"There, look near the hill. That's where she lives," Usopp said, pointing ahead. "But… the place is already surrounded by Marines. We're too late…"
Usopp tried to sell it as if he didn't know, but the moment Leo glanced at him, his act fell apart.
From the back of the lone house on the hill, the two of them climbed onto the roof and crouched, quietly observing the scene below.
Marines had already flooded the front yard of Nami's house, digging near the tangerine groves.
From what he'd gathered, they were after her hidden treasure and if that was true, then his Devil Fruit could very well be mixed in with it.
After his last clash with a Marine captain Clam, Leo had no intention of getting involved with the Marines again, not until he reached the Grand Line. But from the very start of his journey, things had rarely gone according to his plan.
Sitting below, propped up on a Manual wheelchair, was a familiar face, Captain Nezumi of the 16th Marine Branch. The same man Leo had crippled, thinking the experience might force him to reflect… or at least retire.
Instead, the rat was still there, scheming and robbing people.
"Why are the Marines stealing from her instead of fighting Arlong?" Usopp whispered, confused.
Leo didn't take his eyes off the scene. "See that crippled captain? He is one corrupt son of a bi***. Looks like he's working with Arlong Pirates. Someone in his condition should've been retired by now… but if he's still active, it means he has connections higher up."
Disgust flickered across Usopp's face as he looked at the corrupt marine battalion.
"Then what do we do? How do we help her?" he asked, turning to Leo with a hint of urgency.
Leo only shrugged, "Why should I help someone who stole from me? I've got my own score to settle with both of them." Usopp's stomach sank.
'Was bringing him here a mistake…?'
'Where are you, Luffy…!'
Below, the Marines finally struck something in the tangerine groves.
A chest full of berries notes and treasure.
They dragged it out from the ground, cracked it open and gold, silver and berry notes spilled into view, stacked to the brim. Even Leo's eyes widened at the sheer amount.
Nezumi leaned forward in his wheelchair supported by a marine, his crooked smile widening as seconds passed.
"Well… looks like the information was reliable after all," he said, glancing at Nami. "What do you say, thief?"
Nami stood frozen nearby. At first, she thought that she might have made a mistake somewhere but soon her doubts were confirmed.
Arlong's betrayal hit her all at once, her expression worsened as tears began to fall from her beautiful eyes and all hope vanished from them.
"93 million berries," Another Marine officer announced smugly.
"Quite the haul you have… You little thief. We'll be confiscating this and returning it to their rightful owners." Nezumi continued.
His tone shifted, growing louder as he addressed the villagers watching from a distance.
"Don't worry, good citizens of Cocoyasi Village! Next, we'll raid Arlong Park and seize their treasure as well. Arresting them might be difficult with our current manpower… but rest assured, justice will be served one day!"
"Chi chi chi…"
At his words, the full extent of Arlong's betrayal became clear to Nami. The last trace of doubt vanished, replaced by a surge of anger so sharp that she grabbed the wooden pole lying nearby, as she stepped forward, moving straight toward Captain Nezumi but three Marines officers in front of her blocked her way.
Their mocking laughter hadn't faded before their rifles were raised, muzzles aimed directly at her head.
Nami froze in shock, fear evident on her face, forcing her to take a step back but then something dropped from the sky.
A figure landed, right top of the Marine officer standing in the middle. A long-nosed boy, trembling, thrown without his consent.
"Usopp...?" Nami raised an eyebrow in confusion.
The other two Marines immediately shifted their aim toward Usopp, but a shadow appeared behind them.
"Shave."
Clang!
Heavy seastone cuffs came crashing down on their head with brutal force, splitting their skulls before they could even react. The two Marines collapsed instantly, their bodies hitting the ground without a sound.
"Hisashiburi da na… Captain Nezumi?"
The voice was calm and greeting but to Nezumi, it sounded like a death sentence.
Leo stepped into view. The moment Nezumi saw him, his face drained of all color. His body trembled uncontrollably, memories crashing back of that night.
"Y-you… wh-why are you here…? S-someone—save me!"
The remaining Marines snapped out of it, raising their guns toward Leo, hands shaking but they pulled the trigger anyway.
"Iron Body."
The flood of bullets struck its mark only to be bounced off.
"Those of you who value your lives," he said quietly, "leave Captain Nezumi here… and run. I'll count to three."
Before the count could start, the seven Marines broke instantly, fleeing without a second thought, abandoning their weapons and captain as they ran.
For Nezumi, the world came to an halt.
Those blue gleaming eyes dragged memories of that night on Mirrorball Island he wished to forget.
"P-please… spare me… you can have every—"
Smack…!
Nezumi's head snapped to the side as his consciousness faded, his body going limp once more.
Leo grabbed the unconscious man by the collar and flung him aside like trash. The crippled captain crashed into a tree and remained motionless.
For a moment, Leo just stood there, staring at Nami, Sheriff and Nojiko.
"Nami… Give me one reason," he said, voice low, "not to make you end up like him."
His blue eyes flickered faintly with red, something darker lurking beneath them. And despite the threat, he held back.
Because unlike the others… She wasn't evil, just someone who had been played far too much.
"I was going to give you this treasure… but it doesn't matter anymore. Arlong won't free us… he'll take everything… we'll never be… Bell mere's wish…"
Her words dissolved into sobs as she clutched her chest, her body trembling feeling betrayed.
Everyone could see a broken girl, her eyes almost hollow, as if something inside her had finally given up.
"Where is my Devil Fruit?" Leo asked flatly, cutting through her grief shocking everyone present.
***
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