Chapter 18

Nami's tumultuous display didn't escape notice. Whether villagers or crew members, all were drawn by the resounding thunder and the haunting cries echoing from Arlong Park.

Soon, Zoro and Luffy stood beside Seph, their brows furrowed with concern as they gazed towards the source of the commotion.

Luffy nervously swallowed, his voice trembling, "Nami looked so scary..."

Zoro nodded in agreement, a hint of unease in his voice, "That woman is truly fearsome... Does she harbor some deep-seated grudge against those fishmen?"

Sanji, joining the group, interjected passionately, "Green algae!! Who are you calling scary? Nami-chan is obviously stunning and courageous!!"

Usopp, trembling with fear, stood nearby, his body quivering with trepidation. "Is that really Nami? She's terrifying!!"

The sight of Nami, amidst an apocalyptic backdrop, ruthlessly confronting Arlong, coupled with the scorched corpses and scattered body parts strewn about, painted a chilling tableau of horror.

Even Seph found himself dumbfounded by the spectacle before him. However, given the harrowing history between Nami and Arlong, it was all too understandable.

In the original story, Luffy defeated Arlong, and everything seemed resolved, but that felt too simplistic. Arlong had taken Nami's mother from her. Forgiveness couldn't come easily, especially not for him and Hachi. It was a reality that couldn't be ignored,

Arlong's body bore the scars of scorching wounds, his blood splattered and tainted with the pungent aroma of fish permeating the air.

He stared at Nami in disbelief, unable to comprehend her audacity. How could she? How dare she? If it were anyone else, he might have already surrendered, but this was Nami.

In Arlong's eyes, Nami was nothing more than a slave, a lowly human.

Similarly, Colonel Mouse sat trembling, his body racked with fear, his eyes wide with terror. Nami's visage invoked memories of the legendary Big Mom, a figure feared by all.

With a cold countenance, Nami stepped forward and mercilessly crushed Arlong's nose beneath her foot.

"For eight years... I lived in pain and fear. You killed my mother, you stole my freedom, you harmed my loved ones! Arlong, you deserve to die!!!" Her voice rang out, cold yet teeming with emotion.

The villagers, including Nami's sister Nojiko and the local policeman, froze in shock as they beheld the scene unfolding before them. Nojiko's eyes brimmed with tears as she choked out Nami's name.

"Nami..."

Arlong, battered and almost broken, bared his ugly shark teeth in a cruel laugh. "Zhihahaha!! Nami, you are nothing but a lowly human!!"

In response, Nami delivered a ruthless kick, shattering his mouth and rendering his teeth irreparable.

Colonel Mouse quivered in fear, his very being consumed by terror as he involuntarily relieved himself in his fear-stricken state.

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp stood solemnly, their expressions reflecting the weight of Nami's tragic past. They hadn't realized the depths of her suffering until now.

Seph sighed deeply, understanding that Nami's continued banter with Arlong stemmed from her disbelief that this was an unreal dream.

Suddenly, Seph's figure appeared beside Nami. He enveloped her in his embrace from behind, and Nami, drained of resistance, leaned into his chest, tears streaming down her face.

"Seph... I still can't do it myself!!! I'm really pathetic..." Nami's voice trembled with anguish.

Seph gently patted her head. "You don't have to do it... I'll do it for you..."

Nami looked up at Seph with teary eyes, her sorrow palpable.

Seph's gaze shifted to Arlong, who writhed in pain, nearing death. A sense of speechlessness washed over him.

"Nami, putting an end to him is a relief..." His eyes flashed red as his heat vision activated. With temperatures soaring tens of thousands of degrees, an intense surge of energy emanated from Seph. In an instant, Arlong was obliterated, erased from existence.

The creature known as Arlong ceased to exist in this world.

Colonel Mouse nearly fainted from fear, while the villagers and crew members looked at Seph in shock.

Zoro swallowed hard. "What a terrifying heat. That guy didn't even leave ashes behind..."

Luffy's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Sugoi!!"

Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette, his expression reflecting the awe-inspiring power of their crew. Despite his enhanced constitution from the serum, facing Seph's heat vision was a daunting prospect, even with his formidable exoskeleton that surpassed those of Big Mom and Kaido.

Ussop clenched his fists, feeling a twinge of imbalance as Nami's sudden outburst left him feeling like the only coward on board.

Gradually, the villagers mustered the courage to approach Nami. Despite Seph's intimidating presence, they recognized that he stood alongside Nami.

Nojiko ran towards Nami, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Nami, initially taken aback by the double hug, sighed in relief as she returned the embrace.

"Welcome back, Nami," Nojiko whispered.

Hearing Nojiko's words and seeing the joyous faces of the villagers, Nami felt a warmth spread from the depths of her heart.

"Yes... I'm back!!" she declared, her voice ringing with determination and newfound hope.

With Nami's return and the support of her sister and villagers, a new chapter began in Cocoyasi village.

"Nami, I have something to attend to. You can spend time in your village, reminiscing with your fellow villagers. Oh, and those mischievous guys stole Arlong's wealth before; here it is."

Seph tossed a substantial amount of jewelry and beli onto the ground before the astonished villagers and Nami.

Nami leaped with joy, planting a deep kiss on Seph's cheek, dangerously close to his lips. It seemed she was gradually accepting the idea of living her own life rather than solely for the villagers.

Seph, fondly patting her head, watched as the villagers eagerly began retrieving the wealth under Nami's direction.

Seizing Colonel Mouse by his collar, Seph escorted him to the ship and tossed him onto the deck of the Merry.

"Detain this fellow. I have something for him later..."

The crew members exchanged surprised glances.

Luffy, inquisitive as ever, piped up, "Seph, why bring this mouse-looking guy?"

Seph met their curiosity with a cryptic answer, inciting eager anticipation from Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji, while Usopp wore a fearful expression, sensing trouble on the horizon.

...

In Marineford, within the central building on the island, specifically in the Marshal's office, Sengoku's face was etched with frustration. Black lines marred his visage, his eyes bloodshot, and his movements sluggish.

Puru Puru...

Once again, the den den mushi rang, delivering the same troubling news, this time from another kingdom in the South Blue. The previous calls had originated from the West Blue and North Blue.

Sengoku clenched his teeth in irritation. "What in the world is going on?! What is the deal with these shadow thieves?! Where did they come from? East Blue was already a headache, and now all four seas are under attack! And the most alarming part is that we seem powerless to intervene!"

Tsuru, seated nearby, wore an expression of deep contemplation. "What a cunning strategy. It seems that by merely stealing money and emptying the kingdoms' coffers around the world, these thieves have managed to disrupt the delicate balance of power. If left unchecked, the World Government may soon find itself with only Mariejoie as its sphere of influence."

"These thieves are more terrifying than locusts," she continued. "They possess the strength of Vice Admirals, they are seemingly undead, and they can traverse through shadows. It's simply impossible to stop them. Are you certain that the recluse Gecko Moria isn't involved?"

Sengoku took a deep breath, attempting to steady his emotions.

"He is not involved. Gecko Moria has already been thoroughly investigated by World Government agents. But there's one thing you said that's incorrect, Tsuru..."

Tsuru looked at him with surprise, waiting for his clarification.

Sengoku's fists clenched in anguish. "The world has already gone mad!!!"

Tsuru's eyes widened as understanding dawned upon her. In that moment, her complexion paled with fear.

She had been naive, believing that there was still time to rectify the situation, that once the thieves were apprehended, everything would return to normal. But she had failed to realize the gravity of the situation—that with the theft of money and resources, there would be no heavenly gold tribute for the Celestial Dragons.

The inhabitants of affected kingdoms would be driven to the seas, forced to become pirates. Over time, even these kingdoms would turn against the World Government, resentful of the constant demands for money and the seemingly ineffectual Marines.

"What a vicious scheme," Tsuru muttered, taking a deep breath in shock.

"Could it be the work of that cub of Garp's?" she suddenly asked.

Sengoku sighed heavily. "We don't know... Although Sakazuki was fortunate enough to encounter one of these shadow thieves, he could only gather limited information. Even an Admiral can't seem to suppress them, and there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of them. They appear more like artificial creatures than humans."

As he spoke, his face betrayed a palpable fear of the unknown.

The shadow thieves, possessing a mere fraction of Seph's power, could rival solid Vice Admirals. Seph feared they would bring about the world's destruction, yet who would have imagined that with such limited power, coupled with their undead nature and their unparalleled ability to vanish into the shadows, they could wreak such havoc.

Tsuru's expression turned somber.

"The seas are on the brink of another upheaval. This time, it may be even more violent than the era of the Great Pirates - Money. It's astonishing how something as seemingly innocuous as money can become so lethal when used in this manner."

Sengoku took another deep breath, the weight of the situation almost suffocating.

"The truly frightening aspect isn't the thieves themselves; it's the mastermind orchestrating their actions from the shadows. With such a strategic approach, dealing with them won't be easy. If this is the work of a Devil Fruit, then the mastermind's power is undoubtedly on par with that of an Emperor. Only then could his creations possess such formidable strength. A man of such cunning and foresight is just getting started, and we are already struggling to keep up."

Tsuru interjected anxiously, "Why doesn't the World Government simply cancel the current currency and introduce new currency?"

"It's not that simple, and it could even be dangerous," Sengoku replied with a heavy tone. "I've consulted with the Five Elders, and they, too, feel helpless. The thieves aren't just stealing money; they're taking resources, jewelry, and even food. If we cancel the currency, the unrest will only escalate. From the beginning, the mastermind's goal was never just about money."

If Seph were present, he would undoubtedly be left speechless. "Old man, what are you thinking?" he might say. "I'm really not planning anything. It's just that my servants are naughty."

However, the truth of the matter regarding the turmoil in the four seas was indeed his intention. He utilized this method to scatter the power of the Marines, allowing his crew to grow stronger and embark on leisurely adventures without hindrance.

If Sengoku were to learn of his true intentions, he would undoubtedly be left in disbelief.

In Seph's eyes, the world is inconceivably small. Employing his intellect for strategy would be akin to providing nuclear bombs to policemen to apprehend unarmed civilians. With his superlative intellect, he could render the World Government obsolete through sheer ingenuity and cunning tricks.

...

"How does this pose look? Does it exude charm?" Seph stood in his Fallen Angel form, his twelve black wings fluttering while a black-red ring floated behind him, creating a divine aura. He held Masamune on his shoulders, his warm smile accentuating his chiseled features, with his coat draped open to reveal his sculpted abdominal and pectoral muscles.

Sanji looked on with envy. "So damn handsome!"

Click. The photo was captured by Colonel Mouse, a true work of art.

After the crew admired the photo, they couldn't help but praise it. "What a beautiful piece of art!" Seph commended Mouse, who beamed with flattery.

Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji also posed in front of the den den mushi camera, each capturing a satisfying picture. Even Usopp felt encouraged by their enthusiasm.

Seph addressed Colonel Mouse, asserting the bounties: "Remember, I'm the Fallen Angel - Sephiroth. My bounty should be 40 million. However, such a bounty is no longer eye-catching as before. This guy here is Captain Straw Hat Luffy - 50 million. The captain should have the higher bounty. This is the Shura swordsman Zoro - 30 million. And this guy, the cook and fighter, 20 million is enough..."

Sanji interjected, "Why am I lower than this green algae?!"

Zoro sneered, fueling Sanji's frustration, but Seph ignored the outburst. "Sniper King Usopp, 20 million. As for Nami, she seems disinterested, so she wasn't invited to this session."

Luffy excitedly reminded Colonel Mouse to expedite the wanted orders and paperwork. Seph emphasized, "Don't forget, we defeated Morgan from Shell Town, Buggy the Clown, and even had a skirmish with the greatest swordsman, not to mention defeating the Arlong Pirates. Make sure to emphasize our strength. If the reward isn't up to par, I will definitely hold you accountable..."

Colonel Mouse displayed a determined expression. "Don't worry, Seph-sama! There will be no mistakes..."

Seph nodded, turning to the excited crew members. "Let's go. Nami already prepared a feast for us!"

"Yaaay!" Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji cheered happily, while Zoro smirked in anticipation.