"Have the Gawain Pirates departed?"
"Yes, sir. Their ship has already sailed. It looks like they took the woman who was deceived by Arlong and his crew with them."
"Excellent."
Nezumi grinned.
"Now's our chance."
At the Navy branch base, Nezumi rose from his chair, visibly excited by the news.
Without a moment's hesitation, he mobilized a large number of marines and dispatched three warships. They set sail from the port, following the current straight toward Cocoyasi Village.
Half a day later.
As the shoreline of Cocoyasi Village came into view, Nezumi gripped his pistol tightly, his hand trembling with anticipation.
Now that the Gawain Pirates had left, the villagers were nothing more than easy prey in his eyes.
I couldn't handle the fishmen… but a few unarmed villagers? They're nothing.
Brazer stood beside him, watching the peaceful port and the civilians going about their day. He finally spoke up, hesitating.
"Commander… do we really have to do this? There are thousands of people in this village. Are we really going to—"
Suddenly, Brazer froze mid-sentence. Nezumi had turned his flintlock toward his head.
"Pathetic sentiment."
Bang!
The shot echoed across the deck.
A bullet tore through Brazer's skull, sending a spray of blood and brain matter behind him. His body collapsed to the floor.
Nezumi's expression twisted with cruelty, blood speckling his face. But behind that madness was a cold, calculated fear.
He hadn't come just for the credit of defeating Arlong. He was here to seize Arlong's hidden assets—and more importantly, to erase any trace of his involvement with the fishman.
That was the real priority.
As he stared at Brazer's corpse, a chilling calm overtook him.
Anyone who knew about his connection to Arlong… had to die.
"Sail!" he roared.
The crew, stunned by Brazer's sudden execution, scrambled to obey. Fear had gripped their hearts—none wanted to be next.
Soon after, the warships arrived at the port.
Nezumi spotted a familiar flag fluttering in the breeze—a skull on a round shield. The pirate flag of the Gawain Pirates. And mounted atop it, the rotting head of Arlong.
"That's… Arlong's head?"
He broke into a cold sweat. The pirates had claimed this island with their flag.
Nezumi knew exactly what that meant. But he couldn't back down now. His greed and desperation to destroy the evidence outweighed his fear.
Once I erase everything, claim the credit, and get promoted… I'll leave this backwater behind. Maybe even end up at Navy HQ.
"Move in!" he barked.
"Round up everyone!"
Three warships docked one after another. Hundreds of marines poured onto the island, rifles ready. They swept through homes, dragging out every villager and forcing them into the square near the port.
Panic and confusion spread.
Genzo rushed forward, shielding a worried Nojiko with his body. His expression darkened as he glared at Nezumi.
"Captain, what is the meaning of this?!"
Nezumi ignored him, scanning the gathered crowd. Satisfied, he smirked and turned to Genzo with mockery in his eyes.
"Imagine this… The Arlong Pirates go berserk, slaughter the village, and then… Navy Captain Nezumi heroically defeats Arlong in a desperate battle. What a story, huh?"
"You call that justice?!" Genzo shouted, seething.
He clenched his fists, recalling Gawain's warning before he left.
The bastard really did come for the village…
Nezumi's smug expression deepened.
"Justice? Only the living get to define that."
But recalling what Gawain said to him before he left.
Genzo calmed down in his heart, and when he looked up, he saw Mouse's mocking eyes:
"Hump. I'll give you a heads-up—Knight Gawain's flag is still flying here. He killed Arlong with his own hands. If he returns… you'd better be ready for that fight."
Genzo narrowed his eyes.
"And he left something for you. A letter. You should read it."
"A letter?"
Nezumi frowned and snatched the envelope from Genzo's hand. He tore it open.
His eyes scanned the paper—and his face went pale.
Sweat trickled down his brow.
Genzo raised an eyebrow. "What does it say?"
"...Get lost!" Nezumi snapped.
The letter was brief but devastating:
"I have all the evidence of your dealings with Arlong. If anything happens to the people of Cocoyasi, those documents will be on the desk of the Navy Criminal Investigation desk by morning."
"Even if you end up in Impel Down, I'll come find you… just like I found Arlong."
Nezumi's hand shook.
He turned to Genzo, voice unsteady.
"How… how did Arlong die?"
Genzo's lips curled into a dark grin.
"You ever fillet a fish?"
"What?"
"First, you scale it. Then you gut it. Then you slice it."
Genzo spoke slowly, savoring each word.
"When I saw Arlong's body… it was in pieces. His remains are still rotting in Arlong Park. No one wants to claim him. You can go take a look."
The image flooded Nezumi's mind, and a shiver ran through his spine.
He turned, barking frantic orders.
"Back to the ships! Now!"
"Madman… he's a madman! He really did all this—for those damn villagers?!"
Despite his curses, the terror in Nezumi's voice betrayed him.
Minutes later.
Back aboard, Nezumi began to calm down.
"...So the evidence is still with him. I can't get the credit, but at least the Criminal Investigation Division won't come for me."
"Thank god…"
Trying to convince himself, Nezumi let out a shaky breath. His color slowly returned.
The warships departed just as swiftly as they had arrived.
On the shore, Genzo watched them disappear into the distance. He patted Nojiko gently on the back and glanced at the pirate flag still fluttering above the port.
"We don't have to worry about Cocoyasi anymore," he said quietly.
"Not from pirates, and not from the Navy either."
Gawain's stoic face appeared in his mind, and Genzo couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"He's a good man… maybe a bit older than Nami, but—"
He turned to Nojiko.
"Say, Nojiko, you're about the right age… thinking of getting a boyfriend?"
"...Get lost!"
The Next Day
Nezumi returned to the 16th Branch of the East Blue Navy.
As he disembarked, a familiar figure approached from the distance. Around the port, dozens of unfamiliar marines raised their rifles, aiming directly at his head.
Nezumi recognized the officer immediately.
"Brigadier General Brin? What's the meaning of this?!"
Brin looked down at him with open contempt.
"Your crimes have come to light. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
Nezumi's face twisted in disbelief.
"This is a mistake! I—I—"
"Heh."
Brin sneered.
"Save it for the Criminal Investigation Division."