Chapter 30

After fighting Arlong, the villagers are still struggling with the fact that Arlong was defeated and they are now free. This didn't feel real, because ever since Arlong had come to this island, they had all thought they would be stuck under his control for the rest of their lives.

Then Luffy and his crew came and gave them their freedom. As Luffy walked past the villagers and headed back to the village, he heard a strange chuckle coming from behind him.

"Chichichichi!" Luffy heard this, causing him to turn around to see whose voice it was. When he turned around, he saw the marine he had met earlier with Genzo. Luffy narrowed his eyes and stopped walking towards the village and started walking towards the marine captain.

"Okay, stop right there," said the marine captain to everyone, while all of his subordinates aimed their guns at the villagers. "Today I was very lucky; I saw the whole fight that happened, and I have to tell you that your work was very good, and I can report your victory here as a freak accident. I never thought the Fishmen would lose to a small-time pirate like you. "And your crew," he said with a smug smile, not noticing Luffy slowly walking towards the Marines.

"However, now that Arlong is gone, I will take all the money I should have given him and all the treasure in Arlong Park," he said loudly with a sly smile on his face, which caused the villagers to be surprised and look at the marine captain with anger.

"Now drop your weapons!" "Captain Nezumi, captain of marine branch 16, will take over this victory!" shouted marine captain Nezumi. Just as he said that, Luffy made it to the front of the front row and quickly slammed his fist over the marine captain's head, which sent him crashing to the ground.

When they saw their captain being hit, all the marines pointed their guns at Luffy and some of the villagers. Thinking quickly, Luffy sent a wave of Conqueror Haki towards the marines, causing them all to collapse with foam at the mouth.

"Sorry, but the money is for this village," Luffy said before he turned to Nami and asked her a question. "Is there a marine base nearby?" he asked. Nami thought for a moment before answering.

"There, being northeast of here, that's Marine Branch 16 Base," he said as he pointed to the east. Luffy nodded before turning towards Sanji.

"Sanji," said Luffy, getting Sanji's attention. "I want you, Johnny, and Yosaku to go search the Marine ship over there," said Luffy, pointing to the ship behind them.

"Whatever you find on the ship, give it to this village, and then bring the marine back here for me... and for the marines who are still on the ship, you can do anything to them," Luffy said, causing the three of them to nod their heads.

Luffy then summons a thundercloud for them to climb up. When Sanji, Johnny, and Yosaku jumped into the cloud, they immediately flew towards the ship. Luffy then turned towards Usopp and Nami before he gave another order. "Nami, Usopp," said Luffy, getting their attention.

"You two search all of Arlong Park's treasure... Luffy said before turning towards the pile of ashes that used to be Arlong Park, and then he spoke again, this time with a nervous laugh.

"Or forget it," Luffy said, causing everyone to sweat. He then turned toward Zoro and spoke. "Zoro, can you fight?" asked Luffy. When he asked this question, Zoro looked like he had just been insulted.

"What kind of stupid question is that?" "Of course I can fight," he said, causing Luffy to laugh. Luffy then turns around and sees the Marine ship starting to sail towards the island, letting everyone know that Sanji and the others made it.

When the ship had anchored, Johnny and Yosaku were the first to leave. They were carrying a large black box where money could be seen sticking out from the sidelines, and from the way they were walking, Luffy figured it was quite heavy.

Immediately behind the two were five marines, each battered with tears streaming down their faces and carrying large sacks on their backs.

Behind the marine, Sanji walked out with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth. Luffy chuckled and shook his head when he saw Sanji.

The group arrived in front of Luffy and the villagers and then dropped everything in front of them. Now Nezumi woke up from his deep sleep and stared at everything in front of him with wide eyes.

He wanted to scream at everyone but stopped immediately when he saw Luffy staring at him with cold, emotionless eyes. Luffy then looked back at Sanji's group and spoke.

"I didn't expect your search... to be so profitable," said Luffy in a surprised tone.

"We didn't expect it either, but these bastards have a lot of treasure and money on their ship." "The black box is filled with a lot of money and gems, while the sacks are just filled with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones," said Sanji before he smoked his cigarette. Luffy nodded before turning toward Genzo and speaking.

"That's for your village," said Luffy, pointing at the black box and some sacks, causing everyone's eyes to widen.

"B-but that's way more than we needed," Genzo said, earning nods from many of the villagers. "At least get some for yourselves," Genzo said to Luffy. Luffy just smiled before turning towards Nezumi.

"Oh, don't worry about us; we'll get our pay soon," Luffy said before he bent down and grabbed Nezumi by the collar and started dragging him towards the marines. "ZORO, SANJI, come with me!" Luffy shouted, causing them both to grin before following their captain.

The three of them, along with the screaming Nezumi, boarded the ship and started sailing towards the marine base.

"Where are we going, captain?" Zoro asked, causing Luffy to smirk before he answered.

"Oh, we're going to rob the marine base," Luffy said, causing Nezumi's eyes to widen, as well as Zoro's and Sanji's. Luffy then turned toward Nezumi and spoke.

"And if you behave yourself, I will let you live," he said, looking at Nezumi with the cold eyes of an assassin. Nezumi almost wet his pants when Luffy talked to him. He quickly nodded his head after Luffy said that.

"Fine, fine, whatever you want," said Nezumi in a scared voice. Luffy smiled, then helped Nezumi up and dusted off his body before he spoke again.

"Good, now you will take us to the base as guests and then immediately take me to the treasure vault at your base," Luffy said in a calm tone as he placed his hand on Nezumi's shoulder.

He then turned towards Zoro and Sanji and gave them an order. "While I'm emptying the treasure vault, you two go find gunpowder and ammo for the ship," Luffy said, causing them both to nod their heads.