Gelu's skin had been inherited from the Strange Tree, so his defense was incredibly tough. The surrounding Fishmen's attacks couldn't inflict much damage on him. Thorns erupted all over Gelu's body, and as he rolled through the crowd of Fishmen, he dealt tons of damage.
Rono walked straight up to Arlong. His right hand activated Scarlet Mode, and Armament Haki activated. Black Claw. Arlong's reaction couldn't keep up at all. With a squelch, his distinctive pointed nose was severed.
"Ah—Boss Jinbe won't let you off!" Arlong staggered, clutching his bleeding nose as he threatened Rono.
As a Fishman who had fled the Grand Line in defeat and ended up in the weakest sea, the East Blue, Arlong had long since lost his ambition. He hadn't even mastered Haki. In the New World, he would be nothing more than cannon fodder—perhaps he wouldn't even qualify as that.
Rono shook the blood from his hand and flattened Arlong's nose with one foot. "Fishman blood really is disgusting. How can the noble Fishmen not even defeat a weak human like me?"
Arlong gnashed his teeth, but he still held himself back. "If I've offended you somehow, I can compensate you. How many Beli will it take to clear up this misunderstanding between us?"
"Compensation? Hahaha, it seems the East Blue has already rotted you away. I'm a pirate. I can get Beli by killing you just as easily. As for how you offended me... I was in a bad mood and wanted to vent." Rono revealed a bloodthirsty smile. His right hand began to change, slowly transforming into a massive maw lined with sharp teeth and four lips. The maw opened, and Rono's arm stretched out. Bang— Rono frowned. It seemed he still wasn't familiar with his New Move. The maw bit into the empty ground beside Arlong and filled its mouth with dirt. Although it was a fake mouth, it still felt somewhat unpleasant. The maw opened, spat out the dirt, and struck toward Arlong again. Arlong dodged left and right. If those sharp teeth bit into him, he feared he would be split in two.
While toying with Arlong, Rono practiced his skill and even had time to cheer for Gelu. Gelu happily responded as well, using those Fishmen to respond.
After about half an hour, there wasn't a single Fishman left around Gelu. All the Fishmen who had tried to escape had been shot in the head by Sairona. One Fishman was bound hand and foot beneath Sairona's feet. Sairona sat on him while wiping her pistol with a handkerchief. He was meant to deliver a message to Jinbe. Rono would never go to Fishman Island to look for Jinbe—it was too troublesome, and with his navigation skills, he still couldn't handle the underwater currents.
All of Gelu's opponents had been reduced to empty shells, turning into piles of smoke and dust. Nami watched from a distance. The sight was too terrifying for her, and she had already collapsed limply to the ground. Kino wasn't doing much better, but she was still stronger and had held on to the tree trunk instead of collapsing.
There wasn't a single patch of intact flesh left on Arlong's body. It had all been scraped away by the maw's sharp teeth.
Seeing that Gelu's battle was nearing its end, Rono no longer wanted to play around. He opened the maw to the extent he could control. The ground beneath Arlong's feet suddenly wrapped around them. Crack—squelch! The sounds of a skull being crushed and blood spraying rang out. Rono withdrew the maw and dispelled Scarlet Armament. He looked at the blood splattered across him and frowned. It was filthy. He needed a bath.
Tears flowed from Nami's eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy. Kino's eyes also glimmered with tears. It was clear that she was deeply moved as well.
"Rono, there's still someone on the floor in the room." After using Observation Haki to sense him, Sairona told Rono.
"If we're going to cause trouble, of course we have to wipe out the roots." Rono also activated Observation Haki and easily found the person. "Yo, hiding under the bed, are you?"
He kicked out. The wooden bed slammed into the wall, breaking a huge hole through both the bed and the wall. Even that couldn't conceal the person hiding beneath it.
"You... You can't kill me. I'm a Marine Rear Admiral."
The Navy? They really were rotten. Looking at the trembling Marine Rear Admiral on the floor and the suitcase he was shielding beneath him, Rono understood almost everything. He swung his Bone Claws, and a head fell to the ground. "Sairona, help me get through to Smoker." Rono stood by the hole in the wall and called out to Sairona.
"All right." Sairona took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Smoker's number.
Rono kicked Major General Rat's corpse aside and picked up the suitcase. He couldn't be bothered to look for the little Beli inside.
He jumped downstairs to Sairona's side, but she raised a hand to stop him. Rono awkwardly moved over to stand beside Gelu, who wore the same expression. He was covered in blood and had been rejected.
Nami took a deep breath and gathered her courage before approaching Rono. "Are you called Rono? Please forgive me for presumptuously addressing you as Mr. Rono. According to our agreement, what do you want me to do?" Her tone was calm. She had given up on her dream solely for the sake of her village.
"Eh? What did you agree to do for me?" Rono had long since forgotten about it and looked utterly bewildered.
"Then come with us." Sairona stopped Rono from making a fool of himself and invited Nami, "Join the Wolf Family and become one of us." Sairona would do anything that could strengthen the Wolf Family.
Talented people—and trustworthy talented people in particular—were what the Wolf Family lacked most.
Nami was a completely blank sheet of paper. As long as the family's beliefs were continually instilled in her, she would become one of them. Of course, she would still be tested. Her performance over the next few years would be her answer sheet.
Nami agreed to Sairona's request without hesitation.
"Want to get on the ship? Don't worry. I'm an Old Driver. I've never crashed while driving." Rono flashed his white teeth and gave Nami a thumbs-up.
"Why do I suddenly not want to join anymore?" Nami complained.
"You'll get used to it. By the way, what's your name?" Sairona's last few words were directed at Kino. Although she had learned Nami's name from Nami herself, Sairona didn't know Kino's.
"Kino. I hope you'll take good care of Nami." Kino smiled in relief. Nami would no longer be held back by the village, and she would have time to fulfill her dream.
"Of course. As long as someone is a member of the Wolf Family, we'll take good care of her. Hmm—the Fishman Arlong probably left some Beli behind. With this Beli added in, you should have no trouble getting by." Sairona replied calmly. She conveniently snatched the suitcase from Rono's hand and placed it in front of Kino.
"Big Sister, take it. Perhaps... I won't be coming back." Nami's mood was somewhat downcast, but she forced a smile as she spoke to Kino.
"Is this a betrothal gift?" Kino joked.
"Mm... More or less. From now on, she'll have the surname Wolf." Sairona calmly confirmed it.
"..." Kino.
"..." Rono.
"Gelu? (What happened?)" Gelu.
"..." The corner of Nami's mouth twitched. But then she thought of her promise. She was even willing to give herself to them, so what else could she not agree to? Her feelings were complicated. In the end, she let out a long breath. "Mr. Sairona is right. From now on, my name will be Wolf Nami." Her eyes reddened and her voice trembled slightly as she finished speaking. From now on, the only one who carries Mom's surname will be you, Big Sister.
"It seems you're serious." Kino stared blankly at Nami. After a long while, she lowered her head and spoke. She was the older sister and couldn't show weakness in front of her younger sister.
"Then we're leaving, Kino." Sairona waved for Rono and the others to follow.
"Mm. When you have time... come visit often..." Kino said goodbye in a loud voice, though it carried a hint of reluctance.
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