"Colonel Nezumi, that looks like a newly appeared pirate ship. Should we move to exterminate it?"
The lieutenant at Colonel Nezumi's side glanced toward the vessel they had just shelled.
"That's not our target."
Nezumi cast a look at the distant pirate ship. The flag wasn't one he recognized; likely a fresh crew.
Since Gol D. Roger kicked off the Great Pirate Era, new pirates swarmed these seas every day.
Which was why Nezumi would claw his way upward no matter the cost.
In this world, the weak exist to be trampled.
He usually wouldn't come to Cocoyashi Village. When he did, he and a few cronies took a small boat straight to Arlong Park.
This time was different. A Marine Headquarters lieutenant commander had been attacked in the East Blue—on Nezumi's turf. The only ones he could imagine doing such a thing were Arlong's lot.
The twenty-odd islands of the Conomi archipelago were under Arlong's rule. Everyone was forced to pay a head tax, just like the Heavenly Tribute to the Celestial Dragons.
They were already raking it in, and still they'd dragged him into a mess like this.
So Nezumi had brought troops to give them a little warning.
As for that pirate ship over there, he'd leave it to Arlong's crew. If they could shrug off a cannon shot, they weren't ordinary pirates.
And in these seas, fish-men are, frankly, the superior race.
"While we're at it, go warn those Cocoyashi peasants not to try anything stupid."
Nezumi prepared to disembark.
Tap. Tap.
Luffy dropped lightly onto the deck.
"I heard what you said. What were you planning to do to Nami's village?" He stood on the yardarm, face blank as he looked down at them.
"Who are you?!" Nezumi's eyes bulged.
"Monkey D. Luffy. I'm a pirate."
Almost the instant he spoke, Luffy's figure vanished and reappeared in front of Nezumi.
A pirate?
Was he from that ship? That should be several nautical miles away!
"It's a pirate ship!"
"Pirates and Marines are fighting!"
"Go find Genzo and Nojiko!"
"Wait, look—is that Nami on that ship?"
There were plenty of villagers at the harbor, and the sight left them stunned.
With a crack, the massive Marine warship splintered and collapsed before their eyes.
Was that even human?
"L-Luffy?"
When the Going Merry came alongside the dock, steam was still rising from Luffy's body. Nami froze at the sight—this was the second time she'd seen him like that, and behind him lay a wrecked Marine warship and a heap of Marines who might be dead or alive.
"The Marine in charge said he was going to do something to your village." Luffy set his hat and walked to Nami's side. "Seems tied to Arlong's crew."
At that, the villagers who had hurried over exchanged looks.
They'd suspected collusion between the Marines and Arlong but had never had proof.
"Nami!"
A blue-haired girl shoved through the crowd and flung herself at Nami.
"Are you okay? Why come back now of all times?"
"It's a long story," Nami said. "But I've decided I won't endure it anymore. I'm driving Arlong's crew out."
"But if you attacked the Marines…" Nojiko glanced anxiously at the chaos on the shore.
"We're pirates. Nami is my navigator."
Luffy pulled Nami back from Nojiko. "Pirates fighting Marines is normal."
Only then did Nojiko actually look him over.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
Like a toy being tugged away, Nojiko grabbed Nami's other arm.
"I'm Nami's captain." Luffy lifted his chin, pride tugging at his mouth.
"And I'm Nami's older sister." Nojiko struck the same pose.
The two started tugging back and forth.
"Is that something to brag about?" Nami clenched her fist. Couldn't they see the situation?
"You'll regret this!"
"Harboring pirates and defying the Marines—stupid villagers all the same!"
"Just sit tight and wait for Headquarters to issue the wanted notices!"
On the warship, smashed midships by Gatling blows and about to sink, a battered Colonel Nezumi completely lost it and shrieked curses.
Nami shot him a cold look.
This was exactly what Nojiko feared. Strike the Marines, and you become wanted pirates.
But—
"So noisy. Gum-Gum… Bazooka!"
Luffy's arms stretched back and then slammed forward. His fists rocketed across the gap and slammed into Nezumi's face.
Crunch.
Unlike Buggy the Clown, this one wasn't built to survive. He wouldn't be getting back up.
"Nami."
Luffy adjusted his hat. "Let's go deal with Arlong and his crew."
Nami nodded.
"I'm driving every last fish-man out!"
She clenched the wooden staff in her grip.
"Creatures like that don't belong here!"
"Nami, we should think this through. Let's wait for Genzo."
"I've already decided, Nojiko."
As Nami and Luffy headed toward Arlong Park, Nojiko's face was a tangle of emotions.
But…
She looked back at the sinking Marine warship. That straw-hatted man was frighteningly strong.
Nami hated pirates most of all, yet when the straw-hat declared she was his navigator and took her hand, she hadn't resisted at all.
There'd been a trace of helplessness in her eyes—mixed with fondness.
What were they to each other?
"With him there, Nami will be fine."
Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be the Marines who saved Cocoyashi Village, but pirates.
…
Arlong Park loomed close.
"Nami, watch from here," Luffy said.
"I can help too."
"This is a captain's order."
"…Okay."
Nami's lips moved. She knew that if she went in, she'd only get in the way.
"Just wait. This won't take long." Luffy grinned, took off his hat, and set it on Nami's head.
A heartbeat later, she saw the gates of Arlong Park—symbol of his rule—explode inward beneath a single kick.
Fish-men boasted strength ten times that of humans—their brute power was monstrous. Even so, none of them could have kicked that gate down like that.
The nearest fish-men looked up just in time to see the gate crash toward them.
An ordinary person would've been flattened. These fish-men were far sturdier than the Marines from before; they clawed free of the shattered stone and staggered upright.
So these are fish-men.
Under a sunshade on a lounge chair, someone opened his eyes, more annoyed than alarmed.
A saw-nosed fish-man with a mouth of sharp teeth.
"Which village idiot came to die this time?" Arlong locked dead eyes on Luffy. "You humans really never learn."
"You're Arlong?" Luffy asked.
"Who is this punk? Boss Arlong doesn't have time to play with you."
A fish-man sneered, and Arlong followed his gaze toward the gate, where he caught a flash of familiar orange hair.
"So Nami brought you. Your taste is terrible—"
Crack.
Before he could finish, the heckling fish-man shot past Arlong, slammed into the wall, and slid to the floor.
One punch. No breath left.