"Be-Bellemere...?"
"No! Bellemere!!!"
Nojiko murmured softly upon seeing Bellemere's body collapsed on the ground, and moments later Nami cried out through her tears.
Tears welled up in Nojiko's eyes as she watched Nami's cries directed at Bellemere's body.
Genzo and the villagers stared at Bellemere's body in shock.
"What is this piece of paper...?"
"G-Give it back! It's mine!"
"This is a map...where did you steal it, kid?"
"I drew it with my navigation skills! So it's mine!"
Kuroobi picked up the paper that had fallen beneath the crying Nami and unfolded it. Just as Nami was screaming at the sight of it, Arlong approached them.
"What is it, Kuroobi? That scrap of paper is a map?"
"Yeah, Captain. Even though the lines are a bit rough, it's clearly drawn correctly at a glance."
"Hmm...you're right, it does look accurate."
"Hey kid, did you really draw this?"
"Yeah, you bastard! I said it's mine, give it back!!!"
"You've got talent. In that case, we'd better take you with us."
"What?"
"Everyone, let's go back! This girl is our loot!"
"Waaaaaaa!!!"
At that shout from Arlong, the fish-men, including Kuroobi who was holding Nami, turned their backs on the village.
"H-Help me! Uncle Genzo!!!"
"Stop it! Don't take Nami!"
"What are you going to do to Bellemere's daughter?!"
"You damn fish bastards!!!"
Several villagers, including Genzo, ran toward Nami, but they were cut down by the fish-men at the rear of the departing group.
"No! Don't fight!"
"Nami...!"
"I'm fine...please, everyone, don't die!!!"
In that moment, Nami looked at the fallen villagers, tears streaming, and shouted.
Because of that incident, the villagers couldn't see Nami for a long time.
*****
"It was months after that happened when Nami told me."
"She said that while working on maps for the Arlong Pirates, Arlong promised that if she gathered 100 million Berries, he'd set the village free."
Back in the present, Nojiko told the three crewmates before her at the table—excluding Luffy—about what had happened.
Genzo, seated beside her, bowed his head, and among the three, Zoro was the first to speak.
"One hundred million Berries...I can barely count millions."
"So Nami tried to save that huge sum starting at age eight...for eight years?"
"Yes, that's the promise Nami made with Arlong."
"Um, sorry to say this, but..."
"It's okay, sharpshooter, ask freely."
"But there's no guarantee Arlong will keep that promise even if she collects 100 million, right?"
"...That's right. I couldn't bring myself to tell Nami, but neither I nor the villagers ever believed that promise."
"Nojiko, if that promise was a lie, there would be no reason to endure it for eight years, would there?!"
"We should've contacted the Marines somehow...!"
"Chef, that's..."
"Nojiko, let me say it."
"Uncle Genzo..."
"After the Arlong Pirates invaded, we even tried contacting the Marines using the village's [Transponder Snail]."
"Normally, when you contact the number reserved for public use by the Marines, it should reach the nearest Marine base, but we tried for over a month with no response."
"Instead of the Marines, it was the Arlong Pirates who came. Knowing we contacted the Marines, they beat the villagers, demanded tribute, and took our [Transponder Snail]."
"The fact that they knew the villagers contacted the Marines means..."
"Yeah. The nearby Marine base was in cahoots with Arlong."
"So over those eight years, we helped other villages under Arlong's rule in hopes of finally reaching a reliable Marine force."
"And we only succeeded recently."
"Hey, you mean those reliable Marines were..."
"That's right, green-haired one. It was the officer you carried on your back and his unit."
"But even those Marines, who were so hard to reach, were recently taken out by the Arlong Pirates."
As the three absorbed Genzo's words with heavy expressions, Nojiko spoke to them.
"Nami didn't ask for help because she didn't want you to suffer at the hands of those monsters like our mother did."
"Back then, just ten years old, she decided to fight on her own."
"You don't know the agony my sister endured to make that decision...we didn't even know, so how could you?"
"Nojiko..."
"So everyone, please...don't concern yourselves with her or this village."
While the three remained silent, Usopp and Sanji looked at Zoro, who sat between them.
Zoro, receiving their gazes, glanced alternately left and right before looking straight at Nojiko and speaking,
"Ahem. I get your situation, and I know asking us to stay out of it isn't coming from a bad place."
"But we're pirates, and for pirates, the captain's word is law."
"No matter how much you beg or threaten, our captain makes the decision."
"Is that right, everyone?!"
With a laugh, Zoro said this, and right after, Usopp spoke up.
"Of course, Zoro. If it isn't Luffy's word, whose would we follow?"
"That's right, Marimo. Now you're acting like a true first mate."
"What did you think I was saying just now?"
"Our captain didn't even hear that important thing I said...!"
"Don't come into this field!"
"Drag that woman out!"
At that moment, multiple voices called out from outside.
Hearing those voices, the people inside rushed out to see a dozen or so Marines and a young woman collapsed before them.
"Nami!"
"Nojiko...!"
Nojiko cried out as she saw Nami lying there, blood flowing from her forehead and lip.
Nami, upon hearing her name, opened her eyes wide and saw Genzo and the other three behind Nojiko.
"Okay, I understand Uncle Genzo being here, but Zoro, what are you guys doing here?!"
"If Arlong treated you like that, you all should've run away!"
"Are you all right, Nami?!"
"I'm the cook they assaulted, not me, right?!"
"Quiet, Marimo! Is that important right now?!"
"Um...it's nice seeing everyone after so long, but could you take a look around?"
Those present, on Usopp's suggestion, looked around.
Surrounding them, Marines had opened a perimeter, rifles trained on them, and at the center stood Nezumi.
"Alright, little miss, have you said all you have to say?"
"You're the Marine dealing with Arlong, right? I'm an officer of the Arlong Pirates!"
"Do you think Arlong will let me go when you lay a hand on me like this?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I just heard you were a thief and came."
"I heard you stole money and treasure from pirates. Of course, I don't intend to punish you harshly for crimes against pirates."
"But a thief is a thief, and stealing is a crime. Basically, items stolen from criminals are held by the government."
"So hand over everything you stole so far."
"What?"
"Everyone! Search every inch around this house!"
"Understood!"
The Marines left Nami collapsed on the ground and ran off in all directions.
When a few ran to the front of the house, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp strode past Nojiko and Genzo and walked forward.
"Get out of the way, you guys! Or else...!"
"If you don't move..."
"What are you gonna do...?"
"Th-These guys...!"
The Marines shouted this, but faced with Zoro and Sanji brandishing swords in front and guns aimed from behind, they couldn't move.
"Hey! What are you doing out here instead of going inside?!"
"S-Sorry, Colonel! It's just...!"
"This is government business! If you interfere, we open fire immediately...!"
"F-Found it! It's in the tangerine grove back here!!!"
"...!"
When the Marine shouted this, Nami and Nojiko looked at each other in shock.
Nezumi and most of the Marines in front of the house rushed toward that spot—it was right in the middle of the tangerine grove behind the house.
The Marines dug into the ground there and unearthed a large, elongated box with its lid open. At the sight of the treasure and banknotes spilling out, Nami cried out.
"Get back! That money wasn't collected for you!"
"Hahaha! As expected, it was hidden around here!"
"Well, hiding 100 million Berries, not just a couple hundred, isn't easy!"
"H-How did you even know how much I'd saved up..."
"Hmm, well...I just had a feeling it would be around that much."
"You guys, don't tell me...!"
*****
Meanwhile, at Arlong Park.
Arlong sat in a slanted chair on the first floor, and beside him stood several fish-men, including Chuu and Kuroobi.
"I'm glad the captain didn't keep that promise he made to Nami."
"What do you mean by that, Kuroobi?"
"You always told Nami that the captain always keeps any promises related to money."
"Obviously a promise he didn't need to keep, but we were worried Arlong might actually keep it."
"Kuroobi, when did I ever break a promise with Nami?"
"You told the Marines to bring Nami's money to me. Weren't they doing it by now?"
"The exact condition of the promise with Nami was to bring 100 million Berries right before my eyes."
"But even if she collects 100 million Berries, if she can't bring it before my eyes, would that be my fault?"
"No, Kuroobi! That's Nami's responsibility!"
"That's right. As expected, the captain's the smartest of us."
"Isn't that right, guys?"
"Yeah, Captain Arlong's powerful and smart too!"
"Thanks to that, we can just trust the captain's word and enjoy our meals and drinks!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
*****
"What the hell are you doing, you guys! Are you rebelling against us Marines?!"
"Shut up, you cockroach-like bastard!"
In front of Nojiko's house, Genzo drew his sword and shouted at Nezumi and the Marines.
He and about thirty villagers, with Nami and Nojiko behind them, faced the Marines standing before them.
Between them stood a man wearing a white coat bearing the kanji for justice.
He draped the infamous "Justice Coat," worn by higher-ranking officers, over his shoulders, his chest wrapped in bandages as he spoke,
"Colonel Nezumi! I've heard everything you've done in collusion with the Arlong Pirates over the past eight years!"
"Rear Admiral Prinprin...you're still alive?"
"Yes! I came back from the gates of the underworld to bring you in!"
"It's a relief. If you'd returned and contacted Headquarters, it would've been dangerous."
"Thank you for coming back just to kill me, Admiral!"
"How dare you...!"
While those two conversed, Genzo raised his blade and spoke again.
"No matter how cruel and humiliating the fish-men's rule is, we've resolved to wage a war of endurance for Nami, who sacrificed herself!"
"But we won't endure it any longer! We will no longer forgive those fish-men who toyed with Nami's faith, nor you!"
"Yes! Let's fight now!"
"I can't take it anymore!"
"E-Everyone, wait!"
"No, Nami!"
As the villagers shouted, Nami, who had been cradled in Nojiko's arms, leapt between the villagers and the Marines.
"You can't fight! If we clash with the Marines here, it's not just them we'll face!"
"Then what do you want us to do?!"
"If you resist, Arlong will kill us all! I'll do something, somehow!"
"O-Okay! If I can gather one hundred million again...!"
"You've been through so much, Nami. You don't have to fight anymore!"
"No! I don't want to see any of you get hurt anymore!"
"You called me a bug? Then I'll show you!"
"That you scum are worse than bugs! Everyone, ready your weapons!"
"Understood!!!"
Nezumi's Marines leveled their rifles at the villagers, weapons raised.
The villagers recoiled at the sight of the Marines.
"Hey Nami, looks like you could use some help."
"Zoro...!"
Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji walked forward to stand before Nami and the villagers.
"You helped me back in Syrup Village, Nami, so this time let me help you."
"Your knight, Sanji, has arrived, Nami. He's come to rescue the princess captured by the monster."
"You guys..."
"Are you all out of your minds and want to die?!"
"Fine! If you all want to die so badly, I'll kill you all right now...!"
"Puh, fuhahahahaha!"
As Nezumi shouted, Prinprin suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
"Oh my stomach! Hahaha! Ah, oooh, it hurts!"
"Prinprin..."
"Oh...why do you have to make a sick person laugh right before trying to kill them?"
"What's so funny?"
"Hah...Nezumi, do you know about the Marine Inspectors?"
"Have you lost your mind now that you're about to die?"
"Within the Marines, there's no agency or position for investigating corruption; it's handled by 'Cipher Pol' agents, not Marines."
"But a few years ago, for a brief time, there was an Inspection Agency in the Marines."
Clomp… clomp…
Prinprin walked out toward the villagers and continued.
"D-Don't come any closer! I said don't come!"
"He was a Marine, but aside from his subordinate Inspectors, most people avoided him."
"What are you talking about..."
"Bribes, threats—none of it worked. He was exactly that kind of person, which is why he became the head of the inspection unit."
"Y-You were the head of that inspection unit?"
Before anyone knew it, Nezumi leveled his pistol at Prinprin, who, with a calm expression, spoke,
"As if. That position was created for exactly one person."
"Isn't that right, Captain Luffy?"
"I'm a former Colonel. I resigned."
"...!"
As Prinprin spoke, Luffy appeared beside him.
He no longer appeared as the fat man draping a coat around his neck; he stood before them in his true form, wearing that same coat.
His bandages now only covered his arms, and as Nami looked up at him,
"Luffy...?"
"Nami, you're bleeding from your head..."
"And what the heck are you doing here!!!"
"...?"
As Luffy spoke, Nezumi shouted loudly at his surroundings.
"First, those outsiders show up, now you and Prinprin here are causing a ruckus, what the hell?!"
"I won't stand for this anymore! Fire on them all...!"
"Shut up."
As Luffy raised his hand toward the direction Nezumi was shouting from,
Thud!
A golden aura surged from his hand, crushing the Marines, Nezumi included.
Witnessing this, Nami and the villagers gasped in shock, while Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Prinprin smiled faintly.
As the golden aura flickered like flames atop the Marines laid flat, Luffy looked down at Nezumi.
"A guy who's only a Captain at Headquarters talking down to a Rear Admiral and a Colonel...is that some kind of mutiny?"
"Or do you think a Headquarters Colonel and a District Colonel are on the same level, you worthless idiot?"
Trembling, Nezumi looked up, half his face concealed in shadow, at Luffy towering above him.
"You're an officer at Headquarters... c-could it be an Inspector...!"
"Colonel Nezumi of the 16th Branch, I arrest you on charges of collusion with pirates."
"There's some misunderstanding! I was just recovering money stolen from thieves...!"
"An Inspector needs Headquarters' permission to investigate a suspect of corruption."
"However, the head of Inspection does not need permission to probe a suspected case of corruption."
"I-In Inspector! No, Chief! There's one hundred million Berries here in this village!"
"I'll give you 90 million Berries, so let's forget this...!"
Luffy placed his right foot atop Nezumi's head as he spoke.
Creak...!
"Ughhh!!!"
"For your information, an Inspector has the authority to exercise public force if the subject of investigation threatens the safety of civilians..."
"They can exercise public authority, and such actions are considered self-defense, not subject to punishment."