book friend 'Designer Jianguo' for the reward and monthly ticket. Here's an extra chapter.