First Meeting with Nami, Arlong Gets His Head Blown Off

East Blue, Foosha Village.

Garp was chatting with Sengoku through a Den Den Mushi.

"Demon King Ye Zhuo has gone to East Blue. After appearing in Loguetown,

Smoker was sent to Marineford headquarters for treatment.

After discussing it, we decided that only you can go negotiate with him and have him become one of the Shichibukai!"

Garp answered in a deep voice.

"What? How could such a vicious bastard become one of the Shichibukai?

Sengoku, are you dreaming?

If I don't beat him flat, I'll never be able to talk to him calmly for the rest of my life."

Bang!

Garp headed for the harbor. He intended to deal with Ye Zhuo himself.

Cocoyasi Village.

It had been occupied by the Arlong Pirates for many years. Here, Arlong was a local tyrant whose word was law.

The moment Ye Zhuo's pirate ship, the Demon King, docked,

he swept the area with his sniper's Ultra-Long Distance Observation Haki.

He found no trace of Nami.

Had she gone out to sea?

Ye Zhuo yawned, planning to rest here for a day.

"Sir, our village has already been occupied by pirates.

It's very dangerous to stay here. You could face death at any time.

Please leave as soon as possible!"

The villagers hurried over to persuade them.

In this ordinary little town, many people had yet to realize that Ye Zhuo was not someone Arlong could afford to provoke.

The ones who truly needed to flee were the Arlong Pirates.

"Can't you tell? I'm a pirate too.

When pirates prey on pirates, I'm always the biggest one."

Ye Zhuo pointed at the Demon King behind him, its pirate flag fluttering in the wind.

"Our Cocoyasi Village has always been occupied by the Arlong Pirates.

Even if we were killed, no one would care!

You're no match for them!"

Genzo said with a troubled expression.

In his eyes, Ye Zhuo's crew were all girls, so they were no match for Arlong at all.

"We can leave, but before that, let us replenish some supplies."

Ye Zhuo said it casually. He had no shortage of Beli.

"You'll leave after replenishing your supplies?"

Uncle Genzo asked happily. He did not want these innocent people to die because of this.

"Of course."

Ye Zhuo nodded.

Nojiko also brought over a large number of oranges from the orchard.

It would be even better if she could exchange them for some Beli.

Today was another day for Arlong to collect money.

Empress and Kalifa had long sensed that something was wrong here.

During the trade,

Vivi and Robin learned the truth from Nami's sister, Nojiko.

Tashigi was already seething with anger when she heard it.

She had not expected such things to exist in the supposedly most peaceful East Blue.

"Arlong!"

Tashigi gripped the sword in her hand and looked firmly at Nojiko.

"I'm a Marine. Tell me where the Arlong Pirates are."

The villagers' gazes turned toward her as well.

"A Marine? But aren't you pirates?"

Genzo glanced at Tashigi, then pointed at Ye Zhuo and the others' pirate flag.

"It's a long story. In any case, I'm definitely a Marine!"

Tashigi's tone was resolute. She would certainly take care of Arlong and his gang.

Kalifa stepped forward as well.

"Just twist their necks."

Robin narrowed her eyes and smiled as she said something utterly sinister.

"Lord Ye Zhuo, please allow me to grind them all to ashes."

Empress took a step forward, her qipao outlining her long, perfect figure.

"Ye Zhuo! Come with us and deal with that guy!"

Vivi took Ye Zhuo's hand as he peeled an orange.

"Arlong's just trash. There's no need to make such a fuss."

Ye Zhuo tossed an orange slice into his mouth.

His Observation Haki had already foreseen Arlong's arrival.

Yet the villagers began trying to stop them.

They were happy to have met Ye Zhuo before Arlong came to squeeze them dry.

The Beli they had earned from the trade could ease their burden considerably.

"Nami, Nami is back!"

Just then, a figure appeared from the sea, returning in a small boat.

"There's no time!"

Nami seemed to be carrying a bag of gold coins.

As she passed by, she glanced at Ye Zhuo.

It looked like she had stolen quite a few gold coins from the sea again.

She had to hide them before Arlong arrived.

"Nami?"

Vivi looked in the direction Nami had run.

"I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."

She shook her head, thinking that was impossible. This was her first time coming to East Blue.

"Are you ready?"

"Beli and gold coins are both fine. Don't waste my time. Not a single Beli can be missing!"

"There's a pirate ship over there? Perfect, leave it behind too!"

Arlong and his group swaggered into the village entrance.

At a glance, they spotted the rather impressive treasure ship, the Demon King.

Then they took another look and saw that, aside from Ye Zhuo, everyone was a beauty.

Their eyes lit up even more.

"Kid, is this ship yours?"

Arlong looked at Ye Zhuo, who was squatting on the ground peeling an orange.

"What, does trash like you have a problem with that?"

"You're courting death!"

Arlong's words made the villagers go pale. They did not want their benefactor to face danger like this.

"You damn fool, how dare you show up in our Cocoyasi Village? Leave all your valuables behind!"

Nami appeared in front of Ye Zhuo and threw a punch.

Only by driving Ye Zhuo away herself could she save his life.

"Nami!"

Ye Zhuo easily caught Nami's cool, delicate wrist, as smooth as jade.

"Come out to sea with me and become the electrician on my ship!"

Huh?

Nami's eyes widened.

She had never expected Ye Zhuo to say something like that in front of Arlong.

"You're dead!"

Arlong slammed a fist into Ye Zhuo.

But his fist was scorched by flames.

Ye Zhuo's entire body swelled up, flames coiling around him like an evil dragon.

"Now who's the dragon?"

Ye Zhuo smiled at Arlong.

"A Zoan user?"

Arlong had no idea who Ye Zhuo was.

When had East Blue produced someone like him?

"You'd better go ask Bellemere!"

Ye Zhuo threw a straight punch.

Arlong's spike-like nose snapped.

His head burst apart like a gourd.

Blood and brain matter splattered across the ground.

The tall fish-man corpse crashed to the ground.

Nami trembled instinctively at the sight.

Her nightmare was over.