The Going Merry — kitchen and dining room.
The night was gentle, waves lightly tapping against the hull.
Inside, the room was brightly lit, and the air was filled with an intoxicating aroma—
Seafood risotto, pan-seared bone-in meat, and a special mushroom soup, all mingling together.
This was the Straw Hats' first dinner after Sanji joined.
"Delicious! So delicious!!"
Luffy clutched meat in both hands, cheeks puffed up like a hamster, shouting through a mouthful of food.
Zoro didn't say anything, but he was clearly eating twice as fast as usual.
Usopp was moved to tears. "This is real human food! What were we eating before—animal feed?!"
Ronan set down his utensils and wiped his mouth in satisfaction.
He had to admit: Sanji's cooking was truly top-tier. It wasn't just pleasure for the taste buds—it gave you a warmth and strength that seemed to rise from the inside out.
But amid the laughter, one person stood out.
Nami sat in the corner, barely touching the food in front of her.
Her head was lowered. Orange bangs covered her eyes, and her hands clenched her skirt so tightly her knuckles were white.
"If I say it… maybe I won't save the village—maybe I'll get them killed too…"
Nami's heart wrestled violently inside her chest.
But she remembered what Ronan had told her before. She remembered how strong Luffy and the others really were.
Finally, she raised her head. Her eyes were red, her voice trembling, but she forced the words out with everything she had:
"Luffy… everyone…"
The noisy dining room fell silent at once.
All eyes turned to Nami.
"What's wrong, Nami?" Luffy swallowed his meat, his gaze clear.
Nami bit her lower lip so hard she nearly drew blood.
Tears gathered, then overflowed—sliding down her cheeks.
"Before we go to the Grand Line… could you…"
"Could you… help me take down Arlong's crew?!"
The moment she said it, it felt as if the thousand-pound weight she'd carried for eight years finally loosened—her whole body shaking.
She couldn't look Luffy in the eye. She was afraid of being rejected… and even more afraid of hearing the reason.
And yet—
"OKAY!!!"
No hesitation. No questions.
Luffy slammed to his feet. He pulled his straw hat low, shadowing his eyes, but the roar that followed sounded like an oath, shaking the entire cabin.
Nami froze.
Through her tears, she stared at him blankly.
"Luffy… y-you… you're not going to ask what happened? They're… they're terrifying fish-men…"
"Shut up!"
Luffy took off his precious straw hat and gently placed it on Nami's head.
He could feel her grief and despair.
"Anyone who makes my navigator cry…"
Luffy clenched his fist, nails biting into his palm. His voice dropped like a furious beast.
"I'm gonna… send them ALL flying!!!"
"And me."
Ronan stood up, grabbing the eight-foot iron spear leaning in the corner.
The warmth around him vanished. In its place was a mountain-heavy killing intent.
"Nami."
Ronan looked at her, eyes blazing.
"The Arlong Pirates? A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well. We'll crush them—every last one."
"Heh…"
Zoro's hand stroked Wado Ichimonji, the corner of his mouth lifting into a bloodthirsty grin.
"Arlong, twenty million berries, huh? Wonder how many slashes he can take."
"Damn fish-men…"
Sanji lit a cigarette, murderous intent in his eyes, dress shoes clicking against the floor.
"Making the beautiful Nami-swan cry… I won't forgive them! I'll turn them into sashimi!"
Usopp's legs were shaking, but he still picked up his slingshot and puffed out his chest.
"N-Nami! Don't worry! Arlong or Ar-bug, Captain Usopp will beat them so bad they won't know north from south!"
Watching these companions who were willing to fight a demon for her, Nami finally broke.
She covered her face and sobbed openly.
"Thank you… everyone!"
...
That night, Nami told them everything—eight years of the Arlong Pirates' crimes in Cocoyasi Village, and Bellemere's death.
After hearing it all, Luffy didn't speak.
He simply went out onto the deck and threw a punch at the sea.
That punch shattered the air—and solidified his resolve to kill.
"Damn you, Arlong… I'm gonna beat you… to death!!!"
...
The next morning — Cocoyasi Village shoreline.
The sunlight was almost blinding, the sea breeze stirring the palm trees with a soft rustle.
Guided by Nami, Ronan and the others stood before a massive structure.
It was a grand fortress built like an amusement park.
Pirate flags with jagged edges flew from towering spires. A huge swimming pool glittered blue under the sun, surrounded by ridiculous statues and bright streamers.
This was Arlong Park.
Every brick was soaked with the villagers' blood and tears—and with Nami's humiliation.
A fake palace built on pain.
"Those walls are really high…" Usopp swallowed hard.
Luffy had already reached his limit.
He didn't say a word—just walked up to the heavy iron gate and yanked his arm back.
"Gomu Gomu—Siege Cannon!!!"
BOOOOM—!!!
A thunderous explosion!
The thick iron gate—strong enough to withstand cannon fire—along with several meters of the surrounding stone wall, shattered instantly under Luffy's rage-filled strike!
Rubble flew like rain. Dust roared into the sky.
In the smoke, six figures stood shoulder to shoulder.
The commotion instantly alerted every fish-man in Arlong Park.
"WHO'S THERE?!"
By a poolside lounge chair, a tall, muscular fish-man with a jagged saw-like nose and blue skin slowly stood.
Arlong.
He stared into the dust, his gaze locking onto Nami. A cruel sneer spread across his face.
"Nami? So you came back."
Arlong laughed, flashing sharp fangs.
"What, these are your helpers? A few pathetic humans? Looks like eight years of lessons still weren't enough!"
"Still not getting it? The noble, overwhelming power of our fish-man race?!"
Faced with Arlong's mockery, Luffy didn't waste words.
He simply stepped forward and shouted:
"WHICH ONE OF YOU IS ARLONG?!"
Arlong snorted.
"I AM."
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