The people of Cocoyasi were ecstatic—some even began to think kindly of the Navy.
But Captain Nezumi only felt his head about to explode from all the noise. With a scowl, he impatiently drew his pistol and fired a shot into the sky.
Bang—!
The gunshot thundered through the air, instantly silencing the villagers. Every eye turned toward the irate Marine officer who had fired the warning shot.
"Shut up! I didn't go the wrong way," Nezumi barked, waving his pistol threateningly. "I received a report—someone claimed there are criminals hiding in this orange grove! I'm here to deal with it. If you get in my way, I'll treat you as accomplices and shoot you on the spot!"
The dark muzzle of his pistol forced the villagers to back away. He sneered, "What are you babbling about, fish-men? There are no fish-men in the East Blue! Fish-Man Island is an allied nation under the World Government, a race that participates in the Reverie! They're friends of humanity! Keep slandering them and I'll throw you all in prison!"
The people of Cocoyasi stood frozen, unsure what to do. Hidden among them, Koby widened his eyes in shock.
Mr. Ren had sent him to scout for news about the Marines. After spending the night hiding in the wilderness, this was the scene he stumbled upon.
Why? Why was this happening?!
The World Government's propaganda said the Navy protected the innocent!He didn't know if Cocoyasi Village was a member of the allied nations—but he knew one thing: the Arlong Pirates were the most notorious crew in the East Blue, with some of the highest bounties around.
Shouldn't the Marines be doing exactly what they claim—hunting pirates down?
Koby couldn't understand, but the villagers of Cocoyasi seemed to realize something.
"That's more like it," Nezumi said coldly. "Don't waste my time—it's better for all of us."
With a final contemptuous glance at the frightened villagers, Captain Nezumi led his squad of Marines toward the orange grove.
When they were gone, Genzo lowered his head, his scarred face shadowed in despair."Bell-mère… we were wrong. The Navy will never come—not because evil doesn't exist, but because, in their eyes, it doesn't matter. Our suffering doesn't exist either. Justice still exists somewhere… but it will never shine on us."
The crowd slowly dispersed, hollow and numb—like people who had glimpsed hope, only to watch it snuffed out before their eyes.
Genzo even found himself thinking: maybe it would be better if the Navy never showed up at all.After this, other villages might lose hope too—some might even take their own lives.
Just like they had once placed all their faith in Nami, others had placed their faith in the Navy.
Now, that faith was gone.
And when faith dies, people soon follow. Or perhaps, like Keya, the old fisherman's son, they might run away recklessly, even if it meant dragging their neighbors into disaster.
Far away, on a lonely hill, Ren lowered his crystal telescope. In his mind lingered the image of Genzo's desolate, scarred face.
They had once believed so deeply in the Navy—after all, Nami's mother, Bell-mère, had been one. She had been the one to tell the villagers that the Navy embodied justice and light.
Even when she died, she believed justice would one day judge Arlong and his crew.
But now, the Navy had abandoned her—and them.
"I could have endured the darkness, if I had never seen the light."
That line surfaced unexpectedly in Ren's heart.
He felt the sorrow of those who believed in the wrong people—the anger toward a rotten system, and a growing hatred for the man who represented it all: Captain Nezumi.
"It's time to settle the score," Ren murmured coldly. "And this debt… will be repaid double."
He placed the telescope into Chester's skull cavity, then reached in to retrieve several items: an Invisibility Potion, the Doran Blade…When his fingers brushed the Dragon's Breath Wand, he hesitated, then put it back.
Too loud.A quiet death born of fear would be a far better punishment.
Closing Chester's skull with a click, Ren turned toward a shabby graveyard—weathered wooden markers stood before him, carved with the names of the old fisherman's family.
They were his former body's parents, long buried in this soil.
"I'll return," he whispered, bowing low before the graves. "And when I do, I'll bring their heads as an offering to you. After all… to inherit this body is to inherit its cause and effect."
He straightened and left without another word.
"You mean… the Marines came—not to Arlong Park, but to the orange grove? "Nami stared blankly at the panting village woman before her. The words hit her like thunder.
Her face went pale, her body swaying until Nojiko caught her arm to keep her standing.
"Yes! They said they were here to carry out justice! You two need to get out of here, quick!"The woman urged them, breathless. "If they hadn't lost their way, and if I hadn't taken the shortcut with all I had, I wouldn't have made it in time to warn you!"
"Are you sure… they're really Marines?" Nami's voice trembled.
"Of course! Their uniforms and guns were just like your mother's. But don't think they're good people like her! They ignored the pirates and came straight here shouting about 'justice'—I bet you're their target, Nami!"
The woman spoke anxiously, unwilling to see these two helpless girls fall into Marine hands.
"I understand, ma'am. Please go quickly," Nojiko said firmly. "Nami and I will leave right away."
She watched the woman disappear down the path, then turned to her sister.
"Nami… our dream is over."
"…Yeah."
Nami collapsed into Nojiko's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.Everything was ruined.
Her hope, her struggle—all of it had been nothing but a cruel joke.
Arlong had been colluding with the Marines all along. That was why Genzo's countless pleas for help had failed.That was why the Marines ignored the pirates' crimes—because they were in on it.They had come not to destroy Arlong… but to steal her treasure.
That man was right—she had lost. Completely and utterly.
And just then, chaos erupted in the orange grove.
Captain Nezumi marched in with his squad of Marines and ordered them to fan out and search for the treasure.
Arlong had told him that the fortune—worth a full 100 million Beli—was hidden here.
But after a while, Nezumi began to frown.Something wasn't right.
No matter how much they searched, there was no sign of any treasure—only a large pit in the ground, with no clue what it was used for.
In his frustration, he barked orders to chop down the orange trees that were in the way.
But even then, nothing turned up.
Just as Nezumi was starting to lose patience, his lieutenant rushed over to report that the treasure—had already been stolen!
"So this pit was where the treasure was buried? And it's already been dug up days ago?!"
Standing before the gaping pit, Captain Nezumi glared furiously at the shovel still stuck in the dirt.
The thieves hadn't even bothered to refill the hole. The compacted soil clearly showed the outline of a large chest that had once been buried there.
"Yes, sir. Judging from the soil, it was dug up just a few days ago," the lieutenant reported, bowing. "And while cutting down the orange trees, our men caught two young women—quite beautiful, by the way. They seem to be the owners of this place. They tried to stop us from cutting the trees. Shall we question them?"
(End of Chapter)