Nami's Plea

Merry, kitchen and dining room.

The night was gentle, waves lapping softly against the hull.

The dining room was brightly lit, and the air was filled with an intoxicating aroma—

The scent of seafood risotto, pan-seared bone-in meat, and specially made mushroom soup mingled together.

This was the Straw Hat Pirates' first dinner after Sanji joined.

"Delicious! So delicious!!"

Luffy clutched a piece of meat in both hands, his cheeks puffed up like a hamster's as he shouted indistinctly.

Though Zoro said nothing, he was clearly eating twice as fast as usual.

Usopp was so moved that tears streamed down his face. "This is what humans are supposed to eat! What kind of feed had we been eating before?!"

Ronan set down his utensils and wiped his mouth in satisfaction.

He had to admit that Sanji's cooking was truly top-notch. It was not merely a pleasure for the taste buds; it also gave one a warmth and strength that rose from within.

Yet amid the laughter and cheer, one person seemed completely out of place.

Nami sat in a corner, barely touching the food before her.

Her head was lowered, orange bangs hiding her eyes. Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles white from the force.

If I tell them... not only might the village remain unsaved, I might get them killed too...

Nami's heart struggled violently.

But then she remembered what Ronan had told her, and the formidable strength Luffy and the others possessed.

At last, she raised her head. Her eyes were red, and though her voice trembled, she put all her strength into it.

"Luffy... everyone..."

The once-noisy dining room fell silent in an instant.

Everyone turned to look at Nami.

"What is it, Nami?" Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth, his gaze clear.

Nami bit her lower lip so hard that blood appeared.

Tears swirled in her eyes before finally breaking through, sliding down her cheeks.

"Before we go to the Grand Line... could you..."

"Could you... help me take down the Arlong Pirates!!"

The instant those words left her lips, it was as if Nami had cast off the crushing burden she had carried for eight years. Her entire body shook violently.

She did not dare look into Luffy's eyes. She feared rejection even more than she feared hearing his reasons.

However—

"Okay!!!"

There was no hesitation and no questions.

Luffy abruptly rose to his feet and lowered his Straw Hat. The shadow of its brim hid his eyes, but his roar rang through the entire cabin with the unwavering force of an oath.

Nami froze.

Tears blurred her vision as she stared at Luffy in stunned silence.

"Luffy... y-you're not going to ask what happened? They're... they're terrifying Fish-Men..."

"Shut up!"

Luffy took off his most treasured Straw Hat and gently placed it on Nami's head.

He could feel Nami's sorrow and despair.

"They dared to make my navigator cry..."

Luffy clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. His voice was low, like that of a furious lion. "I'll send them all... flying!!!"

"Me too."

Ronan stood up and grabbed the Zhangba Iron Spear standing in the corner.

The gentle air about him had vanished completely, replaced by killing intent as heavy as a mountain.

"Nami."

Ronan looked at her, his eyes blazing. "The Arlong Pirates? They are merely frogs at the bottom of a well. Let us crush them all!"

"Heh..."

Zoro ran a hand over Wado Ichimonji, a bloodthirsty smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Arlong, with a bounty of twenty million Belly? I wonder how many of my blades he can take."

"Damn Fish-Men..."

Sanji lit a cigarette, murder blazing in his eyes as his leather shoes clicked against the floor.

"They dared to make beautiful Nami cry... I'll never forgive them! I'll chop them into sashimi!"

Though Usopp's legs trembled a little, he still picked up his slingshot and puffed out his chest.

"N-Nami! Don't worry! Whether it's Arlong or Bug, Captain Usopp will beat them so badly they won't know which way is north!"

Looking at these companions, who were willing to stand against demons for her sake, Nami could no longer hold herself back. Covering her face, she burst into loud sobs.

"Thank you... everyone!"

That night, Nami told everyone about the countless crimes the Arlong Pirates had committed in Cocoyasi Village over the past eight years, as well as Bellemere's death.

After hearing everything, Luffy said nothing. He simply walked onto the deck and threw a punch at the Great Sea.

That punch shattered the air and hardened his resolve to kill.

"Damn Arlong... I'll beat you... to death!!!"

The following morning, Cocoyasi Village coast.

The sunlight was almost dazzling, and the sea breeze rustled through the coconut trees.

Guided by Nami, Ronan's Group stood before an enormous building.

It was a majestic fortress built in the style of an amusement park.

A jagged Pirate Flag flew from its towering spires. An enormous seawater pool gleamed blue beneath the sun, surrounded by comical statues and bright pennants.

This was Arlong Park.

Beneath every brick and stone lay the villagers' blood and tears, along with Nami's humiliation.

It was a false palace built upon suffering.

"What high walls..." Usopp swallowed.

Luffy had long since been unable to hold himself back.

He said nothing, merely walking up to the heavy iron gates and pulling his arm sharply backward.

"Gomu Gomu—Siege Cannon!!!"

"BOOM—!!!"

An earth-shattering blast!

The massive iron gates, sturdy enough to withstand cannon fire, along with several meters of surrounding stone wall, shattered instantly beneath Luffy's furious blow!

Rubble sprayed through the air like rain, while dust billowed everywhere.

Within the smoke and dust, six figures stood side by side.

The tremendous commotion instantly alerted every Fish-Man within Arlong Park.

"Who is it?!"

From a lounge chair beside the pool, a huge, powerful Fish-Man with a long jagged nose and blue skin slowly rose.

It was Arlong.

He looked at the people emerging from the dust, his gaze finally settling on Nami. A cruelly mocking smile curled at the corner of the mouth.

"Nami? So you've come back."

Arlong laughed, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs.

"What? These are the helpers you found? A few weak humans? Looks like... eight years of lessons still were not enough!"

"Have you still not understood the noble, overwhelming power of our Fish-man race?!"

Faced with Arlong's mockery, Luffy did not waste words. He merely took a step forward and roared.

"Which one of you is Arlong!!!"

Arlong snorted. "I am!"