21: Betrayal
"ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
"Well done, Nami! You truly are an exceptional navigator. To raise this much money in such a short time…"
"..."
"However… there's been a slight issue with our ship. It needs two hundred million Berries for repairs."
"So, I've decided to amend our agreement. You're so good at collecting money; just gather another hundred million for us, and then we'll leave Cocoyasi Village."
"Ha ha ha, Arlong! You're really pushing Nami around here! But I'm sure our navigator would want to spend a bit more time with us, wouldn't she?"
Kuroobi chimed in mockingly, twisting the knife. None of the Arlong Pirates felt a shred of sympathy for Nami—instead, they ridiculed her for her foolishness.
If they had that much money, they'd have taken it and run.
Nami bit down on her lip so hard that it started to bleed, a deep gash appearing at the corner of her mouth. Her worst fear had come true.
Just as Tony had said—without absolute power, she had no grounds to negotiate on equal terms.
In a surge of fury, Nami drew Ryūjin Jakka and aimed it directly at the deceitful tyrant in front of her, ready to strike.
"ARLONG!"
Her roar reverberated throughout the base of the Arlong Pirates.
"Psssh!"
Arlong raised his arm to block her descending blade, but as soon as he made contact, a deep cut appeared on his arm, blood seeping from the wound. Shocked, he quickly jumped back, staring at the blade in Nami's hand with newfound admiration.
"Impressive, Nami. Only you would steal such a high-quality weapon. I like it a lot—it can even cut through the arms of a Fish-Man with ease."
With a swift counter, Arlong grabbed Nami, wresting Ryūjin Jakka from her grip.
"Give it back! That sword isn't mine; I have to return it to someone else, you beast!" Nami screamed, struggling desperately, but it was no use.
"ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."
"You're the navigator of the Arlong Pirates. Everything you own belongs to us."
"Don't forget your place, you filthy human! Now, get me another hundred million Berries."
"Or I'll gather everyone in Cocoyasi Village and kill them all, one by one, right before your eyes!"
"Just like that stubborn person in the orange grove! Ha ha ha… that was your mother, wasn't it, Nami?"
...
"Damn it! You beast!" Nami slapped Arlong's hand away, tears welling up as she ran out of the Arlong Pirates' base, knowing full well that she was no match for him.
"Hey, Arlong, are you sure about letting her go like that?" Chew, one of the officers, voiced his concern from the side.
"Sha-ha-ha-ha, don't worry! For anyone else, I wouldn't be so sure, but Nami? She would never abandon the people of Cocoyasi Village."
"See? Here's the proof! Imagine, there's actually someone this foolish who'd bring us a hundred million Berries and then come right back."
Arlong turned his gaze to Ryūjin Jakka with a twisted smirk.
"And this sword… it's sharper than anything I've seen. It could even cut through Fish-Man flesh!"
"We Fish-Men are ten times stronger than ordinary humans, and our bodies are tougher too—ordinary weapons can't even scratch us."
"Nami has been nothing but an asset to us! Let her go work hard for us once more!"
The Arlong Pirates roared with laughter, oblivious to the danger about to unfold.
Nami ran as fast as she could, fighting the urge to flee—to escape from Cocoyasi Village entirely, leaving behind all this pain and suffering.
But as she thought of the villagers, she couldn't bring herself to leave…
One hundred million Berries—all of it taken, yet she still couldn't save them. She had run out of options.
Tripping over herself, Nami fell to the ground. Blood dripped from her knees, arms, and ankles, but she barely felt the pain. The wounds on her heart were far worse.
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest, her voice trembling in despair.
"Someone… someone save me… save Cocoyasi Village, drive that monster Arlong out!"
Ever since she was a little girl, Nami had dreamed that someone would come and save her, to save all of Cocoyasi Village. But harsh reality taught her otherwise… until she struck her bargain with Arlong years ago. Gathering one hundred million Berries had given her a goal and a purpose.
Year after year, she had finally collected it—her only hope of freeing the village. She handed over the money, and Arlong betrayed her trust, demanding another hundred million.
This had shattered her illusions completely. Now she knew that no matter how much she gave, Arlong would never leave Cocoyasi Village.
Without strength, she had no power to negotiate. Arlong could go back on his word without fear because there was nothing she could do about it.
Step, step, step…
Footsteps approached her from a short distance away.
"Why are you sitting here crying, little thief? The 'Little Burglar' has turned into a tear-streaked kitten?" a voice drawled. "Where's my sword? You promised to return it once you'd accomplished your goal."
"What's the matter? Planning to keep my sword for yourself now?"
Hearing Tony's voice, Nami's mind raced. Just moments ago, Ryūjin Jakka had managed to wound Arlong with ease, proving it was no ordinary blade. Which meant… perhaps its owner…
Nami turned around to look at Tony. A crazy thought crossed her mind—could this man have the power to defeat Arlong and his crew?
She wiped away her tears and steadied herself.
"...I'm sorry. The hundred million Berries and your sword… Arlong took them. You were right… Arlong never intended to leave Cocoyasi Village from the start."
"He took my money and still won't let us go… he's even telling me to gather another hundred million for him."
Tony listened calmly, showing no surprise at her story. He had known from the start that Arlong, who had harbored hatred for humans since he was young, would never willingly leave the village.
He studied Nami for a moment.
She was brilliant and sharp, with a natural ability to sense weather changes and an unmatched talent for charting maps—qualities that made her an exceptional navigator. For any pirate crew, a navigator like Nami was invaluable. It was no wonder Arlong would never let her go.
Seeing Tony's impassive reaction, Nami took a chance, her voice filled with a desperate hope.
"...Are you… a bounty hunter? And… do you think you could defeat the Arlong Pirates?"
Her fists clenched tightly, her palms beginning to sweat. She knew she was grasping at straws, maybe even going a little mad.
If Arlong discovered that she was seeking help to oppose him, Nami couldn't imagine what horrors the villagers of Cocoyasi would endure.
Tony observed Nami with a hidden sense of admiration.
"This girl is smart—she won't overlook any chance to save Cocoyasi Village," he thought.
"Well, let's test your determination," he said, waving a dismissive hand at her with an indifferent expression.
"What are you thinking? You've lost my sword, and I haven't even dealt with you over that yet! Even if I do have the power to defeat Arlong, what can you offer me to make it worth my while?"
"Money! I still have money! After all these years, I've saved at least 60 million Berries!" Nami responded excitedly, her hopes rising. She could tell this man had some skill, and if the price was right, he might actually agree to help her.
Tony just shook his head with a mocking smile, looking very much like a smug uncle.
"Do you think someone who'd casually hand you a hundred million Berries would be swayed by a mere 60 million? Sorry, your money isn't enough to convince me."
Nami's excitement deflated in an instant. Of course—someone who could so easily offer up a fortune wouldn't risk facing the dangerous Arlong Pirates for a smaller sum.
But what else did she have, aside from money? She glanced at Tony, who looked as annoyingly smug as ever…
"...You don't mean… my body, do you?" she asked, her voice wary and slightly trembling.
Tony raised an amused eyebrow, his lips curling into a slight smile.
Nami instantly recoiled in alarm, yelling, "You pervert! I'm underage!" as she clutched her arms around her chest, eyeing him with a mix of fear and disgust.
Tony looked completely taken aback. Clearly, this girl's mind had gone in the wrong direction. He hurried to clarify.
"Idiot! What are you thinking? When I say 'your body,' I'm talking about your brains, your talent. Your ability to sense weather and read the sea."
"You're young, but you sure do have some wild ideas!"
Her words had given Tony a new perspective. Though she was still young and somewhat unrefined, he had to admit that in the future, she might turn out to be quite a striking woman. Something to keep in mind, perhaps.
Nami's small hands fidgeted nervously, tugging at the hem of her shirt as she tried to mask her embarrassment.
"Ha-ha-ha, right… Of course, a rich guy like you wouldn't care about a little thief like me…" she mumbled, forcing a laugh, though a strange hint of disappointment lingered in her voice.
But Tony's response had rekindled her hope. This could be her best chance to save Cocoyasi Village. She couldn't afford to let it slip away. After years of seeing her hard work trampled by Arlong's cruelty, she clung to this final thread of hope.
With a deep bow at a perfect 90 degrees, she looked up with sincere determination.
"Mr. Tony, please save Cocoyasi Village. If my skills are enough, I'd gladly chart precise maps for you and guide you flawlessly across the seas."
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T/N:
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