Cocoyasi Village was once peaceful and quiet. The villagers were honest and caring, living in harmony with their neighbors.
Ever since Arlong Pirates invaded, the brutal rule of these fishmen threatened the lives of the villagers every single moment.
The Arlong Pirates were not the only ones to blame for this tragedy. In the hearts of the villagers, a greater fault lay with the Marines who were supposed to guard this sea.
At this moment, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village were violently herded together outside the gates of Arlong Park.
An indelible fear lingered in their eyes. Ten years of brutal rule had taken root deep within their memories. The villagers had long lost all will to resist.
Hundreds of villagers of all ages and genders gathered quietly under the watchful eye of a single, hideous, towering fishman. This was the exact scene that greeted Lius and the others upon their arrival.
"Is everyone okay?" Nami waved her hand at the villagers from a distance. Excitement flushed her face. Her gaze scoured the crowd for the man wearing the pinwheel hat.
"Ah, it's Nami and Nojiko!"
"Oh no. Didn't we tell Nojiko to hide? Why is she here?"
Astonishment filled the villagers' faces. Nami's sudden appearance brought them no joy. Instead, their expressions turned grim.
"Huh, where is Genzo? Why don't I see him?" Nami forced a smile. She failed to find the person she wanted to see after scanning the area.
None of the villagers answered her. They all lowered their heads.
"Hahaha, it is good that you are back, Nami. Hurry up and report to Boss Arlong!" The fishman guarding the villagers burst into laughter upon spotting her.
A mocking sneer twisted his features. "As for that old man you mentioned, he thought the ten million beli you handed over would exempt the village from paying taxes. Isn't that just wishful thinking?"
"This tax is meant for the Marines. How dare you lowly humans try to take treasure out of the hands of fishmen?"
From start to finish, the monstrous guard failed to notice Nami's reaction. Perhaps he simply did not care at all.
"Oh, so what happened to Genzo?" Nami lowered her head. Her bangs cast a shadow over her features and hide her expression.
Standing off to the side, Lius cast a sideways glance. A cold and bloodthirsty smirk gradually curled the corners of his mouth.
"Haha, he is inside the park receiving the water torture punishment from boss. Who knows if he is dead or not!" The fishman raised a finger to point at the park gates behind him with a scoff.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Nami shot her head up right as the fishman finished speaking.
Boundless rage now consumed her face. A murderous intent filled her eyes.
Whoosh! She moved in the very next moment.
She erupted with extreme speed like an enraged tigress. She blurred into an afterimage.
She slammed into the towering fishman like a cannonball. A terrifying burst of strength sent the guard flying through the air. He crashed heavily into the gates of the park.
Cracks instantly spiderwebbed across the solid stone gates. Under the horrified gazes of the villagers and Nojiko, a loud crack echoed as the doors shattered into rubble. The fishman's body collapsed into the debris with a thunderous crash and revealed the scene inside the park.
The cheerful laughter came to an abrupt halt. The fishmen who had been frolicking just a moment ago turned their heads to look toward the entrance.
The guard who had been watching over the humans lay face up among the pile of rubble. Blood bled from his seven orifices. A sunken fist imprint marked his body. He had completely lost all signs of life.
Nami stood at the doorway with clenched fists. She glared at them in fury.
"What is going on here?" Arlong stood up in bewilderment. He had originally been lounging on a beach chair in casual beachwear.
The surprise on his face gradually warped into a cold harshness upon seeing Nami.
"Hey Nami. The helper you brought along did this!?"
"Have you thought through the consequences of going against us fishmen?"
Arlong swept his cold gaze over the crowd behind Nami as he spoke.
Instinctive fear forced any villager caught in his sight to lower their heads. Even Nojiko was no exception.
There was only one exception. A stranger, a black-haired boy met his gaze with eyes completely devoid of emotion.
"Where is Genzo?" Nami ignored the pirate's threats and asked emotionlessly.
"Looks like this is about that old man!" The six-armed fishman, Hatchan, came to a sudden realization. He cast a sideways glance toward the ocean outside the park.
Nami shot a vicious glare at the group of pirates upon hearing this. She then strode toward the ocean without looking back.
"Hmm?" Arlong furrowed his brows. Heavy killing intent flashed in the depths of his eyes.
"I'll go teach her a lesson. She shouldn't think she can stand on equal footing with us just because she has some skills." Sensing his boss's anger, Kuroobi stepped forward directly. He casually tossed an order to the subordinates beside him. "You guys handle that human boy!"
"Any human who murders our brethren must die!" He prepared to turn and leave after saying this.
Regardless of what had happened to Nami, anyone daring to harm their fishman brethren would face an incredibly miserable fate.
Even someone as highly useful to the pirate crew as her would not escape punishment, though she might not be killed outright. The penalty would undoubtedly implicate all the villagers of Cocoyasi. This was the method of taming the fishmen had imposed on her for years.
But that was in the past.
The black-haired boy they had been completely ignoring took the initiative to step inside just as the pirates prepared to pursue her.
"You fishmen are truly going too far" Lius swept his gaze over the group and spoke with a hint of annoyance. "Nami is my navigator now. If she sheds a single tear, don't even dream of leaving here with your corpses intact."
This was originally meant to be a threat. Yet for some unknown reason, hearing it from the black-haired boy did not cause the slightest ripple of fear in the fishmen. It even made them want to laugh.
Arlong looked at Lius as if staring at an idiot. "What an arrogant brat" he scoffed.
"But he must have some skills if he could defeat Arno!" Hearing his words, Hatchan immediately volunteered. The six-armed fishman drew his six longswords and stepped forward to block the boy's path.
"You offended Big Bro Arlong, kid. How do you want to die?"
The octopus fishman suddenly felt a mountain-like pressure descend upon him the moment he closed within three meters of Lius. It was as though he was not facing a human boy, but a supreme emperor. The aura was as terrifying and heavy as a mountain.
His knees smashed into the ground with a loud thud. He found himself kneeling stiffly in front of Lius.
Hiss!
Gasps of cold air echoed throughout the area at the sight of this scene.