"Lo… lo…"
Before Arlong could finish the second word—
Kane lifted his foot again—
And brought it down.
Crunch!
A chilling sound echoed.
Arlong's skull collapsed completely, his entire fish head driven straight into the ground.
"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all."
Kane said calmly.
Arlong no longer screamed.
His upper body twitched violently—
The last remnants of life fading away.
"Vice Admiral Kane."
Kane glanced at Bogey, who had just returned.
"What is it?"
"Vice Admiral… Arlong's bounty is 20 million Beli."
Kane's expression froze.
"…Damn it! How did I forget that?!"
He immediately lifted his foot—
Then looked down at Arlong's head.
His mouth twitched.
The skull was completely shattered.
Only faint traces of a footprint remained.
His face was unrecognizable.
His neck was broken.
Only the fish-man's vitality kept his body twitching slightly—
But the outcome was obvious.
He was already dead.
Kane actually had a very clear understanding of his own strength.
It was just that—
This guy's mouth had been too foul.
He hadn't held back.
"Bogey… can we still claim the bounty using the body?"
"Vice Admiral, regulations require the corpse to be identifiable."
"…So we can only file a report and claim it that way?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral."
"Bogey?"
"…?"
"Why didn't you remind me earlier?"
"Vice Admiral, I just arrived, so—"
"As my adjutant, it's your duty to remind me. This is your mistake. I've decided—this loss will be deducted from your future share."
"Ah?!"
"'Ah' what? Why aren't you cleaning up the mess yet?"
"Yes… Vice Admiral…"
Bogey's voice turned dejected.
20 million… how long will it take to pay that back…
Kane then turned toward the stunned villagers.
"Alright. The Arlong Pirates are no more. You're free."
The villagers still felt like they were dreaming.
But when they saw Arlong's lifeless body—
Not fear—
But overwhelming relief filled their hearts.
"Long live Vice Admiral Kane! Long live the Marines! Justice prevails!"
Cheers echoed into the distance.
People ran through the village, spreading the news—
Tears streamed down their faces.
Kane smiled faintly.
Then he turned to Nami, who was still standing there in a daze.
"You know what comes next, right?"
Nami froze—
Then quickly understood what he meant.
There was gratitude in her eyes—
And shock at his overwhelming strength.
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
"…Please follow me."
Kane followed her.
Nojiko and Genzo tried to follow—
But were stopped by the Marines.
Because Kane had defeated Arlong so quickly—
The building itself remained mostly intact.
"I only found out after a long time where Arlong kept the money he extorted… For years, this village has lived in fear. Many families were destroyed… This money is their blood and sweat. I always thought the Marines couldn't be trusted… but now, I've finally met someone like you, Vice Admiral. Thank you."
Kane looked at her with a half-smile.
What was she implying?
Praising him?
Or reminding him this was the villagers' money?
Trying to make him feel guilty?
Wishful thinking.
From the moment he realized the system could make him stronger—
Kane had already prepared himself to become a "devil."
What should be his—
He would take.
What shouldn't be his—
He would make his.
What he couldn't get—
He would find a way to get.
Seeing the look in his eyes, Nami felt uneasy.
"Why so much nonsense? Where is it?"
Disappointment flashed across Nami's face.
She walked to a wall—
Felt around—
Then activated a hidden switch.
A secret room opened.
Kane glanced inside.
"…There should be more. This is just cash. Where's the treasure?"
Inside were stacks of banknotes—
Roughly 400 million Beli.
Far from the "one billion" she had mentioned.
Nami clenched her teeth.
"Vice Admiral… isn't this, plus my one hundred million, enough?"
Kane chuckled.
"Drop the little tricks. If I don't take this money, would giving it to the villagers really be better?"
"How would you distribute it?"
"What if they fight over it? Turn against each other?"
"And this money isn't just from your village—it's from dozens nearby. Are you planning to share it with all of them?"
Nami froze.
She understood human nature well—
But she had only thought about her own village.
"So… it's better if I take it."
Seeing her still hesitate, Kane grew impatient.
"Did you forget? If there isn't one billion Beli, the consequences will be serious."
Nami's body stiffened.
She remembered Arlong's fate—
And Kane's overwhelming power.
"…The rest is in the sea. Please follow me."
"Now that's more like it."
Kane smiled.
To be fair—
What he said wasn't entirely wrong.
Countless people had turned against each other over uneven distribution.
He was, after all…
"Preserving harmony."
Under Nami's guidance, they reached the underwater stash.
Seeing the treasure—
Kane finally broke into a genuine smile.
Converted to Beli—
It was over 600 million.
A pleasant surprise.
Thinking about it—
It made sense.
Arlong had ruled this region of East Blue for eight years.
He had extorted 20 million from the very beginning.
Accumulating such wealth was only natural.
Even Nami had managed to gather 100 million.
Arlong having a billion?
Not surprising at all.
Kane didn't hesitate.
He took it all.
At Cocoyasi Village's harbor—
Kane had already returned to his warship.
Villagers surrounded the dock, cheering endlessly.
"Miss Nami, if you ever need anything, come find me."
"Fair prices, honest service—pay the money, and the job gets done!"
Kane said with a wide grin.
If she still joined Monkey D. Luffy later—
This would be a good investment.
After all, the kind of trouble they ran into…
Was never small.
And the price?
Heh.
"Like I'd ever look for you… greedy old man."
Nami thought to herself.
Soon—
Kane's warship set sail.
As she watched it leave—
Nami felt both joy and confusion.
Arlong was dead.
The nightmare that had loomed over her since childhood—
Gone.
For a moment—
She didn't know what to do next.
But as she looked out over the vast ocean—
Her mood gradually lifted.
She was finally—
Truly free.