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On the pier, the two Fishmen on duty were the picture of laxity. One of them, a Carp-type Fishman named Xiao Wen, leaned back and let out a massive yawn. His head drooped bonelessly toward his chest, the very image of listless boredom.
"Why does Arlong make us stand guard here every day?" he grumbled. "Nothing ever happens. No one in the East Blue is stupid enough to come looking for trouble with us."
The Arlong Pirates were the undisputed sovereigns of these waters. Even the Marines turned a blind eye to their activities, often offering polite smiles and bribes rather than arrests. To Xiao Wen, the constant vigilance Arlong demanded—patrolling the island and watching the docks—seemed like a waste of a perfectly good afternoon.
"Don't think so much," his companion, a Salmon Fishman named Yan Mi, replied indifferently. Despite his relaxed posture, his eyes continued to scan the horizon. "Whatever Arlong orders, we do. Are you saying the Captain is wrong?"
Xiao Wen shivered, suddenly straightening his posture. "I was just talking! I never said he was wrong!"
"Then shut up and watch," Yan Mi said. His eyes suddenly narrowed. "A ship is coming."
"Where?" Xiao Wen squinted at the sea. Before long, a ship appeared, steadily growing larger. "That's a strange one. I don't recognize the design."
The two became momentarily alert, but as the vessel drew closer, they relaxed. Standing prominently at the bow was a very familiar figure.
"You're back, Nami," Xiao Wen called out, his playful, predatory gaze sweeping over the human girl they had controlled for the last eight years.
The Navigator's Deception
Nami stood at the bow of the Dream Chaser, offering the guards a practiced, nonchalant smile. "That's right. I got tired of traveling, so I came home."
"Nami, what's with the new ship? Where's your little boat?" Yan Mi asked, his voice cold and suspicious.
"Oh, the old one broke. So, I stole this one," Nami patted the railing of the ship. "You know me—I'm quite good at 'acquiring' things from pirates."
Internally, Nami breathed a sigh of relief. Just as I thought. Arlong and the others don't know I've been working as a Pirate Hunter. They have no idea Satori exists. As long as he and Sanji stay hidden, everything will be fine.
"Heh, sounds like you," Yan Mi said, finally lowering his guard. "But I didn't expect you to steal something this big."
"Bigger ships are sturdier," Nami replied. She docked the Dream Chaser and hopped onto the pier, clutching a heavy bag of treasure. "Listen, this ship is my prize. You two better keep an eye on it and make sure nobody tries to sail off with it, understood?"
Xiao Wen pouted. "It's just a ship. Why should we care?" He had planned to poke around the deck once she left, but her demand made him lose interest. "Fine, fine. I won't even look at your precious boat."
Nami didn't bother responding. She turned toward the path leading to Cocoyasi Village, pausing only to ask casually, "Arlong is at the park, right? I have business with him."
"There's nothing on the schedule today," Yan Mi answered. "He's at the amusement park."
"Got it." Nami waved her hand and disappeared down the road, her expression calm despite the hammering of her heart.
Once she was out of sight, Xiao Wen gestured to the other side of the pier. "Yan Mi, let's move over there. That ship is an eyesore, and I don't want to look at it anymore." Yan Mi agreed; the bulk of the Dream Chaser was blocking his view of the sea anyway.
A Quiet Meal and a Loud Arrival
Inside a closed cabin on the Dream Chaser, Satori and Sanji were staring out the solitary window, hidden from view.
"Sanji, how long is she going to be?" Satori asked, his tail swishing restlessly behind him.
Sanji glanced at the furry appendage. "I don't know, kid. We don't even know what she's doing out there." He paused, curiosity getting the better of him. "I've been meaning to ask... what's with the tail? Normal people don't have those."
"I've had it since I was a baby," Satori said innocently. "It went away for a while, but it grew back recently."
Sanji fell into contemplation. Born with it? Is there a race of humans with tails I haven't heard of? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud groan from Satori's stomach.
"Sanji... I'm hungry."
The last time Satori had eaten was at the Baratie, and half a day of training had burned through those calories. Sanji, ever the chef, couldn't ignore a hungry stomach. "Wait here and stay quiet," he whispered. "I'll whip something up that won't make a mess."
Soon, Sanji returned with a steaming pot of egg noodles, the aroma of green onions and golden broth filling the small room. Satori's eyes lit up, and he began to eat with gusto. Sanji leaned by the window, instinctively reaching for a cigarette before remembering Nami's orders and putting it back.
He gazed out at the calm water, wondering why Nami was so terrified of them being seen. Suddenly, the surface of the water erupted.
Splash!!!
An enormous sea beast with two jagged horns surfaced, its massive eyes fixed directly on the Dream Chaser. Before Sanji or Satori could react, it opened its cavernous maw and lunged forward to bite the ship in half!