"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host, for defeating Arlong. You've received 2,000 lottery points!"
Hearing this, Lucky Drake was overjoyed.
Two thousand points.
As expected—constant battles meant a constant stream of lottery points, and with lottery points, he could keep getting stronger.
But right now wasn't the time to draw.
With the stone pillar completely destroyed, the entire hall began collapsing.
"Nami! Come with me—outside, now!"
Lucky Drake grabbed Nami, who was still stunned.
"O-okay!"
She snapped out of it and followed him out.
"Arlong… is he dead?" Nami asked quietly.
"Yeah. He should be. I didn't hold back—better to kill him than leave a threat."
"Thank you…"
Nami's eyes instantly filled with tears.
Arlong was finally dead. Belle-mère could finally rest.
"No need to thank me. You're my woman. I told you—I'll protect you."
Outside, Lucky Drake gently patted her head.
BOOM!
Suddenly—
A cannonball exploded nearby.
BOOM! BOOM!
Several more hit the area.
"Damn—it must be the Navy!"
Lucky Drake immediately thought of the Marine base stationed at Cocoyasi Village.
"Lucky Drake, the Marines are here—we need to leave!"
Red rushed over. "By the way, Arlong—is he dealt with?"
Red had already knocked Hachi unconscious.
He possessed a passive ability from his Devil Fruit: the longer he fought, and the longer he got beat up, the more terrifying the lightning he released in his burst moment became.
After dozens of exchanges, he had unleashed a massive punch and knocked Hachi out cold.
"Arlong's dead."
"Hahaha! Lucky Drake, you're incredible!"
Red burst into satisfied laughter.
Their Thunder Pirates were truly becoming powerful—
even a pirate crew with a 20-million bounty like Arlong's could be crushed.
"Haha, just luck. He underestimated me."
Lucky Drake smiled casually.
"Right, Captain—Arlong's pirate ship is over there. We can use it to escape."
"Exactly what I was thinking. And it's time to change ships anyway."
"Alvida! Wrap up the fighting! The Marines are here—everyone regroup on that ship!"
Soon, all crew members had boarded Arlong's pirate ship.
It would now become one of the Thunder Pirates' vessels.
"Pirates ahead, listen up!"
"You're surrounded! Surrender now for leniency—otherwise, we'll continue the bombardment!"
Far away, two Marine ships were approaching fast.
"Hmph. Just two Marine ships think they can surround us? What a joke."
"Full speed—ignore them!"
Lucky Drake ordered calmly.
But the two Marine ships didn't chase.
They sailed straight into Arlong Park.
After all, none of the people escaping looked like Arlong's pirates.
This was their chance to "pick up the pieces"—capture the remnants of the Arlong Pirates and take credit.
Naturally, the one leading them was Captain Nezumi.
Despite having colluded with Arlong, now that Arlong had been destroyed by an outside force, it was the perfect opportunity for him to claim the glory.
Seeing the Marines weren't pursuing, the Thunder Pirates sailed back to their own port.
"Captain, wait for me here."
"I want to take Nami back to her village."
"Go ahead, Lucky Drake. We'll be here," Red said.
So Lucky Drake accompanied Nami back to Cocoyasi Village.
"Lucky Drake… thank you for coming with me."
"Haha, I came because I want you to come with me, too. Understand?"
Nami flushed lightly. "Mm… I know. I'll think about it."
"Ahem… Your village grows a lot of oranges. They look nice."
Lucky Drake changed the topic, not wanting Nami to sink into painful memories of Belle-mère—
her adoptive mother, killed by the Arlong Pirates.
"Yeah… Cocoyasi Village has been growing oranges for generations."
As they talked, they reached a special orange grove with a small house beside it.
Hearing movement outside, a girl walked out.
Blue hair. Bright eyes.
A little older than Nami.
"Nami! You're finally back! I was so worried about you!"
Seeing her sister, Nojiko's anxiety instantly turned into joy.
The two had grown up together with Belle-mère.
Not blood-related, but closer than real sisters.
"Mm… I'm back."
Nami's voice trembled.
She couldn't help thinking of Belle-mère again.
In the past, both Nojiko and Belle-mère would greet her when she returned.
But now Belle-mère would never appear again.
"It's okay. It's over now. Don't cry."
Nojiko hugged Nami, comforting her like an older sister.
After a while, Nami finally calmed down.
"Nami, is this your friend?"
"Nojiko, nice to meet you. Nami is my woman—I'm Lucky Drake."
Before Nami could introduce them, Lucky Drake announced it himself.
After all—this was meeting her family.
"Lucky Drake—! W-what are you saying?!"
Nami wanted to smack him, but she was too embarrassed.
Her face flushed red as she avoided Nojiko's gaze.
"Oh?"
Nojiko immediately noticed Nami's unusual reaction.
"So it's true, Nami?"
"Uh… something like that…" Nami muttered.
"I see. That's wonderful. Our Nami has grown up."
Nojiko smiled softly, then her expression dimmed slightly.
If Nami had someone she liked…
would she leave Orange Village?
Leave her?
"Don't misunderstand. It's not what you think. The situation is… complicated," Nami hurriedly explained.
"Anyway—Arlong's pirates have been wiped out. Belle-mère's revenge is done. Orange Village can finally live in peace!"
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Nami smiled with heartfelt relief.
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