Chapter 16: Arlong Park

East Blue, Cocosia Village...

Once a beautiful village, Cocosia had become desolate and dilapidated under Arlong's rule. The territory governed by Arlong imposed a brutal tax: one hundred thousand beri per adult and fifty thousand per child. Those who couldn't pay faced the wrath of the Sea King's manatee, Moo.

Nami walked through the deserted streets, carrying a backpack and her weather stick. Villagers avoided her, retreating into their homes with pained expressions. They didn't want Nami to bear their fate and sought to distance themselves from her, which she interpreted as hatred for her association with Arlong.

As she walked, Nami dug at the tattoo on her left arm, her lips bitten red with frustration. Arriving home, she pushed open the door.

"Nami?!" Nojiko, a beautiful woman with dark skin and tattoos, looked up and rushed over. "Are you back? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

Nami shook her head firmly. "I want to buy the village back from Arlong!"

Nojiko looked shocked but said nothing.

At the Arlong Empire, Arlong sat surrounded by his subordinates—Kuroobi, the cartilaginous fishman, and Chu, the kissing fishman. Opposite them sat Marine Colonel Mouse.

"Is Nami back?" Arlong laughed upon hearing the report. "It seems she's almost gathered the 100 million beri."

"Then, I'll trouble you to take a trip, Colonel Mouse," Arlong said, his eyes gleaming fiercely.

"This kind of dirty money will, of course, be confiscated by the government," Colonel Mouse laughed greedily.

"Anyway! I've saved 100 million beri! Now I can buy the village back from Arlong," Nami declared, smiling happily.

"Nami..." Nojiko looked at her sister with distress. How much had Nami suffered to gather this money?

Suddenly, footsteps approached. Nami quickly buried the treasure chest of money and looked up to see Colonel Mouse approaching with a group of Marines.

"Where is the police station in this village?" Colonel Mouse demanded.

"I am," answered a man with suture scars.

"I received a report that this village is full of thieves with a lot of dirty money. Now, the government wants to confiscate this money," Colonel Mouse said, laughing.

"Hey! You know me, I'm with Arlong's group. If you cause trouble, Arlong won't let you go!" Nami protested.

"That's hard to say," Colonel Mouse replied greedily, signaling his men to search. "Be quick; there's a lot of money, at least 100 million beri!"

Nami, Nojiko, and Ajian were stunned. "How do you know the amount?! That's Nami's life-saving money for the village!" Ajian roared.

"Who knows, but it should be about 100 million," Colonel Mouse smiled.

Nami bit her lip. She understood now—Arlong had sent these men. He never intended to give the village back.

"The government is colluding with pirates, you scum!" Nojiko couldn't hold back her anger.

"Found it!" shouted a Marine, holding up the treasure chest, money stained with blood.

Colonel Mouse laughed greedily, his mind on the thirty percent Arlong promised him.

"Put that money down!" Nami roared, raising her weather stick. "Thunderstorm!" She summoned thunderclouds, and lightning struck several sailors, knocking them down.

"You! Do you want to fight the Marines? The entire village will be classified as a pirate base, and warships will come for a crusade!" Colonel Mouse yelled in fear.

Nami bit her lip and lowered her head. Finally, she allowed Colonel Mouse and his men to take her treasure. She then ran towards the Arlong Empire.

"Nami!" Nojiko shouted, watching her leave.

"I can't stand it anymore!" shouted Ajian. The villagers, hearing the commotion, emerged from their homes, armed with shovels, sticks, and other makeshift weapons.

"What do they think of Nami?! Let's fight! Even if we die, we won't be a burden to her anymore. She deserves a better life!" Ajian's roar was met with agreement from the villagers.

Nojiko covered her mouth, fighting back tears. Suddenly, several burnt fish-man corpses fell from the sky.

Everyone stared in disbelief. "It seems my stupid navigator is in some trouble," came a chuckle. They looked up to see a handsome young man wearing a sunhat squatting on the eaves, a beautiful girl with long golden hair beside him.

"Introduction, my name is Ace. I'm a pirate, and Nami is my navigator," Ace said, smiling at the people below.

Arlong Park...

"Boom!"

Nami burst in, grabbing Arlong's collar in a fury. Tears streamed down her face.

"Oh? Nami, you're back," Arlong said, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Why?! Why didn't you keep your promise? Why did you let the Marines steal the money I saved to buy the village?" Nami screamed, her voice breaking.

"Oh? You were robbed? That's really unlucky. But do you have any proof that I did it?" Arlong sneered, pushing Nami's hand away.

Nami stared at Arlong, her eyes burning with hatred.

"No evidence, right? Nami, I don't know anything about it. I told you, as long as you have 100 million beri, you can buy Cocosia Village back from me," Arlong said, laughing. His crew joined in the laughter, their harsh voices echoing around the room.

Nami squeezed her weather stick tightly. "Arlong!!!" she yelled, glaring at him.

"Huh? Nami, are you going to fight me? Don't worry, even if you attack, I won't kill you. But the people in Cocosia Village..." Arlong taunted, looking disdainfully at her weapon.

Nami bit her lip so hard it bled. "I understand. I'll find another 100 million beri," she said coldly. She wanted to fight, even if it meant her death, but she couldn't risk the lives of her village.

"That's right. As long as you bring 100 million beri, I'll sell Cocosia Village to you. I, Arlong, always keep my promises," Arlong said, laughing maniacally.

Nami turned and walked out, tears in her eyes. The only pirate's promise she believed in was Ace's. "Sorry, Ace. I messed up, and your money was taken. Now, I'm just a bad thief to you..." she thought, memories of her time with Ace flooding her mind.

"Okay! Then, under this little brother's leadership, we'll save Nami from hell!" a voice declared.

Nami, returning to the village in despair, looked up in disbelief. The villagers, excited and armed, were ready to fight. And there, among them, was Ace.

"Ace?! Everyone?!" Nami exclaimed, suddenly understanding. The villagers had known about her agreement with Arlong but had kept it from her to spare her from their expectations. Now, they were ready to fight.

"No, it's okay. Everyone, it's just 100 million beri. I've grown stronger. I can save another 100 million quickly," Nami said, forcing a smile. If they fought Arlong, they would all die.

"Nami, that's enough," Ajian said firmly.

Nami's eyes widened in shock. "You should know that, right? It's useless," Ajian continued, his expression heavy.

"No! I won't let you go. You'll die!" Nami cried, pointing her weather stick at the villagers.

"We know," Ajian said gently, pressing down the weather stick with a relieved smile. "Nami, stop talking. We've already decided."

"Nami, you've suffered enough. Now it's our turn to fight for you," Nokigao said firmly.

"Everyone! Even if we can't win, we must show those fishmen our determination! We will never forgive those bastards who played with Nami's kind heart!" Ajian shouted, rallying the villagers.

"Fight them!" the villagers roared, charging towards the Arlong Empire.

Nami stood frozen, trying to stop them, but each person she grabbed gently removed her hand and gave her an apologetic smile. "You've suffered enough," their smiles seemed to say.

"Why, why?!" Nami cried as the villagers left. She turned to Ace, tears streaming down her face. "Why are you here?! Why are you meddling? I'm just a very, very bad thief. I stole your money. I..."

"Snap!" Ace pressed his hat onto Nami's orange hair, silencing her.

Nami looked up at him, her pretty face blank with shock.

"It's been hard all these years, hasn't it? Not relying on anyone," Ace said, his smile warm as the sun.

Tears poured down Nami's cheeks. She knelt on the ground, crying loudly. "Nami..." Kaya said, tears in her eyes.

"Help me, Ace..." Nami pleaded, her face soft and vulnerable for the first time since Bell-mère's death.

"Anyone who makes you cry will die," Ace said, rubbing Nami's head, giving her a sense of peace.