As soon as that person finished speaking...
For a moment, the entire Nami's courtyard fell silent.
At the same time, everyone was inwardly speechless: "Just how clueless can this guy be? Seriously, does he have no sense of atmosphere at all?"
Then, Nami looked in the direction of the voice. The person speaking had dripping wet hair, looking absolutely bedraggled—like a fisherman who capsized after hitting a reef, but with surprisingly delicate features and a tall, straight posture. His clothes were clearly not ordinary, and his bearing was more like that of a city dweller or a minor noble than a simple fisherman.
"I…"
Two dried tear tracks still clung to Nami's exquisite cheeks. It seemed this sudden arrival had completely disrupted her thoughts.
It wasn't just Nami—her confusion rippled out to the marines present, as well as to Colonel Nezumi, who was already on the verge of suffocation under Genzo's weight.
"Idiot, help me!"
In the heavy silence, Nezumi let out a weak cry for help.
"Quick, save the colonel!"
This time, the soldiers stopped hesitating—they immediately pulled Genzo and Nezumi apart.
"Huff... Huff..."
After being hauled to his feet by the marines, Nezumi gulped down great lungfuls of air, his slitted eyes flashing dangerously. He shot Genzo a vicious glare, then turned to Nami and Nojiko, sneering coldly: "Heh, hahaha! I get it now—you three are all members of the Fishman Pirates! Evil pirates, every one of you!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"I'm being framed!"
Nami glared at Colonel Nezumi and snapped back.
"Who can prove you're being framed?!"
"I have plenty of evidence right here—enough to prove you and Arlong are partners."
Colonel Nezumi sneered.
"The oranges are pretty good."
Just then, the wet-haired but still-handsome young man strolled into Nami's yard like he owned the place, plucked an orange from the tree Nami cared for so much, and took a big bite.
"You have to pay for those."
Nami snapped back to herself and spoke reflexively.
"I have money."
The young man nodded gently, then added, "I'll have it very soon."
"Wait, who are you supposed to be?"
With the young man repeatedly interrupting Colonel Nezumi, the colonel could no longer stand it. He strode up to the youth, bellowing, "The thing I hate most in life is being interrupted when I'm speaking!"
"And who are you, anyway? Another member of the Fishman Pirates? Judging by your getup, maybe a fallen noble? I'm warning you—don't play hero and rescue the damsel. You'll only bring trouble on yourself."
"Actually, I came here to find you."
The young man didn't miss a beat. He put the half-eaten orange on the small table in the courtyard, looked at Nezumi, and said quietly, "You're the colonel of Branch 16, right?"
"That's me. What do you want?"
Nezumi paused, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
"By Navy rules, after capturing a pirate, I'm supposed to redeem the bounty at the nearest branch, right?"
The youth continued calmly.
"Yeah, so? Did you catch a pirate?"
"But first, just so we're clear—it has to be a pirate wanted by the World Government..."
Nezumi sized up the youth again, his eyes brimming with disdain. This delicate-looking noble kid, catch a wanted pirate? What a joke.
"That's easy enough."
Satisfied with the answer, the youth let out a chuckle and then snapped his fingers toward the sky.
Whump!
A ripple of spatial energy, imperceptible to the others, swept through the courtyard...
And in an instant, the entire Fishman Pirate Crew—Arlong included—appeared right before everyone's eyes.
"Aaaah—!"
At that moment, whether it was the marines or Nami herself, everyone was stunned speechless.
"You're a Devil Fruit user?!"
"And you're the rookie who took down Arlong?"
"Wait, I mean, the hero who took down Arlong?"
Nezumi knew how to read the room. Realizing this youth was a Devil Fruit user—and the mysterious powerhouse who had defeated Arlong—he instantly chickened out.
After all, he couldn't even beat Arlong, let alone the guy who wiped the floor with him.
"Arlong was really defeated?"
Nami, for her part, was simply stunned—especially at the fact that it was this dashing young man who'd actually defeated Arlong.
At this moment, it was like a light shone in Nami's heart.
Sure, the "hero saves the damsel" trope is a cliché. But when it works, it works.
And, of course, the hero has to look the part.
"Pay up."
This young man—who'd spent almost half a day looking for the nearest Navy branch, only to find it deserted—had chased Nezumi all the way to Cocoyasi Village. Now he thrust out his hand to Nezumi, demanding firmly, "Hand over the money."
"What are you waiting for?!"
"Hurry up and give this hero his bounty!"
"Go fetch the money from my ship!"
Nezumi didn't hesitate for a second. He bowed his head meekly and ordered his subordinates.
(Fun fact: Nezumi always traveled with all his personal wealth. That's why, when Eden showed up at the Navy base, he found it empty-handed.)
"These people are my friends."
Next, Eden glanced at the marines surrounding Genzo and spoke in a deep voice.
"Well? Let them go."
Nezumi heard this and immediately ordered his men to release Genzo.
Then, with a sycophantic smile, Nezumi asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"
Smack!
Before he could go on, Nami—silent till now—strode over and punched Nezumi squarely in the face.
"You—!"
A dark look flashed in Nezumi's eyes, but he knew when to fold. Glancing at Eden, he instantly forced a smile: "...Nice punch!"
"The money's here..."
Not long after, a group of marines ran over with crates of Berries in hand, all for Eden.
"Scram."
Eden counted his reward, then waved Nezumi and his men away. He added a warning: "If Cocoyasi Village gets so much as a scratch, I'll come looking for you, Nezumi."
"Don't worry, don't worry... I get it. Loud and clear."
Nezumi grovelled, but as he turned away, his smile vanished and was replaced with boundless hatred. Internally, he raged: "Just wait! Kid, I'll make sure you get the biggest bounty ever!"
But in truth, Eden knew exactly what he was doing—he was using Nezumi's pettiness to his advantage. With Nezumi's help, he'd become famous in no time. That way, the comrades he'd lost in this world would quickly hear of him.
"Your name's Nami, right?"
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Eden, a magus—though I'll probably be a pirate soon..."
"Thing is, I happen to need a skilled navigator. I heard you're the best in the East Blue. Would you join my crew?"
"I'm expensive."
"But you can afford it now."
Nami looked at the heavy chest of loot in Eden's hand and smiled like the "Cat Burglar" she was.
"Well, then I guess I'll have to work really hard to make money."
Eden sighed dramatically.
But inside, he was over the moon.
In truth, Nami only agreed because he'd beaten Arlong and driven off Nezumi—he was the benefactor of her and all Cocoyasi Village.
But little did she know just what a pitfall awaited her ahead! Eden looked reliable now, but he was trouble incarnate.
She'd soon regret this impulsive decision. Once you enter the Fairy Tail crew, there's no turning back~