After their final bonding with Arion in the morning, Hina left the small island and headed toward the Grand Line.
That had been Hina's goal all along; she came here just to pass through, and happened to receive a transmission from the village to the Marines and stopped by to take a look.
Although this was the sea area Captain Nezumi was supposed to guard, with the village suffering pirate attacks and the threat of massacre looming at any moment, there was no need to worry about it.
Logically they would stay at most two days, aid the injured villagers, help repair the damaged buildings, and sweep every corner of the island to root out any pirates that might be hidden before leaving.
But because of Arion, they ended up staying another day — Hina couldn't bear to part with this thing she had lived thirty years without, a beauty that left a lasting impression on her.
Now Hina can't linger any longer; on the fourth morning she raised anchor, set the sails, and left the island that would give her memories for a lifetime.
Arion watched Hina's warship vanish over the horizon, then lowered his head to look at the things in his hand.
A briefcase containing thirty-six million Belly, a Pirate Hunter license that would let him sail the seas legally, a Den Den Mushi that could connect to Marine channels, and a Vivre Card with Hina's number.
That was a haul indeed, not a waste of all the days of hard work.
When they reach the Grand Line later, he would have to properly thank Hina then.
Tucking away the Pirate Hunter license, the Den Den Mushi, and the Vivre Card, he shouldered the briefcase and prepared to go shopping with 2B to pick up a few outfits.
Since the night before, after Hina ripped apart Arion's clothes, the only clothes he could wear were Marines' clothes; now Hina was gone, wearing these again wouldn't fit.
2B was still in the same battle suit she wore when they arrived, with nothing else to change into.
They arrived at the village's only clothing shop; the clothes here were fairly simple, but not too bad.
Arion picked out a few outfits that would let 2B move freely: a frilly-sleeved blouse paired with a plain long skirt, transforming her from a aloof warrior into a cool, medieval village girl.
Arion himself wore a loose, high-collar tunic with durable pants, a ranger's getup.
They also needed a few pairs of shoes; Arion decisively chose leather shoes. The shoes here are genuine leather, breathable enough, not like boots that would trap heat all day and make taking them off a moment of relief.
2B doesn't have that problem; she's an android, cooling works differently from humans, and she's used to fighting in high-heeled boots.
Having picked out clothes, though the shop's owner, an elderly woman, was reluctant to take Arion's money, Arion still pulled Belly from the briefcase to pay.
Things were no longer as neat and innocent as at first, and he didn't want to take advantage of the villagers again.
The ship under construction would be enough to repay the debt they owed, so there was no point in being greedy.
They also bought a backpack to stash the clothes and new shoes, and returned to the inn where they were staying.
Life for Arion and 2B settled into a quiet routine as they waited for the ship to be built: by day they trained, went to the beach to sunbathe, learned sailing from fishermen, learned how to handle a sailboat, or practiced swimming, all in preparation for going to sea.
At night, the only pastime was to draw close and entwine with 2B, pouring the day's remaining energy into her; 2B was happy to oblige, and would even willingly part for him if he asked.
Day by day passed, and after a week Arion received a transmission from Hina; she had arrived at the Grand Line and was resting at a nearby Marine division.
Arion and Hina exchanged a few words, and just after they hung up, the door was hurriedly knocked from the outside.
"Kid, you'd better pack your things and leave, Marines are at the door!"
Arion and 2B exchanged a glance, Marines?
Going downstairs, the inn was already surrounded by Marines with guns drawn; at this moment, there would be no way to escape.
"Let's go down and see," Arion said as he stood, quickly tidying up, grabbing his belongings and the money box, and headed downstairs with 2B.
Leading this batch of Marines was a man with his hands clasped behind his back, a few rat-like whiskers on his face, a dark, menacing look.
The atmosphere felt off; 2B realized this group of Marines was not aligned with Hina, and she prepared herself for any possible clash.
"I am Captain Nezumi of the Marines' 16th Branch. I got a report that there are pirates here who are freeloading in the village, kid, do you know where they are?"
Captain Nezumi?
The scum who colludes with pirates, greases the wheels, and smears Marines by taking civilians as shield?
Arion shrugged, pulled out his identification and tossed it over, and said:
"Pirate? I don't know. Why don't you ask the village chief? I'm just a passing Pirate Hunter."
"Pirate Hunter?" Captain Nezumi took the ID, his face changed, and he shouted: "Dare! A mere pirate dares to counterfeit Marines' IDs! Take him down!"
"You dare!"
Before the words finished, the sharp blade was only an inch from Captain Nezumi's throat, and even so the disturbed air cut into Nezumi's throat, red blood slowly flowing.
This was 2B's control; if she had swung blade-energy, it could have split Captain Nezumi's head.
The Marines around him didn't dare move, and Captain Nezumi was so scared that goosebumps erupted all over, clutching his neck and stammering:
"You, you actually dared to cut me, I am a Marines Captain..."
"And so what if you are?" Arion stepped closer, took the Pirate Hunter license from his hand, patted his face, and said, "Kill me if you want, but you can't bite me, can you?"
"Marines won't let you off..."
"So what?" Arion sneered, "Even if I'm killed by Marines later, you won't be alive to see it. Don't overestimate yourself; you have only one life… you're nothing."
With that, he raised his fist and slammed it hard!
The punch sent Captain Nezumi sprawling several meters, destroying part of his mouth.
The force scared the surrounding Marines into swallowing hard, but under the oppressive aura emitted by 2B, none dared move or raise their guns.
"So weak. I don't know how you rose to be this branch's Captain, or how you dared to come after me. Is it by taking credit, by smearing others, or by buying the post with money?"
Arion crouched in front of the frightened Nezumi and pulled out a Den Den Mushi, calling Hina.
"It's me, Arion."
"Yeah, you just hung up. Trouble?"
"No," Arion shot a look at the terrified Captain Nezumi, "I ran into Marines checking; they smeared me as a Pirate, saying the ID you gave me was fake."