The villagers did not follow.
They watched.
From doorways. From behind windows. From the edges of collapsed homes and half-burnt fields. No one cheered. No one screamed. No one begged them to stop.
Because hope was dangerous here.
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku walked in silence across the rice fields, the storm overhead rolling like a patient beast. The ground was damp, not from rain, but from seawater carried inland during Arlong's "visits."
The closer they moved toward Arlong Park, the heavier the air became.
Sanji finally broke the silence.
"…This place feels wrong."
"It's trained to feel that way," Luffy replied.
Usopp swallowed. "Trained?"
Luffy didn't answer immediately.
Zoro glanced at him. "You've noticed too."
Luffy nodded. "This island doesn't fear Arlong anymore."
Sanji frowned. "That's worse."
"Yes," Luffy said. "Fear fades. Conditioning doesn't."
They reached the tree at the edge of the fields — wide, old, scarred with knife marks and rope burns. The same tree villagers had once tied themselves to when they thought resistance meant dignity.
Nojiko stood waiting.
Genzo stood beside her.
Both looked older than they should have.
Nojiko inhaled slowly. "You came back."
Zoro sat against the trunk, arms folded. "Captain gave us space."
Luffy didn't turn.
"Talk," he said. "I'll listen from here."
Nojiko nodded.
And began.
---
Eight Years Ago
Nami was ten.
The island was loud back then.
Children ran barefoot through the streets. Fishermen argued over nets. Bells rang in the mornings. Music existed.
Then the Fishmen came.
Not just Arlong.
His crew.
Chew with his monstrous jaw strength, capable of crushing cannon barrels.
Kuroobi, silent, disciplined, terrifying underwater.
Hachi, cheerful, dangerous, eight blades spinning like windmills of death.
They didn't attack at first.
They negotiated.
Arlong always negotiated first.
"Ten million," he said, smiling with teeth too sharp. "For your village."
Genzo laughed.
So did the elders.
Then Arlong tore a house out of the ground and flipped it upside down.
Negotiations ended.
Every month after that, Arlong's men came.
If the money was short, someone disappeared.
If anyone resisted, someone else paid.
The village learned to smile.
Nojiko clenched her fists. "Nami watched her mother die because she smiled."
Sanji stiffened.
Zoro closed his eyes.
Bell-mère.
A marine woman. Proud. Broke. Stubborn.
She chose truth over survival.
Arlong shot her.
Right in front of Nami.
"And then," Nojiko continued, voice shaking, "Arlong made Nami an offer."
Cartography.
Talent.
Genius.
Arlong recognized it instantly.
"Draw maps for me," he said. "And I'll let this village live."
Eight years.
Eight years of slavery disguised as freedom.
Eight years of pretending to betray everyone so no one would be punished for helping her.
"She stole," Nojiko said. "Because Arlong demanded money. Not because she wanted it."
Genzo finally spoke. "Every coin she took… she counted toward buying the village back."
Usopp's hands trembled.
"…She was trying to save us."
"Yes," Nojiko said softly. "Alone."
---
Luffy exhaled.
Not angrily.
Not sadly.
Just… steadily.
"I figured."
Everyone turned.
"You figured!?" Usopp snapped. "She stabbed us in the back!"
"No," Luffy said. "She stabbed herself."
Zoro nodded. "She never aimed to kill."
Sanji clenched his teeth. "…She never asked for help."
"That's the problem," Luffy said.
He finally turned around.
"She didn't trust us to survive."
The words hit harder than any punch.
Genzo stared. "What do you mean?"
Luffy's eyes were calm. Too calm.
"She's been dealing with monsters for eight years," he said. "She thinks strength is something you endure alone."
Lightning flickered above.
"And that pisses me off."
---
From the distance—
A bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Arlong Park's signal.
Genzo paled. "They're collecting."
Luffy stepped forward.
"Good."
Sanji blinked. "Good?"
Luffy smiled.
"Means they're home."
The sky darkened further.
Wind picked up.
The sea growled.
Luffy placed his hand on Zoro's shoulder.
"You fight if you want," he said. "But don't die."
Zoro grinned. "Wasn't planning on it."
Sanji lit a cigarette, eyes sharp. "Fish or not… I don't like people who starve others."
Usopp swallowed hard, then straightened. "I'm not running."
Johnny and Yosaku nodded behind him.
Nojiko watched Luffy carefully. "If you go in there… Arlong won't negotiate."
Luffy stepped past her.
"I'm not here to negotiate."
Thunder cracked.
The storm moved with them.
And somewhere inside Arlong Park—
A shark smiled, unaware that the ocean itself had decided to kill him.