COCOYASI VILLAGE
After several hours sailing, they finally arrived and docked the ship near Cocoyasi Village.
Nami stood at the edge of the deck, staring at the familiar scenery.
Jack stepped forward, carrying a large wooden block. "Before we go ashore…"
Golden light spread from Jack palms, he channeled the power and changed it to gold, the entire piece of wood had turned into a solid, shining bar of gold.
Though they had seen it many times that Jack had used this ability, they still feel excited to see it again.
"That's worth more than two hundred million beli," Jack said calmly, placing it into a sack. He turned to Nami. "Take this. Use it to pay off your village debt to Arlong. If money can buy freedom, let's use it."
Nami lips trembled, she looked from Jack to the gold. Her whole life she had been stealing and saving to reach this goal and here Jack was, casually giving her more wealth than she had ever dreamed of holding.
Sanji stepped forward immediately. "I'll go with her." His eyes sparkled though mostly with heart. "I swear, I'll protect Nami with my life!"
Nami gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Sanji."
Luffy, of course, started to move. "I'm coming too!"
Jack grabbed him by the shoulder. "No."
"Eh?!" Luffy turned, confused.
"You have a bounty now," Jack reminded him. "If you show your face, you'll provoke Arlong pirate. He might decide to break the deal because of us, so Sanji make sure nami is safe from any danger."
Zoro nodded agreeing with him. "He's right. If we go accompanying Nami, this turns into a war before the deal is over."
Usopp gulped. "I-I'm okay with not fighting fishmen yet…"
Luffy pouted, but Jack didn't budge.
"This is about Nami and the safety of the village," Jack said softly, looking at her. "If she wants to buy her village freedom, we respect that. If it fails… then we fight. Together."
Nami tightened her grip on the bag of gold.
"…Alright," she whispered. "Thank you everyone."
Sanji escorted her dramatically. "Lead the way, my lady.
...
The villagers watched as Nami and Sanji walking towards Arlong Park, they are surprised seeing a new person appear this village.
They knew Nami well enough since young she had sacrificed so much for the village and she doesnt' have any companion except Nojiko and now she bring a boyfriend to this island and a bag that jingled with every move.
"Nami…" Nojiko stepped out from the crowd, shocked to see her.
Nami only gave a faint nod. "I'm here to finish this."
Sanji stood tall beside her supporting her every action. "Let's go meet Arlong."
15 MINUTES AGO...
Jack stood on the ship railing, watching Sanji and Nami go to Arlong Park.
"She's strong," Jack said quietly.
Luffy grinned, fists clenched. "She'll come back and if Arlong refuses the deal..." his grin widened, "....I'll smash him."
"Let's hope we won't have to," he muttered.
Because they are boring waiting for Nami, Jack suggested walking around the village.
They separated to 2 team, the first team consist of Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku and another team are Jack alone.
Jack didn't want to walk around the village, he had another thing to do so that is why he separated the team.
Luffy rejected it, but after seeing Jack return to ship, they can only shake their head before leaving Jack alone.
This village is strangely quiet, no children playing and there is villagers laughing like other village.
When they finally reached the center of the village, a middle age man with a mustache appear, he is the village chief and blocked their way.
"You strangers should leave," the chief warned, his voice roug. "Arlong men are everywhere. If they find out you're friends with Nami, you'll bring trouble on her"
The village chief knows they are friends of Nami because earlier Nami brought strangers and now another group of strangers also arrived at this village, so they are most likely Nami friends.
Luffy clenched his fists. "We're not leaving because we are waiting for Nami here!"
The villagers faces darkened at his words. "So that man who escorting Nami are also your friend?" asked Genzo
"Yes we are pirate crew," said Luffy
"Even if you are pirate you will lose against him," said Genzo.
Before they could arguing more suddenly there was a female voice broke through the tension.
"You're Nami friends, aren't you?" she said, her voice soft but firm. "Come with me. You need to hear the truth."
They all were invited inside Nami house by Nojiko.
The smell of tangerines filled the air as they sat inside. Nojiko began to speak, her expression looked sad as she try to recall her past.
"Nami wasn't always like this. She used to dream of making maps of the whole world but eight years ago, Arlong came to this island and he killed our people, forced us to pay him tribute every month or he'd kill us."
Luffy jaw clenched.
"She joined him," the village chief added, his voice heavy with sadness, "not because she wanted to, but because she made a deal. If she could buy back the village for 100 million beli, Arlong swore he'd let us go free."
"She's been stealing from pirates, from Marines, from anyone she could… just to save us." Nojiko voice broke as she gripped the basket tightly. "She carried this burden alone all these years."
Usopp swallowed hard, his fear momentarily forgotten. "So all this time… she protect the village."
"She was protecting us alone," the chief said firmly.
Luffy stood, his straw hat shadowing his eyes.
"Don't worry if Arlong dare to do anything I'll crush him."
...
Far from the village, Jack sat casually while looking at the island, his hand glowing creating a new device and suddenly he sensed movement.
The group are from the marines, consist of Captain Nezumi and his squad crept through the jungle with a smiling face.
Looking at them, Jack suddenly remembered Nezumi who came here just to steal Nami treasure.
"So you're here already, huh…" Jack muttered with a smirk.
He had planned it earlier, if he coincidentally on the path where Nezumi are coming he will do this.
He pulled out a block of wood from his pocket and placed it in on the road where Captain Nezumi will walk.
Nezumi saw him blocking the way before threatening him. Jack are not afraid and he said he will fight them, then with a touch he changed the block of wood into a gold.
The sunlight reflected off the gold, catching Nezumi greedy eyes immediately.'
The Marine captain's whiskers twitched. "Gold? Here?"
"My mistake, I should change it to metal because it will be more durable,"
Jack stood up and pretended to look surprised. "You like gold, Captain?"
Nezumi lips curled into a hungry grin. "Why yes… yes, I do. Hand it over, civilian. For… safekeeping, of course."
Jack smirked wider. "Oh, this? I've got plenty more. Want me to make more?"
Before Nezumi could answer, Jack deliberately turned a nearby tree branch into another golden tree. The Marines gasped, their eyes shining with greed.
Jack mind was already racing. 'If I play this right, I can lure these rats straight to Arlong and let them expose themselves.'
"How did you change something into gold?" asked Nezumi.
"Didn't you know there exist a gold devil fruit that can manipulate gold," answered Jack.
"Do it again," ordered Nezumi.
This time Nezumi taking out snail, it looks like to record his power.
Jack smiled and instead of changing it to gold, he beat them all and kicked them out of the island.
Before that he make sure to cripple both Nezumi and the other two marines, the scar from cosmic gun will always throb with pain
Nezumi who was humiliated after returning to ship, feel really angry and with that he try to find out who had just attacked him.
After knowing that the group are Strawhat Pirates and had relation with Garp the Vice Admiral, he contacted Spandam from cp 9 and talked about them.
Spandam are another greedy bastard, he then calling Lucci and the others to attack strawhat pirates. They left Water 7 to do another mission that Spandam just ordered them.