East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.
Inside the central tower of Arlong Park.
A squeaky laugh echoed through the room.
A man in a Marine captain's uniform, shifty-eyed with a greasy little mustache, rubbed his hands together in glee.
This was Captain Nezumi of the Sixteenth Branch of the Marines.
Across from him sat a towering figure of muscle and menace — a sawshark fish-man. His bare chest was branded with the mark of the sun, and his long, jagged nose made him instantly recognizable.
Arlong.
"Kyahaha!" Arlong stretched out his broad, webbed hand and shoved a thick stack of Beli across the table. "Rat, this month's management fee. Count it yourself."
"Captain Arlong, you're always so generous!"
Nezumi's beady eyes lit up. He wet his fingers and began counting quickly, not missing a single note. After double-checking, his wrinkled face split into a grin as wide as a chrysanthemum, and he passed the money to his aide for safekeeping.
"When it comes to friends, I've always been generous! Kyahaha!"
Arlong bared his sharp teeth in a cruel smile. Lifting his cup, he swirled the liquid inside lazily before asking, almost casually, "But tell me, Rat. I've been hearing about someone in your Sixteenth Branch lately. A certain man cleaning up the East Blue. They say he's taken down a number of pirate crews, even some with bounties over ten million."
Arlong's tone was playful, but his eyes glinted with calculation. "Seems like you've got quite the capable subordinate, haven't you?"
"You mean Hawk?"
At the mention of the name, Nezumi's face twisted into smug pride. In his shrill voice he declared, "That boy owes everything to me! When he was just a seaman recruit, it was I, the great Captain Nezumi, who saw his potential. I'm the one who promoted him step by step!"
"The pirates he's killed? Without me to 'smooth things over' with Headquarters, he'd never have climbed his way to lieutenant colonel!"
Nezumi puffed out his chest, striking the pose of a man who believed himself the true architect of Hawk's success.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Arlong's smile didn't change, but his words turned sharper. "Then tell me, Rat. Where did the bounty money for those pirates go?"
"Bounty…? Hehehe…"
Nezumi rubbed his hands together again, his laugh dripping with greed. The answer was obvious — straight into his own pockets.
Arlong's smile faded. His voice dropped low. "Keep a tight leash on your dog. Don't let him bark where he shouldn't… or bite someone he shouldn't."
"Understood, Captain Arlong!"
Nezumi nearly jumped out of his chair, thumping his chest in assurance. "Don't worry! The entire Sixteenth Branch is under my control. Hawk is loyal to me, through and through. If I tell him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west!"
Arlong's deep chuckle rumbled as he raised his cup again. To him, Nezumi was nothing more than a greedy, obedient mutt — useful for keeping the Navy blind. Thanks to that mutt's cover, Arlong had been free to terrorize Cocoyasi Village for years, unchecked by Marine Headquarters.
As for that so-called "Blood Hawk"? If he ever got in the way, Arlong wouldn't mind personally tearing him apart. He'd show that man the impossible gulf between humans and fish-men.
"Kyahaha!"
Arlong drained his cup. "To our happy cooperation. Cheers."
"Cheers, cheers!" Nezumi hurried to clink his glass, plastering on a sycophantic smile. Inwardly, though, he was already scheming about how to bring Hawk back in line. The boy needed a good reminder of who was really in charge, before he caused any trouble.
Just as their glasses touched again, the entire tower shook.
BOOM!
The heavy wooden doors of Arlong Park exploded inward, splinters flying across the hall. The two fish-man guards stationed outside were hurled inside like rag dolls, smashing against the walls and crumpling to the ground, lifeless.
In the next instant, a squad of fully armed Marines stormed in, spreading out with military precision until the hall was completely surrounded.
"What?!"
"The Navy?! How did they get inside?!"
The officers of the Arlong Pirates scrambled for their weapons, panic flashing across their faces.
"What about the sentries outside?!"
Hatchan cried out in disbelief. "And Moo Moo?!"
That was impossible. The park was always patrolled by fish-man warriors, and the waterways were guarded by Moo Moo, the massive sea beast brought from the Grand Line.
How could the Marines have breached everything without a sound?
Arlong turned his glare toward Nezumi, murder gleaming in his eyes.
"Rat! You betrayed me?!"
The timing, the precision, the utter silence of the attack — it reeked of a setup. Only Marine elites could have done this. And it just so happened to occur during their secret exchange?
Nezumi's face went ashen. He flailed his hands in panic, his mustache trembling as he squealed, "No! No, it wasn't me! I swear I don't know anything!"
Footsteps echoed through the sudden hush. Calm, measured, and heavy with authority.
The Marines parted instantly, forming a path.
A tall, sharp-featured officer stepped forward, his uniform crisp and spotless. His eyes were like black hawks, piercing straight through the room.
Lieutenant Colonel Renn Hawk.
Beside him walked Major Dane, cold and expressionless.
Hawk's stride didn't falter. His gaze swept over the hall before settling on Arlong and Nezumi. The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile.
Both of them here. Perfect.
Tonight would be a harvest.
"Hawk!"
Nezumi recognized him at once. His shrill voice rose into a screech, contorted with rage and fear. "Lieutenant Colonel Renn Hawk! What are you doing here?! Who gave you permission to lead troops inside?! This is outrageous! You have no authority here! Withdraw your men immediately!"
But Hawk didn't even spare him a glance. He strode right past, boots thudding against the floor, and seated himself in Arlong's chair at the head of the table.
Leaning back, he lit a cigarette, inhaled deeply, then exhaled a slow stream of smoke. Only then did he speak.
"One hundred thirty-five million, four hundred ninety thousand Beli." Hawk's eyes locked onto Nezumi. "Hidden beneath the abandoned estate."
"Rat… your greed really knows no bounds."
The color drained from Nezumi's face. Cold sweat poured down his temples. His knees nearly buckled.
"You… how do you…"