Kirishima Bupai fell silent for a few seconds. To Nami, that brief silence felt as long as a century.
"Do I look like the kind of person who likes dragging innocent people into things?" His voice rang out, still level, betraying neither joy nor anger.
At his words, Nami stiffened and jerked her head up. All the color drained from her face, and she waved her hands frantically. "No! No! Not at all! Absolutely not! Sir, you... you..."
She was so frantic that her words became incoherent. "I mean... please... please show mercy! Cocoyasi Village... really... really has nothing to do with this! If..."
"If the Arlong Pirates caused you any losses... or... or if you feel offended..."
As though making an enormous decision, she gritted her teeth, her voice carrying an all-or-nothing resolve. "I... I can compensate you! One hundred million Berries! I... I have one hundred million Berries!"
"This is... the money I've saved over the years to buy the village back from Arlong! You can have all of it! I only ask that you... spare the village!"
One hundred million Berries. It was money earned through blood and tears, accumulated by enduring humiliation, countless brushes with death, and stealing from countless pirates.
It was the hope for her future and that of all Cocoyasi Village, but now, to save the village, she offered it without hesitation as the price of their lives.
The beach instantly fell silent. Even the fish-men who had been weeping and begging for mercy stopped wailing for a moment and stared at Nami in shock.
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp froze too. After he had made a trip to the village, they knew about Nami's savings and what that money meant to her.
Kirishima Bupai finally sat up, tilting his head slightly as