The East Blue wasn't vast, and Arthur's ship wasn't an ordinary skiff.
After more than a day at sea, they drew ever closer to Cocoyasi Village.
However, before they reached it, the two ran into a small problem.
"Momoo, the Sea Cow—Arlong's pet from the Grand Line." Nami looked at the fanged beast with fear in her eyes.
That monster could easily raze a village and block any ship that tried to approach Cocoyasi.
Bang—
Before she knew it, Arthur stood atop the Sea Cow's head. His fist, black with a purple gleam, smashed down once and drove the beast beneath the waves. When it surfaced, its eyes were spiraling like a mosquito coil.
"Keep sailing." Dropping back to the deck, Arthur smiled at Nami. "Don't be afraid. With me here, nothing will happen."
"Mm....." It was as if that punch had brought back the godlike figure she had seen before. The timidity vanished from Nami's face, replaced by deep trust.
With the obstacle cleared, they neared Cocoyasi's pier.
"Arthur..... maybe we should forget it."
The moment they landed, Arthur halted—Nami had grabbed his arm. Her body trembled as she forced a smile. "I've saved up the hundred million. I don't want to take any more risks....."
"Idiot. Do you really think he'll hand the village back." He hadn't shown overwhelming power just to make her flee at the last moment. Pity for Nami welled up even stronger.
He ruffled her hair and soothed her. "Relax. I'm not going to lose. For now let's split up—act like you know nothing, same as always. I'll handle Arlong alone."
"No. I..... I won't be separated from you." Nami shook her head hard, firm in her resolve.
She had decided: even if Arthur failed, she would stake her life to protect him. With her gift for charting, even betting her life might open the faintest chance of survival.
"Alright, come with me."
Seeing what she intended, Arthur agreed—his eyes turning even colder.
They entered Cocoyasi Village—a ruined place with few people. The streets were empty; every shop was shut.
Doors and windows were sealed tight, yet if one looked closely, some households peered through slits in the shutters.
Arthur's Observation Haki clearly caught the gazes through those cracks.
Curiosity and pity at once—curiosity about Arthur standing with Nami, and a veiled, protective love for Nami herself.
Everyone knew Nami had joined the Arlong Pirates for the village's sake, working for the monsters who killed her foster mother.
They cooperated with her act. Whenever Nami returned, they hid indoors, afraid to slip up before her and be seen through.
Lies kept her going; that was her only fuel.
The poor girl had paid too much.
Nami clearly didn't know her lie had long since been seen through. In the past she came home by back ways; today she walked the street, and though no one was outside, she still kept her head down.
Seeing the usually sly, lively girl so cowed made Arthur's killing intent thicken.
"Hey! You there, stop."
A shout cut through the air. Ahead stood a fat Fish-Man, skin unlike a human's and bulging fish eyes that made him look dim-witted. He hefted a spiked club and came toward them.
Whoosh—crack!
Before he reached them, Arthur vanished and reappeared before him. Fingers closed around the Fish-Man's throat and crushed his windpipe.
There was no second chance to speak.
Arthur had struck to kill. He would leave no one alive.
Even if the Fish-Man Pirates included Hatchan—the one who once saved Silvers Rayleigh.
Offend a legendary man, then what.
"Let's go." He tossed the corpse aside and spoke to Nami.
"Mm." From the instant Arthur killed the Fish-Man, Nami knew there was no going back.
Having slain one of Arlong's kin, they would either die to Arlong—or kill him.
Nami, strangely, felt calmer.
They walked on toward Arlong's domain. As they neared, a cold smile touched Arthur's lips.
"I gave the Marines too much credit....."
.....
Before Arthur and Nami reached Cocoyasi, Arlong had received a "distinguished" guest.
A man with a sly, villain's face dressed in a Marine captain's uniform—the 16th Branch's Captain Nezumi.
"Sha-ha-ha-ha, long time no see, Captain." Arlong laughed as he personally welcomed him.
"Arlong, I need your help."
"My friend, if you need help, just say the word." Arlong waved broadly, all magnanimity.
At that, Nezumi finally smiled, though his tone stayed heavy. "I've received word that Smoker at the Marine branch is sending people to investigate me. It seems they've caught wind of our arrangement. I want a Marine warship sunk—and the evidence erased."
"No problem. I'll have Momoo handle it. At sea, no one can match Momoo." Arlong agreed without hesitation. It was a small favor to him, and nothing pleased him more than working with a rotten Marine.
"Excellent. Many thanks."
"No need. Courtesy goes both ways. If I help you, you help me."
"Help. Say it." Having soothed his fears, Nezumi grew expansive; the Fish-Man he despised even struck him as a bit lovable.
"I have a certain navigator who swore an oath to me. When she raises a hundred million, I'll return her village. Hah-hah-hah..... trusting a pirate's word—so stupid it's cute." Arlong laughed heartily. "Captain, when she's gathered the hundred million, please help me put on a little play."
"No problem, heh-heh....." Nezumi laughed too, his smile dripping with mockery.
If you can believe a pirate's word, you're no pirate.
Bang—
"Unfortunately, there won't be a show."
As they traded knowing smiles, the gate to Arlong Park flew inward with a single kick, a cloud of smoke billowing up.
From the smoke came a cold voice.