Chapter 28: Tears of Despair, Reinforcements Arrive.

"Hahaha, you bunch of idiots!"

"Aren't you drinking water every day? How come you're down after drinking alcohol?"

Seeing Nami, who had knocked down several fishmen in a row and was a bit 'drunk', the officer named 'Chu' frowned.

"Arlong, do you want me to teach her a lesson?"

"No need,"

However, Arlong, lying on the chair, lazily waved his hand.

"I hope she can still laugh so happily later."

---

"Hey, Arlong!"

Even Nami, who had an amazing tolerance for alcohol, was a bit tipsy after knocking down several fishmen in a row.

She carried the wine bottle to the boss here: Arlong. Looking at this enemy she wished she could eat his flesh and drink his blood! But she had to hide her hatred deep in her heart.

"Arlong, do you keep your word?"

"Hahaha~~"

"Of course, my word is absolute truth!"

"I know what you want to say, Nami. One hundred million Berries, and I'll 'sell' Cocoyasi Village to you."

"Money is a good thing, money is the most reliable thing~~ I've never doubted it. If there's anything more reliable than money, it's my fellow fishmen!"

"Oooh!!!"

"Captain Arlong!"

"Long live Arlong—"

Amidst the fishmen's revelry, Nami turned and walked away, leaving her words behind.

"Don't forget your promise."

---

Ah~~~

Walking on the way home, Nami looked up at the sky.

It was just an ordinary sky, but today it felt especially clear: blue sky, white clouds, and—

"When I buy Cocoyasi Village, I'll come find you guys..."

"If you don't mind..."

"No, I still owe you money! Even if you mind, I'll go to sea with you to repay the debt with work~~"

"Without me, you'd definitely sail the ship into a whirlpool..."

In the girl's cheerful steps, the white clouds in the sky seemed to turn into a straw hat, then into Three Swords Style, then into a serious face...

However:

?

Marines!

"Hey, what are you all doing around my house?"

If there was anything Nami hated the most, it was definitely the fish-man Arlong. And if there was something that occupied the second place on her 'hatred list,' it would be the Marines!

If it weren't for these useless guys, how could her village have been ruled by Arlong's fish-man pirates for eight whole years?

"Squeak, squeak, I'm Colonel Nezumi of the 16th Marine Branch,"

The visitor truly lived up to his name, with a rat-like appearance, shifty eyes, and a sharp face!

"Are you the criminal named Nami?"

??

"What do you mean? Criminal—"

Facing a group of armed Marines, Nami sneered.

"Ah, that's right. I'm a pirate, and a member of the Arlong Pirates. I'm indeed a criminal,"

The girl crossed her arms, showing the Arlong Pirates tattoo on her shoulder to the Marines.

"Hey, Marine scum."

"If you touch me, Arlong won't let you off. —You understand that, right?"

How ironic, in this corner of the East Blue, it had come to the point where the Marines feared the pirates.

"Squeak, squeak, pirate... no, no, I didn't receive such information."

However, Colonel Nezumi on the opposite side just gave an evil smile.

"I'm here today because I received information that there's a 'thief' here."

???

"I heard you stole a lot of treasure from the pirates, and since you're a pirate, I won't make things difficult for you. But:"

"The stolen goods... should be handed over to our Marine government for safekeeping!"

"What did you say?"

For a moment, Nami was completely stunned.

"I said, the money you stole, it's all 'ours'!"

"Search!"

With Colonel Nezumi's order, the Marines immediately began ransacking the place, digging through everything! They were more violent than pirates, and even more—openly.

"...Thief?"

"When Arlong was killing people, you didn't care?"

"When Arlong enslaved more than twenty villages and towns around here, you didn't care?"

"And now, you come to deal with me, a thief? Do you know that money—"

"That money is what Nami used to buy our village from Arlong!"

Among the villagers watching, a scarred policeman stood up. His words made Nami pause.

"Mr. Genzo..."

"Nami, we all know. The whole village knows how much you've suffered outside to free us from Arlong's control... and now!"

The scarred policeman turned angrily to the so-called 'Marines.'

"Do you think you have the right to take this money!!"

However, even so:

"Squeak, squeak, what Arlong? What pirate, I don't understand what you're saying."

"Or are you saying that everyone in this village is a thief? Do you want to be executed by our righteous Marines on the spot?!"

"Colonel, we didn't find anything inside..."

"Then search the area! That's a hundred million Berries, not a grain of rice."

!!!??

100 million Berries—

In an instant, Nami understood everything.

"You were sent by Arlong?"

"Squeak, squeak, squeak... Don't slander us, what Arlong? I don't even know him... Hehehe~~"

However, the smug expression on the other party's face had already revealed everything.

"Damn it, you guys!"

"How dare you become the pirates' lackeys, you..."

"How dare you slander the Marines!"

Facing the enraged villagers, Captain Nezumi just snapped his fingers.

"Fire."

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!!

"You... how could you..."

Seeing the villagers around her injured and falling, Nami was completely stunned.

"Squeak, squeak, someone only asked me not to harm his 'surveyor,' but didn't say anything about the others."

The man named Captain Nezumi bent down and whispered in Nami's ear.

"You better be sensible, or I won't hesitate to slaughter this little village!"

——————

Arlong!

Do you really want me to hand over Cocoyasi Village to you—

Arlong!!

Fine, bring me 100 million Berries, and I'll let go of that village and give you your freedom.—

Arlong!!!

No matter how long it takes, no matter what means you use, 100 million Berries, I will definitely keep my promise—

Bang!

"Arlong!!!!"

The gates of Arlong Park were flung open by Nami, and she stared fiercely at the tall fish-man lying on the chair! The one who killed her foster mother, enslaved her village, and now wanted to take away her...

"Ha, isn't this our 'surveyor'—"

Smack!

An enraged Nami grabbed Arlong's collar and gritted her teeth as she questioned:

"Did you call those Marines?!"

"Didn't you say you would keep your promise? Didn't you say that as long as I gathered 100 million Berries—"

However:

Smack!

A giant hand grabbed Nami's throat and lifted her into the air.

"What Marines?"

"When did I break our agreement? Tell me—"

Lying on the chair, Arlong, with a mouth full of sharp teeth, lifted Nami high with one hand!

"Oh dear, could it be that your money was 'confiscated' by the Marines?"

"That is truly unfortunate,"

The fish-man named Arlong laughed hypocritically, his laughter particularly arrogant.

"But a promise is a promise. As long as you don't put 100 million Berries in front of me, I can't give you Cocoyasi Village..."

"Despicable, shameless!!"

"Hahahaha~~~ Say what you want. Or—"

"Are you finally ready to abandon those villagers and run away alone?"

···········

Snap,

With a slap, Nami knocked away Arlong's arm and ran out of Arlong Park. Behind her was the uproarious laughter of the fish-men!

"Arlong, your plan is really vicious."

"But if Nami really abandons the villagers and runs away..."

"Hahahaha~~"

"She won't. For the sake of that village, she will continue to save up another hundred million Berries! Then we'll harvest again..."

"Hahahahahaha~~~"

---

"Roman, there's a Marine warship over there!"

Facing the sneaky Usopp, Roman shook his head indifferently.

"Ignore them. I can feel that my bandage hasn't moved for a long time."

As the merchant ship slowly docked, Roman, Usopp, Yosaku, Johnny, and even Zoro got off the ship. —So Hawk Eyes definitely held back, otherwise, how could Zoro be up and moving so soon!

"This way—"

Following the sense of the paper bandage, Roman and the others arrived at:

"What happened here?"

The place was a mess, with pits and holes everywhere; many people had gunshot wounds. At the location where Roman sensed the 'bandage': a house with its door and windows shattered, as if swept by a storm.

"Who are you..."

A woman with light blue hair, clutching a wound on her waist, walked over. Seeing Roman and his group, her eyes flickered.

"We're looking for someone named Nami..."

"You're Roman, right?"

However, the blue-haired woman immediately identified Roman, not because he was particularly handsome, —mainly because the long-nosed Usopp and three-sword-style Zoro behind him were too recognizable.

"Ah... I am,"

"If you're here to collect money from Nami, you'll be disappointed."

The blue-haired woman pointed to the mess around them.

"The Marines just took all the money."

Marines... robbing money...

Those two words don't match, do they? But:

"Money isn't important, people are."

Roman waved his hand,

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

——————

Fake...

Everything is fake...

Returning to the village like a walking corpse, Nami collapsed at the entrance, kneeling on the ground!

"Arlong!"

She suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed it into her shoulder!

Pfft,

There was the tattoo representing her as a member of the Arlong Pirates, now it looked more like a 'slave' brand!

"Arlong!!"

Clang,

With a metallic sound, the dagger in the girl's hand was caught by a palm.

"Roman?"

Nami turned her head, seeing a familiar face.

"What are you doing here, if you want money..."

"Luffy said he only wants you to be our navigator, and told me to bring you back."

"...And you?"

Facing the girl with tears streaming down her cheeks, Roman answered without hesitation.

"I only kill."

"You guys..."

"Alright, don't say anything more."

"I've learned everything I need to know from your sister."

Sheets of healing paper bandages flew from Roman's palm, wrapping around Nami's shoulder.

"Whatever you have to say, wait until I've finished killing."

 ----

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