Novel Chapter
"A pirate swindler." Kai's gaze remained fixed on Nezumi. "You're talking about Nami, aren't you?"
Nezumi froze. Dread coiled in his gut like a living thing. "You... you know this pirate swin—I mean, Nami, sir?"
"Of course I know her." Kai's expression remained flat, unreadable. "She's the navigator on my ship."
The words landed like a death sentence.
"And since she only steals from pirates," Kai continued, voice dangerously soft, "what law has she broken? Why would you call it illegal funds?"
"Your navigator!?" Nezumi's voice cracked. He dropped to his knees, hands slamming against the deck in frantic kowtows. "This subordinate deserves death! Deserves death! I didn't know—I swear I didn't know she was yours! Even with a hundred times the courage, I would never—I'll return the money immediately, sir! Right away!"
Inside, he cursed Arlong with every foul word he knew. That bastard fishman had gotten him tangled up with an Admiral.
Kai gestured lazily. His Commander stepped forward, presenting a thick stack of documents.
Kai flipped through them with casual disinterest, then let the papers scatter across the deck at Nezumi's feet.
"Colluding with the pirate Arlong. Extorting civilians. Accepting bribes from superiors and subordinates alike." Each word was measured, precise. "One crime after another. You really are a rat, Captain Nezumi."
With every accusation, the color drained further from Nezumi's face. By the end, he looked like a corpse.
Kai's lip curled in disgust. He didn't even look at Nezumi when he spoke to his Commander. "Escort him to the nearest town. Public execution by hanging. Announce it across the entire East Blue." His eyes narrowed. "And send word to Headquarters. I want a full investigation of every Marine officer in this sea. Root out every last piece of filth."
"Yes, Admiral Hakuryū!"
The Commander's response was sharp, immediate. He'd served under Kai for five years at G-1 Branch, and he'd never seen the Admiral this furious.
"Please! Spare me, sir! Spare me!" Nezumi's screams echoed across the deck as he was hauled away, still begging. "I'll never—I swear I'll never—!"
His voice faded as the Commander dragged him below deck.
Despite his rank, Nezumi was pathetic in a real fight. Even a Lieutenant Commander could take him. And this wasn't just any Commander—this was one of Kai's personal adjutants, a man whose combat ability rivaled a Rear Admiral's.
Kai watched until Nezumi disappeared from sight. Then he turned toward the distant shoreline, where Cocoyasi Village sat quiet and unaware.
"Nami," he murmured. "I wonder... have you finally seen how cruel this world really is?" His expression softened, just slightly. "Grow stronger. Only then will you be worthy of standing at my side... and becoming mine."
Cocoyasi Village.
A cliff overlooking the sea.
Nami sat collapsed at Belle-mère's grave, every ounce of strength drained from her body. Her eyes were hollow, staring at the weathered stone without really seeing it.
"Belle-mère... what do I do now?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "How can I save them? How can I save anyone?"
She wasn't stupid. She was smart—too smart not to see the truth.
She'd called Arlong to tell him she had the money. Minutes later, Nezumi showed up to take it. That wasn't coincidence. That was conspiracy.
Arlong and Nezumi were working together. They'd always been working together.
She'd told the villagers—told herself—that she could just save up another hundred million berries. But deep down, she knew the truth.
She'd never be able to save enough. Every time she got close, Nezumi would appear and take it all away again.
The cycle would never end.
She was trapped. Drowning in an endless black abyss with no light, no hope, no way out.
"Belle-mère..." She pressed her forehead against the cold stone and sobbed.
"Who is it?"
The voice cut through her despair like a blade of sunlight.
"Who made my navigator cry? That's an unforgivable sin."
Nami's breath caught. She knew that voice.
She looked up.
A tall figure stood silhouetted against the sky, confident smile playing at his lips. The Marine who'd given her fifty million berries on the open sea.
Something shifted in her chest. Hope—fragile, desperate, impossible—flickered to life.
"Help me." The words came out broken, choked with tears. "Please."
Kai stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and solid and real.
"Of course," he said softly. "You're my navigator. My person. How could I let you suffer like this?"
For the first time in eight years, Nami felt the weight lift from her shoulders.
En route to Arlong Park.
"Kai, are you sure about this?" Nami twisted her hands nervously as the massive structure came into view. "Arlong's really strong. And he has this huge sea beast—Momoo—it's terrifying!"
Despite everything Kai had told her—that he was far stronger than Arlong, that this would be easy—she still couldn't quite believe it.
Kai sighed, unsure how to respond.
His Commander caught the look and stepped in smoothly. "Miss Nami, there's no need to worry. A pirate with a mere twenty million berry bounty doesn't even require the Admiral's attention. I could handle him myself."
Nami's eyes narrowed skeptically. She pointed at Kai. "Is he really that strong? I mean... he's so thin. He looks kind of... weak?"
Kai's eye twitched.
The Commander nearly choked. In five years of service at G-1 Branch, he'd never heard anyone question the Admiral's strength so bluntly. And Kai wasn't even angry—he just looked exasperated.
It was... unprecedented.
The Commander's respect for Nami's importance skyrocketed.
"Miss Nami," he said carefully, "the Admiral doesn't just surpass small-time pirates. Five years ago in the New World, he defeated Drought Jack of the Beasts Pirates with a single punch." He paused for emphasis. "Jack's bounty is one billion berries."
Nami's jaw dropped.
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