Nami's Plea

Going Merry, kitchen and dining room.

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

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

It was a blend of seafood risotto, pan-seared bone-in meat, and a special mushroom soup.

This was the first dinner since Sanji joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Delicious! So delicious!!"

Luffy grabbed the meat with both hands, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's as he shouted incoherently.

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

Usopp was moved to tears: "This is what real food tastes like! What kind of animal feed were we eating before?"

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

He had to admit, Sanji's culinary skills were truly top-tier; it wasn't just a treat for the taste buds, but something that provided a warmth and strength from within.

However, amidst the laughter and joy, one person seemed completely out of place.

Nami sat in the corner, the food in front of her barely touched.

She kept her head down, her orange bangs obscuring her eyes, her hands gripping the hem of her shirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

If I say it out loud... not only will the village not be saved, but I might get them killed too...

Nami's heart was in a state of violent struggle.

But she thought of what Ronan had said to her earlier, and she thought of the formidable strength of Luffy and the others.

Finally, she looked up, her eyes rimmed with red, her voice trembling as she used every ounce of her strength:

"Luffy... everyone..."

The noisy dining room fell silent in an instant.

Everyone's gaze turned toward Nami.

"What's wrong, Nami?" Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth, his eyes clear.

Nami bit her lower lip, hard enough to draw blood.

Tears welled up in her eyes, finally breaking through and sliding down her cheeks:

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

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

The moment those words left her lips, Nami felt as if a thousand-pound burden she had carried for eight years had been lifted, and her whole body trembled violently.

She didn't dare look into Luffy's eyes; she was afraid of being rejected, and even more afraid of hearing the reasons why.

However—

"Sure!!!"

Without a moment's hesitation, without a single question.

Luffy stood up abruptly. He pulled his straw hat low, the shadow of the brim hiding his eyes, but that roar rang out through the entire cabin like a solemn vow.

Nami was stunned.

Tears blurred her vision as she stared at Luffy in a daze:

"Luffy... you... aren't you going to ask what happened? They are... they are terrifying Fish-Men..."

"Shut up!"

Luffy took off his most cherished straw hat and gently placed it on Nami's head.

He could feel Nami's sorrow and despair.

"Daring to make my navigator cry..."

Luffy clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, his voice as low as a furious lion's, "I'm going to... beat them all into the sky!!!"

"Count me in."

Ronan stood up and grabbed the Zhangba Iron Spear leaning against the corner.

At this moment, the gentle aura he usually carried had vanished, replaced by a killing intent as heavy as a mountain.

"Nami."

Ronan looked at her, his gaze like a torch, "The Arlong Pirates? Just a bunch of frogs in a well. Let us—crush them all!"

"Heh..."

Zoro stroked the Wado Ichimonji, a bloodthirsty smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

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

"Damn Fish-Men..."

Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes filled with murderous intent, his leather shoes clicking against the floorboards.

"To dare make the beautiful Miss Nami shed tears... I will never forgive them! I'll chop them into sashimi!"

Although his legs were trembling slightly, Usopp still raised his slingshot and puffed out his chest:

"Na... Nami! Don't you worry! Whether it's Arlong or Bug, Captain Usopp here will beat them until they can't tell north from south!"

Looking at these companions who would risk enmity with devils for her sake, Nami could no longer hold back; she covered her face and wailed:

"Thank you... everyone!"

That night, Nami recounted to the group the countless crimes the Arlong Pirates had committed in Cocoyasi Village over the past eight years, as well as the death of Bellemere.

After hearing it all, Luffy said nothing; he simply walked silently to the deck and threw a punch toward the Great Sea.

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

"Bastard Arlong... I will definitely... beat you to death!!!"

The next morning, the coast of Cocoyasi Village.

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

Guided by Nami, Ronan and his group stood before a massive structure.

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

A jagged pirate flag fluttered atop a towering spire, a massive seawater pool shimmered blue under the sun, and the surroundings were decorated with comical sculptures and vibrant colorful flags.

This was Arlong Park.

Beneath every brick and stone, the blood and tears of the villagers and Nami's humiliation were soaked deep.

It was a hypocritical palace built upon suffering.

"What a high wall." Usopp swallowed hard.

Luffy could no longer restrain himself.

He didn't speak, simply walking up to the heavy iron gate and pulling his arm back with a violent stretch.

"Gomu Gomu no... Cannon!!!"

"BOOM!!!"

An earth-shattering roar!

The heavy iron gate, capable of withstanding cannon fire, along with the surrounding stone walls several meters high, instantly crumbled under Luffy's furious strike!

Debris splattered like raindrops, and dust filled the sky.

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

The massive commotion instantly alerted every Fish-man inside Arlong Park.

"Who goes there?!"

On a lounge chair by the pool, a tall, muscular Fish-man with a jagged Long Nose and blue skin slowly stood up.

He was none other than Arlong.

He looked at the figures emerging from the dust, his gaze finally settling on Nami, the corner of his mouth curling into a cruel, mocking sneer:

"Nami? So, you've returned."

Arlong laughed, revealing a mouth full of sharp Fangs:

"What? Are these the helpers you've found? A few weak humans? It seems... the lessons of the past eight years weren't enough!"

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

Facing Arlong's mockery, Luffy didn't waste words; he simply took a step forward and roared:

"Which one of you is Arlong!!!"

Arlong snorted coldly: "This Old Man is!"