A captain's order was not to be questioned.
The chill in Luffy's eyes at that moment made everyone present shudder. After spending so long with him, they suddenly realized something—
their sunny, always-smiling captain carried a terrifying killing intent when he was serious.
Once the orders were given, the crew split into two groups led by Zoro and Buggy, heading straight for Arlong Park.
Luffy, meanwhile, followed Nami to her home.
Arlong could wait.
But Colonel Nezumi absolutely could not be allowed to escape.
…
By noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky.
Cocoyasi Village lay quiet as usual.
Guided by Nami, the two walked through a grove filled with the fragrance of tangerine trees. This orchard had belonged to her adoptive mother, Bellemere. Though there was no blood relation between them, Bellemere had raised the sisters with boundless love—and that was precisely why they treasured this inheritance beyond measure.
Standing before the orchard, Nami unconsciously plucked an unripe tangerine. She peeled it and placed it in her mouth.
The sourness flooded her senses… and tears welled up instantly.
When she was little, Bellemere used to make her eat these unripe fruits whenever she misbehaved. Back then, Nami had cried in secret over it more than once.
But now, the one who used to force her to eat them… was gone forever.
Lost in her memories, Nami's expression grew complicated. Scenes from her childhood flashed through her mind, and before she could stop herself, tears began to fall.
She clenched her fists tightly, unwilling to let Luffy see her weakness.
"Arlong… I'll never forgive you. I'll make you die a thousand, ten thousand times over!"
Killing intent flared in her eyes. Then she reached out and took Luffy's hand, pulling him toward the house.
She knew that even after eating the Thundercloud Fruit, she still wasn't confident she could kill Arlong on her own.
It hadn't been long enough—she hadn't fully mastered her power yet.
So for now, she could only place her hopes in the man she'd chosen.
"Luffy… help me."
"I will. But—"
He had just opened his mouth to comfort her when—
"Huh?"
From within the dense tangerine trees, a blue-haired girl poked her head out and called out with delight, "Nami? You're back?"
The girl had bronze-toned skin, a red ribbon tied around her head, and a tattoo on her arm. Wearing a tank top and knee-length shorts, she looked vibrant and full of life.
"Nojiko? What are you doing here?" Nami exclaimed happily.
Nami rushed over to her, eyes shining. This was her sister in all but blood—Nojiko, who had watched over her and grown up alongside her since they were children.
"I was taking care of the orchard," Nojiko said with a smile, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Then her gaze shifted to Luffy beside Nami, and she raised an eyebrow playfully. "Well, well… did you go and find yourself a man, Nami? Aren't you going to introduce him to your big sister?"
"…This is Luffy. My… new captain," Nami said, her face flushing slightly.
She looked at him, her eyes briefly dazed before firming with resolve.
"He's here to help me. We're going to deal with the Arlong Pirates."
"What?!"
Nojiko was stunned. Her face changed instantly as she grabbed Nami's shoulders.
"Nami, you can't be reckless like this! You know how terrifying the Arlong Pirates are!"
"Just the two of you… how could that possibly work?!"
They had witnessed the same horrors growing up—those monstrous fish-men who could tear a village apart with their bare hands.
How could the man standing there possibly defeat them?
This was nothing but a trip straight to their graves.
"Hey, hey…" Luffy frowned. "Big Sis Nami, don't go looking down on people like that."
"But—"
Before Nojiko could finish, Nami cut her off.
"Don't worry, Nojiko. Luffy is really strong."
She smiled at her sister, who looked on in panic and concern.
"And besides… he's a pirate with a bounty of forty million Berries."
"What?!"
Nojiko's pupils shrank as she stared at Luffy in shock.
"Kekekeke… what are you doing here, little ladies?"
A grating voice suddenly cut in.
Several meters away on the road, a leering man wearing a mouse-shaped cap, with a few scraggly whiskers under his nose, approached with over a dozen Marines in tow.
"Missy, I hear you've stolen a whole lot of treasure," he sneered, his eyes half-lidded with scorn as he looked the trio up and down, his voice dripping with mockery.
"C-Colonel…?"
Seeing the Marines appear out of nowhere, Nojiko gasped, fear climbing in her chest. She had long suspected this naval officer was in league with Arlong—and now, with Nami here…
Without thinking, she hurriedly tried to explain.
"Colonel, please wait, this is all a misunder—"
But before she could finish—
"Been waiting for you… Second Gear!"
Luffy moved.
He swung his arm sharply, and a shockwave burst outward.
In Nojiko's stunned gaze, Luffy used his hand like a pump, forcing air into his body and accelerating his blood flow. His skin flushed red, steam rising from him like a living furnace.
"SSSSSS—"
In the next instant, he stepped forward—and a terrifying pressure rolled out across the area.
"Since you're already a wanted man," he said calmly as he walked toward Nezumi, "there's no point in even looking for evidence anymore."
The Marines stumbled back in panic, staring at him as though facing a monster.
His eyes hardened with merciless resolve.
"If you're going to be an accomplice to evil—then you can die right along with it."
"Gum-Gum… Jet Gatling!"
In a flash, countless fist-images exploded forward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
An overwhelming, horrifying force erupted from Luffy's punches.
Unstoppable.
Amid the Marines' frantic, terrified screams, his fists punched straight through their chests—one after another.
There was no escape. None at all.
"AHHHHH!"
In an instant, Colonel Nezumi's body was riddled with holes.
His eyes rolled white as he collapsed to the ground. Blood poured from his mouth as he tried to speak, only for froth and red foam to bubble out instead.
A few seconds later, he went limp.
Dead beyond any doubt.
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T/N:
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