Nami returns

That night, Rubick sat meditating in his room, training his mind. This kind of training was mysterious and elusive, but it really worked.

"Vroom, vroom~"

Smoker rode his Amphibious Motorcycle ashore at Cocoyasi Village's dock.

"Y-you... who are you?"

A villager spotted Smoker and nearly wet himself at such an unusual entrance.

"I'm a Marine. Where's the bounty hunter who killed Arlong?"

"A Marine? You're a Marine?"

"Is there a problem?"

The villager opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He merely pointed toward the tangerine grove outside the village. "There's a house beside the tangerine grove. That man's over there."

The villagers had little affection for the Marines. During all those years under Arlong's rule, Marines had come to uphold justice, but Arlong and his gang had wiped them all out.

Smoker soon reached the edge of the tangerine grove on his motorcycle. He got off and walked toward the house.

Smoker knocked politely on the door, and Nojiko opened it with a puzzled look.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Is Rubick here?"

"Who's Rubick?"

"The bounty hunter who killed Arlong."

"But his name is Slark."

Smoker was about to say more when Rubick came downstairs. He smiled. "Well, this is a rare visit, Smoker."

"You killed Arlong?"

Smoker immediately launched into an interrogation. Rubick really disliked that attitude, as though Smoker answered to no one but heaven itself.

"I did."

"Did you?"

Smoker snorted. "I don't believe you!"

He threw a hook with his right hand, and smoke instantly surged forward. But the smoke passed straight through Rubick's body, because Rubick had turned into smoke as well.

Smoker withdrew his fist. "What an irritating ability."

"I'm enjoying it, though."

Smoker told Rubick, "You're not a Pirate right now, so I have no authority to arrest you."

Then he turned to Nojiko. "If he commits any crime, come find me in Loguetown. I'll throw him in prison."

Smoker left without a moment's hesitation. He had only come today to see whether Rubick possessed that extraordinary ability, and to gauge his strength.

After all, Rubick's attempt to join the Marines had only failed because Smoker had refused him. Sometimes he wondered whether the Marines would have become much stronger by now if he had agreed back then.

Rubick, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know Haki, so a fight with Smoker would only become a stalemate. He might even end up subdued by Smoker's seastone weapon.

Having everything end peacefully like this was the best outcome.

Still, he called after Smoker, "Smoker, don't you think you're pretty weak?"

"What did you say?"

Smoker flew into a rage, his hand already tightening around his Jitte, but then Rubick said, "A new era has begun. Are you going to spend your whole life hiding away in the East Blue?"

"Hmph!"

Smoker snorted and said nothing. Once he was far away, Rubick smiled and asked Nojiko, "Nojiko, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"A bounty hunter."

Nojiko answered reflexively, and Rubick turned and went back upstairs.

Two days later, Powell sent someone over. After seeing that Rubick was fine and had decided to stay in Cocoyasi Village for a while, the messenger returned to report.

Rubick settled down in the place that had been renamed Lincoln Park. He was waiting for Luffy and the others to arrive.

Half a year later, Luffy defeated the Lord of the Coast with a single punch and officially began his adventure. A month after that, the Straw Hat Pirates encountered Hawk-Eye at Baratie and defeated Don Krieg.

Nami, meanwhile, stole the Going Merry and returned to Cocoyasi Village.

The first familiar face Nami saw was Genzo. Ever since Rubick had said he was there to find Nami, Genzo had sat at the dock every day so he could be the first to see her.

"Nami, why did you come back?"

Genzo said anxiously, "Get out of here right now. There's no time to explain."

Nami said bluntly, "Arlong's already dead. What do we have to be afraid of? I heard the man who killed him is still in the village. I'm going to thank him."

Genzo was sweating all over with anxiety. "Don't be ridiculous! He came here looking for you! Hurry up and leave!"

"Looking for me?"

Nami asked in confusion, "Why would he know who I am, let alone come looking for me?"

Just then, Rubick dropped out of the sky wearing a Bandit Mask, startling all the villagers nearby.

Rubick lowered his voice. "Because you, little Cat Burglar, had the nerve to steal my money!"

With Soru, Rubick was already beside Nami. He hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"Heh heh, this little Cat Burglar is my woman from now on!"

Using Geppo, Rubick bounded into the sky and returned to Lincoln Park.

"What do we do?"

Genzo and the others paced in a panic, but their fear of Rubick kept them from making any rash moves.

At the Detached Villa in Lincoln Park.

With Nami over his shoulder, Rubick pushed open the door and walked inside.

"Lord Slark, you're back..."

Nojiko greeted him out of habit, only then noticing Nami slung over Rubick's shoulder.

"Nami, you... why did you come back?"

Rubick patted Nami's round, pert bottom. "Heh heh, after tonight, Nami will be my woman. Go tell the village the good news, then help me prepare the ingredients. We're throwing a huge celebration."

"What? But... Lord Slark, Nami is still a child!"

Rubick tossed Nojiko outside, then went upstairs laughing loudly.

Once inside the bedroom, he set Nami down, only to find her staring at him with a displeased look.

"Oh ho, you're not scared at all."

Nami said disdainfully, "Old man, you're really having fun with this, aren't you? Go on, keep playing. Want me to play along?"

Rubick asked a little awkwardly, "How did you figure out it was me?"

Nami spread her hands. "I only just figured it out."

"What? Then just now..."

Rubick felt hopelessly stupid, but Nami still offered an explanation. "Your outfit is way too recognizable. Add in your smell, your height, the way you walk, and everything else, and I guessed right away."

That was true. There really weren't many people who loved bathing as much as Rubick did.

Nami then asked curiously, "By the way, how did you spot me? I'd only just come ashore."

Rubick said, "That Going Merry was the ship Anderson's family gave Luffy in Syrup Village, right?"

"How did you know?"

Nami suddenly exclaimed, "Wait, are you the kind old man who saved Anderson's family, helped train their fighters, and only asked for a Going Merry in return, specifically telling them to give it to Luffy?"

"That's right, it was me. So I recognized that ship as soon as it came near."

Nami felt her head spinning a little. She asked again, "Then why did you do that just now?"

"I wanted to see what the crewmate Luffy found was like. He's the captain I've chosen, after all. By now, everyone outside must think I've done something to you. If Luffy and the others hear about this, what will they do?"