Chapter 12
"Nojiko… Big Bro Arlong got longer again."
"Big Bro Arlong is amazing—he can grow and shrink!"
"But I still prefer it shorter. Too long and it pokes me…"
…
In his drowsy state, Arlong heard voices beside his ear.
This is not the bus to kindergarten—I want off!
He opened his eyes and found Nami and Nojiko staring intently at his nose.
It had returned to its original length. The effect of Life Return had worn off, and all the energy he couldn't absorb had been completely consumed.
The side effect: he was starving.
Gurgle~
Arlong suddenly felt he could eat an entire cow.
"Nojiko, make food. As much as possible."
"Right away, Big Bro Arlong."
Nojiko transformed into chef mode and hurried to the kitchen.
Nami saw Arlong's hungry, predatory gaze and bolted after her sister in terror.
Deeper "communication" without Nojiko present? She wouldn't survive it.
She had passed out twice last night.
Arlong: ┐(?～?)┌
…
"Big Bro Arlong, the stir-fried rice cakes are ready. Come eat something first."
It didn't take long for Nami to call him to the table.
After using Life Return, Arlong's appetite had become monstrous.
The moment food hit the table, it vanished like a hurricane—ten days without eating wouldn't have made him this ravenous.
Nami: (￣□￣;) Nojiko: (ヾ????)
Even the two sisters cooking together couldn't keep up with his eating speed.
They had to rope in a few neighbors just to match the pace.
Arlong's twelve-pack abs visibly merged into one giant swollen belly.
"Big Bro Arlong… are you sure you're okay eating like this?"
Nami served takoyaki, worry written all over her face.
Luffy ate like this too, but he was made of rubber. Arlong was just a regular fishman.
Life Return's most basic function was digestion—of course he wouldn't burst.
He was about to explain when a squeaking sound came from the door.
He turned and saw a humanoid rat wearing a "Justice" cape, grinning creepily.
It was Colonel Nezumi from Branch 16.
The moment Nami saw her nemesis, she grabbed a stool and charged, smashing it down on his head.
Nezumi's reaction time was tragically slow—he didn't even dodge.
He watched the stool leg grow larger in his pupils.
"Colonel, watch out!"
Two Marines shouted and tried to intervene.
A powerful force suddenly struck their chests. With a scream, they flew backward.
Two serving trays clattered to the floor, shattering.
Arlong continued eating as if nothing had happened.
Nami Affection +5
BAM!
The solid wooden stool connected cleanly with Nezumi's skull.
Another scream. Nezumi hit the floor flat.
Nami's rage-fueled strike splintered the stool. All that remained in her hand was one leg.
But she wasn't done. She began whipping Nezumi with it.
"Ah… I'm a Marine… Arlong, save me…"
When threats failed, Nezumi begged Arlong for help.
Seeing no reaction, he switched to pleading with Nami.
"Nami, mercy! Granny, mercy!"
Nami didn't stop.
Every strike was accompanied by a name—the souls lost over the past eight years.
Arlong was hateful, but Nezumi was even worse. Without his protection, the villagers would never have been enslaved for eight years.
Nojiko heard the commotion and came out. Arlong waved her back.
"Let Nami vent. Keep cooking."
Nami Affection +5
"Oh!"
Nojiko happily returned to the kitchen.
She had wanted to beat Nezumi herself, but cooking for Arlong was more important.
Seeing Nezumi get pummeled lifted her spirits. She hummed as she cooked.
The fact that Arlong sided with Nami, even against the Marines, proved they had chosen correctly.
Nojiko Affection +1
"Stop, or we open fire!"
More than a dozen Marines rushed in, rifles trained on the room.
Despite having guns, they were visibly nervous.
They were facing one of the strongest pirates in the East Blue—a monster.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do anything that stupid."
Arlong gave a friendly warning.
Also a threat.
He didn't like pretending to be cool like other villains, but he hated having guns pointed at him even more.
"Sorry, Lord Arlong. Duty calls—we just want to rescue the colonel."
The lead Marine explained with an apologetic face.
"Fish-Man Karate: Thousand Tile True Punch!"
With a shout, Kuroobi appeared and sent all dozen Marines flying with one attack.
"I said not to."
Arlong shook his head in disappointment and swallowed a whole golden roast pig in one bite.
Kuroobi walked in. Seeing Nami beating Nezumi senseless made his eyelid twitch.
Never piss that woman off.
"Something wrong?"
Arlong asked without looking up.
"Big Bro Arlong, the materials are ready, but we're missing the cutting equipment."
Kuroobi kept it vague—outsiders were present. A single piece of Adam was worth hundreds of millions of berries.
If word got out, it would attract greedy eyes.
Nezumi seized the chance.
"We have the machines at the base! Whatever you need, Arlong, I'll have it sent over!"
Nami stopped. Using the broken stool leg, she lifted Nezumi's chin and gave him a sweet smile.
"Besides the machines… there's also my 100 million berries."
Her gentle tone sent shivers down Nezumi's spine.
Covered in blood, he looked troubled.
"I only have 50 million left… the other 50 million was already handed over to Commodore Pudding Pudding."
Nami didn't buy it and was about to threaten him further when Arlong spoke.
"Just send the machines. Consider the 100 million payment for the equipment and medical fees."
Machines capable of cutting Adam weren't easy to find nearby. He was in a hurry to set sail—he couldn't waste time traveling far to buy them.
"Hmph. Lucky you."
Nami kicked Nezumi once more, tossed the stool leg away, and headed to the kitchen. She wanted to make even more delicious food to reward Arlong.
Kuroobi quickly listed the required machine models.
Nezumi froze. He didn't know much about shipbuilding, but he recognized those models—they were for cutting the highest-grade timber.
What the hell was Arlong planning?
"No problem?"
Kuroobi asked when he saw Nezumi's strange expression.
"Y-yes, of course!"
Nezumi hurriedly pulled out a Den Den Mushi, called the base, and ordered the machines delivered.
The other end didn't question it and promised delivery by tomorrow at the latest.
"Arlong… can I go now?"
After hanging up, Nezumi asked cautiously.
On the surface he was submissive, but inside he was cursing Arlong as a low-class pirate.
Flipping on a long-time partner like this? No need to keep scum like that alive.
He had already decided: the moment he got back, he'd send warships to obliterate Arlong Park.
Arlong could guess Nezumi's thoughts with his knees, but he didn't care.
The only nearby branches were 16 and 77—both trash. Even their full forces combined were just chickens and dogs.
If he wasn't busy repairing the ship, he wouldn't mind killing Nezumi right now to boost his bounty a little.
20 million was honestly embarrassing for entering the New World. It would be hard to recruit strong crew members.
Seeing Arlong staring at his head, Nezumi instinctively scooted back.
"Don't worry, I'm not killing you yet."
Arlong tossed aside a bone and leaned back in his chair.
"You still haven't told me why you're here."
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