"Sir, this…"
The monitoring marine hesitated. Nezumi picked up on it immediately and said coldly:
"Brazer, do this right, and you'll get a cut of Arlong's loot. Once I'm promoted, you'll be the next base commander."
"Yes, sir!"
The marine saluted and hung up.
Nezumi sat back, recalling Gawain's face and the humiliation he'd once endured. Rage simmered under his skin, but he swallowed it down. After a moment's thought, he grabbed his pen and began writing furiously.
A few minutes later.
A sensational report, accompanied by three photographs, was transmitted from the 16th Naval Branch to Navy Headquarters.
A liaison officer looked at the photos, his brow furrowing.
"Why does this Knight Gawain look so familiar? Feels like I've seen him in a movie before…"
He compared the photo to Gawain's previous bounty poster. After a moment of study, he relaxed and chuckled:
"More than 70% similarity. It's normal for a pirate's appearance to change drastically in a year or two. Nothing to worry about."
Reassured, he stamped the report and forwarded it to the Vice Admiral for further review.
A few days later — Cocoyashi Village.
With Arlong's downfall, not only Cocoyashi, but dozens of surrounding villages were finally free from years of fear and oppression.
The name of the Gawain Pirates began spreading far and wide. Some villagers even erected a statue of Gawain at the port.
Though the craftsmanship was crude…
"Why does it look more and more like that guy from the movie?" Kuro muttered, staring at the statue.
Gawain's mouth twitched. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
At the docks, crates of supplies were being loaded onto the ship. Even though the vessel's draft was already dangerously low, the enthusiastic villagers of Cocoyashi kept piling on more.
"Everyone! That's enough! The ship's about to sink!" Gin shouted, exasperated.
But his protests were met only with warm laughter.
"You saved our village! There's no way we're letting our saviors leave empty-handed!"
"Exactly!"
"This is the last bit of cured meat. Oh, and some oranges and beer!"
As he spoke, a burly man effortlessly hauled out three large boxes. Gin clutched his head in defeat—but he couldn't bring himself to turn them away.
Watching the villagers' sincere, grateful smiles, Gin finally understood the looks his crewmates wore when they returned from Raven Harbor.
Pirates—usually hated and feared—being met with genuine gratitude... It stirred something unfamiliar in his chest.
In that moment, Gin wasn't the only one who felt it.
Every member of the Gawain Pirates knew: what they'd done was meaningful.
At the docks, Gawain and Kuro stood shoulder to shoulder, but even they couldn't stop the crowd pressing in from all sides.
Genzo, now bandaged and just barely able to stand, watched silently from the edge of the port.
The sea breeze carried away the sound of the windmill.
As sheriff, he should've reported pirates to the Navy. Instead, he'd thrown the Den Den Mushi into the sea.
"…They're still pirates," he muttered.
Just then, Gawain's voice called out to him.
"Catch!"
Instinctively, Genzo reached up and caught the object—a Den Den Mushi.
He scowled. "I don't want anything from a pirate."
"You can use it to contact Nami," Gawain replied calmly.
"…Don't do it again!" Genzo barked, his face red as he tucked the device into his coat.
Beside him, Nojiko smiled and sighed. "That man… he won't make Nami cry, right?"
"He'd better not!" Genzo growled. But his eyes remained fixed on Gawain.
"I looked into their past. They once defended Raven Harbor. They protected the people there. They're… strong."
"I still hate that Nami's become a pirate. But compared to Arlong, Gawain is clearly the better path."
"After all… her dream is to chart every sea in the world."
Nojiko raised her eyebrows, surprised.
"High praise, coming from you."
"Hmph."
The two chatted quietly—until Nami's voice rang out.
"Hey! Everyone!"
Gawain turned from the deck.
There she was—Nami, running toward them with a toolbox full of navigation gear in her arms. The very tools that once chained her to Arlong's ambition… now symbolized her own.
No longer was she drawing for someone else's greed.
She was sailing for her dreams—and her crewmates.
"I haven't boarded yet!" she shouted.
"You're late, kid!" Kuro teased, his voice dry but not unkind.
Nami didn't care. This time, she could sail under her own name. She no longer needed to wear a mask to protect her village.
She had already said her goodbyes to Genzo and Nojiko. Now, there was only the sea—and the voyage ahead.
Bang!
Nami landed on the deck, gave everyone a bright grin, and rushed to the navigator's quarters.
She placed her belongings in the once-empty room—nautical charts, compasses, drawing pens, a few pots of orange trees from Nojiko, and the windmill she'd just taken from Genzo's head.
She opened the porthole. A salty breeze swept in, spinning the windmill on the desk.
Minutes later, Nami flopped onto the bed, her nose twitching.
It smelled just as it did the day she left.
"From today on, this is my territory!"
Several crew members peeked in, grinning.
Nami rolled over and stuck out her tongue at them.
Just as she was about to shut the door, she remembered something.
She darted back outside, up to the deck, and looked toward the harbor.
Genzo and Nojiko stood there, waiting.
"Hey!"
She waved.
"Wait until I finish mapping every sea in the world—!"
"I'll be back!"
Genzo stared after her, stunned.
"…It's been so long since she looked like that," he whispered.
"Yeah," Nojiko agreed. "She hasn't smiled like that since Bell-mère passed away."
The two waved back as the ship slowly set sail, heading for the distant horizon.
Nojiko turned her gaze back to the port.
The sea breeze howled, blowing fiercely through the docks. At the top of the pirate flagpole flew a new symbol—Arlong's severed head, nailed high above the flag, on full display.
No villager found it grotesque.
If anything, they were just disappointed they hadn't gotten to eat the bastard.
"…You think the Navy will take down that flag?" Nojiko asked.
Genzo smirked.
"Who cares? It's not like the Navy's ever cared about this place."
"Or… do you think that little rat has the guts to touch that man's flag?"