When Bellemere-a former Marine who had weathered countless storms yet always sheltered her daughters beneath her wings-learned of the terrifying background that "Mr. Aaron" might have from Nami and Carina's fragmented account, which was nevertheless enough to piece together a horrifying outline, her heart sank into an icy abyss.
Suspected of killing Celestial Dragons, escaping unscathed from an encirclement by the Marines' strongest fighters, clashing with monsters on the level of the Shichibukai and even the Four Emperors... What those words represented was an "inhuman" realm entirely beyond her understanding, powerful enough to topple nations and stir upheaval across the world.
For an ordinary mother like her, who had long since taken off her uniform and wanted only to live peacefully with her orange grove and daughters, it was no different from a heavy storm cloud suddenly looming overhead, threatening to unleash a devastating thunderbolt at any moment.
She hugged Nojiko and Nami tightly beside her, as though that could pull them back from the invisible whirlpool. Tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes and fell onto her coarse apron, spreading into dark stains.
"Whatever the case..." Carina gently wriggled free of Bellemere's overly tight embrace. A complexity beyond her years flickered in her blue eyes, but her voice was unusually clear. "At least, up until now, big brother... has never really hurt us. He's helped us out of plenty of trouble, too."
Nami nestled against her mother, her little hands clutching Bellemere's fingers, roughened by years of work. She added quietly, "That's right, Mom Mel. He even... remembered to bring you a new shovel and pesticides. He said they'd help improve the grove..."
Bellemere opened her mouth, her throat dry. Before she could voice the worries and questions filling her heart, a strange, faint hum rippled through