Cocoyashi Village, Port
"Nami! Take care of yourself out there!!!"
Nojiko shouted tearfully from the dock, her hands cupped around her mouth like a makeshift megaphone as she called toward the massive ship anchored a bit offshore.
Because Cocoyashi's harbor was too shallow, Luffy and his crew had to anchor their ship outside the port to avoid running aground.
At the stern of the ship stood Nami, watching the growing crowd of villagers rushing to see her off.
They had only just learned that the strong, spirited girl they'd known had become a pirate, and not just any pirate, but a subordinate of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Of course, they didn't really understand what that title meant…
But it didn't matter.
Each of them wore a warm, sincere smile as they waved farewell from the harbor.
Genzo and Bell-mère stood quietly on either side of Nojiko, smiling but saying nothing.
"Nami~ it's time for us to go~"
Luffy reminded her gently. The laughter had passed, the tears had fallen, it was time to move on.
Nami nodded firmly, her voice catching slightly as she replied through her nose: "Mm!"
The sail began to rise slowly, catching the wind. With her instincts as a skilled navigator, Nami immediately calculated that in five seconds, the ship would start leaving the harbor.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked back one last time at the people she loved.
She wiped them away with her palm.
This was a happy day.
And because it was a happy day, she wouldn't let herself cry, not even as she left behind her home, her loving mother, her caring sister, and the villagers who had always supported her.
Even if she had no idea when or if she might ever return.
From the shore, Bell-mère and Genzo watched as the ship slowly drifted away. At the same moment, they each raised a hand, giving Nami a proud thumbs-up.
"Bell-mère…" Genzo's voice was slightly choked.
"Hm?"
"You're crying again."
"Mind your own business!"
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The ship continued sailing into the vast sea…
Before long, Cocoyashi Village was nothing but a speck on the horizon, disappearing from view.
Luffy gently patted Nami's shoulder, trying to steer her thoughts away from the sorrow of parting.
"Nami," he said, "I think it's time to introduce you to another one of our crew members…"
As he spoke, Luffy gestured for Brook to take out Laboon's Pokéball,
"Luffy~!"
Robin's voice suddenly rang out, cutting him off.
"There's a Marine ship headed our way."
As the ship's lookout, Robin used her Hana Hana no Mi powers to scout the waters ahead.
"Marines?" Luffy raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
This stretch of sea near Cocoyashi was remote, even East Blue's best merchants might not know it existed. It was the kind of place even pirates couldn't be bothered to stop at.
And yet, here came a Marine vessel?
"What should we do, Luffy? Should we bother with them?" Robin asked.
To the crew, East Blue Marines were nothing more than ants. The only question was whether the ant had wandered into their path.
"Robin… they're probably here for me," Nami said softly, staring at the figures on the Marine ship.
After a few days back in Cocoyashi, Nami and Robin had grown quite close. Aside from the occasional disagreement over Luffy, the two women had become like sisters.
Women… always full of mystery.
As the two ships grew closer, everyone could make out the people aboard with growing clarity.
"Captain Nezumi, come to hand over my bounty, are you?" Nami shouted across the channel.
The sea breeze carried her voice clearly to the Marine ship.
"Bounty Hunter Nami!" Nezumi shouted back, striking a rehearsed pose. "I'm here today to commend you for your excellent cooperation with the Marines in our last operation! On behalf of, "
Nezumi was in full performance mode.
He loved playing the part, sailing around East Blue with different squads of Marines, flexing in front of the infamous "Storm Witch" Nami. It helped boost his reputation at the 16th Branch base and made him feel more important.
Politics was all about appearances. Nezumi's dream was to flatter his way upward, catering to superiors with hollow praise, pretending to be a wise and virtuous leader to his subordinates, until he reached the highest levels of government and became one of the elite.
But this time, something felt… different.
"Captain!!!"
Before Nezumi could finish his grand speech, his ever-obsequious adjutant suddenly cut him off.
Normally, Nezumi wouldn't tolerate such an interruption, but this deputy flattered him daily, so he decided to give the man a chance.
"What is it?" Nezumi asked, slightly annoyed.
The adjutant pointed, voice trembling.
"Captain… l-look at that skeleton… over there!"
"What?"
Nezumi followed his gaze, and froze.
His beady rat-like eyes widened from the size of peas to the size of beans.
He may have been corrupt, greedy, and a shameless opportunist, but he was also a diligent Marine. Whenever orders came down from above, he would stay up all night analyzing each punctuation mark, trying to decipher the intent behind it.
He was very aware of the recent chaos at Loguetown involving the appearance of a Warlord of the Sea. While most civilians dismissed it as rumors, within the Marine ranks, there was a red-level classified document detailing the Starry Sky Pirates.
And in it, one description had burned itself into Nezumi's memory:
"A living skeleton who plays music."
"A W-Warlord…?" Nezumi stammered.
If there was one thing Nezumi prided himself on, it was his ability to bend with the wind.
And he knew better than to posture in front of pirates who had killed hundreds in mere minutes at Loguetown.
Face? Pride? In front of these monsters? Not worth dying for.
These pirates didn't even take Smoker seriously, what chance did he, a minor East Blue branch captain, have?
"Oh! You're the Marine in charge here?" Luffy asked, walking to the ship's railing. He looked at the sleazy middle-aged man without a hint of emotion.
"Yes, yes, that's me!" Nezumi stammered, bowing deeply. "I'm the highest-ranking officer in this region. How may I serve you, great sir?"
He bent at the waist to a full ninety degrees. If he could've bent further, he would have, hell, he might've kissed Luffy's boots if that's what it took.
Luffy studied the pathetic figure before him and said, "Nami is now a crew member of the Starry Sky Pirates. After we leave, I'm leaving the safety of this sea, and especially Cocoyashi Village, in your hands."
"Of course, sir! You can count on me!"
Nezumi nodded like a bobblehead. "I've personally inspected Cocoyashi many times. The land is rich, the people are kind, the culture vibrant, and the moral values exemplary! The village has already been nominated as a 'Model Moral Community', and with government support, it will soon have new roads, expanded ports, increased agricultural subsidies…"
He was laying it on thick. After all, this was a Warlord!
Even if he had to spend his own money, he'd develop that village.
Besides, the government did have funding for rural support, it just never made it to the people.
Everyone knew the game.
Warlords and Marines were technically separate, but to a small fry like Nezumi, any connection to the powers that be was a ladder up.
"Uh…" Luffy blinked, momentarily thrown by Nezumi's bureaucratic babble.
"Just… watch over the village, alright? Especially Cocoyashi's safety."
"Understood! Lady Nami's home is my home! I'll lead by example and inspire all Marines to build a beautiful homeland together!"
Luffy clicked his tongue.
How could a Marine be this shameless?
He shook his head, not wanting to listen anymore. If this kept up, he might actually reward the guy, and that would be a huge mistake.
Still, there was one last thing to do.
With a flick of the wrist, a piece of paper zipped through the air and landed squarely in Nezumi's palm.
"This is my Den Den Mushi number. If anything happens, contact me immediately."
"Brook, we're heading out."
At Luffy's command, Brook opened his skull with a casual motion, startling the Marines, pulled out Laboon's Pokéball, and pressed the release button.
"Bwooooooooohhh!!"
With a thunderous roar, the long-awaited Laboon emerged, his massive tail slapping the ocean and sending up walls of water.
In stunned silence, Nezumi and the Marines watched as Luffy's ship slowly entered Laboon's open mouth and disappeared from view.
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